I want to thank you for the great feedback, it helped. I ordered 6 Shimano TDR's @ 8 ft
I figure that the MH will give me all the flexibility I need to cover about 99% of the fishing I will do. I have a few lighter rods for jigging and bottom bouncing. I will be taking the whole week off from 4/27 to 5/3 traveling to Huron to pick my new boat and then fishing my brains out.
Man, this was some long winter.