Did I do OK

Don't know the reel but I have never been disappointed by Cortland products.
What kind of flyline,some shoot better than others and going to cheap can be making it harder than it has to be.

Slip on loop connections can be a problem when fishing for big fish.
Look at a knot tying webpage and learn the albright knot just in case.
Have some .21 or so mono to use for that knot.

Price was on the money . I agree with Wader- check the strength of that loop. I use Nail knots  to attach a leader butt,Albright will work too,  but we agree on the .021 -lighter line will cut and slip off. I've talked to the guys in the rod shop at Cortland, as they bought Diamondback Rods out of Stowe Vt. They've come up with some  rod tips for me from the early 90's they had in a barrel. Really good guys. I've fished Cortland stuff and use their lines- cheaper and as good as most. Cortland has great customer service. If you attach a leader to the loop connection- use a loop to loop connection, not a standard knot tied to the loop. It will fail easily and you can quickly damage it trying to cut off the leader to change it. Buy leaders with a loop in them (or learn the perfection loop) and use the handshake loop to loop. All available on youtube. Have a blast!
 
Charlie

Clint welcome to salmon/steelhead on the fly. Have had some of the most arm yanking strikes from these large fish on a fly. As far as $$$ some will spend hundreds others even more, I spend alot of my cash at the pineville shop and get alot of my flys there to they are good folks with some good info. Dont get discouraged if your not catching them off the bat its a different game with the big line but once you figure things out youll love it. Good luck

My orvis battenkill large arbor handles the fish great and I love the drag system on that. still using my cabelas special 9wt fly rod. I use 25 pound mono from the fly line to the flouro. What fichy and them are telling does and will happen. Also check your fly line connection to your backing. I once had a king get to my backing at the ballpark and watched my flyline going upstream.

Clint - you did good with that outfit - especially considering your budget restraints - which most of us are faced with.
8 wgt outfit gives you versatility to use for several species, and it won't wear your casting arm down after a day of fishing.

Just make sure you use a lighter tippet. In case you hook up a salmon and think it is too much, just lower rod, point at fish, hold flyline, and snap off the filthy mudshark.

Spanked knuckles are part of the game sometimes, learn to palm the reel and there is no need for anti-reverse reels.
(Pinners can land a salmon with much lighter rods and a reel with no drag).

($900 reel?? - it better have 4 wheels on it that I can drive to/from da river.

later

clint i think you did well and will be fine with the 8 wt for even the biggest salmon that swim lake ontario.. been fishing there for over 30 years with nothing more then an 8wt.. never once broke a rod. sure at times it would be nice to have a 9 or 10 wt just to put more hammer on them but just think about holding & casting a heavy stick like that all day.. Nah, I'll pass & play them a little more.

You did well, cortland are good products..

Pa - glad you typed that instead of DB.

There is a good chance he would have mispelled a key word via his Smart Phone fumbler pad....

That's a great point , Jack. I'll add one more -probably the number one reason for blown up rods. If you are landing fish, don't hold the rod straight up, make sure you keep it a bit down . Straight up will snap the tip. Longer rods make you elevate them more to get the fish near you. A good thing to keep in mind.
 
Charlie

I am a local and have caught enough salmon in my days that to me none are worth breaking a rod, falling in or chasing a mile down stream.  I do not carry a net for that reason also.   Most of the time there a plenty of nice folks on the river with a net close by.   I also try to look around and have an "exit plan" every spot I go knowing I will have to try to beach or tail the fish.   That said, being new to a fly rod I know there is a chance I may not play the fish right and bust something (either me or the rod).   That's why I got the Cortland. They are about 1/2 hour from where I work so replacement would be easy.

Breaking stuff reminds me of many years ago me and a buddy found some Zebco  808's at a yard sale for like 3$ each.  We looked at each other and did not even have to say a word.  The next day he got 2 and I got 3 before his pole broke and the gears stripped in mine.  I still have the reel he bought and my rod in a combo upstairs and I let the nephews use it

ORIGINAL: chartist1

the DSR is only short of one thing, shoreline.....except for the area downstream of the little black hole, it's tough quarters in spots to beach a whale of a king....I was in the area downstream of the glide in the DSR and there was little to no shore to beach a king...hence, I broke my 8wt fly rod...

Huh ? I fish there a lot and that spot just below the glide along the island all the time.. Thats a pretty easy beach spot. 1. right at tip of Island or behind in the back channel
2. just below the run & before the bucket.. Lots of shore along there..
I guess if you stay in the upper center of the run it can be tough but walk the fish a little up or down and super easy landing there..

DSR has lots of easy shore line to beach fish..
Not pointing toward you but I see a lot of folks staying in the water when they get a fish on.. The first thing I do when I get one on is look for a landing place, second start walking back towards shore.. I know excitement really kicks in but folks should try and focus on those 2 small things & it may save a rod ..lol..

Edit>
drake good advice.. another point is once the fish starts heading to shore and you are ready to beach then "DO IT" in one strong backward motion.. Most times if doing that , like drake said, they will feel the gravel and give that burst but already be pointing toward shore and just beach themselves..

I've used an 8 weight for 30 years.
Had 2 break.
One was a cheap Fenmick I got for signing a long term subscription to a mag.
It had landed at least 500 kings and fought more before it turn to spaghetti just below the ferrule.

The other an Ovis (before the gaurantee.
That was the biggest king to date 38lb 6 oz and it took off and weht between my legs by what is now the glide after I had put the rod down to pull the hook and release it.
I know the weight because after relanding the motherforker on the stub it had lost its release privledge.
Jimmy Rusher scaled it at his shop.

Not taking a deep muscle needle full of HGH for no dam fish.

Yup you are an A+ hole with that nine, why not a 10 ? LMAO.. I tried a 9 , my friends (you included) fish a 9 and at times I wouldn't mind a nine.. But fact is I only have 8's so that is what I been using all these years without a problem..
If you got or want to buy a heavier rod then all good. I do the dual purpose thing and use the 8 for everything from pike to salmon, it just works for me without adding yet another rod..
I did buy 2 - 7wt's just for browns 2 years ago and still not broke them out.. This year for sure..
Maybe I'm the ahole ? .. lol..
I have far too many fly rods already 4-8wt's, 2-7wt's, 2-6wt's, 2-5wt's, 3-4wt's & a stupid spey..
Not even going to list the spinning rods..
If the wife only knew, I already hid the new simms waders that came today..

I do trad fish an 9' 8wt---thinkin bout going to a 10-11' to help w/ mends and a little more leverage--I fish close to some rocks and heavy water alot---if they hit the fast stuff--they're pretty much gone.

fichy, as we were talkin and knowing your size I think you should build that 10' or even a
10'-6" 9wt.. seriously !! You are 100% right that extra " gives a better mend.. When I got an 8' 6" I was so grateful for the little bit extra.. However, not so for the LONG 13' rods..
You are a smart & experienced fisher and I'm sure know what is right..