I agree w/ Chuck for all those reasons...

I chuck some pretty big stuff w/ my 8wt, bass bug taper line w/o any extra muscle. And I've had to use the fighting butt on my rod a few times too

I use an 8 wt Pfluger rod, and a Martin Multiplier reel to pick up the slack line quick on fish I need to put on the reel. Works for me...