Jason,
Whether hen or rooster hackle is the better choice depends on the water type you are fishing. If fishing the slow water found in holes and eddies, hen hackle is a very good choice because its softer fibers will move at the slightest hint of current. However, if fishing riffles, bouldery runs, pocket water, tailouts, rooster hackle is a better choice because it is stiffer and more resistent to collapsing against the fly's body like hen hackle would in the faster water.
This is why most tyers of steelhead flies (with the exception of spey and dee type flies that require a soft hackle with long barbs) use Chinese or Whiting rooster neck hackle.