Fall 2017 Purchase

[RMax]

Which of these combo's would you purchase for bottom contact baits (I fish all bottom baits with a MH fast)  I have a budget of around $400 dollars, although more money saved is awesome.  I also highly prefer split grip rods over regular grip because I feel like its more sensitive.  I like Shimano and would be willing to try Daiwa, Abu, and fishing *13*

 

1. Dobyns Sierra +Chronarch ci4+

2. Dobyns Savvy Micro Guide + Chronarch ci4+

3. Dobyns Champion XP Split Grip + Tatula CT/Curado/In-cep-tion

4. St. Croix Avid X + Type R/Curado I

5. St. Croix Avid + Type R/Curado I

6. St. Croix Mojo Bass (new SCIII graphite one) + Shimano Chronarch MGL

 

One more question... Has anyone tried the Shimano Stile or the Shimano Grappler reels? Are there any other reels I should look at that are order-able from Japan?

[Angry John]

Avidx and sv103.

[fishballer06]

Of the choices given, I'd go with an Avid rod and the Chronarch MGL. 

 

And yes, I own the Stile 101PG and I have the new 151PG on pre-order from Japan Tackle. 

[fishnkamp]

By far the Dobyns Champion would be my first choice followed by the Sierra as my second choice.  I would match it up with either a Tatula CT or up my budget a bit and go with a Tatula SV TWS.

I fish with a bunch of original Tatulas Type Rs and 2 CTs. They just work, work, work.  I am going to make my next reel one of the new Tatula SV TWS reels.  I want to try out the SV spool.  As for the Dobyns I own both Champion XP series rods and Sierra.  The Sierra's are almost as sensitive as my Champion rods, but the graphite is a touch slower, which is fine for my wife's frog rod, it gives that tiny bit of delay.   You may like the faster graphite for jigs and texas rigs if you are fishing a bait out on a long cast. 

[RoLo]

 

Dobyns Champion Split-grip   Shimano Curado          

 

Roger

[RMax]

20 hours ago, fishballer06 said:

Of the choices given, I'd go with an Avid rod and the Chronarch MGL. 

 

And yes, I own the Stile 101PG and I have the new 151PG on pre-order from Japan Tackle. 

1. Is the Stile worth the cost? It's quite further from my budget but the perks on it make it seem pretty awesome.  I was also reading about the Grappler (which can be found for around $100 on ebay) and its the cheapest ci4 reel out there, to my knowledge.

2. Some friend were telling me that the Avid's are St. Croix's worst rod, because its the same blank as the new Mojo's, just a little lighter.

3. Do the Chronarch MGL's have digital control? The ci4's never said they had it but there is DC in my friends chronarch.

[RMax]

1 hour ago, fishnkamp said:

By far the Dobyns Champion would be my first choice followed by the Sierra as my second choice.  I would match it up with either a Tatula CT or up my budget a bit and go with a Tatula SV TWS.

I fish with a bunch of original Tatulas Type Rs and 2 CTs. They just work, work, work.  I am going to make my next reel one of the new Tatula SV TWS reels.  I want to try out the SV spool.  As for the Dobyns I own both Champion XP series rods and Sierra.  The Sierra's are almost as sensitive as my Champion rods, but the graphite is a touch slower, which is fine for my wife's frog rod, it gives that tiny bit of delay.   You may like the faster graphite for jigs and texas rigs if you are fishing a bait out on a long cast. 

I've heard that Dobyns are more sensitive than the St. Croix's at the similar price range.  However, the Dobyns Champion XP Split Grip is just a bit over what I can/want to spend.  Do you prefer the Sierra over the Savvy, for bottom baits?  I know that you are kind of the Dobyns/Daiwa guy having seen many previous posts.

[fishnkamp]

I actually have sold of my older St Croix rods in favor of Dobyns, Powells and Irods.  I just seem to find rods I like fishing from those companies better.

You originally said your budget is $400.

A Dobyns Champion XP ( not the Extreme HP) means a rod labeled DC704C or a DC 734C will run you $240 to $260.  You will spend around $120 for a Tatula CT.  They run around $130 regularly, but check on Amazon. I just saw them available as low as $113.  You can choose from a 6.3-1, 7,3-1 or 8.1=1 in RH and either 6.3 or 7.3=1 in left hand.

If you put that combo together you will have a total price around $390 or less.

 

As for my preference between the Savvy and Sierra, I have never fished a Savvy, but I know the Sierra has the newer more sensitive blank, so I would go in that direction. I am very impressed by the SA 705SF spinning rod I purchased for my wife. It is her frog/ heavy jig rod. 

I doubt you would be disappointed going either way.

 

[TX-Deluxe]

On 4/15/2017 at 10:30 PM, Angry John said:

Avidx and sv103.

That would be my light Texas rig dream setup

[fishballer06]

12 hours ago, RMax said:

1. Is the Stile worth the cost? It's quite further from my budget but the perks on it make it seem pretty awesome.  I was also reading about the Grappler (which can be found for around $100 on ebay) and its the cheapest ci4 reel out there, to my knowledge.

2. Some friend were telling me that the Avid's are St. Croix's worst rod, because its the same blank as the new Mojo's, just a little lighter.

3. Do the Chronarch MGL's have digital control? The ci4's never said they had it but there is DC in my friends chronarch.

 

1. Yes, if you have the budget for it. In my opinion, the PG version is the greatest cranking reel currently available on the market. However, the price of it eats up basically your entire $400 budget. Also, you're looking for a bottom bait reel, which would mean you would want the XG version. The downfall of the Stile is the drag on it is on the weaker side, and you may want a reel with a stronger drag. 

2. Your friend told you that an Avid is the worst rod that St. Croix has? Your friend must not be very intelligent. 

3. No, they do not. Your friend (I'm guessing it's the same intelligent friend from statement #2) is either lying, or he has some super secret prototype reel because Shimano has never made a Chronarch with DC.

[RMax]

43 minutes ago, fishballer06 said:

3. No, they do not. Your friend (I'm guessing it's the same intelligent friend from statement #2) is either lying, or he has some super secret prototype reel because Shimano has never made a Chronarch with DC.

Yeah, its the same friend.  His reel sounds like DC and thats what he claims it was but I thought there weren't any DC Chronarchs.  Thanks for the clarification.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

All the SC3 st croixs are nice rods. The reels are all well built. Comes down to features, preferences and deals. As for the friends advice, smile nod your head then check here. 

[RMax]

11 hours ago, fishnkamp said:

I actually have sold of my older St Croix rods in favor of Dobyns, Powells and Irods.  I just seem to find rods I like fishing from those companies better.

You originally said your budget is $400.

A Dobyns Champion XP ( not the Extreme HP) means a rod labeled DC704C or a DC 734C will run you $240 to $260.  You will spend around $120 for a Tatula CT.  They run around $130 regularly, but check on Amazon. I just saw them available as low as $113.  You can choose from a 6.3-1, 7,3-1 or 8.1=1 in RH and either 6.3 or 7.3=1 in left hand.

If you put that combo together you will have a total price around $390 or less.

 

As for my preference between the Savvy and Sierra, I have never fished a Savvy, but I know the Sierra has the newer more sensitive blank, so I would go in that direction. I am very impressed by the SA 705SF spinning rod I purchased for my wife. It is her frog/ heavy jig rod. 

I doubt you would be disappointed going either way.

 

Not too sure how I feel about the Tatula CT but I am starting to lean towards Dobyns.