The Orvis Clearwater is good value equipment (the Sage DS series is also worth a look). Some things you want to consider:
The most important thing is what feels right to you. There are people who will take a 25-year-old Orvis Trout rod over a Sage RPLXI any day because the Orvis just works better with their casting style. So make sure to test-cast a variety of different rods and get a feel for what you like. (But remember that casting in the parking lot of your local Orvis store isn't quite the same as being on the water
And remember that wet and dry fishing have different requirements.
The two options you're listing are very different. If you're looking at 9 footers I'm assuming you're going to be fishing some big water, but it's true that the 6 and 8 weight are for different situations, which you've identified. (Still, if it's saltwater and steelhead fishing you'll be doing I would say to look at even heavier rods and consider a grip that allows for heavy two-handed fighting.)
If you're looking at smaller water, look at smaller rods - a 9 foot 6 weight is more work to cast than an 8'6" 5 weight, for example, and if you're going to be casting all day it's something to consider. Also, keeping the line under control can be more difficult with the longer rod, There seems to be a trend right now toward longer, stiffer rods that lay out a longer line (at the shop near me they won't even talk about rods under 8'6" if you don't twist their arms), but if you're on a small stream a 7'9" 2-weigh rod with a gentle presentation will lay out all the line you need and catch more fish to boot. My father uses a Sage 379LL almost exclusively these days and leaves his 9-foot rods idle in the garage.
I know, small water and big water are relative terms that mean different things to different people, and the terms include a lot of variables - width, depth, current, lengths of casts you'll need to reach the good floats, size of fish... If you're in PA what I mean is:
Lakes: Big
Allegheny and Delaware rivers: BIG
North Central PA:
Pine Creek: big
Kettle Creek: small, becomes medium somewhere below the Project
Slate Run: small-medium
Stonyfork: small (I use that 8-foot Trout)
Central PA:
Penn's Creek: big (the 9' 6-wt is the way to go)
Fishing Creek: medium (the 8'6" 5-wt will serve you well)
Spring Creek: medium
White Deer Creek: small (and bring your mosquito netting)
Yellow Creek in Bedford County is another stream for the 8'6" rod.
If you're not going to be fishing lakes and full-blown rivers, strongly consider something like the 865 instead of the 906.
