Choosing between the CND Steelhead and Skagit Specialists would be tough for me... they each have endearing characteristics that I've come to appreciate and I am glad I can cast and fish them both
The Steelhead at 14'4" is a bit more powerful through it's upper regions and has a very authoritative taper that allows the caster to add a little stroke length, accelerate smoothly and really put a long line out there. It has been described by dealers and fishermen as being a rod that casts well with "any line" meaning any line within it's grain range, which appears to be very broad unlike some rods that are quite picky. I chose the Steelhead Specialist for my FFF cert test because it pretty much does anything you ask, including making the distance casts without breaking a sweat even under pressure.
But the Skagit is very light in the hands as Kush mentions, and has such excellent power transfer from it's willing tip, feel-good midsections down to a very deep reserve of surprising power in the butt that work really well with the more relaxed and circular motions that help keep sinktips moving despite additional water tension. It has been designed and field-proven by the authorities in fishing sinking tips with shorter heads and gnarly flies, passing field tests by the most scrutinous of river addicts with flying colors.
Both of these rods are superb dry line rods as well. The Steelhead is a great extended belly dry line rod with the guts to launch the big lines to cover great river expanses, in fact I would not hesitate to fish it on the Cowlitz or even the Thompson with a long belly line (although the Salar or Thompson Specialist would provide a some advantages there).
The Skagit is such a light agile rod that it makes a great summer run rod, and with a mid-length floater and that sweet tip you can throw laser beam loops with a little underhand tuck or switch to tips to reach into the reserve power in the butt anytime you want to get down and dirty.
Both are CND exclusive IM8 aerospace-grade graphite 4-pc rods with alum tubes in a distinct sagebrush finish with titanium framed SiC tip guide and hard chrome SiC Fuji strip guides, premium hardware throughout and have Mr.Nodera's "magic touch".
Tough choice, but I would base my decision on length of line you want to fish and summer/fall techniques you prefer. If you want a broad range of line styles from long belly lines cut with tips looped on, to mid-length w/ tips to shorter heads I would go for the Steelhead. It will also give you the extended belly summer long line rod.
If you plan to fish more conventional shorter heads with tips, and you're interested in Skagit casting in tighter quarters, also would like a lighter summer duty sweetheart then the Skagit is the way to go.
Good luck with your decision,
Juro
