A rod is far and away the most important piece of equipment a fisherman will own. A good fly rod provides the ability to intricately present flies to those hard-to-reach fish. Most steelheaders in the Lake Erie region prefer a 10 foot fly rod for the ability to “reach out” and mend without taking the fly out of the zone. A 10 foot rod also retains a soft tip to absorb the shock of a strike when fishing light tippets in clear water. In Michigan, stiffer single-handed rods and spey rods are more sought after in order to cast large streamers with sinking lines. When selecting a fly rod, be sure to take into consideration the types of conditions as well as the region you will be primarily fishing. And remember, all serious fly rodders eventually accumulate a collection of rods to customize their fishing techniques.