Is ~$250 a resonable budget for a no-frills swimbait rod?

[fishwizzard]

I have been fishing smaller swimbaits on a IRod Fred's Magic Stick this season and I am really liking throwing them.  The Irod is working fine, but it's upper rating is too low for some of the lures I want to throw with it and the long handle is a pain to deal with.  I want to replace it with a rod rated in the 1-4oz or 1-5oz range.  The issue is finding one with a shorter butt section and a shorter overall length.  The closest factory rod I have found is the Dobyn's 795SB MT.  It still has a longer handle then I would like and at 7'9" is too long to fit in my car without worry.  My idea would be a rod with like a 15-16" handle and no more then 7'6" OAL.  I am not totally against the Dobbyn's, but the length worries me and will make it hard to leave the rod in my car for afterwork fishing trips as I will have to rest it up on the dash as opposed to a shorter rod that I can run up between the front seats and cover with a towel or jacket.   I can't find a factory rod to fit my needs and was wondering if the cost of the Dobyn's (around $250) would be a reasonable budget for a no-frills custom rod.  I would prefer a full cork handle (don't care if it is a cheaper grade of cork) and just a simple single color wrap. 

[Can't Catch Bass]

Hi wiz. I was scrounging around through some of the ones I was looking at, came up with these...

 

Big bear 7'3 xh

15.5" handle

1.5-4oz lure weight

 

Carrot stix wild wild black 7'6 xxh

16" handle

2-5oz lure weight

 

Both have split grips.

[68camaro]

I am looking at same Dobyns as you for 2 - 4.25 oz swimbaits. I have a couple custom rods but since I don't fish bigger swimbaits much I think the 795SB will work good at nice price point. To get a full custom you are looking at alot more and how often you use it will dictate if custom is worth it you.

[Scott F]

To fit the specs you listed, you should be looking at musky rods. St Croix has a Mojo Musky rod, 7'2", 15 inch handle for $150 3-8oz baits or a 7'6" 15" handle, 2-6oz baits for $160. Those both have split grips. The Premier series musky rods have 12-14" handles, full cork, 3-8 or 2-6oz, 7' or 7"6" and run $190-$200

[fishwizzard]

Wow, thanks guys, I had not heard of Big Bear or Carrot Stix before and had certainly never thought of musky rods.  The 2-3oz low end on them concerns me, but it is a great place to start looking.  

 

I have a pair of very basic custom rods already and was going to reach out to that builder to get his thoughts, but wanted to have some idea what I was looking for first.  

[Chance_Taker4]

My vote is on the Carrot Stix Wild Wild Black. I love my Carrot Stix.

[RB 77]

I would go custom If I were you. I know your exact dilemma and it is hard to find a "proper" swimbait rod with a shorter handle. I finally modified one of my stock rods to a shorter handle because I  love the power and the action of the rod along with the full cork handle, but found the longer butt section difficult to work larger top waters (like a Punker) with the longer section.  

[spoonplugger1]

Smallie got it right, the PM76H looks too heavy powered maybe for your use, but it's designed to be a heavy crankbait rod which means it's great for all types of hooks.

Another option is to just shorten the rear grip on the Dobson.

[fishwizzard]

Thanks for the imput guys, I think I am going to wait for Black Friday to see if I can get a deal on the 795SB MT, if not then I will start looking into a custom for real.  

[Angry John]

You might spend a lot less finding a used rod and having or trimming your own handle.  Not hard.

[fishwizzard]

Yea, I have been checking a few forums for a used rod that would suit my needs, but so far no luck.  I am not in a huge hurry to replace the Irod as I still need to sort out what reel I am going to get for it, my 9:1 Zillon is not at all fun to crawl a Hudd with, so it has to go as well.  

 

I am also very very lazy about selling/shipping rods, I have done the "I'm gonna sell X and use the money towards Y!" a few times now but have yet to sell a single "X", so I am determined to sell a few rods before I buy a new one.  Unless I find a really good deal.....

[NathanDLTH]

Fish I’m in the same boat, looking for a glidebait 7’6 and under for same reason. Transportation. I found one rod I liked, it was 7’4” Zillion but super light on weight it can throw. 1/2- 1.5oz. Not ideal. 

[spoonplugger1]

St Croix has made 7 1/2 ft. 2 piece rods that will throw 1/2 ounce and up stuff forever. Same with shorter stuff.