if thats your ultimate high then you never caught a steelhead or a king. I caught a 18 pound king in augest with 8 pound line in a flooded river, and the fish was fresh up the river. By far the hardest fight put quite a woopin on my little walleye rod.
THat energy rush after a long hard fight is great couldnt walk after catching the big catfish with my finisse rod. Also braid is the only thing i use for big cats it cast farther and just holds up better than mono.