you are so correct that the rod does not make the fisherman. you can use just about anything when plunking and catch fish. with drifting you have to have the basics down. that happened to me on the samish. figured big fish use a big rod. counldn't feel the bite. my partner had limited and let me use his lami. 3rd drift through the hole i hooked one. bought a lami and 1st time out with it i limited. needed that sensitivity to feel the fish. had the same experience with steelhead.just my two cents.