Champion Vs. Champion Extreme

[NavyVet]

I have been using the Dobyns Champion seris rods for a while now and they seem to do a good job.  I am now considering buying a Champion Exetreme DX 703C for Texas rigging. I have never owned or used the Champion seris. I would appreciate any feedback from those that have fished the Dobyns Extreme seris rods.  Are they worth the extra money compared to the Champion and how do they compare with the Champion seris.

 

Any advice or information/opinions would be appreciated.

[rangerjockey]

I think you will tell a difference in the two, the champion is a great moving bait rod but for bottom contact, if it's in the budget I would step up to the DX. 

 I have 703,704, and 745. The 703 is fairly soft if you plan on going heavier than 3/8. Personally I like the 745 the best of the bunch.

[Grantman83]

I use the 703 for weightless stuff like flukes and senkos. I would go a power higher for almost anything with some weight to it. If budget allows, the dx is more sensitive but that in no way downplays how good the champions are. Many guys use the 735c as a jig and Texas rig rod with no problems.

[bmlum415]

The 703 would work great for Texas rigs since it is more sensitive and more of a bottom contact rod. The champion line to me is a reaction bait rod compared to the champ extreme which I find excels in bottom contact fishing. Also give a 743 a look at

[iabass8]

There is a noticeable sensitivity difference between the champion and the champion extreme series. the champion is no slouch in the sensitivity department and you would be more than happy with it but the extreme, to put it simply, is better. i use the 743,744 and 745s in the champ extreme. i like the longer rods. the 743 excels largely at your weightless baits like flukes, senkos, light texas rigs, etc. the 744 is easily the best all around rod in the series. i'm i'm throwing 1/8 oz weights + a plastic i'd be using the 743. anything over that up to 3/8 the 744(or 704 if you want a shorter rod) would easily be my choice. the 744 is what i primarily use for texas rigs as i throw 3/16 or 1/4oz most of the time. the 745 is THE jig rod in the bunch. it's basically just a more powerful 744. the 4 power dobyns handles a very wide range of weights and applications. 

[Brian Needham]

much is good advice above.

 

the DX series is THE rod as far as I am concerned.

I have had or still have: 702finesse, 742, 743, 744,745,784ml, 742sf all in the Dx line and each one is awesome.

 

the labeled techniques on the blank are true to form, as the action. I like the longer rods, so I throw trigs on the  784ml a bunch too, awesome stick.

 

let us know what exactly you want to throw.........cause if you are throwing 3/8oz+ 10in worms you need a 745. but if you are 1/4oz rage craw or 7 in worms a 744 will be fine.

[Quillback]

I've got a 703 and 743 DX, I'm starting to like the longer rods more, better casting distance, more leverage on hook sets.  I'm using my 743 a lot more than my 703.  703 is a good rod, just too short IMO.  But for you it may be a great rod. 

 

On a side note, picked up a 784 a couple of months ago, really liking it for 1/2 oz t-rigs, jigs and Biffle head type jigs.  It will work with 3/4 oz stuff also.  Hook setting is really god with that long rod.

[Grantman83]

I got a dx mike long and love it for Carolina rigs, football jigs and anything deep. Sensitivity is amazing. Can be a lighter flipping/ pitching rod as well

[NavyVet]

Thanks for the input thus far. There will be times I will be throwing 10in. worms with 1/4 to 3/8 oz. weights along with Brush Hogs. By the opinions I have heard so far, it seems the better choice for that application would be the DX704 or DX744 rather than the DX703 as I was first considering. Have never used a rod longer than 7 ft. but the longer length sure seems to be popular with a lot of folks.

 

Keep the suggestion coming. They are all appreciated as this could be an expensive purchase.  

[Brian Needham]

exactly, if you are throwing 1/4 to 3/8 + plastic you will want a 4 power IMO.

 

the 7'4 platform on the dobyns is great. I love the extra length. it helps with hooksets and playing the fish, plus you get a little extra "umpf" in your cast for distance.

 

enjoy the new rods!

[smalljaw67]

If you want a Chapion extreme you can save some money by getting a Loomis IMX, they are about the same in weight, balance, and power and even the sensitivity department I'd say the IMX is just a tad bit better but that again depends on the user. The biggest difference is the DX has a little bling while the Loomis IMX is more a traditional looking rod, I'm not knocking the Dobyns, they make a good rod but I think they are over priced considering they are made overseas. I have fished with a Champion and a DX and I would have to say the IMX from Loomis is about where they fall, I would say the Champion line would be between a GL2 and a GL3.

[kickerfish1]

Smalljaw I will "politely" disagree. The champion extremes are between the imx and glx line in terms of sensitivity. When I spoke to Gary this is where he placed the rod. For comparison sake I have 2 champ extremes and one imx and one nrx. It is not close to the nrx but above my imx. The imx might actually weigh less but balance, sensitivity, and looks plus warranty go to the dobyns champ extremes after fishing both side by side for 2+ years.

Neither rod lines are slouches in performance but given the choice and roughly $50 difference in price I would opt for the extreme every time.

[BradGuenette]

+1 for the 744 it's one of the most versatile rods in the line up. I use mine strickly for Texas rigging. In comparison to the champion series I feel I notice quite a difference in bottom contact presentations, I keep my champion rods for moving bait presentations.

[mod479]

The blanks might be different in the casting models, but I've found the difference between my Champ 703SF and DX703SF is slight.... So slight that I regularly choose my old champion over my newer, more expensive champion extreme when I fish light tube jigs. The champion is a well balanced, sensitive rod, not sure why those above are calling it a reaction bait rod as if its got a dead blank. I have to disagree after using a number of different offerings from Dobyns in the past 2 years now. My opinion is that if money is tight, stick with your champions, the extra $ buys a lot of tackle.    

 

For that extra money you're getting a different (slighter stiffer) blank, upgraded guides, a better reel seat, more cork, and color changing paint.