Should I also look at trying this with my longest rod?

Way, way back in the 70s when I got introduced to fly fishing for pinks by Jim Garrett, we used a lead-core head on the line. Worked pretty well on my 8wt fiberglass. My dad had made me a "flea-rod" which is a flyrod about 3' long for use on tiny creeks. I put the 8wt line with lead core on just see what it would do with the pinks. Took longer to land.....Was also a bit clumsy to cast.