Fat-G

If there was an option to "Like" this post 100 times, I would. Especially regarding the trailers. I have proven to myself time and time again that a Rage Craw or Lobster is the ONLY trailer I need to successfully fish jigs. I fish jigs a lot, and the only jig I will buy from here on out is the Northstar Pro Series Alien Head in 1/2 oz. I just don't need anything more than that - they're perfect.

My favorite is the Netbait Super T-Mac, though I really need to find a super slim 12" worm. Might look into Upton's worms..

Uhhh...

I should also add that I was looking for a do-it-all jig rod and the 745 seemed to fit that bill for me. I tend to like a stouter rod than most for jig fishing. To me the 745 feels perfect with a 1/2 oz. jig and Rage Lobster trailer. Was throwing the same jig with a Sr. Paca Chunk the other day and there was a lot less drag and the jig felt lighter, in that case I would have preferred the 784, but I rarely (rarely meaning never, there just isn't a Bama Craw Lobster) fish Paca Chunks.

Just woke up from a 7 hour afterschool nap and I'm about to go back to sleep, but in short, Hooligan's advice is spot on as usual. I think we really need a 785 or an 805 in a casting model as well haha.

As long as you're not going to be throwing an 1/8 oz. Baby Rage Craw, I'd say get the DX704. The DX rods have a slightly faster action than the Savvy or Champion rods. With the DX704 you could throw plastics and jigs up to 1/2 oz. comfortably, and also use it as an all-around rod. The Dobyns 4 power rods are extremely versitile, as are, well, the 3 and 5 powers as well. One thing I will point out about Dobyns is that within a series (Champion, DX), they all basically have a similar action. If you really love the action of a DX743 but want something with a little more power and kick for throwing a heavier jig, jumping to a DX744 is exactly what you want to do. It's hard to put into words, but it's something you understand when you fish a couple of different models.

You are 100% correct on the 784 being a like a 4.5 power rod. I agree with Hooligan on the 784 being a good grass jig rod, but I wouldn't be throwing a 3/4 oz. flipping jig in cover that is too heavy. If you're wanting to cover anything from a 3/8 oz. jig on a hard bottom to a 3/4 oz. jig in heavy cover, I would opt for the 745. The actions of these two rods are sort of difficult to explain, but I'll give it a try. The 745 has a slightly more moderate action than the 784, but is definitely more powerful. When I set the hook on a fish in heavy wood cover with the DX745, it just feels perfect, whether I am using 65# braid or 20# flouro. It loads up perfectly for a solid hookset that won't tear the hook out of their mouth, especially with braid. Basically, I would leave it at this: If you're planning on fishing 3/8-1/2 oz. jigs in open water or light cover, you could get away with the 784 for sure. But, if you want to do that AND be able to pull a 7+ out of heavy cover with a heavy jig, I would go for the 745. Either way, you're getting one hell of a rod.

Yep, it's a little bit less-powerfull than the DX745, but has a slightly faster taper. The DX745 has what seems like a pretty quick tip, but when you're fighting a fish, it loads up a good portion of the rod with a more moderate taper than the DX784. What type of jigs are you planning on fishing? How are you going to fish them? I searched for the perfect DX jig rod for a couple months and know the 745 and 784 pretty well.

Lots of great options from a lot of companies. It really depends on what type of jigs you use the most and what kind of cover you'll be dealing with. Since you're in Florida, I assume you'll be throwing 3/8+ oz. jigs in some pretty nasty stuff, and that you have a flipping stick for the really heavy weeds and such. I actually found my jig rod this year, a Dobyns DX745 with the full handle. It feels like it was custom built just for me, and the sensitivity is out of this world. There are a couple of other rods worth taking a look at as well: DX745 - All-around perfect jig rod, really shines in the 3/8-3/4 oz. range. This rod can pitch a jig in a brushpile and drag a 3/4 oz. football in deep water equally well. Super versitile as well. I've thrown frogs, swimjigs, big spinnerbaits, plastics, chatterbaits, and small swimbaits on it as well. There's a lot more I could say about this rod, but I'm trying not to sound like a Dobyns tool. I will never buy another jig rod for as long as I live, and am thinking about getting another one. DX784 - Not as powerfull as the DX745, but a faster and more powerfull rod than the DX744. Really a great 3/8-1/2 oz. jig rod, but you can throw up to a 1 oz. jig as well without concern. This, to me, is the most sensitive rod in the Champion Extreme lineup. Extremely versitile as well, and a superb plastics rod. DX744 - Basically, a less-powerfull DX745. Perfect 3/8 oz. jig rod, but a 1/2 oz. is at the rods upper limit in terms of comfort level. Dobyns Champion 765 Dobyns Champion 734 I would look hard at the DX745, for sure.

Line is going to have some memory no matter what. Spray some KVD Line and Lure on it or just stretch it out some. When it is still on the spool it came on, leave it in a nightstand, bookcase, etc that is out of direct sunlight and extreme temps., and you should be fine.

I'm on a roll - another spool of line gone. I need some gloves that allow me to cast as well... especially in wind. No lost jigs.

I've snagged a few on the Craw:

Dude, you'll be out there one day throwing that funky skirted thing, and all of a sudden it will just "click". I am quite literally obsessed with jigs. I sold all of my rods and reels and bought a very specific rod for jigs. Congrats on the first fish, keep after 'em and you'll get the hang of it.

Northstar Pro Series Jigs, Alien Head - Black/Blue, Perfect Brown Craw; tipped with either a Rage Tail Lobster or Chunk. Northstar Swim Jig (heavy wire hook) - Black/Blue; tipped with a Rage Craw Rage Craw I know exactly what my best for 2012 are going to be...

Missed a 6 on the first cast of the day today. Cold front moved in a dropped temps 10 degrees. The wind chill put it around the upper 20's to mid 30's, at least it felt like it to me. I've got this pond dialed in with a jig. I know for a fact the one I missed was the 6 I caught around Thanksgiving. Lost two more jigs today as well. Still no 2012 fish.

Maybe C21 represents the 2 x's in CXX and the 1 x in CX, equating to C21. Makes sense to me.

People should start calling him "Alton Bones".

I caught another dead cat today! No joke!

Very good to hear. I think I'll stock up on a couple spools of the bigger size for you-know-what.

Anyone using it? Thoughts? From P-Line: The ultimate goal of P-Line’s engineers was to create a line that bridged the gap between two of their most popular lines - CX-Premium and CXX-Xtra Strong, while maintaining a great price point. They certainly have the price point right - $5 for a 300 yd. spool.

That's a wicked good looking fish you got there man. Almost looks like a smallie color wise! Love the three dark stripes under her eye. Beautiful!

I'm not in to micros either, but from your choices I would be most inclined to get the Savvy or Duckett, with a slight lean towards the Savvy. Those Duckett rods are crazy light. The Savvy won't be as light, but when fishing it will feel lighter.

Yeah man, we all have those days, but with that come days where we just nail them all day long, big fish too. The last 7 I caught was officially my last of 2011. How cool would it be to stick a pig for my first of 2012? I guess the good thing is that I still had a grand old time. Edit - Actually I had a great day,breaking off jigs and getting skunked all come with the territory. It was ~60* today. Beautiful outside. I have nothing to complain about, I just wish I had stuck one of those big bites...

I don't know if that could be ANY more sarcastic. Fished for 5 1/2 hours today. Tried three new ponds that a lot of people fish, two of the ponds across the street from my house, and finally one of my "big fish" ponds for 1.5 hours before dark. Didn't catch a single fish. Missed two BIG bites and a couple other small ones. Here's the best part: At the third pond I fished, I launched a lipless crank into orbit. Little Mr. Seagull flew into my line, wrapping it around his wing. Hand-lined him in, and he was brewed. Tried to grab hold of him several times but he just wasn't having it. Had to cut the line and watch his poor little sole try and take off several times before he realized his fate. I'm not a softie and have personally killed a lot of animals, but this little bird really hit me hard. He was with a flock of probably 200 others, and after I cut him loose they were long gone. He just paddled around the pond for half an hour before he crawled up on shore. He had lost all of his friends, and it was because of a cast I made. I lost 5 jigs at the last pond of the day, missed two really big fish, and went through a spool of Superhard Upgrade. I guess we're just a weird breed of people, because I still had a lot of fun and learned a couple things today. Who'da thought?

Drop the coin and get a Dobyns Champion Extreme DX745c! Perfect 3/8-3/4 oz. jig rod. I'm throwing a jig 50+ yards, but my Premier is "special". Zero spool tension. That distance is way out of hookset range unless I'm throwing braid, but it's fun to bomb a jig that far anyways.