The 9000 is nice for hatchery fish and smaller wild strains ... here on the coast, I prefer the 981 as it has enough backbone to put the screws to big fish in heavy water without having to play the fish all day. I just set up a fella with some of the Loomis MBR's (magnum bass rod) on a recommendation ... and he really loves them! These have a longer foregrip than the HSR series and you actually grab the cork coming out of a holder rather thena the blank. And like all good plug rods ... you have a very fast action (softer tip with lots of beef below for those who aren't famiiar with rod 'actions')