What rod next?

[npl_texas]

I have a lot of rods in the $100 - $130 range.  Primarily Dobyn's Fury and Duckett Ghost with a BPS Carbonlite thrown in.

 

What's the next step up from that without going up to the high $280 - $350 range?  Is the Dobyn's Champion series better dollar for dollar than the Fury series?  

 

When it comes down to it I'm looking for the most sensitive bottom contact rod from $150-$250 range.  I can't really use the number of rods I have now so I'm looking to move up a little bit and start buying nicer equipment.

 

Thoughts?

[RMax]

@fishnkamp

[Robert Riley]

Champion rods are pretty good in my opinion. In terms of quality per dollar, the fury really is a good rod. Fishnkamp and I are always touting how good dobyns rods are. If you dont want to pay full price, always check out the mislabeled amd refurbished rods from Dobyns website. 

Outside of dobyns, the SC Avid is phenominal. 

[LuckyHandsINC.]

If you really want to get the best rod possible for your money, I would say don't be afraid to buy used. I have gotten some great deals personally and have seen many more I missed out on. Over the the winter I got a Steez XT rod for $160 and I received it looking brand new, just one example. The Poison Adrena rods can found in your range often and retail for $400, they also fish like a $400 rod. 

 

Just make sure the guy seems trustworthy and use PayPal. I've become a big fan of the buy/sell forums. Honestly this site doesn't seem to have as much as others. Not sure if we're supposed to mention them but you probably know them already anyway.

[Yudo1]

I'd also look at kistler klx and alx rods.

[Spankey]

St. Croix Avids. While I do like my Mojo and Premier Series rods the 2 Avid rods I own are my best rods. Drop shoting and split shoting use. 

[new2BC4bass]

Take a look at the Hammer rods.  They have been getting very good reviews.  I have a couple purchased over the winter, but my time on the water this year is almost non-existent except for my visit to relation earlier this year. 

[fishnkamp]

Well since I was called for here is what i recommend.  First you are fishing some good rods. The Fury rods are really nice for their cost and even hold up pretty well against other brands much more expensive rods.

In the Dobyns lineup my wife and I fish some Sierra rods and some Champion Xps. The Sierras rods are a bit slower than say a Champion XP ( DC ...)  If I were looking for bottom contact rods for fishing  jigs, texas rigs, etc then I would definitely go for an Champ XP. They will run you around $260.  I purchased a couple of Sierra rods for my wife. One of my Champs is my frog rod. I cannot fit a rod over 7 foot in my rod locker so even though the 735C would have been the best choice I am completely thrilled with my DC 705C. It is super well balanced, lightweight and very sensitive. This rod doubles as both frog and a rod to throw big deep water jigs.  Believe it or not they build an almost duplicate rod in the Sierra 705SF, which is the perfect spinning rod to accomplish thew same tasks.  That is my wife's latest addition in her rod arsenal

 

For your purpose I would look at a Champion XP model DC 734C. I think you will be thrilled with it. If I could fit longer rods it would have been my second Champ. Its taper and transition from tip to but is a bit nicer than my 704C.

[npl_texas]

12 minutes ago, fishnkamp said:

Well since I was called for here is what i recommend.  First you are fishing some good rods. The Fury rods are really nice for their cost and even hold up pretty well against other brands much more expensive rods.

In the Dobyns lineup my wife and I fish some Sierra rods and some Champion Xps. The Sierras rods are a bit slower than say a Champion XP ( DC ...)  If I were looking for bottom contact rods for fishing  jigs, texas rigs, etc then I would definitely go for an Champ XP. They will run you around $260.  I purchased a couple of Sierra rods for my wife. One of my Champs is my frog rod. I cannot fit a rod over 7 foot in my rod locker so even though the 735C would have been the best choice I am completely thrilled with my DC 705C. It is super well balanced, lightweight and very sensitive. This rod doubles as both frog and a rod to throw big deep water jigs.  Believe it or not they build an almost duplicate rod in the Sierra 705SF, which is the perfect spinning rod to accomplish thew same tasks.  That is my wife's latest addition in her rod arsenal

 

For your purpose I would look at a Champion XP model DC 734C. I think you will be thrilled with it. If I could fit longer rods it would have been my second Champ. Its taper and transition from tip to but is a bit nicer than my 704C.

 

Thank you.  My current jig rod is the 734C in the Fury series.  What kind of differences would I see in the Champion XP series?

8 hours ago, Spankey said:

St. Croix Avids. While I do like my Mojo and Premier Series rods the 2 Avid rods I own are my best rods. Drop shoting and split shoting use. 

I've heard a lot of good things about the St. Croix Avids.  I bought the Mojo Bass 7'6" MH/MF and it left a bad taste in my mouth.  I bought it for chatterbaits and it was very heavy and felt more like a F tip.  

8 hours ago, Yudo1 said:

I'd also look at kistler klx and alx rods.

Thanks, I'll take a look.  I have no preconceptions about these rods because I don't own any and neither does anyone I know.

10 hours ago, LuckyHandsINC. said:

If you really want to get the best rod possible for your money, I would say don't be afraid to buy used. I have gotten some great deals personally and have seen many more I missed out on. Over the the winter I got a Steez XT rod for $160 and I received it looking brand new, just one example. The Poison Adrena rods can found in your range often and retail for $400, they also fish like a $400 rod. 

 

Just make sure the guy seems trustworthy and use PayPal. I've become a big fan of the buy/sell forums. Honestly this site doesn't seem to have as much as others. Not sure if we're supposed to mention them but you probably know them already anyway.

I tend to stay away from buying used unless I really trust someone.  I sell a lot of my things that are in great condition but just feel a little uncomfortable buying.  I will consider it though.

13 hours ago, Robert Riley said:

Champion rods are pretty good in my opinion. In terms of quality per dollar, the fury really is a good rod. Fishnkamp and I are always touting how good dobyns rods are. If you dont want to pay full price, always check out the mislabeled amd refurbished rods from Dobyns website. 

Outside of dobyns, the SC Avid is phenominal. 

Well, maybe I don't need to do anything.  I'll see what @fishnkamp has to say about the difference between the Fury and the Champion series and make a decision.  

[kstephes033]

Do yourself a favor and check out the Daiwa Tatula lineup, either the original or the Elite. The elite series i think is the best rod you can buy for the money right now. Otherwise, as stated with buying used you can usually get some killer deals, and guys on these forums are usually very honest and can send detailed pics. Megabass Orochi XX rods can usually be had for around 200 or a little more now for a used one, and they are some of the best rods money can buy at any price point. If looking for 1/2oz or more i would look for a Perfect Pitch Orochi XX, if under 1/2oz primarily then i would look for an EMTF Orochi XX... will have to be patient but they do pop up every now and then. In the tatula lineup the 7'2" Heavy would be a great 1/2oz and up, or the 7'1" MH XF for less than 1/2oz. The tatula elite series i would look at the 7'3" MH Ehrler rod, should be able to handle the majority of bottom contact techniques easily up to 1/2oz, possibly 3/4 if using a football jig for instance.

[npl_texas]

3 minutes ago, kstephes033 said:

Do yourself a favor and check out the Daiwa Tatula lineup, either the original or the Elite. The elite series i think is the best rod you can buy for the money right now. Otherwise, as stated with buying used you can usually get some killer deals, and guys on these forums are usually very honest and can send detailed pics. Megabass Orochi XX rods can usually be had for around 200 or a little more now for a used one, and they are some of the best rods money can buy at any price point. If looking for 1/2oz or more i would look for a Perfect Pitch Orochi XX, if under 1/2oz primarily then i would look for an EMTF Orochi XX... will have to be patient but they do pop up every now and then. In the tatula lineup the 7'2" Heavy would be a great 1/2oz and up, or the 7'1" MH XF for less than 1/2oz. The tatula elite series i would look at the 7'3" MH Ehrler rod, should be able to handle the majority of bottom contact techniques easily up to 1/2oz, possibly 3/4 if using a football jig for instance.

I actually just got a really good deal on a Tatula rod ($87).  It's M/XF and some sites show it as a finesse/drop shot rod and others has a jig/worm rod.  I plan on using it for weightless senkos and 1/4oz jigs.

 

I have been looking at the new Elites but was just waiting on more reviews.

[kstephes033]

10 minutes ago, npl_texas said:

I actually just got a really good deal on a Tatula rod ($87).  It's M/XF and some sites show it as a finesse/drop shot rod and others has a jig/worm rod.  I plan on using it for weightless senkos and 1/4oz jigs.

 

I have been looking at the new Elites but was just waiting on more reviews.

 

The elites are awesome. I have 13 of them now total, and ever one of them exceeded my expectations. The 7'3" MHF Ehrler rods is really an awesome all around rod. I primarily use a 3/8oz t-rig on it, but have thrown swimbaits, jigs, senkos, flukes, swim jigs on it and it handled them all really well, but excels at the 1/4-3/8oz trig. The 7'4" Frog rod is awesome for anything 1/2oz or above, havent actually tried it for frogs at all. All of them are very light and very well balanced, sensitive, comfortable, and load up very well with fish on. I highly recommend them and i have no affiliation with daiwa at all, or any other company for that matter haha. I feel like they are the best price to performance you can buy, actually sold all but one of my Orochi XX rods i had in order to get my lineup of these after i fished with them a couple times. Dont get me wrong, the orochi xx lineup is amazing, but i just have a hard time being a tourney fisherman having $300 rods sitting out with how i throw them around at times. 

[fishnkamp]

The Dobyns Champions are going to be more sensitive and lighter.  

[CTBassin860]

5 hours ago, kstephes033 said:

 

The elites are awesome. I have 13 of them now total, and ever one of them exceeded my expectations. The 7'3" MHF Ehrler rods is really an awesome all around rod. I primarily use a 3/8oz t-rig on it, but have thrown swimbaits, jigs, senkos, flukes, swim jigs on it and it handled them all really well, but excels at the 1/4-3/8oz trig. The 7'4" Frog rod is awesome for anything 1/2oz or above, havent actually tried it for frogs at all. All of them are very light and very well balanced, sensitive, comfortable, and load up very well with fish on. I highly recommend them and i have no affiliation with daiwa at all, or any other company for that matter haha. I feel like they are the best price to performance you can buy, actually sold all but one of my Orochi XX rods i had in order to get my lineup of these after i fished with them a couple times. Dont get me wrong, the orochi xx lineup is amazing, but i just have a hard time being a tourney fisherman having $300 rods sitting out with how i throw them around at times. 

Those elites have been out like 3 months and you have 13 of them already?

[hawgenvy]

It warms my heart to see all the good reviews on the Dobyn's Champion rods. That's because one of my favorite rods is my highly versatile Champ 734c, and it so happens that I ordered a second one (Champion XP 734) just this morning from TW. It was only $220.99 because of their Memorial Day sale. Normally it's $260. Unfortunately, it's currently out of stock, but I'm not really in a hurry to get it.

[WRB]

OP, what are your current rods not doing for you that a more expensive rod will do better?

Most of the suggestions are based on personal preference without stating actual rod weights, lengths, power, action etc. 

Do you want a rod that casts easier? Longer casts? Better balance with your reel?

My guess is you want better sensitivity and like most bass anglers don't know what that is or what a rod adds to the feedback what a lure is during. The rod isn't connected to the lure, the line is!

Tom

[kstephes033]

48 minutes ago, MassBassin508 said:

Those elites have been out like 3 months and you have 13 of them already?

Yep, after I bought the first 2 and liked them as much as I do, I sold some of my older more spendy stuff to get a lineup of them. Haven't been disappointed with the decision at all.