Hi Guys,
Sorry for getting in on this post at such a late date...attached are some pictures from a recent trip to the Thompson...This river was built for the 17 footer...As Bruce stated...the rod will do a very admirable job of picking and casting a long belly line...It was designed to load well at 80-85' of a 10/11 long belly, or 90-95' belly of a 9/10. Bruce is an exceptional caster capable of carrying and casting much longer lines, therefore, I believe his preference for an XLT 9/10 out of the box...during my trip to the Thompson, I was actually using an xlt 8/9 cut for tips, and this rod truly excells. While certainly not necessary for many rivers, I was able to cover and hook fish at my maximum casting distances..I hope everyone has the opportunity to fish and enjoy this rod as much as I have..and yes, it will make an appearance at the Musto this year, but may be in a longer big brother version...sorry again for the late reply.
Best Regards,
steve