I would suggest buying the rod. I have 4 3wgt rods and only one is less than 9' and it is an 8 footer. I have the same rod you are looking at. I guided the Missouri and the Bighorn and many of the spring creeks here in Montana and I have used a 9' rod most of that time. It allows me to keep higher back casts And also lets you keep more line off the water on the smaller streams. I think that you will find in the west that 9 foot rods will be of more advantage to you than a short rod. Just an opinion. Ron