Using the right gear certainly helps, but you won’t effectively catch salmon or steelhead without the proper technique.
First and foremost, use the right bait (find the best buzzbait for bass here). Salmon and steelhead go crazy for live bait and cut bait, but flash trap spinners work just as well.
Also, make sure your hooks are incredibly sharp. These fish have thick jaws that can make hook setting more difficult.
Finally, pay attention to timing. Salmon and steelhead are best caught an hour before or after high or low tide.