My favorites for salt water are the Western Series. I continually fish a 9 1/2 for a 7-8 line using a 9 or 10 wt line. The internal ferrule more closly achieves the fly rod parabollic action than the so called "modern fly rod action" which is more akin to a telephone pole. The company was bought by Cortland and discontinued the Western Seris. The rods that replaced also have an excellent action and are a brown tone. You might still be able to get the Western Series blanks.