I never even thought about the diminished feel.I have been dragging 10'6" rods for probably 6 years.They were always the 2-6 noodles though.

I broke my favorite and thought I was getting Bills spoon rod but ended up with a smaller Lamisnap.It was a Birthday present from the wife.It has taken awile to get used to it.I feel that the softer long rods cast better in the brush because it takes lees to load them up.You can flip your wrist and load up enough energy.I spend most my time throwing shiny things and have only this year actively used jigs,damn things work good.They cast a little diferant.

I also swear by the new braids.I started using Kevlar lines as rigging up in alaska before it really became available as retail fishing line.The stuff doesn't put up with the abuse as much as it used to but matched with a good spinning reel it will do whatever you want without any of the line twist problems.I akso like it when I am beating the brush,line hangups do not mean as much.I am also amazed at my wife catching a thirty two pound king on 12lb stren?

Mooch,
I notice that you live in kingston.I am going down to sportco next payday and bying the 10 6 spoon{bills} rod.Want to go prowl the canal and try it out?