bhoff Posted March 10, 2015 Posted March 10, 2015 After hearing a plethora of people saying that the Dobyns Savvy series rods were quite dead feeling in the hand, is the Champion Series rod a better pick in its price range in terms of sensitivity, build quality etc? Quote
Super User BassinLou Posted March 10, 2015 Super User Posted March 10, 2015 I own both series. I hear the Savvy is a dead stick, but it works really great for me. The Champion is a step up and yes it delivers. Great rod, balances real well. What application(s) are you looking to throw with this rod? 1 Quote
bhoff Posted March 10, 2015 Author Posted March 10, 2015 Well I'm looking to get quite a few of a line of rods, so essentially everything. I'm thinking of getting 3-4 champions over the summer. I was going to get St.Croix Legend Tournaments but I despise the fact that they're so tip heavy. Quote
Super User tomustang Posted March 10, 2015 Super User Posted March 10, 2015 Well I'm looking to get quite a few of a line of rods, so essentially everything. I'm thinking of getting 3-4 champions over the summer. I was going to get St.Croix Legend Tournaments but I despise the fact that they're so tip heavy. Yeah its either one thing or another. The Croix LTs are very nice but to many people the unbalance frowned upon. You won't get that with full handle dobyns, though I've heard a lot about the split grips being top heavy too. Another thing with dobyns is they are heavier on the weight side. Quote
Arv Posted March 10, 2015 Posted March 10, 2015 I've used the Champion line over the LT's as well. I like the Champion a lot but I do think that there is a considerable step up in performance with the Champion Extreme. If you're OK buying used you can usually find the DX's for less than the price of a new Champion. That is, for bottom contact lures I find it worth the step up. Quote
Super User SoFlaBassAddict Posted March 10, 2015 Super User Posted March 10, 2015 Savvys aren't bad at all. Champions are darn good rods. Extremes are awesome. First time I held one I was sold on them. If I could I'd load the boat with Champions and a handful of Extremes. Quote
Grantman83 Posted March 10, 2015 Posted March 10, 2015 Get yourself 2 734's, 705cb, 766 and a 735 and 743.,,. You're covered 2 Quote
Super User David P Posted March 11, 2015 Super User Posted March 11, 2015 Yeah its either one thing or another. The Croix LTs are very nice but to many people the unbalance frowned upon. You won't get that with full handle dobyns, though I've heard a lot about the split grips being top heavy too. Another thing with dobyns is they are heavier on the weight side. Numerical weight doesn't mean much with rods, obviously lighter is nice, but a lighter rod can feel heavier if it's improperly balanced. The Dobyns Champion rods may not be the lightest on a scale, but the balance is absolutely on point and makes the rods feel far lighter than most others that weigh slightly less on the scales. The split grip Dobyns are not exception, still balance very well. Just something to take into consideration when looking at rods. 2 Quote
SNK Posted March 11, 2015 Posted March 11, 2015 Me, personally, feel the champion seres is a great rod for moving baits, but feel there are better choices in and around the same price range for bottom contact baits (13 *** black, kistler helium 3.) Never fished the DX line so cannot comment on those. However, from what experience I do have and from my research, any of the Dobyns lineup can arguably be said, are some of the most balanced rods out there. Quote
CTGalloway21 Posted March 11, 2015 Posted March 11, 2015 I recently picked up a Dobyns Extreme 703SF Spinning rod and it is very sensitive. All my other rods are Champions. Quote
Robert Riley Posted March 12, 2015 Posted March 12, 2015 I have a DX744, awesome rod. Best bottom contact rod I've ever used. I don't have any Champions, but I have used them and fish with people who use them. They're good rods, big step up from the Savvys and a little step down from the Extremes. Quote
DTack Posted March 12, 2015 Posted March 12, 2015 Well I'm looking to get quite a few of a line of rods, so essentially everything. I'm thinking of getting 3-4 champions over the summer. I was going to get St.Croix Legend Tournaments but I despise the fact that they're so tip heavy. Get one to try out first and I believe you'll be impressed and end up ordering the rest of the rods you need. Which techniques do you tend to fish most during the summer months? Quote
Super User rippin-lips Posted March 12, 2015 Super User Posted March 12, 2015 I don't get the whole balance thing you guys talk about with Dobyns. I own 3 of them. The Champ 733,703, and a 704dx. They're pretty light and the balance isn't terrible but it takes the right reel. The 704 with a 6.5oz reel is great but lighter or heavier and I don't care for it. Same with the other 2 that I own. The 733 needs a 7oz + reel. I like my balance point to be basically on the reel seat nut or within 1/2" of it. They seem to be fine rods but they don't balance well with lighter reels, and 90% of my reels are under 6oz. Quote
Super User tomustang Posted March 12, 2015 Super User Posted March 12, 2015 Numerical weight doesn't mean much with rods, obviously lighter is nice, but a lighter rod can feel heavier if it's improperly balanced. The Dobyns Champion rods may not be the lightest on a scale, but the balance is absolutely on point and makes the rods feel far lighter than most others that weigh slightly less on the scales. The split grip Dobyns are not exception, still balance very well. Just something to take into consideration when looking at rods. That's why I like the newer xtreme handles Quote
DTack Posted March 12, 2015 Posted March 12, 2015 Numerical weight doesn't mean much with rods, obviously lighter is nice, but a lighter rod can feel heavier if it's improperly balanced. The Dobyns Champion rods may not be the lightest on a scale, but the balance is absolutely on point and makes the rods feel far lighter than most others that weigh slightly less on the scales. The split grip Dobyns are not exception, still balance very well. Just something to take into consideration when looking at rods. Don't your rods balance well with your Revo Gen 3 Premier at 5.9 ounces and your Revo MGX at 5.4 ounces? I thought your 804c and 805cb felt light with them? I don't use that light of reels very often so I don't really have much of an answer about the balance. Quote
swallowmyjig Posted April 3, 2015 Posted April 3, 2015 I had a savvy 735 and it was no where near dead. I fished 1/2 oz jigs on 10 ft rock piles and could feel every fish pick up my jig. Walleye as well. I have a 736 Champ but its for a different purpose so cant really compare, I also have a savvy 704 and with a Lews tp its unbelievably lite. Senko rod but also subs as a dock lite jig rod for docks. Great set up to roll skip jigs or throw 1/4 oz swim jigs on. Quote
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