whats the best steelhead rod for nor cal if you had to pick one

[pit]

If price and stature were no object what would be your first pick for a steelhead rod for nor cal rivers? Also pick the best reel and line for that rod if you can. Curious to see what peoples dream set ups are. -Pit

[huntindog]

If price and stature were no object what would be your first pick for a steelhead rod for nor cal rivers? Also pick the best reel and line for that rod if you can. Curious to see what peoples dream set ups are. -Pit

i havn't found anything i cant do with my 9.5 foot 7 wt powell... i love that rod

[jbird]

Thats like asking whats your favorite flavor of ice cream. Go to your local flyshop and cast rods and see what suits you.

I prefer 10' rods in 6 and 7wt for steelhead. I like a medium-fast action.

For reels I prefer something with a large arbor for fast line pickup. No need for a large backing capacity. 100-150yrds will be fine.

[double ipa]

T & T 1206-3 with Danielsson LW 8-12 and Rio skagit 500 gr floater for summer steelhead. Sage 8126-3 with Galvan Rush-10 and Rio skagit 600 gr and various lengths of t-14 for winter steelhead.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

9'6"#7 is one of the most popular sizes in Nor Cal for a single hand fly rod for Steelhead.

I would fish what ever you got......

[pgw]

2 rods

For Summer Fish, I'll stick with my 7 wt-9 1/2 ft Boron/Graphite REC Rod made by Ted Simroe and the Ross R3.5 with a floating 7 or a 7wt F/S with a 15ft tip.

For Winter Fish on the North Coast, my 9wt-9ft Yerxa with the same Ross (or my Mt Rainier Anti-reverse Reel) loaded with 20# Red Amnesia behind a wallet full of shooting heads.

Paul

[TaylerW]

7100 z-axis hands down

[FISHEYE]

I don't know anything about Norcal, but my favorite Alaska steelhead rod is a Loomis GLX, 10 foot, 7 wt. I think the bigest steelhead I have caught on it is about 24 pounds.

[Craig Nielsen]

Pit:
Gary Anderson, owner of Anderson Custom Rods (http://www.andersoncustomrods.com/), makes a 10' seven weight with a companion butt section that turns the top three sections into a switch rod. Fished both as a single and two hander switch each is as good as anything I've cast or fished. So..you get two rods for the price of one. Kiene's is one of very few shops that carry Gary's rods and has the staff that understands how best to match these incredible tools with lines. Clever fellow, Gary.

[oldtrout]

70s vintage 8'4" 3/2 hollowbuilt W. Powell 7wt.

[stevenj24k]

two handers:
sage 6126 (XP) with either a scandi or skagit 450
sage 7136 (Z Axis) with a skagit 550

one handers:
winston BIIX 10' 7
sage z axis 9'6" 7

[Pound]

I am seeing a running theme here...

Single hander, non shooting head favorite:
Z-axis 7100 with an T-8 reel that is lined with an 8wt Rio Atlantic Salmon / Steelhead line...

i do have a shooting head set up for that rod as well as an 9wt Red. CPS