I use a eight and a half foot fenwick with 12lb. for winter steelies. It's a glass rod with moderate action, 1/4-5/8. It is quite sensitve for a budget priced rod. Just got a new loomis IMX haven't had it long enough to tell how much I like it.

I think it must be the height difference as I am tall and ugly and I can't catch fish lately either.

How does this fly reel casting thing work. Do you cast it like a fly rod with the strip and cast method? How does that work with heavier drift set ups? How do you rig them?