I brought a Pflueger President (30 mm, with 12 lb mono, medium heavy) and a Browning Gold (25 mm, with 8 lb mono, medium) on my last trip with the intent of catching Northern on the Pflueger and SMB and Wallies on the Browning. 

The Pflueger is great, but it was a bit stiff for me.  Not just the rod; the reel was smooth enough but not quite as sweet as the Browning.  By the end of the trip, I was using the Browning exclusively for all species.  There's probably nothing wrong with the Pflueger reel at all; I just found the softer, medium action Browning more comfortable.  I wonder if I would've liked the Pflueger more if I'd gotten the smaller diameter. 

I was casting the whole time,  no trolling.