This rod is a quality piece of equipment for any child. To attest to this, according to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission in Raleigh, NC, on August 5, 2008, Mr. David Hayes of Wilkes County, NC, was holding his granddaughter's BARBIEKIT model rod for her while she had to go indoors. While she was inside, Mr. Hayes reeled in a 21-lb. 1 oz. Channel Catfish whose weight was certified on a state-certified scale at a grocery store by a grocery store employee, and certified by a fisheries biologist with the NC State Wildlife Resources Commission. His granddaughter was concerned the rod would break, but after a 25-minute fight with the Channel Cat, which beat the previous NC state record by just under 4 lbs., the rod is still intact. The photo here, from the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, shows the rod, the fish it caught, and Mr. Hayes with his granddaughter. The press release from NC Wildlife Resources Commission was out of Raleigh, NC on August 20, 2008.