For a dream trip if one knows what he's doing and also knows the water, DIY. If not, then a guide responding to a thousand of your questions is the way to go. When I moved to the PNW, steelheading was new to me and uneventful for two seasons. One trip with a long term guide, and I'll catch them if they're there.
Pretty much agree, especially of you are fishing a new species like steelhead.
I fish the eastern shore Lake Michigan tributaries for both steelhead & salmon, & timing is crucial, as is various types of rigging & access to enough water to find fish, so you really, really need a guide.
I fish pretty exclusively with flies & there's more than 1 way to rig & fish, depending on the water, & the only way you learn that is with time or someone showing you.
And you need to book a guide very early, 9-12 months is not at all unusual.
If you decide to fish GL steelhead in Michigan, let me know if I can give you any more info.
MM
