Dobyns - New Contender For The $100 Rod Catergory

[cabrela]

I'll be a devil's advocate here : I would not get too excited yet - why would Dobyns want to hurt sales of the Savvy series with a rod that had performance well above it's price point  ? That said , many believe the Savvy series to be merely "ok" and better to save for the Champion series which is the sweet spot of the Dobyns rod line up . Another concern would be economics - mainly economies to scale in production ... Can Dobyns contend against the likes of Abu Garcia ,Shimano , Okuma , *** , St. Croix , etc.  at their own quality vs. quantity vs. price point game ? Don't get me wrong - I hope Dobyns knocks the $100 rod category out of the park ! I'm just suggesting there is some stiff competition in this $100 segment already and those OEM's I listed sure aren't going away any time soon !

 

X2

[cabrela]

Let us see what blank its on it (hopefully not like savy´s)....and just wish the hook keeper was like the cumara´s!

 

Would like to see some pics of the real seat and the handle....

[David P]

Glad I finally got to see one. I heard about it from a few guys that are close with dobyns and Gary.  If they make a decent crankbait rod I'll grab one, if not i'm buying another champion. 

They're doing a 705CB cranking rod in the Fury series!

[robster80]

may pick up one for spinnerbaits. nice lookin rod

[SenkoGuru]

I am most likely in the minority and I'm not trying to make any one angry but IMO the Savvy should have already been in the $100 price range.

[stkbassn]

I hate to bring this up again if it's been talked to death but does anyone know what the deal is with this release...they said May, hmmm. Anyone know if the release has been pushed back? 

[deep]

I hate to bring this up again if it's been talked to death but does anyone know what the deal is with this release...they said May, hmmm. Anyone know if the release has been pushed back? 

 

Last chance tackle has/ had them.

[WPCfishing]

Dobyns must be a good rod builder. A lot of you guys on this forum use them. I've never seen one.

[robster80]

my local tackle store handles Dobyns. im gonna go by there and tomorow and blow some more money hopefully theyll have the Fury in stock i definitely wanna handle one before i contemplate purchasing one

[tomustang]

Dobyns must be a good rod builder. A lot of you on this forum guys use them. I've never seen one.

A long time ago you were able to buy them at cabelas, don't know what happened but there was a falling out.

[HoosierHawgs]

Dobyns must be a good rod builder. A lot of you on this forum guys use them. I've never seen one.

A local place carries em here. Is there something ya'll don't like about the Savy series? If you wanted Dobyn's and lets say money wasn't an issue which rods would you buy? Or would you get a different brand?

[iabass8]

I hate to bring this up again if it's been talked to death but does anyone know what the deal is with this release...they said May, hmmm. Anyone know if the release has been pushed back? 

They release didn't get pushed back. They posted earlier this month that they had been shipped to retailers. Retailers still have to receive them, update inventory, etc. I'm sure you'll start seeing them pop up within a week.

[iabass8]

A local place carries em here. Is there something ya'll don't like about the Savy series? If you wanted Dobyn's and lets say money wasn't an issue which rods would you buy? Or would you get a different brand?

DX for all bottom contact baits.

Depending on the quality of the Fury blank, either Fury or Savvy for moving baits. Savvy tapers are ideal for a lot of baits I throw i.e swim jigs/spinnerbaits/chatterbaits/swimbaits/frogs/etc

Champ CB for cranks.

 

The savvy are overpriced for what they are. Good 100$ rod. Not a good 180$ rod. 

[webertime]

I'm getting my 735 in the next day or so.  My buddy has a couple and so far in hand (not out fishing yet) he loves them.  IE I have no real info yet, but they are in peoples hands.

[stkbassn]

Thanks for the replies. Sounds like they're making their way...I hope they'll be readily available soon. I want to try one. It's pretty exciting to see Dobyns release a rod in this price range. I've only ever owned a Champion Swimbait rod that I got a good deal on. Never had a Savvy.

[rippin-lips]

I spoke with someone at Dobyns 2 weeks ago. Rods are being shipped to retailers already, and they'll be available very soon. Some places already have them. I specifically asked about the Fury blank verse the Savy blank. I was told it's a slightly cheaper blank, but they worked on developing it for 3 years before its release.

[JGBassinAL]

You never know how a rod will turn out based on price. I have a boat load of customs and a lot of them are built on the Rainshadow RX7 blank, which I believe was the cheapest graphite blank Rainshadow had at the time. The sensitivity of that blank is better than most production rods IMO, even $250+ rods. It was definitely way more sensitive than a Dobyns Champion at about half the sticker price. Some cheaper blanks can just be special, so all those discounting this rod already because of price...don't. Look what *** did with the ***.

[Cgrinder]

I'm going to reserve judgement until I get my hands on one. I want to be cautiously optimistic but Dobyns does not have a good track record of sensitivity relative to price. However, sensitivity is just one aspect of a rod's performance. I just wish they would do something with the locking nut and threads; that ECS seat + metal hood and uncovered nut just murders my fingers.

[rippin-lips]

I'm going to reserve judgement until I get my hands on one. I want to be cautiously optimistic but Dobyns does not have a good track record of sensitivity relative to price. However, sensitivity is just one aspect of a rod's performance. I just wish they would do something with the locking nut and threads; that ECS seat + metal hood and uncovered nut just murders my fingers.

Are you talking about not having a fore grip? Maybe I'm just not picking up on what you're saying. The nut is flush with the threads once a reel is mounted and locked down. It seems they trim the reel seat threads just for this purpose. My falcon has about 1/4" or more of the threads showing once I tighten the nut down. My Volkey has a piece of Eva that covers the locking nut. Is that what you're talking about?

[Cgrinder]

Are you talking about not having a fore grip? Maybe I'm just not picking up on what you're saying. The nut is flush with the threads once a reel is mounted and locked down. It seems they trim the reel seat threads just for this purpose. My falcon has about 1/4" or more of the threads showing once I tighten the nut down.

 

Yeah, you're correct. It's really not the threads that are the issue. Mostly I just want the locking nut from the Extremes to be on every rod series.

[smalljaw67]

You never know how a rod will turn out based on price. I have a boat load of customs and a lot of them are built on the Rainshadow RX7 blank, which I believe was the cheapest graphite blank Rainshadow had at the time. The sensitivity of that blank is better than most production rods IMO, even $250+ rods. It was definitely way more sensitive than a Dobyns Champion at about half the sticker price. Some cheaper blanks can just be special, so all those discounting this rod already because of price...don't. Look what *** did with the ***.

 

I have 2 customs, one is on a Shakari blank and one is a Rainshadow RX-7 and that blank wasn't a joke, it was very sensitive and strong. It is a buyers market for sure, manufacturers are trying to stand out by making better and better rods at lower prices, some of these $100 rods are really nice.

[tomustang]

It was definitely way more sensitive than a Dobyns Champion at about half the sticker price

For clarification, does that sticker price include labor/guides/grip/seat/hardware/etc?

[JGBassinAL]

For clarification, does that sticker price include labor/guides/grip/seat/hardware/etc?

Yes it does. That is my price tho as I have a deal with a custom company. But, regular price was still $80 give or take $10 less than a Dobyns Champion.

[rippin-lips]

I own 2 champions and 1 extreme. They're nice rods, but I'd never pay retail for them. I hate to say it, but they aren't worth it. People are paying for the name. That's my opinion anyhow.

[fishindad]

I own 2 champions and 1 extreme. They're nice rods, but I'd never pay retail for them. I hate to say it, but they aren't worth it. People are paying for the name. That's my opinion anyhow.

 

And opinions are like, well...

 

So, what rod brands DO you use? Loomis, St Croix, etc? You're paying for a name and overpaying in MY opinion. I own plenty of high end "overpriced" rods (GLX, IMX, Legend Extreme, LTB, Techna AV, Champion Extreme) with the exception of JDM. The way Gary Dobyns builds rods and runs his company is in my opinion the way Gary Loomis once did. Top notch. Dobyns caters to bass fishermen like no other rod company and I will bet his profit margin is nowhere near Loomis or St Croix. Not saying Dobyns is the innovator Loomis is when it comes to blank design but IMO Dobyns rods are the most balanced rods out there, bar none, especially for the price. And Gary D is a hard core bass fisherman, he's not building walleye rods and saltwater rods. The guy knows bass fishing. Not the lightest (which is measurable) but being lightest build doesn't mean balanced. Maybe not the most sensitive (am guessing that's the $550 + tax NRX) but that's subjective and always debatable. People get so caught up in rod weight, looks, name brand, etc. but the bottom line is how a rod feels and performs on the water for what we need it to do and the Champion series of rods are about the best balanced and best-feeling out there for a bass fisherman. There's 60 rods in the Champion line, choice of full and split grip. I'd take them over any rod lineup in that price range with possible exception of MB XX or 13 ***  (neither of which I own so can't say for sure).  It's like a BMW for a vehicle. People will pay top dollar to say and show they ride around in a BMW. But is it worth the price tag? Are they paying for the name?