I have a fast rod, a med rod and a slow rod, seems to me the mood I'm in as to witch one I choose, situation, yes, I consider that, but sometimes it don't matter, I could walk out on the water and just want to feel a nice slow easy cast, other times, I want to get the fly there and the laid back cast is not what I'm looking for. So to me, like all the others have already said... It's what YOU like......