Sounds like I'll be in the market for a more sensitive rod (as well as cosmetic surgery).

To answer Shep's question about fly rod/ mono, there are about 10,000 people out there who have done this more than I have (and better), but the set-up and concept are simple. First, spool mono on the fly reel. (You can leave your fly line and backing on a heavyweight fresh/ light salt high reel assuming there is still room for 100 yds of 10-12lb line.) Second, rig up as per light drift fishing (e.g. up to 1/2 oz of lead) or pinch split shot on the line 16-20" above the fly. Third, strip off the amount of line you want to cast and let the loose line fall at your feet, or keep it in loose coils in your free hand. (This is the tricky bit. In a boat, line often gets tangled underfoot. In the river, it gets swept downstream which may or may not impede your cast -- depends on how much weight you have on, how much line is out, how strong the current is, how far you want to cast and the amount of force behind the cast.) Fourth, either lob or 'shoot'your gear towards the target zone. (Once you have the range, every cast is exactly the same length based on the amount of line off the fly reel.) Fifth, strip any excess mono in under the index finger of your rod hand to remove slack, and then fish out the cast as per a normal drift. Sixth, hold the mono in your free (non-rod) hand during the drift while simultaneously watching the rod tip and/ or point where the line enters the water. Set the hook when anything breaths on the fly. Eighth, if you need more distance, strip some off more line at the end of the drift and leave it off the reel. Ninth, when a fish takes, strike by either pulling down on the line with the non rod hand and rearing back, or pinching the mono to the rod grip and striking. Tenth, reel like buggery to get the extra line onto the reel so that you can play the fish off the reel against the drag. Eleventh, in cold weather be prepared for the mono to foul in the fly rod guides about one cast in ten. (Practice your swearing beforehand as you'll need a good 30 seconds of bad words to do one of these tangles justice.)

Again, I'm a complete novice at this technique and when I saw it three years ago it looked like a way for the "I only use a fly rod for steelhead" brigade to catch fish using their fly gear when a conventional line put fish down (or didn't sink fast enough to present the fly properly). In short, I thought it was a laughable and lame alternative to picking up a casting or spinning outfit and doing the job 'properly'.

After a second year of having my buddy catch 1.67 fish to my 1.0 even when I'm consistently closer to the target area with my casts I'm now taking the fly rod and mono combination much more seriously. This is particularly true when the top guide on the Situk said 'The very best steelhead fishermen I guide all use fly rods and mono for better feel. In fact, they use 9'Loomis baitcasting blanks with fly reel seats as the feel is as good while the rod has more guts than an 8 weight." Another hint was to buy an inexpensive Martin fly reel because this particular brand doesn't allow the mono to get down between the spool and the frame.

As for honing one's skills on light takes, last week I felt like I needed an intensive Yoda session, e.g. a blindfold, a light saber and The Force on My Side. Shad fishing in the Columbia is one option I don't have, but I'm going to start using the flyrod and mono combo locally till I get the hang of it. Meanwhile, buddy Slick will be nymphing w/o indicators just to keep his edge.

I'd appreciate any and all comments re the pros and cons of fly rod w/ mono vs. more trad methods.