skywalker, you will love Loomis STR 1265; that rod is the rod of "choice" up in B.C. with DFO for marking spring chinook with floats/roe on a trib of the Thompson. These fish are chum sized fish however they need a good "stickin" when you pull the trigger. The Loomis STR 1265 or similar rated competitors with equal line rating/graphite modulas have enough back bone and will give you the hook-up you need. When you go to the "wimpy" Certified Pro Lami or Loomis STR 1261 rods for example your hook-up to landing ratio diminishes. If you want a head shake/long line release get the wimpy rods, the ones with more back bone are long enough to give you a good hookset and are long enough to give you all the visual pleasure display/control from the fish you need. This is especially important if you are going to release the fish.

Beezer