I guess my thought would be that there are alot of decent rods on the market today,that are more than capable of detecting the pick-up or strike,but if your using a crappy reel then you are screwed, not enough drag or gear ratio for a rapid retrieve when that sucker makes a run straght at you...problems,one of my favorite rods is a old diawa 8'4" light action grafite I think I might have paid 25 buck for it 10 years ago,it works great on small creeks or rivers,in my early years I used a fenwick eagle grafite I can't tell you how many fish I caught on that rod.I own 2 lamiglas and they are great rods but my rod of choice is my series 1 berkley , my partner fishes a loomis and he does'nt catch any more fish than I do,I fish a calcatta for a bout 7 years or so he always fishes medium grade shimanos and has been through 3 reels since I bought mine,have seen his drag take a crap on a large native more than once,than all the rod in the world does you no good!
good luck...

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Tight Lines
FISH ON ------<*)>><
Men are like fish we get into trouble when we open our mouths to much!!
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Tight Lines
FISH ON ------<*)>><
Men are like fish we get into trouble when we open our mouths to much!!