Hi, all. New to the forum, very sorry if this has been answered already but I can't seem to find a solid answer anywhere.
I'm trying to decide between the Dobyns Champion XP 683 or 684 as my kind of all-around casting rod. I'll be primarily throwing smaller topwaters like 1/2oz walking baits, 75 and 90 ploppers, 3/8oz-1/2oz jigs, and 3/8oz spinnerbaits. I also fish primarily on small river systems on my kayak up here in MN, so I wanted to stick with a slightly shorter rod so I can cast a little more accurately in tight spaces. I've come across a lot of forums that say the power on Dobyns rods are actually one step less than they're advertised. I have a 1oz Chug'n Spook and a 110 Plopper that both weigh 1oz, so I was curious for you guys that are seasoned Dobyns owners if the 683 would handle these slightly heavier lures just fine (the 683 has a lure weight of 1/4oz-3/4oz), or if I should move up to a 684 (1/4oz-1oz). My only concern is with the 683 is that if it really fishes more like a medium, that I can't rip my jigs and spinnerbaits out of the weeds as easily as I probably could with the 684, but with the 684 I'm more or less concerned the tip isn't as soft as the 683's that when I get a bite on a topwater those treble hooks don't get ripped right outta their mouths.
Any thoughts and advice would be very much appreciated! Thanks, everyone!
