Dobyns Champ Crank 706Cb?

[BasshunterJGH]

I'm thinking about buying a heavier rod for 1/2-7/8 ounce squarebills, 1/2-11/4 ounce topwaters, and 3/4 ounce lipless cranks in grass with 19 lb defier armilo. Is the champ 706cb the right choice for this application? How does it cast a 1/2 ounce squarebill or topwater? Thanks.

[BasshunterJGH]

It looks like it could fish similar but a little heavier than the Loomis 855CBR, which is exactly what I want, especially for ripping lipless cranks.

[Cgrinder]

I've been looking at that rod for 1 oz. Topwaters and there's not a lot of info out there about it. I think you might have to be the guinea pig here and let us know how it works.

[Arv]

I've been looking at that rod for 1 oz. Topwaters and there's not a lot of info out there about it. I think you might have to be the guinea pig here and let us know how it works.

x2

[KenG85]

I've been thinking about this rod for a while now and am thinking of using it for cranks 14 feet and deeper, big squarebills, blackdog shell cracker, s wavers and super spooks.

 

Anybody have input on it yet?

[David P]

I actually just ordered one for similar applications. 

 

 I had a Gen 1 706CB rod and absolutely loved it. If it's anything like the Gen 1, it will be an awesome rod.

 

 I ordered mine for Square bills and lipless cranks mostly in mind (in and around structure, weeds, etc). 

 

I have a few buddies with this rod and absolutely love it, one of the most versatile rods out there. From what I have heard from the few of them, they use it for... Square bills, traps, spooks, chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, smaller swimbaits, buzzbaits, and countless other top water and treble baits. 

 

 It's got enough give to let fish eat a chatterbait or buzzbait, but enough backbone to still get the hook in there good, and in the some respect has enough give to not yank out treble baits but also has enough backbone to get those hooks in there good (especially with squarebills that usually implement stouter hooks)

 

 Hope this helps a bit, feel free to shoot me a PM and I can get you some real water reviews once I get it out there this weekend. 

[David P]

Additionally : I have heard from a buddy who has used it extensively that 1/2oz is absolutely butter for it, the tip handles it very well. 3/8oz though it doesn't quite load the tip up as well and is where it doesn't feel "as good". Said 3/8oz is doable, but 1/2oz and 3/4oz is its bread and butter. This coming from an extremely technical person and extremely picky with his rods.

[KenG85]

That sounds like what I'm looking for. I have the 705cb which is a phenomenal rod. It sounds like the 706cb takes over right where it starts to drop off in the 3/4 oz range. 1/2 oz is the sweet spot for 705cb.

 

At times I feel under powered when retrieving a DD22 or 6xd. The rod also feels stressed when loading the G2 shellcracker, S waver and Super Spook. I was hoping the 706cb would step up for these applications, but also remain versatile enough to spread in to some other applications like chatterbaits.

[David P]

That sounds like what I'm looking for. I have the 705cb which is a phenomenal rod. It sounds like the 706cb takes over right where it starts to drop off in the 3/4 oz range. 1/2 oz is the sweet spot for 705cb.

 

At times I feel under powered when retrieving a DD22 or 6xd. The rod also feels stressed when loading the G2 shellcracker, S waver and Super Spook. I was hoping the 706cb would step up for these applications, but also remain versatile enough to spread in to some other applications like chatterbaits.

 

From my understanding, and what the Gen 1 706 reminded me of, is and was the 805CB RM Rod...

 

 It's got the back bone for a variety of fishing, but the give for throwing trebles as well. I have an 805CB and HIGHLY , highly recommend it for the DD22 and 6xd, the reason being that extra foot is a major difference in how far you can cast that bait... Throwing deep diving crankbaits, casting distance is one of the most important factors, as you need to give the bait time to get to its deep depth you're fishing... I wouldn't throw the DD22 or 6xd on the 706 for that reason, but can it handle it? From what I hear , yes. I just prefer the longer rods for any type of crankbait fishing that involves casting and diving. The Squarebills are fished entirely differently thus making the 706 ideal. 

 

 I throw my spooks and vixens on a 734, but have heard a few people saying how great the 706CB is for that, so definitely can do that no problem.

 

 Hope that helps a bit. Sorry to confuse yah if at all. The 805RM is one of my top 3 favorite rods in the entire Dobyns arsenal, and for Glide baits (S-Waver) and for deep cranks, I cannot stress how absolutely incredible the rod truly is. It was built specifically for the DD22 bait, as Randy McAbee a deep cranking legend out here in California helped design it with that very bait in mind. 

[JGBassinAL]

I have never used that rod but when I am ripping traps thru grass I prefer a MH/F with a lighter tip. I have a custom 7'6" MH/F built on a Rainshadow Revelation blank and it is absolutely perfect for ripping traps thru grass. I had a tournament this weekend on Guntersville and used it paired with a Metanium XG for this exact application and it performed flawlessly. Handle a 6+, 5+, and multiple 4's with ease. The more moderate tip just doesn't work well for me when ripping thru grass. You can get a rod built on this blank for less than the price of the Dobyns. Plus it's a custom, you can never go wrong that way. I also use this same rod for 3/4 oz jigs on ledges. As a matter of fact, I am about to have two more built on the exact same blank because it is so versatile. PM me if you are interested and I can hook you up!

[KenG85]

Yea 8' is too cumbersome to fish from a kayak in my opinion. I also don't see it as being ideal for twitching a glide. Also deep diving cranks isn't one my go to techniques, so I don't want to dedicate a rod to it.

So for versatility and comfort I'm focusing on the 706cb.

[Master Bait'r]

That sounds like what I'm looking for. I have the 705cb which is a phenomenal rod. It sounds like the 706cb takes over right where it starts to drop off in the 3/4 oz range. 1/2 oz is the sweet spot for 705cb.

At times I feel under powered when retrieving a DD22 or 6xd. The rod also feels stressed when loading the G2 shellcracker, S waver and Super Spook. I was hoping the 706cb would step up for these applications, but also remain versatile enough to spread in to some other applications like chatterbaits.

If you don't mind my asking, what line do you use for those techniques on the 705 and how do you like it? I got a 705cb this year and you are using it exactly like I will be as soon as the ice melts.

[KenG85]

Last year I used 30lb braid with a long 12 or 14 lb mono leader. I did this because mono was too stretchy as a main line and I worry about braid being too obvious to fish. It worked very well. It also kept the rod usable for top water.

This year I'm going to start with 15lb fluoro as a main line. Which sacrifices top water ability, but should make the setup better for cranking and jerkbaits.

[KenG85]

This is why I plan on getting the 706. I would put 14lb mono as a mainline and use it for topwater, small swimbaits and large cranks.

[matuka]

I have a G1 706 and Throw 15lb P-line on it. I like it for bigger squarebills especially the LC BDS 3and 4. I've used it on 3/8 0z blades in a pinch, but 7/8 oz Super spooks seemed a bit much for it. I also have used it for big deep divers but it wasn't great for that purpose. The longer rods do better as others have stated. The newer generation rods may be a bit different as in many other models. It's a wonderful stick nonetheless and has plenty of oomph when it counts. Hope this helps.