new spinning rod for senkos

[junyer357]

i am looking at a new spinning rod for throwing senkos on. my budget is $200 firm, i dont care if such n such is only $X more, it wont matter. Im looking for lightweight, super sensitive, and best performance for price. It will be paired with a pflueger supreme 30 reel  and 15 or 20lb power pro slick8 with a 10-12lb flor leader. I  have searched around and have not been able to find much on the megabass or the max 3d. I have one avid casting and love it, but am still wondering about others in price range and how they compare. 

I have narrowed my choices down to the following:

megabass levante stinger

st croix avid 

dobyns savvy 

powell max 3d

g loomis e6x dropshot

g loomis gl2 dropshot

phenix bass recon 2

[OnthePotomac]

You are going to get a zillion answers.  I now have six BPS Carbonlite 7' Medium spinning rods (3.9oz) and could not be happier.  They are inexpensive and really. really light.  My primary style of bass fishing with plastics is Carbonlite baitcasters because they are so light.  Been using them for 5 years now and no problems. 

[Cgrinder]

Add the Zodias to your search. Lot of rod for $200.

[junyer357]

i was not overly impressed with the zodias when i held one. It seemed too slow of an action for what i what. I'm looking for preferably an ex-fast. I also do not like the fact that its only a 1yr warranty. 

I've basically spent the day researching more and have eliminated the g loomis's and the savvy from my search. I also kind of believe my interest on the megabass is based more on brand appeal than anything. I am very familiar with the avid, but the powell and phenix intrigue me if i could get more for my money, or at least equal performance, at a lower cost than the established reputation of the avids.

[offsidewing]

Avid X 6'8" Medium, Extra Fast.

[Bluebasser86]

9 hours ago, offsidewing said:

Avid X 6'8" Medium, Extra Fast.

Agreed. I have the same rod in the Mojo, great Senko rod and the best all around spinning rod I've ever owned.

[Fishin' Fool]

Whatever rod you decide on search around on Ebay some first. You'd be surprised the deals you can sometimes pull off of there.

[Fishin' Fool]

I found a Dobyns Champion 6'8" medium fast for $204.99 and free shipping for you.

http://m.ebay.com/itm/Dobyns-Champion-Series-683SF-Spinning-Fishing-Rod-/361035948773?_trkparms=aid%253D222007%2526algo%253DSIC.MBE%2526ao%253D1%2526asc%253D20150519202348%2526meid%253D136cb85d814446f89e506a72c9cdd61d%2526pid%253D100408%2526rk%253D8%2526rkt%253D15%2526sd%253D131282774552&_trksid=p2056116.c100408.m2460

[Fishin' Fool]

Keep in mind what you get for the warranty.  $70 no questions replacement policy is worth alot in itself.

[junyer357]

Hmm. May have to look at the dobyns. If i do get the avid, it will be the standard model, not the avid x.  I do not like micro guides.  Too easy to miss thread and have had problems with them freezing up this time of year. 

[Fishin' Fool]

I like to research before I buy. Do an Internet search comparing St. Croix Avid to a Dobyns Champion. 

[Paul Roberts]

I doubt anyone has used all the mentioned rods. I can tell you what I like in a soft plastics rod...

-Some length (6-1/2+ft) for reach.

-Light weight high quality graphite for sensitivity.

-Power in the butt for hook-sets and controlling fish.

-Some flex in the tip for two reasons: tossing weightless or lightly weighted baits with accuracy, and for "weighing" the line in feeling for life below without disturbing the bite. This is diff from my jig rods which have rigid tips (power all the way out) as fish don't hold jigs long.

I have them in both spinning and casting and I don't think brand matters enormously as there are so many good rods out there. I would want to see it in person before I purchased though. I'm particular about rods.

[Pondboss16]

I use an ultra light ugly stick with an Abu Garcia cardinal Sx series reel. I like the ultra light setup because you can really feel the bites. The whole setup cost me roughly 70 bucks but its great. Trust me I fish senkos everyday and smoke big bass bass on em. I also kind of doubted the ultra light setup at first but I've caught a 5.5 pounder on it no problem. (also have you tried the berkley havoc money maker senkos? They are extremely durable and catch fish every time no matter what for me)

 

[massrob]

Last year I was looking for a shaky head/drop shot rod and I got a Kistler KLX and now it's my favorite rod. It's a little too heavy for drop shotting but it works great for senkos and shaky heads. Just another one to add to the list.

[junyer357]

I actually ended up going with the dobyns champion.  I have always heard nothing but good things about them. I am in trouble with the boss (paying for it big time in 2 weeks on vday) for going over budget but forgivness was easier than permission.  It really came down to it or the avid. I just decided that if for some reason i wasnt as pleased, i can always sell the dobyns and go back to st croix. I  was a lil hesitant to try the megabass when i havent seen any reveiws on it good or bad really and i dont have the funds to be a guinnea pig. I am still intrigued by the falcon but have seen a small sample, but mixed reveiws on them.  

[blckshirt98]

That Megabass rod might have the best resale value if you ever grow tired of it.  The two Loomis rod models seem to go for much lower than retail in the secondary market.

[WIGuide]

On 1/30/2016 at 5:37 PM, offsidewing said:

Avid X 6'8" Medium, Extra Fast.

I'll second or 3rd this. I've got the same model in the LTB line and it's a great stick for what you're looking for. 

[junyer357]

2 minutes ago, WIGuide said:

I'll second or 3rd this. I've got the same model in the LTB line and it's a great stick for what you're looking for. 

It came down to the same rod in a standard avid, not the avid x  since i do not like micro eyes, and the dobyns champion, and i got a champion.  

I have the standard 6'8" m-xf avid casting rod as  my worm rod and love it.

I wanted to try the dobyns champ since i have heard basicly nothing but good things on them, and how they were veiwed as slghtly better than the avids. 

[WIGuide]

@junyer357 Hopefully that works out for you, and if not, you can always flip it and get another Croix instead. 

[junyer357]

22 minutes ago, WIGuide said:

@junyer357 Hopefully that works out for you, and if not, you can always flip it and get another Croix instead. 

Thats my plan.  I know the st croix will work for me but i want to see what the fuss on the dobyns is all about. 

My dad ordered a rage 6'10"m-xf yesterday as well for throwing the same lures. So we may have a lil head to head comparisons going there. Especially since we ordered a bigger spool of braid to split between us for them. 

[WIGuide]

@junyer357 nice! Be sure to post your findings on br!

[junyer357]

Rod came in today. Got to go home at my lunch break and spool it up with 15# power pro slick8 and an old senko at lunch. I was immediately impressed with how light it is.  Threw it a few times in yard and felt really good. Planning to get some time on water with it tomorrow at a small pond.  So far so good. 

[Fishin' Fool]

You're welcome!

[junyer357]

On 2/2/2016 at 3:12 PM, WIGuide said:

@junyer357 nice! Be sure to post your findings on br!

Got some time on lake this weekend with  the new dobyns champion. Cast very well and smooth. Did notice a bit of noise from line going through eyes, even with slick8 power pro.  Not enough to worry about though. I really liked the guides overall.  I tried repeatedly to tangle line around eyes and each time it slipped right on down with no effort.

Unfortuantly i cannot say how it handles a fish, got skunked.  That just makes want to go back and figure pond out more, since this was only my 2nd time on it.  Overall i am impressed and extremely pleased with it so far.  I will defintly be looking more at other rods from dobyns.  

[junyer357]

@Fishin' Fool my most sincere apologies. I just realized reading back i never said THANK YOU for finding and pointing the rod out to me on ebay.