Samurai,
I think Rob uses a Calstar 900L or somethin like that, maybe 900M, I forget. I would go with a little longer rod. 8 ft. would give you more control of the fish once you hook it (so he doesn't run your plug into the bushes), plus it'll probably handle the big plugs and heavy line better. Look into the Calstar graphiter series 800L or 800M (sorry, don't have the specs, so you'll have to look at em). As for swimbaits... For saltwater style swimbaits, the Calstar 900XL is the shiznit rod, but I don't think that applies to the giant swimbaits, like the big optimums which you're probably referring to. You could probably use the same stick for trouts and swimbaits. Rob- you ever consider going to 40# on the 12" plug? That thing is freakin beefy. If Mike's gonna have those new ones out pretty soon though, they might be a little more manageable. It might be time for the aftco aluminum gimbal and reelseat, har har. j/k, I don't think you need to go that far. Fuji components would probably be fine. I'd look into the fuji hardloy boat rod guides, fuji SiC heavy duty casting and boat guides, or maybe the new alconite guides, but I don't know anything about em. You could probably use a cork handle if you could get one wide enough, or you want to go through the ordeal of drilling it wider, if not, I'd suggest cork tape over hypalon or EVA, but that's more of personal preference. Give yourself a healthy rear grip, so you've got somethin to work with on those two handed casts with the big plugs, hehe.
-Brian