Brian11719

To make matters worse she only used chicken nuggets and hot dogs. Now if you try to throw a senko the bass just gawk at it in disgust...

Thanks for sharing that @NoFroFishing. I actually looked into these a bit after ALF mentioned them in one of their videos a while back. The warranty seems a little iffy since the policy basically says if they determine it's your fault they'll 'give you options' but don't specifically list out what those would be...but honestly that's not a complete deal breaker for me and at least they are willing to offer some kind of discount in that situation. Having said that what actually put me off about these more than anything else was the rod lengths and actions. I actually really liked the grip design on the spinning rod and it was cool to see something unique get introduced for a change, but to your point about what techniques go with what rod I generally do not like extra fast spinning rods and could not (and still can't) figure out why I'd want a 6'10 medium fast spinning rod but then a 7' medium light spinning rod. The only other fast option in the Elite spinning series is a 7'6 and in my case I fish out of a kayak and only have 1 rod that's even that long and that's my heaviest casting rod that I use for swimbaits...the lure weights also seemed a bit off and in my case that was enough to get me to write them off the last time I looked at them. Just out of curiosity did you end up getting any of the spinning models? If so what which one(s) and what for?

Yeah but they make moderate and moderate fast graphite rods that aren't composite or glass and it might be looking into one of those instead of something with a fast action. For example after trying out a few different brands / options I figured out I like the action that Dobyns rods have for crankbaits. This doesn't mean they are going to be the best for everyone, but in terms of what I throw and how I want the rod to perform they do very well for me. Having said that I've got 3 now. The first 2 are in the Kaden series (6104cb and 735cb) and both of these are just graphite rods. They do fine for lighter stuff (3/8-3/4oz range) but for bigger baits I have a champ xp 736cb. Ironically Dobyns has this one labeled as a fast rod, but it's also a composite so it bends more. I personally don't prefer glass rods after trying a couple as I felt they were too heavy for my taste, but for heavier crankbaits (and bladed jigs) I've found that I like a composite rod like this one. So to answer your question I would say yes but generally speaking I would still at least consider a mod or a mod fast rod for crankbaits as an option, and while every rod manufacturer is different and mod fast from one is not going to equal mod fast for another I've found that I personally like a mod fast action in a graphite rod for lighter crankbaits and similar type lures.

The consensus seems to be that wet braid casts further but I do remember one time when I went fishing in the rain and then for the next couple of days after that I noticed I would cast with that reel and it didn't go as far. I've got a kayak so I ended up emptying the entire thing into the lake and then reeling it back in and that seemed to fix it...it's almost like the line was caked onto the reel or stuck together before I did that...anyway that has only happened once so doesn't seem like it would be a common thing but either way if it might be worth emptying some / all of it out and then reeling it back in again if you can.

@MontanaBasser thank you for making me feel slightly less guilty about buying 2 rods within the last 24 hours. Also just a heads up copperstate sent an email about their spring sale (20% off) a couple of hours ago...some items might not be included from the looks of it but Dobyns rods definitely seem to work...

This is actually why I prefer the matt herren flippin' jig...and powder coated jig heads in general...also prefer a 3.5" adrenaline craw on the back of it fwiw. also like their bugs...the 4" bug is a significantly fatter body but about as wide as the adrenaline 3.5" craw and the tail would be a bit longer...comparing it to a similar size rage bug it's wider but a bit shorter...overall I like them a lot but usually just go w/ an adrenaline craw as a trailer on a herren flippin' jig and save these bugs for a texas rig w/ a 3/8oz weight since they do great at coming in and out of some of the nastier grass we get down here.

Speaking of 'fishy' tackle shops (in this case stores with 'fish' in their name) a store called fishfield.com looks like they are having a flash sale right now and it looks like you can get a decent discount on a lot of shimano / daiwa stuff that isn't discounted as much...among other things it looks like they have that shorter daiwa swimbait rod at a 20% discount. I also noticed another one 'fishermanswarehouse.com' that has some St Croix stuff at prices that look similar to what ALF had during their last 'sell it all' sale a while back...a lot of the rods are sold already from the looks of it but still some nice choices in stock if you look around. Has anyone ordered from one of these places? I haven't bought from either of them before but figured I'd mention it since they seem to be running some decent discounts.

^ right so basically every argument that you've made and that I've seen against them so far in this entire thread is based on what others have read or heard about and not what they've actually experienced. With all due respect unless you have actually had an issue I'm not really all that interested in hearing you echo chamber the internet. I'm betting that avid is a nice rod @Smiththebat and wouldn't let some folks that seem to hate this company because they are apparently angry about what others have experienced sway you either way...also if you get really angry about this sort of thing and aspire to be a social justice keyboard warrior there might be a few better uses of your time than arguing w/ someone about a rod company on a bass fishing forum.

Right...so flat earth ancient alien conspiracy theories aside we aren't talking about cancer here we are talking about a rod company and supposed quality issues. Have you actually experienced any of these issues personally with them? If so which rod and what happened with it?

I would say it's probably worth looking into a hand wrapper if you are going to start replacing your own guides. Having done it once without one I am not sure I'd suggest going down that route and for the price I suspect owning one would justify itself after a few replacements...

I've experienced exactly one 'quality' issue with a bass-x reel seat that crapped out on me right when I put a reel on it a couple of years ago...they did take a while to get back to me on that, but DSG just refunded me for it anyway...aside from that I also broke a guide on my old mojo rod (my fault) and they got back to me right away and gave me a new / better rod for $40. Own a few rods from them at this point (victory and legend xtreme) and would respectfully disagree with the notion that their quality control is 'in the toilet' (I've had no issues with any of these rods) and would argue that most of the statements above me seem to be based on hearsay rather than actual personal experience. On another note the Tatula rods also seem fine. Haven't fished with one but have held a few in the store and they seem like they are good rods. Not sure the warranty is as good as what you would get with St. Croix but the rods themselves seemed nice.

I have had a good experience w/ St. Croix's warranty / customer service (recently) and would recommend them. I don't own any in the avid series, but I have used the blank they have and in this case if I needed a 2-piece and it was going to be my main spinning setup and I had to get it from BPS I'd be taking a look at the Avid ASFS70MF2 for the sc3+ blank and 15 year warranty. Pretty good review / rod bend on the 1 piece version of that one from Omnia here: and I personally think there is a significant and noticeable difference with the blank in this rod and the sc2 blanks and to me it would be worth paying a little more for the sc3+. BPS has been running a fair amount of club member 10% off days so if you happen to be a club member you might be able to wait and save a little money when you buy it.

I'm currently using a 1/8 oz jig head with either a 2/0 or 3/0 hook and then 3.2" 6th sense divine swimbaits or 4" keitech easy shiners if it helps at all...

I've caught some nice ones this time of year...

I kind of think the color is ugly. Also don't like the fact that they have 3 right handed models but just the 7:5 for the left handed version. Normally like Lew's (I own more Lew's casting reels than any other brand) and I'm not as much of a Shimano or Daiwa fanboy as some people seem to be and as far as casting reels go I usually choose between these 3 brands and then go by which one is on sale...but that said probably going to pass on this one unless they decide to at least add a 6:8 left since that's my favorite ratio for Lew's reels...and even then this one seems like a bit of a Daiwa knock off (yet more expensive than the Daiwa I'd compare it to) and that color is still ugly and reminds me of a bad couch from the 70s. In summary if I was throwing a lighter lure and wanted a breaking system like that I'd opt for the sv tw...alternatively for heavier lures not sure that's really needed anyway and I'd take their old tourney pro lfs in a 6:8 over this one in a 7:5 and not have to worry about looking like goldmember from that austin powers movie. /end rant

This was in a recent email from a plumbing company that I use and I think it sums up the situation down here pretty well: In my case I've found they can shut down if it gets to 40 degrees or below for a bit (and especially if there was some rain and the water is dirty) but then as soon as it starts to warm back up the bite seems to come back with a vengeance...nabbed a couple last week before the last front came in so definitely not too early here, but YMMV depending on where the temperature has been recently.

I've got a Dobyns Kaden 6104cb which I like to think of as the poor man's version of this rod. It does best with jerkbaits and topwater poppers (I swap out the reel for 30lb braid for these). Aside from that I also like to use it to throw a Lucky Craft LVR D or a bladed jig at the pond I go to. It would also do well for throwing something like a squarebill and targeting cover like brush piles. It could also work with crankbaits, but the big draw back would be that it's a shorter rod which would usually equate to shorter casts and less time for the crankbait to be in the water which is why I'd prefer to go with a longer rod for open water applications. Pretty sure it would be the same scenario if I had the Expride instead of the Kaden...

Crankbait bites can be fun when you get on a good one...one of my best last year was with a 6th sense cloud 9 c10...I also like lucky craft stuff so not the cheapest lure in the bag but there are days when it's definitely worth it.

Haven't tried this latest gen but based on my experience w/ the previous tp1 black series I'd say yes...and I also prefer a mod fast rod for bladed jigs so definitely another yes vote here...that speed spool will look nice on it and 6:8 ratio is also what I'd go with...overall good value setup.

I think Glenn has a video where he talks about a toad and suggests an ewg with a weight and a screwlock...in my case I've landed on the 4/0 Gamakatsu weighted superline spring lock. Great for toads, swimbaits and flukes and I like the one with the 1/16oz weight as it's just enough weight IMHO. Not sure you would need superglue with setup since most toads are thick enough that the screwlock does a good enough job on its own and it seems like the glue would just get in the way to me...

If it were me and I could waive a magic wand and start over it would be a curado 200m. That's a bit more pricey than what you are looking to spend but it might be worth checking to see if you can find a last gen curado 200 or tatula 150 on sale. The 13 fishing concept a2 also has a bit more room and looks pretty good but I haven't actually used a 13 fishing reel before...that one also doesn't have external brakes but if you are just going to be using the same lure most of the time that shouldn't be much of an issue and I think those are still on sale at some places right now. Aside from that if your budget is pretty firm around $100 it's going to be hard to argue with the speed spool...always a solid choice at that price point.

One thing I would say is up until a few weeks ago I felt the same way and that a 7'4 heavy didn't need to be expensive and advocated for a less expensive frog rod with the idea being sensitivity doesn't matter anyway. Recently I've found that I like that rod for throwing other lures on it as well and ended up picking up a 7'4 Victory. Long story short if it were me I'd suggest you at least consider what your 'regular' casting rod would be. Have also been throwing a frog on an 8:3 lews speed spool lfs for a couple of years now. It does ok with 50lb braid in it but if I had to do it over again I might consider something with a little more room in the spool...but as long as the frogs you are using are at least 1/2oz or so it should do a decent job. Overall I think either the Fury or the Tatula would be fine for a frog rod. If it were me I might actually lean a bit towards the Tatula even though the warranty isn't as good. Reel wise in my experience the speed spool lfs will do ok but if you are going to be throwing a frog a lot or using the reel for other stuff it might not hurt to consider something with a little more room for the heavier braid. Just some feedback for you from someone that had been throwing a very similar setup until just recently FWIW...

I'd wait. Doesn't seem like either option is really what you are looking for and unless those credits expire no reason to rush. Definitely wouldn't pick up a left handed reel if I used right handed casting reels. Also wouldn't settle just for the sake of buying something and indulging in some retail therapy...maybe go buy something cheap out of the clearance bin at academy instead and wait this one out until omnia has something you are really excited about and don't even need to question buying...that time will come sooner or later and in terms of getting good deals on gear I'm beginning to feel like not being in a hurry is one of the best things you can do.

Still a good catch...I'd consider that Sierra 766 flip for the price...if I already didn't have one Their used selection was also good for a while but that also seem to have been picked through pretty thoroughly at this point.

Behold my selection of Dobyns Kaden casting rods...lay thine eyes on it...and see that it is barren!