I use a light 12ft for7wt Winston spey rod for GL steelheading on the bigger rivers. The spey rod is light enough to singe hand cast or use as a 2-hander. The main advantage for me is that my landing rate has dramatically increase with the forgiving tip of the spey rod.

On smaller streams where the spey rod is just too long for the bushes and overhanging trees I use a full flex 10 ft 6wt rod. The stiff, fast action rods just lose two many hook ups.

I do not like to go shorter than 10ft as it limits line control in mending and guiding the line through the runs.