I just scheduled a bonefish trip to Ascension Bay and Ive been casting 8 wts in the <$300 range for the past week. My final three are (not in order) and comments:
TF TICR - fast, a little heavier
Scott A2 - fondness for Scott Rods, Med Fast Action may fit my casting style better
Sage Fli - Sage reputation, Color???, new model, don't much care for the butt

No ebay or used rods, I'm buying new and my local shop carries all three. Any experience or feedback on the rods will be appreciated.

Buy the rod that feels best to you. It's that simple. If you still aren't sure, why not try a Loomis 1088 GL-3? It's a great moderately fast and forgiving rod, light and so ugly that it's pretty, sort of like a basset hound if you know what I mean.
Nimrod

Thanks for responding. The GL3 could be an option, but it looks like its only available in a two piece. I guess I should've mentioned I'm looking for a four piece to travel with. The VPS would be great, but in a four piece it is about $100 over the target price.

The GL-3 is 2 piece and 4 piece. I own the 4. The VPS suggestion is good as well. It costs about $65 more, but casts no better in my opinion. Try them.
Nimrod

I have a the 9wt FR1089-4 and it's a great rod. But the GL3 4pc rods are all >$300. And I think they look nice--extremely well put together.

Funny, the GLoomis web site only shows the GL3 available in 2 piece. I guess this proves why this is a great forum. I'll to try to find and cast a 4 piece GL3 this weekend and add to the confusion.

Oh, dmack, for what it's worth, I believe that most agree that Loomis rods carry perhaps the finest warranty going. Break a rod, call them, they will send you a new rod immediately in a tube, you return yours to them in that tube and all for about $45 and in about 3 or 4 days. If you go to that nearby thread about T & T, you'll read about my broken tip nightmare involving a T & T Horizon H=905
Nimrod

You've found the best rod already, the Scott A2. Its a great rod from a great company at a great price. Plus you won't have the same rod as every tom, dick and harry on the water.

Thought I would give an update on my decision...I bought the TF TICR. It's a faster rod than the others, but to compensate for wind and larger saltwater flies I felt this was the decision maker.
It's a great casting rod by the way, and highly recommended by a couple of fly shops I visited.

A couple rods to consider in the sub $300 bracket
are the TFO TiCr or TiCrx, also one that no one has mentioned yet is the Redington CPS $250 great light fast rod. It is much lighter than the TFO. I have sold several of the CPS rods to guys that were shopping between the TFO and the Redington. Give it a try.

Josh White
http://www.rogueflyshop.com

try a st. croix. You get so much more for the money and they have awsome customer service after you break one of their rods. IN my epinion you get so much mor for the money compaed to sage winston Scott etc. I will admit though once you get into the higher end rods say 500+ other companie's rods are going to through better. But you just cant beet st croix in the lower end rods.
try the Avid series or the legend ultra series.

Both great buys.

-Andrew

I and a couple of friends of mine, at the suggestion of our guide, ended up with TiCr's in 7 wt overlined one size to an 8wt. This combination works well and reduces the weight you mentioned as an objection. You might try it.