Is a 8 wt enuff for big winter rivers?? or??

[Sandspanker]

A 9wt would be better??iven the same length of rod which is better for winter steelhead skagit casting??why??

[Rick J]

size of fish may be more of a factor rather than size of river - I doubt you would see a substantial difference in casting distance between an 8 and a 9 if they are both the same length. I can't think of many places where I would opt for a 9 wt - I do have a Scott ARC 1509 though it rarely sees the light of day - my next heaviest rod is a 7 wt (thought it is likely closer to an that I throw a RIO short 625 on and I can't think of many fish I could not land with this thing. If you are targeting big kings, this might be a different story.

Both my friend Bruce and I have the Scott ARC 1287 that we use more than any rod for winter fishing and Bruce landed a 20# steelhead up in the Olympic Peninsula and did not feel under-gunned