I look to beat the crap out of a rod for 5 yrs. I did so with my 10'6 MH shimano Converge drift rod, used it for flossing (mono line), float fishing, and tossing spoons....bought the rod for 75 bucks in the spring of 2002 and it still works after about 500 days of use, and 1000's of fish ranging from 2-40lbs faught on it, including some impressive 100 fish days, since I was 12 when I bought it I didn't know the reel purpose of taking good care of my rods/reels. so dropping it occured almost everyday. Just last yr. I equipped my BB setup with tuf-line and within 5 days the eyes were almost 2/3 wore out. Now its my official spoon rod. Now I have replaced this rod with a 11'6 mh shimano technium. And I have a feeling this rod will out perform the one that came before.
There is other rods that I have had longer than this but this one is by far the most impressive one I own.
Mike <"))))))><