Hmmm, I appreciate your self-deprecating humor, but am troubled by your apparent insecurity (t.i.c.). I caught my first steelhead drift-fishing with my $10 yellow Eagle Claw salmon/steelhead rod, coupled to an Ambassador 5000c, along with most every coho I've caught since. And my first fly-caught steelhead and hundreds of trout came to my $9 yellow Eagle Claw fly rod. Ain't no way I'd ever be embarassed to be seen with my Eagle Claw rods, altho admittedly, I prefer other rods now and have for years, especially for fly fishing.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.