Just a quick follow upon this-thanks for the advice!. I picked up a Loop 9wt booster Pike line. Goes really well on the 8wt epic, I also got a cheap older Shakespeare sinker in a 10, cut about 6' off the front and and seems to go pretty well with short leader on the smaller rivers I fish.
Seriously tempted to a 10wt now
Kav, my feelings would along similar lines to James.
The 888 is a cannon and a LOT of fun, very much an 8wt for intermediate and sinkers, Short heavy 'outbound' style head, floaters would also be an 8, but if its a more conventional WF line, then a 9 will load it better. If you can try a couple first it would be better to see how you like it, a lot depends on what you will use it for. For Pike and the huge air resistant flies i would be looking at a shorter heavier head line in a 9. You tend to be casting less distance and just need something to turn the big fly over and get it where you need it.
The 888 will bend quite deep and you can generate some incredible power with a heavier line and a slower stroke, which is good for keeping a more open loop for the bulky Pike flies. if you needed to cast with a faster stroke for fast changes on the flats or getting some distance then sticking to an 8 will be better. i actually liked it a lot with a 7wt full sinker and smaller flies.
Its a really versatile blank and like most rods will go a line up or down without an issue, depending on what you need it to do.
Sandy
