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In the fiberglass era, lines for most flyfishing were in what today we would consider the mid to upper weights, identified by letter designations that corresponded to the diameter of the fly line. This changed in the early 60s as both 'glass and modern fly lines were further developed, but the popular line weights we see today still didn't start to kick in until the 80s and 90s. The flyfishing wheelhouse, and therefore the 'glass wheelhouse, stated in today's numerical designations and in rough order of popularity, was 6, 8, 7 and 5, probably 6 and 8 if you had to narrow it down. So most 'glass rods were in this range, regardless of length. Both the technology of the era and the nature of the material itself meant that rods of 7 to 8 1/2' were most common. So while a rod under 8' for a heavier line may seem short by the common preferences of today--longer rods having been made much more feasible by graphite--that length was more common in 'glass. Having said that, unloaded and cast, a 'glass rod may seem suitable for about one line weight more than it is, so that rod may very well be better matched by a 7 or even a 6.

As to weight, the material itself is heavy compared to graphite, and in mass production rods, the resins used and the process could add weight and a somewhat "heavy" or numb feeling. As technology developed, the best 'glass was produced so as to minimize excess resin. But lots of production rods were, in effect, overbuilt but under-refined. For instance, I have a total beater grade H-I 7 1/2' rod with about three layers of factory finish on it, not to mention fairly coarse weave cloth. You pick that thing up and figure it might cast a 7 or 8 weight, which it probably would. But surprisingly, it feels half-decent with a 6 weight. No matter what line, though, it will never feel any better than half-decent. It's a good boat rod or knockabout, and that's what a lot of production 'glass was.