I'll echo what WallEYES said. I like the Cajun line in 4 or 6 pound.

I have been using Gander Mountain "First Ice" series rods, which looks to be made from a YAD blank. I also have a couple of YAD rods that Billy Three Buckets gave me - that is what caught that 41 inch pike last winter.

I have two battered old Genz rods that have a decade under their belt. Bouncing around in my tub on countless miles of LOW trekking.

For deadstiking, I have a light action Gander/YAD rod on a Rock N Reel holder. Simply deadly. I will use a plain kahle hook, or a leadhead jig with a kahle style hook. Reverse hook the minnow, they tend to work a little harder and you should be able to see the minnow action if your tip is soft enough. I have a few Red Neck Tech hornet jigs left, though I am loathe to use them. They work very well, but I just cant find them any more.