I've been using the 901 nrx + for over a year . I have caught 2 largemouth , few smallmouth and brown trout in the 4 to 5 lb range with this rod. On a boat in open water that rod handled the bigger fish nicely. You really don't have control just hang on and let the rod and drag do the work . It's more of a fun rod . If fishing around grass ,Lilly pads, current or any kind of cover the rod sucks . There is just not enough power . I been experimenting with this rod alot. It's very limited for bass fishing . Small moving baits is where it's at. Any kind of bottom contact the rod is terrible. Sensitively is not that great, the tip absorbs alot for a good hook set and for some reason the line gets wrapped around the recoil guides alot. (Must be the whippy tip since I don't have that problem with any of my other nrx rods). The 901 is definitely an open water rod for small moving baits . Sometimes I hate the rod and other times I love it . Its very limited for bass fishing !!! Works very well for panfish and some walleye techniques also