This is actually my 4th or 5th cane rod (shhh don't tell anybodylol) I've actually always liked Wayne's tapers best myself. I like the smoothness as well as still just enough power in them. My leonard taper was just a bit too soft for my taste, and my Payne wasn't too much to my liking for action. This one suits my tastes perfectly though. Now if the weather just cooperates enough to get the flow of the Au Sable down by Friday so I can try her out. This is the wettest spring I have seen in years which is putting a damper on getting out to actually use some of these rods