I'm by no means an expert but having been to Erie a few times i'll weigh in. A guide would be a great asset but by no means necessary . Elk , Walnut , 4mile, 12mile plus several smaller streams hold Steelhead. Depending on how you fish for stock trout it's not a lot different. 8'-9' Ultralite to light rods work well just have a reel with a good smooth drag and fill it with quality 4-6 lb mono and maybe a Fluoro leader if clear water. Lot of lures/ baits work well . Minnows dead or alive are working well , as are trout magnets , berkely trout worms and gulp minnows. There are quite a few informative Youtube videos that show a lot of the water and techniques. Good luck , tight lines and screaming drags !
