I want to build a steelhead fly rod. Any suggestions? I already have an 8wt I built on a an older AMTAK blank but I've never fly fished. Lol I don't know if it's the right rod or not.thanks for any and all suggestions.

Mark,
Not sure where you are trying to fish but in the northeast in many of the Great Lake tribs an 8wt is fine. The Amtak blank in more of a medium fast blank with is perfect to protect lighter tippets. If you want build another rod I would not build another single hand rod, I would build a 7 or 8wt 11' switch rod. You can treat it like a single hand where it will give you better control when indicator fishing or you can throw two hands with a skagit line and swing flies. Which blank you choose will depend on your budget.

Quinn, I did fail to mention where I'll most likely be fishing. For the most part lake Michigan tributaries from Indiana up towards U.P. Michigan

Then I would go with the switch. However since you have never fly fished I would learn with what you have. Figure out the style of fishing you plan to do (indicator, nymphing, swinging) and get a few fish on the rod before spending more money. If yo don't have friends to learn from I suggest you hire a guide on the water you want to fish. He/she will teach you the basics and reduce the learning curve. Keep in mind that most of the fly fishing on the tribs is NOT traditional overhead fly casting. You will most likely be doing various forms of "chuck and duck" and roll casts. This reduced the learning curve as well. Finally, I would overline your rod. Since it is a 8wt I would put a 9 or 10wt floating line on there. If you are fishing in the winter then you will need to get to the bottom which means weight of some sort. A heavier line will turn the rig over better.

Thanks Quinn, I just set up a trip to Pere Marquette River Michigan in 2 weeks and have a guide lined up as well. They are supplying all equipment so I guess that will be as good time as any to figure things out as well. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts.

Have fun. Hopefully you will be on foot and not in a drift boat as far as figuring out how to fish. You rod setup will be complete different if you are on a boat.

Great lakes tributary fishing for steelhead is pretty much "chuck and duck" - leader, split-shot, fly. Forget about rules for fly casting. You will spend a lot of time smacking your guides against something hard to clear the ice off them. I have found Recoil Lite snake guides easiest to clear of ice build-up because they are so flexible. Don't forget a couple of Forhan wraps.

That rod is slightly less powerful that a TFO TiCr's but the same action angle, been at least 5 years, but I remember it being a decent sink tip and roll casting rod.

REC recoils are definitely the way to go but I like the heavy ones better. I use them along with Pac Bay Minima strippers. No rings to pop out. The fishery does not have to be only chuck and duck. I don't fish that way but C&D is definitely the most efficient way to do it.

ERN around 10.2, AA 70 - 72 degree range.

Now that sounds like a safe method of angling , the "Chuck & duck" , helmet strongly encouraged

Very funny. Honestly the worst fly fishing accidents I have seen have from spey rods and usually involved ears......

Tight loops while casting are definitely not recommended using Chuck and Duck.