Damn Ryan, way to bust out a post!!! I think I will stick with a loomis 9'6" or 9'9" GL3 8wt.
And either of those reels that you sugested as well as the line.
This weekend I fished a fly rod for chums for the first time and hooked one my second cast!!!from that point on all I could think about is catching another on a fly rod!!!

I could also go with a GL2 for price reasons but either way there good rods

thanks for all the help...all I will need after this are some good flies to use

THANKS
CATCHAzz