I have the 9' 8wt. and when I got it it was on sale plus you got a free Pflueger Medalist fly reel. I got a 1494 for another rod and put my 1495 on this one with an wf8f for throwing bigger bass stuff. I have a Para17 bamboo but it just doesn't do the job with watersoaked big flies. One of the few situations where I pick plastic over wood.