I am interested in acquiring a new rod for sturgeon fishing, primarily in the San Francisco Bay and the California Delta Region, with an occasional trip to the Columbia River. I’m presently using an Ugly Stick Tiger that is an Albacore rod which has a tip that is much too stiff for Sturgeon fishing.

The two rods which I am most interested in learning more about are the Triflex saltwater BL 7040 LB & the BL 7050 LB. I have studied the specifications for both rods that appear on this web site and I have read, with interest, the postings which have appeared in the Rod Forum. I have been unable to find either of these rods down here in northern California, so I respectfully request that you give me a comparison and contrast of these two rods. If I were to fish with both of these rods what difference would I notice? Do you think that the BL 7050 LB is overkill for the San Francisco Bay and the California Delta Region? Would you say that the tip on the BL 7040 LB may be the more sensitive of the two? Do either of the rods have a gimble under the butt cap? I would probably put a Shimano Torium 20 with Sufix braid on either rod. Which rod would you recommend for the fishing that I’ve described above?