The 1025 is a great all around rod. It would serve you well as a bait casting rod. As far as I know it only comes as an 8'6" rod though. There is a 1084 9' rod that is very nice, but I have only seen it in an IMX blank from Loomis. There are other blank manufactures (rainshadow, pac-bay) that make this rod blank in less expensive version. It would give you a little more length for bobber fishing and it works great as a drift rod also. I have a rainshadow 1084 and love it. It casts very nicely and allows you to cast a littl further, a little easier than you can with the 1025