Keep in mind that some folks have no experience fishing pads and heavy shallow cover with two feet of line hanging off the end of a 11 foot Ozark and trying to lift a 2lber out. When you use too stiff of rod that shallow I don't care how hard you set the hook the 11 footer is way too much leverage and power with a short amount of line trying to land a big...un. Trust me I have put this too the test many times you need a rod that will give to the fish. The 10 footer serves this purpose well. No bull about it.