billjaco

One belief was light line meant more bites, but also more break-offs. Back reeling put less strain on the line. You owe it to yourself to try back reeling when a big fish decides to make a strong run when nearly landed. It's a blast! I won't use a spinning reel you can't back reel.

Mann's 10+ Firetiger

Saving the proceeds from selling scrap metal.

When I get a new reel, after adding a drop of oil to the bearings, I tie a 3/4 Rattle Trap on a long rod and head for a pond down the road. After making the correct reel adjustments for the lure, about an hour of continuous casting and rapid retrieves will result in increased reel smoothness and lure distance. This break-in period seems to loosen up any excess grease while getting you familiar with how the reel performs.

Can I have the St Croix you seem determined to orphan? I'll give it a good home so you won't have to feel guilty about kicking it to the curb. Is it a 2018 model with the updated handle? What are the negative aspects of that rod that have you looking for a replacement?

Tie a 3/4 oz. Rattle Trap on the Calcutta and cast the crap out of it for a couple of hours. Once you loosen up all the factory grease, that reel will perform in a totally different manner. It doesn't hurt to put a drop of oil in the bearings before you begin this procedure. I did this with a new Calcutta 400B and it made a world of difference.

Thanks. I didn't scroll down far enough in the link to see the full description.

Be interesting to hear the full story. What did he choose as a replacement?

Wonder if the "cg" could be something like composite graphite? Maybe a competitor for the Shimano Casitas.

Thanks for the information. The review of the Legend Extreme was very helpful, plus they also had one about the Avid MHXF.

The new rod has the Fuji CC (carbon control) guide platform which appear to be micro guides. I like new the cork composite butt cap, as the finish on the butt caps of the two previous models did not slide freely over a shirt or jacket, acting somewhat like a brake. Butt caps on Avids use the composite material and tend to flow more freely over clothing.

TBC71MHXF/Swim Jig Finesse Excels with swim jigs and smaller jigs worked in heavy cover. Its unique design combines a very powerful butt section with a light and sensitive tip. Are there any other uses for this rod besides those described on the St Croix web site? Would the Avid MHXF have the same action and similar uses, if anyone has used that rod?

$269.99

This makes sense and helps me to understand that even though I like trying different brands of rods, my tendency is to choose actions that relate to my preferred methods of fishing. I believe that I have more than enough rods to cover most types of lure fishing, I just need to break from my established habits and experiment with different patterns. Thanks for the input Tom.

That clears up some confusion in things I have read regarding Savvy vs. Sierra. Read that Sierra had upgraded guides, cork, and slight bump in blank material with actions 99% the same as Savvy. Your explanation helps to clarify the pecking order of the Dobyns lineup and points out that while the Sierra is no Champion, it is still a pretty darn good rod. Thanks, BassThumb!

I found this rod on a clearance rack of a big box store when the were first released. It was priced as if it were a Loomis IMX rod. I pointed out the pricing error to an employee who told his manager. Manager said if I was interested in the rod I could have it for the correct price along with his employee discount. Most of my experience is with St Croix rods which some claim are tip heavy. If that is the case, the E6X may be a little less tip heavy, about equal to the Powell Max. I have the E6X paired with a Curado 50E and have used it mostly for searching for active fish with a 3/16oz shake/swim ballhead jig and grub. Given its' weight rating of 1/8 to 3/8 lures, along with the extra fast tip, the sensitivity is really good; comparable to the LTB Teaser and Powell max. (Haven't had the LTB Jerkbait rod long enough to evaluate sensitivity.) I have never lost a jig fish on this rod. Hook penetration is great and have never struggled to land a fish, though I must add that I haven't caught anything over 4lbs on this rod, and I am fishing mostly open water, not heavy cover. I don't know the actual weight of this rod, but with the 50E, I find it a pleasure to fish. I'm pretty long in the tooth and the so called tip heavy St Croix rods are light compared to what I cut my teeth on. With modern techniques and materials there are lighter rods available but I'm not fishing tournaments for days and hours on end. Have you fished your dad's Savvy 734? How does it compare to the Champion 734?

fishnkamp, All rods listed are casting rods. I do have crank bait rods to cover all but the deepest diving crankbaits, but my worn out shoulders can't handle too much of that activity these days. The trap lures you mentioned are all among my favorites. I believe I have a tendency to use these lures a bit to much, as they don't require as much focus as other techniques and allow one to enjoy the scenery and unwind from real world stress. I do have the spinning rods you mentioned as well and intend to try the many suggestions you have provided for these rods. Small swim jigs with 3" Kalin grubs have been a favorite of mine the last few years from shoreline out to 20' depths. I intend to try some with the 5" grubs in some of the deeper local waters. Past experience has taught me that this type of fishing can result in quality size fish if one can muster up the patience and concentration that is required. I really appreciate the time you take in replying to post and your enthusiasm for the sport of fishing. Thanks for all your help!

fishncamp, Thanks for the information provided here and in many of your posts I have come across in researching the Dobyns Sierra. I had been interested in the Dobyns Champion 733c for years but always felt it would be a duplicate of rods I already have, action wise. The Avid 7'mh would probably accommodate all the baits a 734c is designed to handle. Another thought in the back of my mind is the photo on the Powell Rods Facebook page of a new rod to be released in October. Could this be a replacement for the Endurance line that so many were sorry to see discontinued? It doesn't have an ECS handle on the casting model and looks to be the same reel seat used on the Max 3D, but here's hoping it's going to be an upgrade to something similar to the Endurance. Sorry for rambling, but I have a tough time controlling the tackle junky in me most of the time. Living 5 minutes from Cabela's and Field and Stream does little in the effort to control my problem, along with a large family of enablers who constantly send gift cards to these establishments my way. One thing I will take away from the research on the Sierra's on this forum is your many suggestions for lures I have not tried. Very informative! I think for now i will try some of the tactics you suggested on my existing equipment to determine if I really have a need for either of these rods. If that is found to be the case, there's always Black Friday. Thanks Again!

Already have these rods; E6X 852c JWR Powell Max 703c Avid 6'6" and 7' mf Avid 7" mhf LTB 6'8"mf jerkbait LTB 7'mf Teaser As you can see, many can serve the same purpose. Have an interest in Dobyns Sierra 733c and 734c, especially with Memorial Day pricing. Have heard that Dobyns are slightly over rated power wise, but wonder if they compare to any of the rods listed. Would the 734c be equivalent to the Avid mhf or Avid mf or somewhere in between power wise? Where would the 733c fall? Does anyone have enough experience with the Sierra's to possibly offer some comparison to the rods I have mentioned? (I've been using St Croix rods for so long that tip heaviness is not an issue. My older reels balance them nicely.) Thanks in advance and enjoy the Memorial Day weekend.

I believe that the rod you are talking about was sold in the U.S. back in the early 2000's. Other than a few fly rod/reel combos, Quarrow is now into selling fishing related products in this country. They were bought out by a big group from Texas. The two brothers that made the rods marketed them as a quality rod from Broken Arrow, Ok. A sporting goods store in Ohio carried Quarrows and I almost bought one because of the build quality, but settled on a St. Croix due to their reputation and warranty.

Tie a 3/4 oz. rattle-trap style lure on your rig and take it to some open water. Ease into some short casts until you are comfortable that your brake and cast control settings are correct, then gradually work up to increasing your casting distance. An hours worth of casting will loosen up the excess grease and break things in to where the reel should perform as intended, or expose any problems.

You are currently involved in the sport of fishing. This involves one outfit and catching fish. Most of us started where you are now. The question you pose suggest that you are considering entry into the world of tackle buying. You will never again find the enjoyment you now have if you take the plunge into the world of finding a better rod and reel than what you now have. It becomes never ending and all-consuming. Eventually you wind up with a room full of tackle while spending endless hours on the internet looking for a great deal on a better rod and reel. If you're lucky, occasionally you will find time to fish and evaluate your purchases, but the pure love of fishing will have been replaced by the love of buying better tackle. Embrace the rod and reel that you can't see yourself abandoning, and spend as much time as you can on the water catching fish.