Given an Abu Garcia Ambassadeur 6600AB and South bend 8.5' South Bend heavy rod

[EMSer]

After returning from a July 4th party, I discovered a buddy snuck an additional rod and reel into my car. It is an Abu Garcia reel 6600 AB on a Southbend Trophy Tamer 8.5' heavy rod with slow action. The internet has a wide variety of opinions on both.

Anyone here have any experience with such a setup? I can't imagine a rod that big, heavy and slow on my kayak. Am I missing something?