Anyone that has fly fished steelhead in Michigan will tell you, "Ya have to get your fly to drift near the bottom to be in the Steelheads strike zone."   With that in mind, it goes without saying that you are going to snag up and brake off more then a few times, so the ability to tie your own flies is almost a necessity unless money is no object.

I spend most of my cold winter month behind the vise tying steelhead flies and dreaming of an early spring, 10 pound chrome torpedoes tail walking across the water with me at the other end of a long fly rod, and enjoying every minute of the battle.  

The Lord has blessed  me with the best of both worlds, that not many enjoy.  Living less than 80 miles from some 4 world class steelhead rivers and still being near larger industrial areas so I could rise and provide well  for my family.  I thank him every day.