I learned steelhead fishing on jigs under a float but I'm a hardware convert. I just wish I had the money to buy all the spoons I need. As far as affordable hardware rod, I use a an affordable Okuma Connoisseur 10' (stiff) noodle rod that has had its tip broken off, so it's a little shorter, and it is lighter than the more heavy duty 10' 8-15 Fish Eagle II. My set-up is versatile enough to throw light spinners or heavy double stacked spoons because I use 10 lb p-line on a rear drag Tica spinning reel.