I used to love my Browning 9ft spinning rod for floater fishing and stalking. When it was stolen I was really upset. I honestly don't know how many fish I caught on it, including my first ever 20lb carp floater fishing.
As for breaking rods, I went through a stage of doing it. 2 Century NG's trapped in the car door, my Daiwa Pro-specialist 1.5lb caught in the seat belt latch.
I really have no idea of the best rod for stalking and floater fishing now, I seem to have different preferences to the media.
I was digging around, is this your kind of thing: