Orion,

It's the tippet strength that determines how much 'pressure' you can put on a fish (given that the rod can break the tippet).

You ALWAYS want to be sure that the tippet is the 'weak link' in the chain, NOT the rod.

So, first find out what size tippet your rod can 'break'.

I find that my 3 wt. can break 3X without seeming to be too stressed, so that's as heavy as I'll go with it.

My 6 wt. can break 0x, again, that's the 'heviest' I'll go. You can do a lot of 'horsing' with that amount of pressure, provided you know how to apply it.

Still, I'd say that 'horsing' a bass, especially on it's initial spurt (can't really call it a 'run' can we?) is difficult with ANY fly rod. After that, they tend to be pretty easy to land.

In any event, I've had bass wrap me up and get away with a 9 wt., and I've landed bigger ones in the same cover with a 3.

Sometimes the fish wins.

Besides, most bass caught are in the 10 to 16 inch range anyway, and you'll have no trouble with those on a 5 wt.. The bigger ones are supposed to be harder, right?

Good Luck!

Buddy