Oddly enough, I'd go with the two ends of the spectrum. The 795ML is a killer rod. It has a very soft tip but a foot later you're into a solid rod that will hold a big fish. This is definetely the rod that everyone is selecting for the punker. However, if you're looking for a big rod to handle big largies/stripers the 866 is an awesome choice. I started throwing triple trouts and punkers on the 866 about a month ago and have put a handful of fish in the boat so far. Its actually not a soft rod at all and its BIG but because its so long you naturally get a lot of flex out of it. This is definetely going to be the rod that I stick with for punkers and other hard baits as well as softbaits with treble hooks in the future.