DG has the right idea, finding the fish and reading water are the 2 main things. Depending on your experience with big crazy fish, you can go as light as a 6 wt. I use a 9' 8wt and a reel with a GREAT drag, very important. I probably use an indicator (the expensive word for bobber) 75% of the time, high stick 20%, and swing a streamer 5%. High sticking is just nymphing without a bobber. I fish the Lake Erire tribs and if you have a few nymphs, some egg patterns, and #4 to #10 Buggers (black, brown, olive, & white), you are covered. Check out the Erie Steelie flies at the madriveroutfitters.com. One "pattern" I've noticed is smaller and more natural colored flies on bright days and clear water and larger and darker flies on dark days and stained water. If I had to go to only one fly it would be either the Rummel (?) Mini Bugger or Jim's Lil BH Bugger. Hope this helps.