I've fished that Heddon some in the past...but it's been some time. Isn't an 8wt supposed to be for BIG fish, like stripped bass or somesuch? I think I was using it for playing with bream. I've got another OLD rod down in the basement. I'll have to see if it has any markings on it. It came from my FIL, who I THINK got it from his FIL. It looks pretty well used and has one of those "automatic" reels on it. I imagine it has caught a boatload of bream in its day!