Curt in my opinion, if you enjoy feeling of the fight while fishing for steelhead then I suggest a GLoomis 1082c or s IMX(9ft), s being the spinning model which I use all winter long it's light power rating is awsome and underated fun and will give you a better awareness of the subtle bites' they most often offer. I've caught 200+ steelhead this past winter from 8 to 25+ lbs all on 8lb Izor
I lost a few big ones but not after having the best 1 on 1 most evenly matched battle with an animal that I give much respect for. But If your a meat fisherman get any 8'6" mag-med pool cue, load it up with some 15-20 cable and reel em' up. In short.. Best all-around rod set-up G-Loomis STR1143 GL3 9'6" Shimano Calcutta 250 or 251, 10lb or 12lb Izor, good for 6lb steelhead to 40lb class salmon guranteed! All the bells and whistles included