2023 Vanquish 4000XG - unexpected application

FWIW, I really believe that these longer Hard Rock rods rock for fast moving water and for dealing with hybrids and stripers when using spinning gear for long casts and power techs.

I just popped a just shy of 17"/3.25 (15 lb Boga) pre-spawn female smallie on this Vanquish 4000XG in fairly fast moving current, paired to a Shimano Hard Rocker BB 8'3" MH 2piece. Straight 16lb SS112 to a snap and modified 3/8 oz Northstar triple blade spinnerbait. The reel didn't even break a sweat and that female was pulling hard, granted that 8'3" Hard Rocker just loads so deep and with such a strong backbone, she was just going to wear herself out.  Crazy that the last fish I caught in Colorado was on this rod, a 3+ smallie and the first 3+ smallie in TN was also on this same rod.