I like my 8" 6"" NWest Special. Sent it in for repair. Not a bad deal getting it fixed, even though it only carried a one year warranty. I've had it three years. I looked at those 1000 series rods at Sportco. The only other rods I've used are Cabelas Fish Eagle XML and my Fish Eagle III, C44X, CHMS 1004S, 10'. They don't carry them anymore, except for smaller rods. I don't know who made the blanks for Cabelas. Would like to have an 11' pole for float fishing.