David P

Fish in general hit a reaction bait HARDER and it's more noticeable when you get a bite... Jigs, Drop Shots, Shaky Heads, Senkos, etc, many times a fish will eat it very softly and it's tougher to feel. I don't think "not wanting" sensitivity is what most people mean... I think what most people are trying to say is that sensitivity isn't AS important as that of a jig rod or drop shot rod... If I had say $500 for two rods, I'd spend $350 on a bottom contact rod and $150 on a cranking rod. I use Dobyns Champion rods for my cranking and spinnerbaits, still a VERY sensitive rod, but I use Dobyns Extremes for all my other rods...

Fishing for a full day burns well over 1000 calories... Casting and retrieving constantly uses muscles in your body and making thousands of casts can be physically demanding. Most sporting events last from 1-3 hours, we go for 8+ hours... Most sporting events are for one day, and there are typically rest days following, pro trails require 2-4 day events. Standing, especially in the wind puts stress on your body. I consider myself very physically fit with under 5% total body fat and being quite well built, certainly the majority of that is from the gym, but I also fish 3 days a week and have been sore and exhausted from fishing all day, just as I get from the gym. If it's a competition AND i'm physically exhausted afterwards, I consider it a sport - regardless of definitions. There's a ton of ways that this sport is physically and mentally demanding. I may not consider it a "sport" for weekend fisherman sitting around drinking beer (which is what MOST "fishing ignorant" people think of when they think of fishing), but certainly tournament fishing IS a sport and not sure how anyone can claim it is not.

The Dobyns 701 and 702 extreme rods are AWESOME for finesse stuff. If you're set on throwing baits 1/8oz and below and not a heavy plastic bait on it, the 701 will do great. Just be careful what types of baits you're putting on your shaky head, could easily find yourself close to 1/2oz after bait is added to that shaky head!

Just something to think about... Longer rods certainly have an advantage.. I love to launch my ripbaits FAR.. The longer rods help. I'm not 5'2, but I am 5'10 and fish a 7ft and 7'6 rod for ripbait fishing, winter times I do it 8+ hours a day non stop without an issue. They key is to jerk slightly to the side not straight down in front of you. I can get a far more erratic action this way too when desired. Again, it's mostly personal preference.. I personally cannot stand short rods and even have issues with 7fters! Goodluck on your search. Go to the store and mess around with different lengths to figure out your preference.

I too can't stand a glass rod for ripbaits, faster tip rods help work a ripbait... Not sure I'd throw any swimbait on either of those rods though...

Dobyns 744 or 745DX Extreme Rod. Friggin' incredible!

I have a frog tied on a rod and on my deck about 8 months out of the year, it's one of my absolute favorite baits and have caught countless big fish on them. Although not as flashy as some of the newer ones, I always keep going back to the Snag Proof Bobby's Perfect Frog. It has hands down the best hook up ratio of any frog, soft and supple to decompress and yet still very weedless. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

I'm not trying to argue with you, but when comments are made in the form of, "I would think..." or "I would expect", or "I can't justify spending". These are your opinions, but clearly this forum and several other forums prove your "expectations and thinking" wrong. There are frequently threads from guys asking, "Which model do I get for...". Just because you can't justify spending $400 on a rod, doesn't mean others can't... I wasn't trying to argue with you, but when you try to bash a company for saying it's essentially a negative if they have good customer service because customer service shouldn't be needed if the rod is good, it's just simply not true. You made the point by saying you one time called a rod company and you knew more than the lady... This is part of customer service. It's not always a bad rod that calls for you to use customer service. And as Grantman said, it's inevitable that user error will cause something wrong with a rod once in a lifetime. To be able to call, get your call answered immediately, and the problem resolved THAT very day and your part in the mail that very day, that's GOOD customer service. Whether it be free, or $20, immediately being taken care of is what's most important. Gets us all back on the water quicker and fishing with the rods we love!

Exactly my point, many rod companies customer service representatives DO NOT know much about the rods, and are indeed there to take orders, deal with promotional stuff, and other issues... Not necessarily give advice on a rod.. This is exactly what makes up part of good customer service and proves my point. You might not have broken a rod, but it's a VERY common thing that happens, especially on bass boats. When you invest $200-$400 on a rod, or sometimes more, it's nice to know you have a warranty and a good customer service to back you up when something does happen. You are one of the select lucky few that doesn't have issues, but this is why customer service is so important to many people. HAS NOTHING to do with quality of the rods themselves, and good customer service shouldn't be looked at as a negative when talking about rod companies.

I've been through countless pairs of Oakleys, then to Costas, then back to Oakleys, until I found out about Kaenon Sunglasses (lot of big name baseball players where them and I decided to look them up). Made in Italy, so somewhat expensive, but holy cow clarity wise is amazing. I've converted a few friends from Oakley to Kaenons already... I own three pairs now and sold my Oakleys.

It's VERY do-able, in fact I've had great success with the Spybait .. and I use my drop shot rod for it. If possible, I'd look for a 7'6 rod or 7'9. If I were to do it again, i'd grab the 792 Dobyns Extreme rod, but when up against the wall in my last tournament, I used my 702dx Spinning Dobyns rod (my go to drop shot rod) and it performed flawlessly.

Customer Service isn't always about rod failure... Calling the company to ask for advice on what rod to order is a BIG confidence booster to consumers who are forced to purchase a rod online and want to be sure they're getting the exact right rod for what they want to do. How many rod companies can you call and speak to one of the best most accomplished fisherman out there (as well as being the owner and designer of these rods) and get advice from him... Customer Service isn't always a negative thing... Not to mention plenty of people smash a rod in their rod locker, car door, car window, etc... Or what about stepping on guides on a rod that's laid out of the front desk? My point is, accidents happen, and it happens to ALL rods, no rod is bullet proof. So when something does happen, I like to know my phone call will be answered immediately, BY A FISHERMAN who knows what they're talking about. I have personally called and had issues with four different rod companies in the past. Not once did I get my question answered on the first call, most of the time forced to leave a message and wait for a call back. I have heard similar stories with many other rod companies. Being able to call and speak directly to the owner/designer/accomplished fisherman is a huge plus that not many companies offer.

That's such a vague question... Time of year, weather conditions, water temperature dictates a lot. I have weighed 27-28lbs for 5 spotted bass in 50-60ft of water in winter, and then flipped a jig in 4ft of water for largemouth during the same conditions. Jigs work in 1ft of water all the way down! Once you find them in one spot, they may only be there that day, week or month, then move deeper or shallower. Makes fishing fun, but frustrating!

You won't be disappointed. I know it's nice to hold the rod in your hands prior to ordering, but they have such detailed, accurate information on the rods that it's very easy to get the rod you're hoping to get. Ordering one form TW is free shipping and can always return it, but I'm almost certain that thought wouldn't cross your minds once it's in your hands!

Dobyns, hands down.

Frog fishing is almost all I do from late Spring until late Summer. It's an absolute BLAST! I prefer a longer rod, 7'6-8ft in length. Huge top water strikes create slack in the line, the longer rod helps move more line on the hookset and pick up that slack line. The longer rod is also good to keep a distance from where you're fishing and enables you to make a longer cast. I use a Dobyns 736, 766 and 805 depending on what I'm doing. The 7'3 is for closer quarters the other two for more traditional frog fishing. My hook up ratio on a frog with a 7.1:1 or higher reel is astronomical compared to a lower speed reel. Again, faster retrieve, picks up more slack to quickly set the hook. Also, enables you to reel in quicker once you're out of the strike zone (seconds add up in a tournament to get a few extra casts!).

From shore a longer rod is very advantageous. Longer casts and you can move more line on the hook set. If I was to purchase just ONE spinning setup, I would get a 7'3-7'6 Medium action spinning rod.

5XD / 6XD

Not a problem!

You will be at a disadvantage in many circumstances if you stick with ONE line... Mono is less sensitive, "more visible", stretches which can be a positive or a negative, it doesn't cut through weeds well, once you're over 20lb breaking strength it's got more memory than say braid.. Fluorocarbon is more sensitive, but you still can't go much higher than 25lb breaking strength, it sinks so you can't effectively use it for top water Braid is great for cutting through weeds, throwing top water, it doesn't stretch and is pretty sensitive, but on rocks it frays up and when fishing baits subsurface like jigs, senkos, t-rigs etc there is a bow created in your line underwater because it floats which reduces sensitivity. There's no reason to stick with just ONE line. Heavy Cover flipping, pitching, frogs - Braid Crankbaits - Mono Feel baits like jigs, t-rigs, senkos, etc - Fluorocarbon At least that's what works for me. I have been intrigued by trying sinking braid for some applications, but yet to get around to it.

I like split rings on the bait, I feel like it helps get me a little more action and make it a bit looser. I don't use the stock ones though, I have bent them out before on fish because I use braid when fishing these baits. I replace it with an Owner Hyper wire split ring.

You can throw swimbaits, a-rigs, frogs, carolina rigs, chatter baits, spinnerbaits (MH), flipping, I love the Revo S reels for baits like spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, crankbaits, etc.. But for flipping, jigs, frogs, punching, plastics, etc I like the Revos that offer a high speed retrieve.

For a sub $200 rod I think the Savvy's have excellent sensitivity. The 766 would certainly fit the bill for what you're looking for. I like 7'9 and 8ft rods for frogging and punching, but I definitely use a 766 quite a bit for frogging as well.

are you able to walk other baits? might just take you some time to get the action down of putting slack in your line then twitching your rod tip. I use braid, but mono certainly works, a higher speed reel helps but isn't a must and shouldn't be causing the issue, a longer rod helps a bit too but all of these factors shouldn't cause the issues you're having. Maybe not creating enough slack in your line ?

Something's gotta be wrong, cause it's one of my favorite baits and it walks with absolute ease... I work them extremely fast too and they walk with the best of them. What kind of line are you using?