I wrap a turn or two of this stuff on the rod handle:

https://www.allelectronics.com/item/sft-5/self-fusing-rubber-tape/1.html

It's a little tacky, sheds water, and gives you a good pinch point when it's cold out. It won't hurt the cork either.

That being said, I'm done with steelhead. Many, many trips with no fish. I haven't even seen other guys catch anything. I get the "toughing it out" part of this but somewhere along the line you realize there are better things to do, like fish Trout in tailwater. They actually bite once in a while.