The Hardy Marksman Fly Rod 8wt 9ft 6in has quickly become one of those rods that just feels right in my hands. While Hardy markets it as a medium-fast rod, in this heavier line weight it definitely leans more toward the fast side — but in the perfect, fishable way 👍

Paired with my Scientific Anglers Spey Lite Integrated Skagit Line (300 grains) and AirFlo sink tips, the rod really comes alive on my steelhead waters. It handles long casts effortlessly and carries line with confidence, which is exactly what I look for when covering big runs. At the same time, it doesn’t feel overly stiff or unforgiving — there’s still excellent feedback through the blank, making accurate close shots surprisingly easy when fish show up right at your feet 🎣

One of my main plans is to fish this rod throughout the Skeena Watershed to target both steelhead and salmon. I like having a capable single-hand rod in addition to my spey setups, and the Marksman 968 fits this role perfectly. It excels at single-hand spey techniques on larger rivers where you’re very likely to encounter some seriously strong fish. The combination of length, lifting power, and line speed makes it a confident tool when you need to manage heavy sink tips, mend at distance, or quickly reposition for another swing.

Another reason I chose this model is versatility. I also plan to use it on lakes around Kamloops, where trout tend to run larger and conditions often demand longer casts and better line control. The extra reach of…

Review of the 9' 6WT Marksman

It truly is a beautiful rod that just feels feathery in hand when paired with a lightweight reel like the Averon.

I use mine for light to medium nymph rigs and large terrestrials on mid to large western rivers. I'll occasionally even throw small and mid sized streamers with it.

It's fairly soft in the tip section but has plenty of backbone in the mid and butt sections to handle 24" trout in fast current. I've had several guests try them and many of them want their own.