Bob, There used to be a fellow on R.O.F.F. that lived somewhere up in Niagara County - he fished the lower Niagara River for big steelhead. They sounded just like the fish you talk about too. Where do you go FF'ing - Cattaraugus (SP?) Creek? You should try to find yourself the 9' Heddon 2-3/4F rod taper (or get an original rod), it's a great WF8 rod. Don Burns