Shore Fisherman - Best all around rod for $300

[Junger]

Sorry, I know the best all around topic has been beaten to death, but some of the threads I've been reading go back to 2015, and there are newer rod releases that may not have been covered.

 

I primarily fish from the shore, and sometimes walk a couple miles to spots. So I typically only take 1-2 rods, and a backpack with 2/3 3600 tackle boxes.

 

I'm starting to invest more money into my gear, and I'm now looking for a rod around $300 to pair with a 7.3:1 Daiwa Tatula Type-R baitcaster. I'm envisioning that this rod will be throwing senkos (Texas/Wacky), plastic swimbaits (Keitech Swing Fact Impacts), chatterbaits, and spinnerbaits in the 7'1-7'3 MH range with a MF/F tip.

 

I've been using a Powell Max 3D 714 MH/EF spinning rod for those applications, and my hook up ratio is probably around 60%. I love the sensitivity, but I think that tip is just a little too stiff for those techniques...and I'm tired of flipping a bale.

 

Some of the rods I'm coming up with are the Dobyns Champion 734, Megabass Orochi Diablo 7'2 Spec-R, and Daiwa Tatula 7'2 H/F.

 

I just want to nail this rod purchase with zero regrets, hence why I'm asking.  Thank you in advance.

 

[Boomstick]

I think the Tatula 7'2" H/F would be a little bit too stiff for what you need. For most of those lures you will want a MH/F fast rod. I'm not personally familiar with the Dobyns Champion 734C but I gather it's more inline with a MH rod than a H and should be suitable for these lures. I do know that Dobyns owners are generally very pleased with their rods as well.

 

I primarily fish from shore and here's my setup.

6'10" MH/F Tatula with a Tatula SV 7.3:1 ratio reel, find me fishing a lot of jigs, frogs, spinnerbaits soft plastics and chatterbaits.

7'2" MH/R Tatula Glass cranking rod with a Tatula SV 6.3:1 reel - crankbaits, an occasional spinnerbait or chatterbait.

Two spinning rods, both M/F, one with 12lb line and one with 8lb line for finesse. I often carry only one, depending where I am fishing and what I plan to fish. Often a texas rigged senko or a drop shot.

 

[MassYak85]

^ Can confirm the 7'2" H/F Tatula would probably not be ideal. I have it and it's probably my favorite rod, but I use it almost exclusively for Jigs and T-rigs. 

[Junger]

1 hour ago, MassYak85 said:

^ Can confirm the 7'2" H/F Tatula would probably not be ideal. I have it and it's probably my favorite rod, but I use it almost exclusively for Jigs and T-rigs. 

Too stiff for chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, and swimbaits?

 

1 hour ago, BaitFinesse said:

Orochi xx Exteme Mission Type F.  The Diabo spec R is a fantastic rod from what I hear but I think the EMTF would be a better fit for the jigs and plastics.  The Diablo Spec R would be a better at the moving baits.  Both are great.

Sorry for the noobness, moving baits are spinnerbaits/chatterbaits? If so, that's probably what I want to throw 50% of the time with this new rod. I enjoy throwing those more than texas/wacky rigging senkos, as I find it kinda boring, but it does produce in pressured shore lines and that's when I throw it.

 

3 hours ago, Boomstick said:

I think the Tatula 7'2" H/F would be a little bit too stiff for what you need. For most of those lures you will want a MH/F fast rod. I'm not personally familiar with the Dobyns Champion 734C but I gather it's more inline with a MH rod than a H and should be suitable for these lures. I do know that Dobyns owners are generally very pleased with their rods as well.

I was hoping the Tatula H/F would be on the lower power end of a heavy rod.  Do you think a Daiwa Steez XT 7'2 MH/R would be too soft for T-rigs? So many rods to look at.....

[Boomstick]

23 minutes ago, Junger said:

I was hoping the Tatula H/F would be on the lower power end of a heavy rod.  Do you think a Daiwa Steez XT 7'2 MH/R would be too soft for T-rigs? So many rods to look at.....

A rod like the 6'10" MH/F Tatula I have would probably serve you rather well. They are currently $80 for the model on Amazon -- for that price you could buy it and buy a second rod for crankbaits or the H/F rod and still have enough for a reel. Although from the sounds of it, you would probably be best off with the 7'2" MH/R for spinnerbaits and chatterbaits and the H/F for swimbaits and jigs and trigs in heavy cover.

 

I gather the Daiwa Regular tip is technically moderate fast, but is on the fast side. I gather the 7'2" Tatula or Steez are perfect for spinnerbaits and chatterbaits, but not as good for jigs or swimbaits when you need the extra power to hook a fish through weeds. My cranking rod is a regular tip and while I would not even attempt to fish jigs with it, it is also glass so it still has a bit more bend than the graphite models so it is not a fair comparison.

 

[Junger]

1 minute ago, Boomstick said:

A rod like the 6'10" MH/F Tatula I have would probably serve you rather well. They are currently $80 for the model on Amazon -- for that price you could buy it and buy a second rod for crankbaits or the H/F rod and still have enough for a reel. Although from the sounds of it, I would go with the 7'2" MH/R for spinnerbaits and chatterbaits and the H/F for swimbaits and jigs and trigs in heavy cover.

 

Wow that's a crazy good price for the Tatula!  I just got the 6'9 ML for poppers/jerkbaits and love it.  

[Boomstick]

6 minutes ago, Junger said:

Wow that's a crazy good price for the Tatula!  I just got the 6'9 ML for poppers/jerkbaits and love it.  

Even the $110 I got both mine for was well worth it imo. I would do it again. I will say the price does fluctuate a lot, I've never seen $80 before, but maybe at the end of the year they drop a bit more in price. It was generally between $110 and $150 all day in the summer.

[MassYak85]

15 hours ago, Junger said:

Too stiff for chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, and swimbaits?

IMO yes. I use the 7'2" MHR for those and it works out better. The 7'2" HF I would say is very true to it's ratings. It's a light rod but it packs a lot of punch and doesn't give much. I use it with 40lb braid and when I set the hook and it gets into the backbone it just stops, which makes for some fun hooksets when you stick a big fish on a jig but again it's a true fast action so you don't get a ton of deflection with the tip for those other techniques. 

[kschultz76]

MB Orochi XX line up in my opinion. The Diablo Spec R is one of my favorite and most versatile rods. It will handle all that you're looking to do as long as your lure weights are reasonable. I've fished 3/8 oz trigger creature baits on it no problem as well as 1/2 oz red eye shads, and both 3/8 and 1/2 oz swim jigs with rage grub trailers. It does it all. 

 

If you want some more length and something with a bit more focus on single hook lures the EMTF is another good choice from what I hear. Though I have no personal experience with one. 

[Chris at Tech]

In addition to the candidates above, look into the Kistler KLX and Kistler Helium 3.

[Fried Lemons]

Have you considered the type of shore you usually fish? I have a couple rods over 7’ which get great distance but at times I wish they were 6” shorter when I have trees behind and beside me. I find rods 6’6-6’10 give me the best mix of distance and maneuverability.

[Deleted account]

Get yourself one of each 6'9" Med and MH Abu A(something or other), then get yourself a nice steak dinner with the change.

[Junger]

1 hour ago, Fried Lemons said:

Have you considered the type of shore you usually fish? I have a couple rods over 7’ which get great distance but at times I wish they were 6” shorter when I have trees behind and beside me. I find rods 6’6-6’10 give me the best mix of distance and maneuverability.

Yep - I've mastered what I call a "squat flick" cast!  I literally squad down to my knees and can flick an overhand cast with about 70% the distance of a full cast when the occasion arises.  

 

The tackle monkey wouldn't get off my shoulder this morning until I hit "order" on that 6'10 MH Tatula from Amazon.  So I had to pick that up and I'll figure out a use for it.  But I think I'm leading toward the Megabass Diablo Spec-R based on what I mostly fish.

 

Thanks all, appreciate the time taken to read and input.  Any tips to cage the bait/tacklemoney??? =) 

[new2BC4bass]

I really like my Diablo Spec R, but it hasn't seen near the use I wish it had.  Haven't been out much this year.  Never handled the Tatula 7'2" HF, but if it is anything like my Tatula 7'4" HF then it will be a bit too stiff for some of those baits.  The Tatula 7'2" MHR is a very nice rod and I am becoming a fan of that action.  These Tatulas are all the original models.  The original 6'10" MHF is one I'd like to have as well.  Guess I'd better check out that Amazon price. 

 

I think you would really like the Diablo.  The Extreme Mission Type F seems like a great rod from what I've read, but the only reason I have a Megabass rod is because of the generosity of a fellow member.  I don't foresee any more in my future.

[Yudo1]

   The orochi xx line  is the best bang for the buck out of the megabass brand IMO and the Diablo fits your needs perfectly. If you wanted something a little shorter the spinner bait special would work well too. The emtf is also quite capable especially if your use leaned in favor of bottom contact. If you wanted to save some money, the kistler KLX and helium 3 lines have some excellent rods that would fit your needs. The north fork IM blanks are extremely light and sensitive. At that budget you have so many excellent choices.