You must feel the bottom for drift fishing. You must also have a reel strong enough to hang on!! So I vote for quality not price either one is a good choice with benefits each its own. Plug fishing you need a reel with a good drag. You can have a ball catch ing steelhead plugging on fly rods with out good feel.

Ten years ago I would vote rod, but "decent" graphite rods are plentiful today.

So I vote reel. Good reels are hard to find.....Name 3 good direct drive reels that are made today. Most of the reels today are geared for the bass fishermen.



------------------
Marty
www.steelheader.net
marty@steelheader.net