Paul,
The T&T 1510 is one of my favorite rods. I use a GrandSpey 8/9 on it for summer/fall steelhead on mid-to large-size rivers. This is a great combination, 95 ft belly, throws any 9 wt tip you wish, and feels light in the hand. If you want to use a heavier sink tip (10 wt) or shorter line I also really like the 1510 with any of the 9/10 mid-belly lines, the 9/10 XLT, and the short belly 9/10/11 Windcutter. It is a wonderful rod that could be used all year round with the right line and it will handle nearly any size fish you will every encounter (that is unless you are fishing where 50 pound fish are common).
Interestingly, yesterday at the Seattle Fly Fishing Show, I was talking to Trey Combs (he has been on T&T's rod evaluation pro staff for many years) and he asked me what I thought of the T&T 1510. I told him that I thought it was a wonderful 15 ft all-around rod for salmon/steelhead, and that the 5 piece version was just a little bit slower than the 3 piece. Trey agreed completely with me on this. I also know that Simon G. likes to fish with his 1510-5.
The 1409 is a great casting 14 ft 9 (or 8/9) wt rod. It likes the 8/9 mid-belly lines, the 7/8/9 or 8/9/10 Windcutter, 8/9 Delta, 7/8 GrandSpey, and 8/9 XLT. It also casts very well with any 9 wt sink tip. I know folks who have bought the 1409 simply because it is so enjoyable to cast. It has a lot more power than the 1509 because of the difference in mid-sections of the 1409 and 1509.
