The 'standard issue' striped bass fly fishing outfit is a 9ft 9wt rod but an 8wt will certainly do fine as long as you are not trying to punch 8 inch herring flies into a 20 knot onshore wind in the surf. There are so many rod and reel types to chose from there really is no majority on those items. Although the Temple Forks rods have become popular due to their low cost. I don't think there are many (if any) new RPLXi rods but you might find a deal on a used one. Saltwater Edge in RI should be able to get you outfitted. The Bears Den Fly shop in Taunton MA is not far from RI and is also an excellent choice. Both shops have websites. The Bears Den site is
www.bearsden.com
Probably a good idea to send them an e-mail letting them know what you are looking for in advance of your arrival.
As for flies Clousers and Deceivers are good just about anywhere and so RI is no exception. A local favorite is the Ray's Fly. It is easy to tie and catches fish. If you come in August a white Bonito Bunny made with rabbit (zonker) strips is another good pattern to carry. Finally, one other pattern to consider is the Flatwing.
You might want to prepare yourself for some bluefish by carrying some wire bite tippets too. They are a lot of fun on the fly.
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