The 1143 is a nice rod ... I've fished one a few times. But I like a shorter rod from the boat ... 1024's in lower water / 1025's in higher. The choice between those two ... 1024 if you spend more than 1/3 of you days fishing summer / low flows, 1025 otherwise. Remember ... a light action rod turns to mush when drifting with heavier leads and it may actually do the opposite of what one might think ... result in less sensitivity to the bottom and bite when fished overloaded.