I bought a new pole so I was itchin to break it in. I think the best part about the pole was the price, $38 after tax! Its a diawa 7ft 8-17lb baitcaster. I only had a couple hours to fish, but do to the weather conditions I just slowly fished down the bank. I caught a little guy to break it in. He hammered a spinnerbait though. As soon as it hit the water that fish had already swan two feet with it. I wish I could get a vicious strike like that from a 5 or 6 pounder. That was the only fish of the day. After that the rain and wind came in. I took a picture of the rain from water level, you can kinda see the rain drops hitting the water then bouncing back up.