What weight rod for steelhead?

I've heard everything from 5wt to 9wt. I like to fish lightweight, but I like backbone. So, I guess I'm looking for a medium-fast rod? I've been looking at the 3 forks rods from Cabelas. I've used the 3wt version and loved it.

I guess my main question is, what is the lightest weight rod I should get but still have enough backbone to effectively land a steelie?

9 foot 6 wt is fine for Erie steelhead

if you can go 10ft 7 wt do it!! 10 ft length is perfect for mending and if you fish erie you know you dont have the casting space needed.. i use a sage 9'6 7 wt and love it.. i have gone down to a 5 wt before.. but i broke 2 rods doing it

the lightest to go and still have control
9 foot  6 weight
as already mentioned-make sure you buy a good reel

ORIGINAL: McFishin

thanks to all! After reading your suggestions I found a9'6" 6/7wt. Gonna put some wulf or rio line on it and it should do just fine...Probably a better rod for steel than my 2wt ..

off topic, but speaking of, has anyone ever caught a steelie on a 2wt? 1wt?...

I got stupid and took my 2 WT to a small Steelhead Stream   Hooked up instantly with 2 and well  I never had a chance  I want to try it again but I will try a different stream this time  One with less wood around

I have a 10'6'' wild river noodle that I build into a fly rod, just like the one Nagy sells.  It sees about 6 hours of use a season.  For one, it's too long, 2 its hard to fish around people with it, and three it just does not cast that good.....9 feet is fine for all of Erie because Erie is smAlL DuuD.  You don't need to send your fly on a 30 yard drift, more like 5 yards, so you don't need to continuously mend.  If you can mend with a 6' 2 wt, you can mend just as good with any length, the extra length really doesn't help that much.  But as you pointed out, 1 foot really doesn't make much of a difference.  Some like the longer rod to bottom bounce with as you can keep more line off of the water, but again the trade off....you can do almost the same thing with a 9 footer because you can throw your fly with your left hand across most of the places you are fishing. 

I think it more or less boils down to personal preference, and fishing style.  Almost everyone casts different and fishes with different techniques.  Since your in that fly shop so much ask your guy to loan you a 10' demo rod and try it out, the most he can tell you is no.  If he doesn't oblige, let me know and Ill get you one to see if you like the extra length or not before you make a purchase.

Again as stated on here, I think that 9'6" is a perfect medium for those looking for longer but not overkill in the rod department.

ORIGINAL: D-nymph

For indicator fishing the extra foot makes a huge difference.  For streamers the 9' is probably better. 

I use a 10' 7wt and have no issues 99% of the time with the rod length.  The extra length also gives more leverage for landing fish faster.

I fail to see the connection.  Don't most people nymph with a shorter rod than do streamer fishing?  I know the rod I chuck streamers with is pushing 11ft.

ORIGINAL: Loomis

ORIGINAL: D-nymph

For indicator fishing the extra foot makes a huge difference.  For streamers the 9' is probably better. 

I use a 10' 7wt and have no issues 99% of the time with the rod length.  The extra length also gives more leverage for landing fish faster.

I fail to see the connection.  Don't most people nymph with a shorter rod than do streamer fishing?  I know the rod I chuck streamers with is pushing 11ft.

 
Obviously, your rod is bigger than mine. 
 
I like the longer rod for nymphing, I can keep more line OFF of the water, which gives me better contact with the flies and shot.  For me, that is the entire point of the 10' rod.
 
I am also better casting a single handed streamer rod with a 9 footer than a 10 footer.  You might be different, who knows.

10 foot is absolutely not too long for the erie tribs, at least in my many trials and tribulations i've been through. 
hell when i'm pinning i'm walking around with an 11'6" most of the time and still want more length

the extra foot gives you many advantages, all of which have been outlined already.

9 foot 2 piece 5 weight

Thanks for all the help guys. Ended up opting with a 9' 7/8wt. I was going to go for the 6wt or a 6/7wt but I figured the 7/8wt would be better for shallow water carp and slinging big streamers and poppers at big New River smallmouth down here so I went with it. I learned a lot from this thread though. Thanks!

i fish a 9'6"ft 6 or a 10 ft 7weight orvis zero g  only way to go