Dobyn's Fury 704C vs. 734C

[Brett's_daddy]

Which rod would cover the most techniques and be considered the better all-around rod?

[J Francho]

Both.  You have to ask yourself if a 7' rod or a 7'3" rod will work better for you.

[Brett's_daddy]

4 minutes ago, J Francho said:

You have to ask yourself if a 7' rod or a 7'3" rod will work better for you

No clue! I am probably about a 50/50 bank/boat fisherman. I have a 7ft. rod now.

[RoLo]

13 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Both.  You have to ask yourself if a 7' rod or a 7'3" rod will work better for you.

 

I agree with John, 'both' is the right answer.

 

I know anglers who love a 7-1/2 ft rod, and use them for just about everything.

In the opposite camp, my favorite all-purpose rod length for freshwater use is 6' 10".

I won't go into detail as to why, and save myself of an hour of typing 

 

Roger

[MDbassin]

The 734 has just a touch more bend in the tip but only if your paying attention you'll notice it

 

what weights are you trying to fish? If your gonna be fishing 1/2 or heavier go with a 4 power if it's 3/8 or lighter mostly then I would go with a 3 power The 703 is a great rod

[Brett's_daddy]

6 minutes ago, MDbassin said:

what weights are you trying to fish?

That's the thing...if I get a dedicated frog/heavy top water rod I'd be looking for something that covers as many of the other techniques as possible (i.e.-jigs, jerk baits, senkos/craws, spinnerbaits etc.).

[J Francho]

41 minutes ago, Brett's_daddy said:

That's the thing...if I get a dedicated frog/heavy top water rod I'd be looking for something that covers as many of the other techniques as possible (i.e.-jigs, jerk baits, senkos/craws, spinnerbaits etc.).

 

Neither of the rods you posted would make a very good frog rod.  You want at least a 5 power, maybe 6.

[MDbassin]

It seems your trying to do to much with one rod. Yes people say you can get by with one all around rod but it's just not possible you can't fish senkos on a broom stick like a frog rod and you can't fish frogs on a senko rod it will snap.

 

For a frog rod check out the 735c. I just did a review on it in this forum maybe it will help you out.

 

as for all the other techniques you've listed I would get a 703 or 704 depending on the weights you plan to fish. As with all things fishing it's all personal preference and I'm no expert but I own quite a few Dobyns and have done my homework on them

[Brett's_daddy]

36 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Neither of the rods you posted would make a very good frog rod.  You want at least a 5 power, maybe 6.

 

20 minutes ago, MDbassin said:

t's just not possible you can't fish senkos on a broom stick like a frog rod and you can't fish frogs on a senko rod it will snap.

I'm saying that I would get a lesser priced rod for frogs/heavy topwater like maybe a 7'6" Lightning Rod Shock or something similar. I'm talking about between a 704C and a 734C which one would give me the ability to fish the most techniques? I also have 3 spinning rod setups: Fenwick HMG 7ft. MH/F, Abu Garcia Vengeance 7ft. M/F and a 6'6" Ugly Stik M/F so i could use those for some of the techniques as well.

[J Francho]

It sounded like you wanted it to do all of it.  A 4 power will work fine for what you want to do.

[MDbassin]

I would take the 704 for more versatile then. 

[fishnkamp]

I think your best options are to save a bit more money. Get the Irod Genesis II or Fiber series Fred's Magic Stick. That rod will not only be a great frog rod but can handle a lot of heavier baits.  Then I would get the Dobyns 734.  It is a workhorse.

Those two along with your spinning rods will give you a very versatile rod arsenal.  Anything that the 734 does not throw well, will be fine on the Irod. 

[Brett's_daddy]

I picked up a 6'6" Lightning Rod Shock, MH/f, lure weight 1/4oz. to 1-1/4oz. for $10 at Wal-Mart...could I possibly use this as a cranking rod if it has any parabolic bend? That way maybe the Freds Magic Stick and 734C could both be in play.

[Philo Beddoe]

I say the 734. I have one and it's the most versatile rod in my lineup.

[Robert Riley]

I like longer rods, so my vote is for the 734c

[fishraptor]

14 hours ago, fishnkamp said:

I think your best options are to save a biy more money. Get the Irod Genesis II or Fiber series Fred's Magic Stick. That rod will not only be a great frog rod but can handle a lot of heavier baits.  Then I would get the Dobyns 734.  It is a workhorse.

Those two along with your spinning rods will give you a very versatile rod arsenal.  Anything that the 734 does not throw well, will be fine on the Irod. 

 

9 hours ago, Robert Riley said:

I like longer rods, so my vote is for the 734c

 

11 hours ago, Philo Beddoe said:

I say the 734. I have one and it's the most versatile rod in my lineup.

Please help me clear up my confusion. The original question was for an all purpose rod that would be most versatile. I was told and was under the assumption that the specs for a best all purpose rod was 1/4 to 3/4 oz  Med/heavy fast but we have three posts above all stating that the Dolbys 734 is a great choice but that rod is 1/4 to 1oz. Heavy Fast.  Since I have yet to buy my all purpose rod should I change my specs to the 1/4 to 1oz heavy/fast ?  I also notice that Dolbyns sells that 734 in more than one grade (CD 734C and the Fury FR734C). How much of a difference does that make. Is this like the IMX/GLX scenario ?    In ending, It too and looking for an all purpose casting rod in a great to super quality rod so if you have any suggestions please let me know.  Just like Jurassic park, we spare no expense.  

[J Francho]

We're answering as users, not spec sheets.  If you are under 1/2 oz., then use a 3 power.  If you're more 1/2 to 1 oz., then use a four.  Personally, I'd go to a 5 for 1 oz.

[fishnkamp]

It is true that the 1/4 to 3/4 rod is usually considered the all purpose rod. In some cases a manufacturer will design a rod that just plain works.  For me that was a Powell 683 CEF. Tackle Tour ran that 1/4 to 3/4 rod through a torturous test which included baits lighter than the 1/4,, it did not handle them too well, all the way up to a 2.5 ounce swim bait and it did it really well.  Ordinarily you would not choose a 6'8" 1/4 to 3/4 rod for those big baits. When I need 1 rod to do many things I reach for that rod.

 

Now getting back on track the op has been looking at a bunch of rods to fill his needs, but on a limited budget. I belong to many boards like this. One board Gary Dobyns personally answers question on. In the past he has answered my own question as well as the op.  Gary says the 704 is a terrific rod but prefers it for closer in work, say working down rip rap or docks and prefers the longer rod for most applications.  He has also said the entire blank acts differently than its shorter version.  It will handle many of the same lures, but how it transitions from tip to backbone is different.

As for the Fury, Sierra, and both Champion lines it kinda goes like this.  He started with both top end Champion lines first, then 2 Savvy series ( only the micro Savvy's are still made). These were designed to offer a Dobyns rod at a price point below his top line rods. He insisted they never lower the standard of using a high quality blank in any series.  Now he is offering the Sierra series, which is a step up in sensitivity and very light weight compared to the Savvy series. Lastly he has been hounded for a Dobyns quality rod at the entry level price range. After 2 years of trying the Furys were released. They are amazing for their price. Here the same attention to detail, lineup on the spine, guide alignment, quality of blank material and good components, all combine to give the user a great rod for an entry level price.  As you move up the different lines the quality of blank, sensitivity, quality of components all go up and the rods get lighter as well.  He does build many of the same rods in different lineups so you can get a very similar rod at each price point. 

One other thing about Dobyns is they fish roughly 1/2 step lighter than their rating compared to many other brands, so read that heavy more like between a typical mh and hvy

[ClonesGoneFishin16]

On 3/7/2017 at 10:09 AM, fishnkamp said:

It is true that the 1/4 to 3/4 rod is usually considered the all purpose rod. In some cases a manufacturer will design a rod that just plain works.  For me that was a Powell 683 CEF. Tackle Tour ran that 1/4 to 3/4 rod through a torturous test which included baits lighter than the 1/4,, it did not handle them too well, all the way up to a 2.5 ounce swim bait and it did it really well.  Ordinarily you would not choose a 6'8" 1/4 to 3/4 rod for those big baits. When I need 1 rod to do many things I reach for that rod.

 

Now getting back on track the op has been looking at a bunch of rods to fill his needs, but on a limited budget. I belong to many boards like this. One board Gary Dobyns personally answers question on. In the past he has answered my own question as well as the op.  Gary says the 704 is a terrific rod but prefers it for closer in work, say working down rip rap or docks and prefers the longer rod for most applications.  He has also said the entire blank acts differently than its shorter version.  It will handle many of the same lures, but how it transitions from tip to backbone is different.

As for the Fury, Sierra, and both Champion lines it kinda goes like this.  He started with both top end Champion lines first, then 2 Savvy series ( only the micro Savvy's are still made). These were designed to offer a Dobyns rod at a price point below his top line rods. He insisted they never lower the standard of using a high quality blank in any series.  Now he is offering the Sierra series, which is a step up in sensitivity and very light weight compared to the Savvy series. Lastly he has been hounded for a Dobyns quality rod at the entry level price range. After 2 years of trying the Furys were released. They are amazing for their price. Here the same attention to detail, lineup on the spine, guide alignment, quality of blank material and good components, all combine to give the user a great rod for an entry level price.  As you move up the different lines the quality of blank, sensitivity, quality of components all go up and the rods get lighter as well.  He does build many of the same rods in different lineups so you can get a very similar rod at each price point. 

One other thing about Dobyns is they fish roughly 1/2 step lighter than their rating compared to many other brands, so read that heavy more like between a typical mh and hvy

What do you mean by what I highlighted in red (see above)? Are you referencing the 704 compared to the 734 in the Fury line?

[fishnkamp]

Yes sorry for the confusion. I had suggested getting the Irod Genesis II Fred's Magic Stick and then the Dobyns 734C.  I was comparing the 704C and the 734C.  

[Columbia Craw]

The better of those two models is the 734.  I have three rigged up in my boat on most days albeit one is a Sierra and two are Champions. 

[ClonesGoneFishin16]

45 minutes ago, fishnkamp said:

Yes sorry for the confusion. I had suggested getting the Irod Genesis II Fred's Magic Stick and then the Dobyns 734C.  I was comparing the 704C and the 734C.  

How do the rod blanks between the 704c and 734c act differently? Which hits the backbone faster? I was under the impression that the 2 balnks acted almost identically hence why I'm asking..

16 minutes ago, Columbia Craw said:

The better of those two models is the 734.  I have three rigged up in my boat on most days albeit one is a Sierra and two are Champions. 

So you don't have the Fury 734c? 

[Columbia Craw]

4 hours ago, ClonesGoneFishin16 said:

How do the rod blanks between the 704c and 734c act differently? Which hits the backbone faster? I was under the impression that the 2 balnks acted almost identically hence why I'm asking..

So you don't have the Fury 734c? 

Nope. Just the 733 and 735.  Three 734's is enough.  Forgot, 664 as well.

[ib_of_the_damned]

On 3/6/2017 at 5:04 PM, fishnkamp said:

I think your best options are to save a bit more money. Get the Irod Genesis II or Fiber series Fred's Magic Stick. That rod will not only be a great frog rod but can handle a lot of heavier baits.  Then I would get the Dobyns 734.  It is a workhorse.

Those two along with your spinning rods will give you a very versatile rod arsenal.  Anything that the 734 does not throw well, will be fine on the Irod. 

I agree. I don't have experience with the Dobyns, but I do have both Genesis II Fred's Magic Stick and the 704C. The 704C is a very versatile stick. The weight range is 1/4-1 1/4oz. I have tossed flukes, senkos, lipless cranks, t-rigs, jigs, and it handles them all well. You could even throw a 1/2-3/4 oz frog on it if you wish.