Below is a list of gear you will want to have for fly fishing rivers for Sea Run Cutthroat (SRC), summer steelhead, and light salmon in rivers. The ideal rod is a 9.5 ft 5wt mid flex (medium action) fly rod. This rod length makes it easier to pick the line up off the water and cast longer distances. It also gives you a slight advantage over a 9 foot rod for reaching over current seams and controlling the speed of the fly as it swings across the current. A medium action 5 wt rod is soft enough that you won't break off a lot of fish on the hook-set on a hard take. I personally use a 9 ft 6wt Orvis Clearwater rod with a 7 wt Aeroflow floating line. However, if I were to buy a rod specifically for Sea Run Cutthroat and Summer Steelhead, I would probably buy a 9.5 ft 5wt Loomis GL3 or GLX, or a 9 ft 5wt Sage VPS.
When you are fishing over steelhead and salmon, you must have a good reel if you want any chance of landing the fish. Also, since the steelhead runs have been declining steadily over that last 20 years, you want a reel that will help you tire the fish quickly and allow you to release the fish unharmed. A reel with a clicker drag alone will not do the job. Plan to spend $200 or more for a decent steelhead reel.
| Item | Type | Brand (Retailer) | Avg. Price |
| Rod | 9.5 ft 5wt (1) | Loomis GL3 or GLx | $250 |
| 9 ft 5wt (2) | Sage Discovery | $250 | |
| 9 ft 5wt (2) | Sage VPS | $330 | |
| 9 ft 5wt (2) | Orvis Trident TLS | $310 | |
| 9 ft 6wt (3) | Orvis Clearwater | $130 | |
| Reel | 5-6 Disc Drag (1)(2)(3) | Redingtion Standard or Large Arbor | $180 |
| Reel | 5-6 Disc Drag (1)(2)(3) | J. Ryall Steelhead Series | $250 |
| Line | WF5F or WF6F (1)(2), WF6F or WF7F (3) | Cortland 444 (Cabela'a, Ted's, Sweede's) | $50 |
| Line | WF5F or WF6F (1)(2), WF6F or WF7F (3) | Scientific Angler (Cabela'a, Ted's, Sweede's) | $50 |
| Line | WF5F or WF6F (1)(2), WF6F or WF7F (3) | Aeroflow (Cabela'a, Ted's, Sweede's) | $50 |
| Dry Fly Leader | 9 ft knottless bonefish leader tapered to 10 lb | Scientific Anglers | $3.75 |
| Wet Fly Leader | 9 ft 10 lb straight leader | Maxima ultragreen | $3.75 |
| Tippet (Add 1.5 ft to end of leader) | Spool of 3X (9lb) fluorocarbon | Seaguar Grand MAX | $3.75 |
| Flies | Summer and Fall | Baitfish patterns, Spiders and Reverse Spiders in Red, Yellow, Black, Polar Shrimp, Bombers, Wakers, Green Butt Skunk, October Caddis (Orange Body), Stimulators, Elk Hair Caddis (Grey Body), Size 8, 10, Heavily Weighted Lead Eye Marabou Flies, Size 4, 6, 8 | $2.00 each |