I am by no means a seasoned fly fisher as are many on this board so I ask for their assistance. I am trying to decide on whether to buy a 7wt or 8wt outfit. I already have a 5wt that I use for trout in the winter here in oklahom and for perch and bass as the weather warms. I would like to be able to throw some of the bigger bassing flies that are around and dont believe that the 5wt is up to it. I think that I need the bigger outfit to toss the larger flies, but I still want that good fight when I get a bass on without feeling like I am using a stiff board for a pole. I guess it would help for me to know what size range of flies that each weight can comfortably throw, I suppose they are just general guidlines. Hope that makes sense. What reccomendations and guidlines do you have for my situation? thanks okbow
We use 6 & 8wts here in central OK depending on the time of the year, and where we are fishing. You can cast bass bugs on the 6wt but with the OK wind and big fish you will wish you had the 8 wt. It also depends on the type of cover on the waters you fish. The heavier the cover the more rod you will want.
I believe the 8wt is a more versatile rod. you never know someday you may want to fish in the salt and you could get by with the 8wt.
I’ve been having the same argument with myself and about decided to go with an 8 weight, probably a TFO Pro series. I already have a TFO TiCr 8 weight but have found that at shorter casting distances (like bass fishing) it works me to death because it needs alot of line out to load properly. Conversation with a couple of guys whose opinion I respect has lead me to the Pro series. Go with the 8 weight, it’ll do for bass, stripers, and salt water too.
When in doubt, choose the heavier one. The 8wt is still a light rod compared to many casting rods.
TxBuddha, Dan Blanton made the same comment on his board awhile back.
Now that you have several people are recommending that you opt for the 8wt, I thought that I’d weigh in on recommending the 7 wt. I fish for bass and crappie extensively and found that a 7wt is the perfect rod (at least for me). I started with an 8wt and found it a bit too heavy to cast all day so I switched to a 7 wt and love it. I can cast everything from a size 12 Crappie fly to a size 1/0 bass streamer. Of course you should try to cast the rods you’re considering before you make your final choice. My favorite 7wt is a 9ft Sage RPL either 2 or 4 piece. If you shop around a bit you can usually pick a good used one for about $225.
Jim Smith
I’ll second Jim’s comments. I like my 7 wt better than my 8 wt. I fish for bass and Stripers from a boat primarly. I can fish my 7 wt all day long, but casting the 8 wt wears me out a lot faster. To me, there’s not that much difference in distance or size of fly castability between the two rods, but the 7 wt is much more enjoyable to cast for longer time periods. I do prefer the 8 wt when I’m casting a full sinking line, but for a floating line, I’d rather have the 7 wt.
Rex
Well I appreciate all your opinions but I still havent decided, anyone else want to chime in?
With an 8wt, you can go to a 9wt or even 10wt line for short casts with heavily weighted or bulky wind resistant flies, or you can cast high density 300 to 350 grain sinking lines.
I often use flies on hooks to 4/0 and up to 8 inches long and it is much easier to deliver such flies with heavier lines.
7 Wgt. You won’t regret it.
Bob
I personnally love my 8-weight. It is a Scientific Anglers with a fighting butt. I use it behind the spillway for stripers, on the lakes for big bass, and have even used it in Florida and South Ga. for saltwater, and the flats. It has always worked wonderfully. The only thing I haven’t done is try for Tarpon with it. That’s probably pushing it.
Semper Fi!
i first bought a 10 wt from l.l. bean years ago, it will cast a wet cat in the wind. i then got an 8 wt diamondback that i have yet to need for bass but use in saltwater, then i got a 5, 4 and 3 and they are my preference. use the smallest size that the conditions allow and hope to add a 1 weight someday
okbow68,
Last season we won an Echo2 8wt. It sure fit nicely in the quiver, as that was an open slot. We have used it some for stripers for which we usually toss 4"+ bugs. We decided that we DO like the 8. This season we will use it a lot for LM’s and pulling them from the poop we toss into. We definitely look foward to this useage.
We have several 7wts. We used them religiously for tossing to stripers and LM’s for awhile. We won a 10wt. We generally put the 7wt’s away after that. Especially when big bugs are the offering of choice. This 8wt has us guessing again. 
It is an easy tossing rod, but then we toss a 10wt a lot too, for the same purposes.
This ain’t a plug for the Echo (though it IS a grand rod) but a plug for the 8wt relating to your question. Like tailingloop says, bigger rods more easily toss bigger lines which more easily toss bigger flies.
It does seem a bit redundant argueing grand benifits derived from only one rod weight difference, as there really ain’t that much. Now two or three wt. differences…
…lee s.
okbow:
I live in south central Oklahoma (Ada), and most of my fishing is done with a 3 or 4 weight because I usually fish streams. However, whenever I venture to a pond or lake, I never carry anything lighter than a 5 or 6 weight rod. If I’m fishing water where I am likely to hook into large bass, carp, stripers, or wipers, then I will definitely carry my 8 weight. Based on several recommendations, I use a 9 weight line with this rod. The rod (a TFO) is easily strong enough to cast for distance with a 9 weight line, and by loading the rod more easily, keeps it from feeling too stiff.
Larry Compton
Well small world we are both in Ada.
Well folks I believe that I have settled on an 8wt for this rod, notice I said THIS rod, I am sure there will be more, much to the disdain of the wife lol
thanks again
My first heavy bass rod was an 8 weight, but that was when I lived on the coast and played around with the stripers too. That was fine until I snapped the tip putting it in the trunk of the car one day. Now that I’m a bit more landlocked, I replaced it with a 7 weight and like the responsiveness. I still use my 8 weight line on windy days if I need that little extra push though.