DaveD, for your area that you want to fish get the loomis 11'3" GLX, it is perfect for the Methow and the Yakima from a boat or shore. I have two of these and two of there 13' 3 power. I have landed 10" trout to 35" steelhead. I would never buy the sage pin rods. They placed the reel seat to far back like a spey rod and yes this is how the old timers use to do it. Trust me you will want the reel all the way forward and with 3-5 inches of cork ahead of the reel. Also having your hand resting on cork inthe winter is so much better then having your hand rest on cold metal. Get suffix seige mono in 10lb. That is all you need, braided line is good for extreme drifts which you won't do with an 11' rod and line there is no line twist. But you will have alot of tip wraps. Mono is cheap and you will make big birds nest at first so you can cut out the knot and tie in a blood knot and continue fishing. Once you learn to cast your line twist will go away. If you get a rod and need some help, let me know I fish the yakima alot and use the 11' as my nymph rig. Also Anil and I are having a centerpin class in feb at his fly shop( Puget Sound Angler) Good luck and get a loomis or a raven, not the sage, trust me.