Don't bring a knife to a gun fight...

I got out of school early yesterday so I rushed home to grab my gear and then it was on to the river.  I wadered up and reached for my rod tube.  As I pulled the butt end of the rod out of the tube I noticed a problem.  I brought a 5 weight rod, not the 10’ 7 weight rod I use for steelhead fishing.  So there I was, standing in the parking lot wearing waders on a beautiful 50 degree sunny afternoon and I had a 5 weight rod and 7 weight reel.  I was screwed.  The rod, reel, and line would not balance.  If I did try to use this bastardized rig, there was a good chance of breaking the rod because a 5 weight is too light to fish for steelhead.  I was outgunned.