Well, I've had mine for about a year now, I've caught a 32 inch and 34 inch northern, a good handful of 5lb large mouth bass and more 1 - 4lb large mouth bass then anything else. I haven't had one single issue with the pole at all. I actually found it at a thrift store for $6. Might sound weird but I can honestly say I've probably hauled in more fish on this rod then any other rod I own right now. ( kind of a bad pic but only one I had with the rod actually in the picture. )