[Mark]

I used to fish a lot of Sage rods (mostly RPLXi's but some XP's as well) in addition to some T&T's and Powells. Then I had a chance to try a Loomis Cross Current when they came out - anybody notice a bunch of rods on eBay about two years ago?! Those Cross current rods are now my favorite and I have a closet full of them. I have fished three of the Pro-1 rods (the one piece version) but due to my current living situation, they are not portable enough for me so I have the 4pc GLX models of the Cross Current series. The advantage of the one piece rod is the tremendous savings in weight. The one recommendation I would have regarding the Pro-1's is to line them up one size: fish a 10wt line on the 9wt rod and it will load a bit better, as well as a 9wt line on the 8wt (all this goes out the window if you are using sinking lines offshore). I found them to be slightly underrated as to line designation. Otherwise, they are fantastic. Additionally, the "expiditer service" that Loomis has for warranty repair/replacement is the best there is: you get a new rod in 48 hours, regardless of whether a fish or your car door caused the breakage (for little more than the shipping and handling that other manufacturers charge).

As for reels, the Billy Pate series by Ted Juracsik are about as durable and smooth operating as production fly reels get. The Bonefish model will match up nicely with your 8wt (consider using 50# spectra backing to increase capacity over dacron). I personally think the Tarpon model is too big for the 9wt and think it would feel unbalanced. I would try to either get another Bonefish model, or maybe a Tibor Riptide, which is also made by Ted Juracsik.

At any rate, you have some top of the line gear to play with.

have fun/
mark