Do not use steel wool on a stainless steel fly rod, you will destroy the stainless steel surface, causing damage that cannot be repaired.

Stainless Steel is a Chromium Alloy Steel that has been heated to a high temperature, then dipped into a acid bath, to remove all the surface Iron particles.

It you use steel wool on the item, you will destroy the surface layer, causing the iron particles beneath the surface to be exposed, and to start rusting.

~Parnelli