An angler's relationship with his or her gear-both that already owned and that taking up residence on the mental shopping list-seems to be one of the more common cliches thrown around. Of course, there's really only one way to become a clinch.

To some, namely those who do not fish, I'm sure it's aggravating-the garages overstuffed with rods, the boat parked next to the house, six tackle boxes crammed with line and lures, season-specific wading boots-but in all honesty, Alaska is not an environment that rewards taking the minimalist's approach. Whether you're in the market for a new Kenai king rod or for the right rain jacket to take on an Aniak float in the fall, it can actually be more economical, and more sensible, to buy the best equipment you can afford right at the start of the process, rather than purchasing the same discounted items year after year. In Alaska-the ultimate proving ground-many items won't make it a day, let alone a year.

Weather and geography aside, this whole business of angling equipment gets a little more complicated when anglers factor in favored species and techniques, especially as manufacturers have become more inclined to offer products heavily engineered towards success in a single application. For this Alaskan, that's no truer than when considering rod options for chasing the state's steelhead.

First off, there is no such thing as a Ônormal' setup for fishing Alaska's steelhead, which can be found in everything from the pocket water of short, shallow coastal streams to the deep runs of a larger river like some of those found on the Alaska Peninsula. An angler might only need a six-weight rod and floating line one day, while the next rising water levels might require stepping up to an eight-weight in order to toss heavier sinking lines. If there's any common trait to steelhead gear, it's that anglers will want a fast-action rod with a stiff butt section. No matter the line weight it's designed to cast, a rod with a faster action will allow anglers to throw tighter loops, which aids not only in casting for distance, but when forced to deliver a fly through driving wind, a common condition encountered by Alaska's steelhead fraternity. After the cast, steelheaders will also need a rod that excels in all phases of line control, whether nymphing or fishing on the swing, and then something capable of countering that famous steelhead brawn.

Increasingly trendy are the line of 10- and 11-foot rods that currently populate the market, as the longer rods are typically more versatile, allowing anglers to roll cast, mend and pick-up line easier and faster than ever before. Similarly, an angler fishing a 10-foot seven-weight can effectively high-stick a Glo-Bug through a promising pocket on the Anchor River and then use that same rod when loading up with heavy sinking lines to swing streamers on the Karluk in a 20-knot wind. Also growing in stature within the state is the current crop of two-handed or Spey rods, something like the new Scott T2H, which simply exceeds any reasonable standard when considered as a tool built to chase steelhead. However, most of Alaska's steelhead streams aren't large enough to require the use of a two-handed rod, though when water is up on rivers such as the Karluk, Sandy and others, a double-hander is the ideal choice.

For specific rod weights, a six is probably the lightest all-purpose steelhead rod an angler will want to use in Alaska. A nine and a half or ten-foot seven-weight may be the closest thing there is to a perfect steelhead fly rod for the state, though anglers needing to toss big, bushy flies will likely prefer an eight-weight rod. Unless steelhead over fifteen pounds are expected, which is rare in Alaska, the size of the fish should actually play little part in rod choice, since a six-weight will still allow an angler to completely control a ten-pound steelhead. In some conditions, however, a nine or ten-weight rod can come in handy, especially if forced to toss the heaviest of sinking lines or fish through near-gale-force wind. The Situk, Alaska's most famous steelhead fishery, provides its own problems for the rod purchaser, who will need to consider both the larger-than-average size of the fish, and the smaller-than-average size of the stream. Bigger is probably better here.

In the end, when serious about fishing in Alaska, and especially for Alaska's steelhead, knowing I already own three rods that were bought specifically for steelhead doesn't make the need for a fourth any less glaring.