I target particularly large barbel on float tackle on relatively smaller very snaggy venues where you get 1 opportunity at best. It’s devastating when you lose one as the chances of hooking another is pretty remote. If you’ve got a good chance of hooking one then definitely give yourself a good chance of landing it.
Id be using the specimen float, 0.22+ main line with a decent gage hook and be prepared to lean right into it. You’ll feel the thump as it rolls over the line before it gets under the snag and you’ll be so glad you went in guns blazing that day.
The plus to me is a slightly stepped up match rod. I know some very capable float anglers like Ian have caught a lot of barbel using them but for me they are a 3-5lb line rod despite what might be written on the blank and the specimen float is what i would call a 6-8lb line rod. Having both definitely opens up some options for you but if i had to just chose 1 for anything more than bit bashing,….. specimen float every time.
