Practiced with a 12 weight for many months. I liked how it casted. Took it on Tarpon trip and first hook up it broke jsut below the 2nd ferrule from the handle. It's true that the company webiste is no more but you can contact the fly shop and they will work with you on a replacement. they said that the early rods had problems breaking and that they believe they ahve corrected and will test each repaired rod before sending it back to you. I'll test out the repaired one when I get it.

This rod has the best action I have ever experienced, the 8 wt is just a really nicely balanced rod.

Was setting the drag for steelhead in the parking lot, and the rod exploded - second section from the tip broke in two places. I was going pretty easy on it, so maybe it's a good thing the first hookup of the season didn't happen on this rod...