The nine is a bit heavier, but if you are casting salt water size poppers to bass (I do) then the heavier unit is fine. As for the fish, I once caught a 53 pound king salmon on a 7. I had 8's for my clients in Alaska. The 8 or a 9 are fine for bass. Where the difference comes in is fly size, not the fish size. A 9 was recommended for years by most tv shows and magazines back in the fiberglass days. The carbon rods have more power and a 7 or 8 will handle most anything a 9 class fiberglass rod will handle. As I said, "most". I use a 9 because I switch to streamers when it gets windy. I cast 4 inch flies on a regular basis. I also cast 4 inch poppers. On occasion I cast even bigger flies. It is a lot easier to cast the big stuff with the heavier rod and line. At the same time, I can drop down to a 1/2 inch rubber leg panfish popper using the same rod.

A white buzz bait used to be my go to topwater. Pretty much year round.
I used to get the best I could afford . Strike kings and I think they had a grommet in the blade / shaft interface that helped with freedom of rotation

Turns out , hanging them out the side of the boat on way to lake spun these blades to a reall good condition. Kinda broke em in

These things produced when nothing else would and good quality fish to boot

Used to catch a ton of bass on these .
Don’t use em anymore. Have several. Gonna have to get old school

Anyone else still rely on the buzz bait ?

A very pleasant experience dealing with this small company in Clarksburg WV. I ordered a couple of their "spinner flies" and when I got em I liked em so much I ordered a couple more in a different pattern. They kept me advised of my order, let me know when it had shipped, provided me with a tracking number (without me having to ask for it) and sent me an email when it had been delivered. I got the package today, opened it up and found a hand written note saying "Thank you for your order! Please find enclosed a few extra flies at no additional cost."
I believe I had ordered two. I received six, in different patterns. Just had to pass that along to everyone on the Stage. Check these folks out. They have a web site.
Now we need to find out if their product will catch a trout. Sure looks like it would. Were I a trout, I would eat it.

I am looking for the most active / liveliest 3 inch paddle tail swim bait I can find to put on 1/8 and 3/16 oz. jig head. I am looking to get the best swim at very slow short hop speeds. I expect that means the softest, thinnest tail, but I have been wrong many times before. I hope you bass pros. out there can give me some advice. I am starting over as I have moved all my paddle tails (mostly yum) to my saltwater box. I don't care about name brand. I just want what works the best when casting to rip rap. Nearly all my strikes in the past have been on the initial fall or first hop or two after a long(up to 1/2 minute on my watch) delay. Nearly all my bass on the paddle tail have been smallmouth. If I go to the weeds and use bigger paddle tails I seem to have less luck than using a five or six inch wacky Yamamoto worm or Texas rig floating worm up to 10 inches. That being said, the 3" paddle tail makes a great jumbo perch locator in the weeds and pads. Thanks