The 8 weight fly rod is an essential tool for nearly every fly angler. Whether targeting Bonefish, Steelhead, Bass, or Pike, its versatility is unrivaled. Fortunately, there are many excellent 8 weight rods available today, with features that suit any angling pursuit. Today, we’ll take a look at several of the very best 8 weights of 2025, to help you pick the right tool for your fishing.
Sage is a brand with a long history of building legendary saltwater fly rods. However, their past few flagship salt series have largely disappointed. Sure, there were a few solid models, but most were too stiff, fast, and clunky for the average angler. When we had the opportunity to cast each rod in the new R8 Salt series, we were immediately impressed by Sage’s commitment to developing a salt-specific series that is enjoyable to cast for the average angler.
Thomas & Thomas has long been known for building some of the finest saltwater fly rods in the world, and the Sextant series continues this tradition. Typical of T&T, the Sextant features high-end components and a build quality that few other production rods can match. While we appreciate the sharp looks, these are high-performance tools for the discerning destination flats angler, providing a nice balance between feel and power.
I recently spent a week fishing Turneffe Atoll, Belize in preparation for a hosted trip I have scheduled in April. I stayed at the Turneffe Flats lodge, which is located on the northeast (Caribbean) side of the atoll, and is situated in perfect location for easy fishing/diving access. “Flats,” as it’s nicknamed, is even stationed right along a home flat which would hold bonefish and at times permit and triggerfish during various times of the day. Most days, either early morning or when I returned to the lodge in the evening, I would see tailing fish feeding no more than 40 feet away. So, right off the bat the location seemed great. I was anxious to see what the rest of Turneffe Flats would show me.
Introduction If you’re around any fly shop long enough, you get to know the local gear junkies – the guys who really know (or want to know) everything about the latest and greatest tackle. These are the guys who hid paychecks from their wives to pick up the Hardy Zenith last spring. And when […]
