First of all I'd like to thank each and every one who replied!!!
It's people like you that make the net a great source of info.

I was kicking around the idea of a Calstar 800L(because of rob's articles), but with all your recomendations I now thinking of an 800XL or Loomis. Large rods really wear me out, and yes I read about the casting. I have a abu 5500 on one pole and it backlashes constantly, but my corsair does not, so I'm opting for a good shimano.
Its a hard choice to make never seeing any of these rods.

The Big question is does anybody know who in the Los Angeles/ SF Valley area does good custom calstar rods for fresh water, I'd prefer someone experienced at building these big bass rods.

Swimbait- I did not know shimano made a calcutta 300 reel, but as I recall most of the new shimano's were geared really low.

SJ-I went to the Fred Hall tackle show last year looking to get a Daiwa TD-Z and was very dissapointed with Daiwa and all tackle retailers at the show. Most of the specials were regular price.
When I told Daiwa I wanted to buy a reel today and I had already seen them at profishing for 329 they did not know what to say. I also felt really dissapointed in the seminars, when 2 young guys sat next to me and were interested in catfishing so they were asking the bass pro's about catfishing and he gave them almost no attention. They were sincere, and thats when I realized that every seminar was on bass or ocean.