Mooch: I hate to admit it, but I never did use a 251. I'm 100% left handed, as in cast with left, reel with right cuz that's the only kinda reel you could get when I was learning. Now Bill H. will wax eloquent over the 251 until you haffta tell him to shuddap!

I'm sure its a great reel, but you are right, on the national scheme of things steelheaders are merely a blip. I beleive I once heard that bass tackle accounts for something like 80% of all U.S. tackle sales. How many national magazines have you ever seen with a steelhead on the cover?