[FontaineRods]

a gsb1201L is similar to your xra1203 and maybe slightly more powerful. they are close in action w/ maybe the 1201L being slightly more moderate in action. the gsb1201M is also a moderate rod and as others have said, is a nice rod for heavier lures w/ weights up to 3-3.5 ounces. i have handled lures up to 4-5 with this rod, but they were metals and jigs and you start to lob more than give a power cast. it is one of the better pencil popper rods out there, with only it's 11' brother being better in my opinion. the 1201L is up there as well as a pencil popper rod. the 1201M it is my all around favorite blank built either as a spinner or caster. i throw from 3/4 oz jigs to 3.5 ounce lures and 4 oz lures. the sweet spot if 2.5 - 3 oz. the rod is best at turning big fish, which is more important to me than having that wide lure castability. you can always cast lighter lures w/ a heavier rod, just not as well than w/ a lighter rod, which doesnt fight fish as good as a heavier rod. you have to weigh your tradeoffs and decide what you need more.

the rogue su905 is a 9' blank rated for 2/5 oz, but it maxes out around 3-3.5 as well. however, this blank has a thin wall. i have built one spin rod on it and although it is a nice, powerful, crisp rod, i dont trust the thin wall to what the average surfcaster will put the rod through. nevermind a surfcaster putting in many, many trips in a year w/ that rod. i have one more blank in stock i am hoping to sell because i will not stock this blank and warranty it. but, i do know others that have had good luck w/ this blank.

if you want a 10' faster action blank, you could go with a lamiglas xra1204 or rainshadow su1208. both are faster than the average arra rod and much faster than your xra1203. i believe the SW Edge has a factory xsra1204 in stock. i saw it there last weekend when i was there.