I made a rod with that blank and love it. It's got plenty of beef. I fish from the shore and have caught many winter runs. I run 12# test with a Shimano sustain 2500 in the winter. It tires fish quickly with a proper drag setting. Have yet to hook into a spinger or something "really" big, but it has fought steelhead up to twenty pounds with no problem. It really feels awesome when a big buck is hunkering down and pulling line off in quick bursts. I could use a bigger meat stick with 20# test, but I enjoy a little more challenge and the lighter weight of my whole setup reduces fatigue and helps keep me motivated for the next cast all day long.