bennettkolls Posted March 5, 2016 Posted March 5, 2016 I am looking to pick up an all purpose rod. The main use is for jigs and texas rigs, but I want to it be pretty well rounded. For this I thought a 7' medium heavy fast action rod would work best. I have narrowed my choices down to the Dobyns Champion 704Sf and the Champion Extreme 705. The regular champion costs $250 and fits my desired specifications exactly. The Champion extreme is heavily discounted right now for $225. The only problem is it is mag heavy and not mh. Being so heavily discounted I am tempted to get the champion extreme even though it is not exactly the specs I wanted, and I was wondering which one y'all would choose Quote
tbone1993 Posted March 5, 2016 Posted March 5, 2016 735c champion. Jigs, Trigs, frogs, chatterbaits, spinnerbaits etc etc Its the rod you want. If you didn't like it and wanted to sell it I don't think it would last a day in the flea market. Dobyns also lets you upgrade. The fish in my profile picture was caught on the 745c, as you can see its got a chatterbait with a LFT magic shad hanging out of its mouth. 1 Quote
Super User Chris at Tech Posted March 5, 2016 Super User Posted March 5, 2016 Are you looking for spinning or casting? Unless I'm mistaken, the 704sf is spinning and the Champion Extreme 705 is only available in casting. Quote
long island basser Posted March 5, 2016 Posted March 5, 2016 6 hours ago, tbone1993 said: For bottom contact weights 5/16 and up, fishing in and around heavier cover Id get the 705 extreme. Also double for frog rod. and at $ 225 I'd hurry. I ordered mine yesterday. Quote
GoCougs14 Posted March 5, 2016 Posted March 5, 2016 Just pulled the trigger on the 705. Exactly what Ive been looking for! Quote
bennettkolls Posted March 6, 2016 Author Posted March 6, 2016 16 hours ago, Chris at Tech said: Are you looking for spinning or casting? Unless I'm mistaken, the 704sf is spinning and the Champion Extreme 705 is only available in casting. Casting. I mixed up the model numbers. 22 hours ago, tbone1993 said: 735c champion. Jigs, Trigs, frogs, chatterbaits, spinnerbaits etc etc Its the rod you want. If you didn't like it and wanted to sell it I don't think it would last a day in the flea market. Dobyns also lets you upgrade. The fish in my profile picture was caught on the 745c, as you can see its got a chatterbait with a LFT magic shad hanging out of its mouth. Its going to be really hard to let the 705 go at such a great price, but I think the 735c will suit me much better. I don't have a ton of money to buy a rod for each different application, so I think the 735c will cover the largest variety of baits. Now just to kick back and see if it goes on sale anywhere soon. Thanks for the help everyone, I really appreciate it. Quote
Super User Chris at Tech Posted March 6, 2016 Super User Posted March 6, 2016 10 hours ago, bennettkolls said: Casting. I mixed up the model numbers. Its going to be really hard to let the 705 go at such a great price, but I think the 735c will suit me much better. I don't have a ton of money to buy a rod for each different application, so I think the 735c will cover the largest variety of baits. Now just to kick back and see if it goes on sale anywhere soon. Thanks for the help everyone, I really appreciate it. Hmmm...if it's one rod you're looking for, I'd argue that a Dobyns 4 power is more versatile than the 735. Quote
Robert Riley Posted March 7, 2016 Posted March 7, 2016 On 3/5/2016 at 11:57 PM, tbone1993 said: 735c champion. Jigs, Trigs, frogs, chatterbaits, spinnerbaits etc etc Its the rod you want. If you didn't like it and wanted to sell it I don't think it would last a day in the flea market. Dobyns also lets you upgrade. The fish in my profile picture was caught on the 745c, as you can see its got a chatterbait with a LFT magic shad hanging out of its mouth. Did you catch it with a Lew's reel and a custom cast jig too Tom? Haha. But really, the 735 is the bomb. If I were in your shoes, I'd actually buy an extreme bottom contact rod, and then buy an all-purpose. I think the champions are just as good as the extremes for anything moving. Quote
hawgenvy Posted March 7, 2016 Posted March 7, 2016 I have both a Champ 734c and a Champ 735c. I use the 5 power for frogs and tossing big soft swimbaits, like the Gambler's Big EZ around vegetation. On the other hand, the 734 casts easier and further due to a slightly softer tip, but it has a strong backbone. I use it for jigs, swimbaits, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, tx worms, and its still a good frog rod unless the vegetation is heavy. I love pitching jigs on the 734 along the edge of shore vegetation and around brush. Overall the 734 is easier to cast and more versatile for me and works well around the edge of heavy weeds. But I'll reach for the 5 when I'm tossing a frog, or other bait up into or onto those weeds. Note: If you're looking to punch through mats of weeds or hyacinths, you should also get something heavier and perhaps longer than than the 735, or else pullin' a big mama outta there probably ain't gonna happen. 1 Quote
bennettkolls Posted March 7, 2016 Author Posted March 7, 2016 9 minutes ago, hawgenvy said: I have both a Champ 734c and a Champ 735c. I use the 5 power for frogs and tossing big soft swimbaits, like the Gambler's Big EZ around vegetation. On the other hand, the 734 casts easier and further due to a slightly softer tip, but it has a strong backbone. I use it for jigs, swimbaits, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, tx worms, and its still a good frog rod unless the vegetation is heavy. I love pitching jigs on the 734 along the edge of shore vegetation and around brush. Overall the 734 is easier to cast and more versatile for me and works well around the edge of heavy weeds. But I'll reach for the 5 when I'm tossing a frog, or other bait up into or onto those weeds. Note: If you're looking to punch through mats of weeds or hyacinths, you should also get something heavier and perhaps longer than than the 735, or else pullin' a big mama outta there probably ain't gonna happen. Interesting. It seems like the 734 would be the more versatile. Has anyone had a 703c or anything in that size range. Not sure how I didn't see them before but I rarely fish any kind of heavy vegetation and more often then not I am on the bank so the shorter rod might be better. Quote
tbone1993 Posted March 7, 2016 Posted March 7, 2016 1 hour ago, Robert Riley said: Did you catch it with a Lew's reel and a custom cast jig too Tom? Haha. But really, the 735 is the bomb. If I were in your shoes, I'd actually buy an extreme bottom contact rod, and then buy an all-purpose. I think the champions are just as good as the extremes for anything moving. It was actually a zebco 808 spooled up with 20lb Ande, I can't handle backlashes anymore. Going to all zebco omegas next season if I land this pro staff deal. That 3.4:1 gear ratio can really bring those baits back in lol 1 Quote
Robert Riley Posted March 7, 2016 Posted March 7, 2016 17 hours ago, tbone1993 said: It was actually a zebco 808 spooled up with 20lb Ande, I can't handle backlashes anymore. Going to all zebco omegas next season if I land this pro staff deal. That 3.4:1 gear ratio can really bring those baits back in lol Helps keep the bait in the strike zone longer lol. I'm actually getting a 734 or 735 in a bit. I'll make sure to post up here about it for you. 1 Quote
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