I've not had a stellar fall for steelhead. Lots of factors involving operator error, but timing and maybe fewer fish than the past few years, too.  With a few exceptions for stipers, I've  used a fly rod for everything in the past couple of decades. Now,  I'm seriously considering getting a  cheap noodle rod and slapping an old tournament grade light  Shimano spinning reel I still have on it.  I can still cast, my question is- any recommendations?   Length?  Line wt.?  Line for coldwater?  Flouro Leader?  Buy eggs and tie own sacks, or just buy the sacks?   If the SR was in my  backyard, I'd stick with the flyrod. It's not.  I could've caught some fish this past trip fishing sacks. I KNOW IT.  Unfortunately, I like to catch fish, not just have some on for a little bit.  I love to flyfish, but I'm not a snob, and in the end, I'm not a patient person. Help a brother out.  Any advice gladly accepted.
 
 
Charlie

Charlie ,
 
I will give my 2 cents ,,, I would look at the Stcroix line of rods , they vary in price  ,  but have a nice line of  rods in the 100 to $130  dollar range  all the way up to thier elite line  which is in the $300 to $400  range . Great  warranty and good customer support .  As far a reel I would  look for a  sealed drag system  in a reel  size that holds  6lb mono  130 to 140 yards .   I like the suffix  seige in the flourence orange for visiblity .   I do not throw sacks as I find  that I can do just as well with  egg pattern flies .   Casting flies  gives me better accuracy  than throwing the sacks .
to summarize
Rod  2 to 6lb  weight  in a 10.5  length for lower water
Rod  4 to 8  in 9.5  length  for faster water
reel  water proof drag ( 6lb mono 130 yard)
line  6lb main line   mono
leader  4 to 5lb  maxima 
terminal tackle  buy  good   swivels  as  I have found  that the cheaper ones freeze up  and  cause line twists .
 
Take a look at the eyes on the rod  if you can get oversized  eyes it really helps  on the cold days when the  eyes freeze up . 
 
wrap the  reel  seat area  with an ace bandage  helps keeps your hand warm .
 
feel free  to PM if you have more questions..
 
heading up in the AM  fishing till Sunday .
 
hope this helps 
Scott
 
 
 
 
hope this helps
 

I'll second the st croix rods.
They at least used to make fine products.
Mine are probably 20 years or older b ut still in great working order.
If your reel holds 100ish yar5ds of 8 pound you'll be fine, you know when you have to follow already.
My favorite all around is 9foot, I'm 6'5" so with arm extended I have plenty of line off the water, but others might like a little longer.
It is made for 4-10  line. I mostly fill it with 10 mono main and 8 leader rarely less than that with floro but 6 if needed and can still put a bend in the blank.
By the way I've come to like the cheaper blue lable seagar tippet.
Thinner and half the price of drennen.
Don't know how it will handle the real cold and nasty but so far this fall its the teats.
Sometimes you just can't fish slow enough with the fly set up and the mono cures that pretty quick.
Since you know the water I bet you triple your hookups this winter.

Charlie here is what I have although I have only caught a few fish on it seems to work pretty good. 
http://www.basspro.com/Br...le-Rods/product/90109/
As far as line I have 10 lb vanish and I am slowly learning through tying some leaders with it that it is OK in warmer water, but knot strength gets worse in colder water.   Still use the Drennen for tippet, but it's expensive.  Like you said  it's strong as hell and handles cold well , but a bit thick so I use 5 or 6lb.   I have thought about trying Maxima tippet      and something new for leaders  and main line maybe PLine or maxima
 

Charlie,  What is this world coming to?  Has the spector of the Mayan calendar coming to an end and with it the world caused you to leave your senses?  Stay away from the light!!!  LOL 

Charlie I know your not a snob and would much rather flail a fly but you , like me, know sometimes we need a little advantage now and then..
I have many noodles from 8'6 all the way to 13'6 and honestly I have used them very little lately but thats only from lack of river time in the winter.. As I have said many times here when I fished there more in winter conditions the noodles were my choice..
 
I will agree that St. Croix "were" the rods to beat back in the day when mine were bought.. They had good quality products and warrantee.. Now these days I think quality went down (so I have been told) as other brands have become standard quality when compared to them..
 
PLEASE, Please, take one of mine.. I have 6 and no way on earth will I ever get use again out of all 6.. Just no way.. So Take one and give it a whirl..
As for reel :
Anti-reverse,  ANTI-REVERSE, none of that back turn of the reel on a hook set..
I like a slightly larger (med) reel that will hold 120-150 yards of 8# line.. Straight up 8 # Triline XT (clear, they don't make solar any longer) .. While my rod may be rated 2-6# , I like straight up 8# main line with a lighter tippet..  I have landed many fish, salmon included just using the main line so the rods will take it but you know enough about tippet already..
 
Bait:
Yes, I use(d) flys often on the noodle but again you seen first hand what a difference scent can make so get some sacks to throw out as well to mix it up..
Heck even Jack knows how deadly a floating jig head with a twister tail can be too..
Hope all this helps in you Quest for steel and someday I may be able to break free again to join you in some spin steel..
We might even toss a bobber too.. lol
 
Since my deer hunting ended I have been busy as heck trying to get some of these MUST do things outta the way before the Ice hits..
Things are starting to slow down as the must do priorities have been getting done.. Like a bathroom..lol
We scrapped the woodstove Idea (didn't want the kid to burn my house down) and I just finished installing a shinny new pellet stove in the apartment tonight (now he'll burn all MY pellets up)..
 
See ya soon  
 

Charlie- I am in SHOCK
  Hey- my Noodle is about 25 years old and about 9 feet long. More length would be nice but it works very well on the SR. Hate to admit it but am still using a Mitchell 300 reel on it and the drag continues to be just fine. 8 to 10 lb test. Never paid recent attention to the rods make but it may well be a St Croix- has had a number of Steel as well as an occaional Ho and King on it- always dependable.
  Frankly have had just about as much luck roll casting sacs with the longer Switch rod and leaders of about 11 feet. When doing that the leader I use is simply one length of about 8 lb test spinning line. Usually Trilene XL.
     One real benefit to the noodle  is the ability to cast in tight  areas where even rolling would be difficult. Of course it is much easier to just cast the spin outfit however it gets real limited in freezing weather.
  Never know what to take untill I'm about to leave the house- depends on the mood apparently.

I'm not so much in shock because of our Hudson River adventures but will be curious to see how long he will deal with the cast and reel..
I can see him now trying to strip in mono...lol
Could go old school though..
My very first Salmon River rod was a berkley Cherrywood fly rod and a mitchell 300 taped on the handle   It caught steel but more so hooked me on the fishery.
I guess that would be Taboo now though..lol
 
P.S.
If you chose, Don't overlook the FISHUSA store..
I have bought many things through here (like a Vex :) and they are fantastic service..
Their Cortland 10'6 rods look very good to me..

get a pinnicale rod 10ft ul....$40 at pineville
put a shamano sadona on it $60 approx.
fill it with your favorite mono, throw a 3 ft fluoro leader on it
get the blue goo sacks and have fun :)

priceless