I have not had a north river salmon rod since ww grigg ? (May be wrong there ) made them but it was a good rod however I landed a a nice springer jack on one of there ultralight trout rods last year while shad fishing and it held up fine I have also broke one nr trout rod due to stupidity (in back of pickup) and fishermans replaced it no questions asked . Anyways for the price I say go for it .