I wanted to extend my gratitude to this entire website and all those who share their knowledge within it. When I first started perusing this site I did not even know the differece between a corkie and a cannonball. Yesterday, on my third attempt, I managed to hook and land a nice hatchery hen steelhead from the N. Santiam. It was 27" and seemed to be a nice fish. I was feeling a bit disheartend yet oddly invigorated after seeing a very large fish follow my spoon into the shallows and then missing a hit on the same spoon a bit later. I then switched to a float and white wooly bugger type jig with a pink head and after a couple casts my float shot down and went screaming down river like a neon orange and yellow torpedo. I thought I was going to get spooled on my first fish!
Thanks for the great tips, how to's, and other info!

Great job on your first steelhead. I'm glad we helped you on your way to becoming a master steelheader. Once you get your first bobber down there will be many to follow soon.