8wt Choices & Questions

[shane cavitt]

I am looking at adding an 8wt to the arsenal. The problem I am having with my decision is in whether to get a 9′ or 8′. Living where I do in Texas I will target LM bass most often and like the idea of the shorter rod. I have heard good things about the 8′ Scott A3 rods and I am also considering something like the Redington Predator. I also want to start fishing some salt and would be targeting redfish and hopefully bones one day. In the 9′ length I am considering a Helios or Winston BIIMX. I might even throw a Scott into the mix. I have even considered the TFO Clouser as a sort of compromise of the two.

I know that I can target LM bass and other freshwater fish with the 9′ and do not need a bass “specific” rod. However, I am wondering if the 8′ would work for chasing redfish, bones and freshwater stripers or would I be limiting the casting capabilities need to chase these fish?

[jake atkins]

I can’t give you much insight for saltwater. But I have been using a Sage VT2 8wt 9′. For a mildly priced rod it has performed excellent. I use it mainly for LM and carp and catfish.

[Chris Beech]

Hi Shane,

I use the Scott A3 8′ #8 here in Australia – mostly for short to medium accurate casts to cover. I can still cast it 60-70 feet without any dramas, probably further if I bothered to use a different line – but you will probably be able to cast further with a 9′ rod. I’ve been using the SA Redfish Taper or SA Sharkskin Magnum – both match well.

I highly recommend looking at the new S4S or the slightly more affordable X2S nine footers from the Scott range – both amongst my favorites (#8 weights are ‘go to’ rods for me…).

Whatever your choice, it sounds like you’re going to be getting into some great fish!

Best Regards,

Beechy

[Billy Belsom]

Shane,

The 8 footer may well be a superior choice for LM bass – I don’t have much experience chasing those on the fly. But it really sounds like you want an all-around 8 weight for sweetwater and salt. In that case I might stick with the nine foot rod, which is the standard length for a “do-it-all” 8 weight.

Also consider that you don’t really know your rod until many hours on the water. As you get more familiar with it you might decide to sell it in favor of another rod. And you would probably have a better second-hand market for the nine footer.

Just some thoughts. Have fun picking one out; buying a new rod is pretty exciting!

Billy

[keith b]

Shane,
I have a Helios 8 9ft and have fished it half way around the world in all kinds of conditions from Gail force winds to calm lagoons. I absolutely love it.
I just returned from Pine Island Florida and cast it into a stiff wind for two days and never felt tired. I watched my Master Cetified CCI pick it up and throw a seriously tight into the teeth of the wind about 85 feet just to see how it cast since he had never used one.
I cannot say enough good things about the Helios!!!

[Grant Wright]

I just picked up an Xi3 7wt — In short, it is an incredible rod.

[dan boggs]

Shane,

I have to give you a vote for the Clouser- just tried one out the other day and it was fantastic. You will also want to try the Mini Mag from TFO- it is an 8′ that dials right in to that bass/ mangrove fishing but has tremendus lifting power.

Or – (and this is coming from a guy with 12++ rods-) buy 2. (Cost basis)

Dan

[jonathan erwin]

Shane–
I live in your area, and most of my fishing is for LMB in area lakes and redfish at the coast.  For me, the biggest advantages of a shorter rod are: (1) they can be somewhat easier to handle if you’re fishing out of a little boat; and (2) they give you more leverage if you are trying to keep bass out of heavy cover.  But honestly, these advantages are pretty marginal; I can’t think of any fish that I caught with a short rod that I couldn’t have landed with a 9′ rod.  And down on the Texas flats (I haven’t fished the rigs or done much jetty fishing), I have never needed the kind of lifting power you get from a rod like the mini mag.  Down there, you need to be able to cast quickly and accurately, deal with wind (which includes turning over long-ish leaders), and be able to pick up and re-cast a lot of line if necessary.  I’m not sure a rod shorter than 8.5′ provides a major advantage under those conditions.  In terms of distance and picking up line, a really short rod sounds like a handicap. But, admittedly, I’ve never tried a rod that short on the flats.  The shortest rod that I’ve used down there was a 8’8″ Scott HP, which was great.  There was an article in the now-defunct mag “Shallow Water Angler” that dealt with this very issue; it might be on the web somewhere.

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