i have the yellow eagle claws and the okuma blue diamond downrigger ml 8foot 6 rods. the okuma has a better blank, soft but responsive as the eagle claws have a more dead action. the handle takes a while to get used to though, big trangular forgrip is a littler uncomfortable at first, but is easier to hold bigger reels stable when you get used to it. i use it for the down rigger as well as the planer board. i use 4 pound test with it so its fine for what we do. its always used on the planer as it has a gimbal mount that locks it in place which is needed on my boat so i can lock the guides away from the planer line which always seems to come around and hit the rods