Im looking for a fly rod to be used for bass in large ponds and lake coves and also for redfish in the upper / middle coast.

I need a rod that can handle large bass bugs and poppers when needed for freshwater and also put up with the stiff breezes that are common on the upper coast when saltwater fishing.

Should I lean towards an 8wt or 9wt?

I would lean toward the 8 (and might even use a 7 myself). In my opinion people "over-rod" like they pull too much poundage on a bow. It's "manly" but rarely needed.

You can turn over a big bug with a 7 weight rod, even in pretty good winds.

I don't use a fly rod but I build my spinning rods out of G Loomis fly rod blanks....I have them in 9, 9.5 & 10' lengths. Most of what I have are 7 weight. I have a couple of 9' in 6 weight but they are a little light for most people. I catch oversized reds with the 7 weight.....no problem other than time.

I started a long time ago with an 8 weight but I quit using them after I made the first one out of a 7.

[This message has been edited by sunchaser (edited 9/5/2008 2:56p).]

There is really no reason for anything bigger than an 8wt for anything in Texas you'll catch on a flyrod unless you go offshore or happen to luck into some tarpon off a jetty somewhere.

A 6-8wt would be fine for bass, redfish, trout, snook, drum, stripers, etc. but a 6wt can be difficult for some people to cast very far unless it's dead calm.

An 8 weight is probably the best overall choice.

I would get a line specific to each application.
You will be surprised at how line choice will change a rod's performance. A bass bug or triangle taper line will turn over the bigger bulkier flies for bass and load at shorter range but penalizes you on distance. A Saltwater or Redfish specific line will reach out a little further and land a little softer.

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what he said.

You can use lighter rods but if its blowing a little or you've got a big fly on, its easier to turn an 8 over.

8wt it is. Thanks for all the quick responses.

I guess I always thought it would be better to go heavier than lighter, but I can imagine how tiring it could be casting a heavier rod all day.

By the way...Sage appears to be clearancing their FLI line as they make upgrades...Cabelas, Bass Pro, and other locations are getting rid of them $100 off.