Picking out five Dobyns Rods

[KenNorton]

Hi,

 

I recently purchased a new boat and recieved five coupons for Dobyns rods at 50% off. The coupons are good for both of the classifications of Champion series higher end rods - and this is what I intend to purchase. I have always been a bank fisherman and have never spent very much money on rods and reels in the past, but obviously this is going to change. Currently the only "nice" rod that I have is a Mojo Bass spinning reel. If you were going to pick out five Champion series rods as a "starter set" what would you go with? I would like to fish all techniques so would like to cover as many bases as possible with the five rods.

 

 

Also, are all the rods in the champion series for baitcasters? Or do they have spinning rods too?

 

Thanks!

[Chris at Tech]

If I'm reading this correctly, you're saying you're looking to purchase a combination of Champion and Champion Extremes.  If that's the case, here's what I'd suggest:

 

1. Extreme 702s for finesse-type stuff
2. Champion 704 for spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, chatterbaits, paddletails, topwaters
3. Champion 705CB for topwaters, crankbaits, jerkbaits and rattlebaits
4. Extreme 703c for senkos, flukes, t-rigs, spinnerbaits, small paddletails
5. Extreme 744c for jigs, worms, carolina rigs

[Angry John]

1 hour ago, Chris at Tech said:

If I'm reading this correctly, you're saying you're looking to purchase a combination of Champion and Champion Extremes.  If that's the case, here's what I'd suggest:

 

1. Extreme 702s for finesse-type stuff
2. Champion 704 for spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, chatterbaits, paddletails, topwaters
3. Champion 705CB for topwaters, crankbaits, jerkbaits and rattlebaits
4. Extreme 703c for senkos, flukes, t-rigs, spinnerbaits, small paddletails
5. Extreme 744c for jigs, worms, carolina rigs

Swap 3. To a 765c and done.  Like a long crank bait rod to bomb them out and cover a ton of water.

[Rusty Shackleford]

734

735

765glass

 

will cover 80%, find two others based on your preferences 

 

[fishnkamp]

Well both of you forgot to include one of the most versatile rod Gary makes. That would be a Champion XP DC 734C.

I would go with the following:

Champion XP DC 703SF spinning rod for all my finesse stuff.

Champion XP DC 734C This is Gary's most versatile rod he build ( in all his series)

Champion XP DC 735C  This would be my frog, heavy jig and carolina rod.

Champion XP DC 735 CB Glass These are available in a mislabelled rod for a discount. Go to the "store" menu then  select "mislabeled.

My last choice would be decided by the way I liked to fish, I would look at my fishing style. If I had bodies of water to fish that were covered with heavy vegetation or stumps I would add a rod like a dedicated flipping stick ( 765Flip), if not I would add another rod like a heavy crankbait rod. It would be a 765C or perhaps a 736CB glass.  Otherwise if I do not need a dedicated flipping stick ( the 735C will handle frogs and flipping good enough) I would consider another all purpose rod like the 734c or perhaps a 744C

 

[KenNorton]

Thanks so much for the valuable information! It will be fun picking them out. I didn't even know where to begin looking at the Dobyns website. 

[Chris at Tech]

15 hours ago, fishnkamp said:

Well both of you forgot to include one of the most versatile rod Gary makes. That would be a Champion XP DC 734C.

Nope, didn't forget at all

 

In my hands, I get more usage out of my 704 than my 734.  I feel the fact that the 704 is a bit shorter makes it more suitable for also being able to handle some tip-down techniques.

14 hours ago, KenNorton said:

Thanks so much for the valuable information! It will be fun picking them out. I didn't even know where to begin looking at the Dobyns website. 

Maybe you can share your location and the types of water you usually fish.  From there, this crowd can help point you in the right direction.

[Will1248]

DX 703SF 

 DX 703C

DC 705CBMF GLASS  

 DX 746C 

DX 742C S/H  

 

S 6'6" M action F tip with a 6.2:1 6-10lb(8 is best from much experience)

C 7' Medium Heavy action Fast tip 7.1:1-6.2:1 10-12lb

C 7' Medium Heavy action Moderate 5.4:1  10-12lb

C 7'4" Heavy action F or XF tip 7.1:1 or above

C 7' M action F tip with a 7.1:1 reel 

 

1.All purpose spinning and finesse

2. All purpose casting, worms, jigs, spinnerbaits

3. Crankbaits

4. Flipping and pitching, frog

5. Topwaters and weightless plastics

 

[KenNorton]

13 minutes ago, Chris at Tech said:

Nope, didn't forget at all

 

In my hands, I get more usage out of my 704 than my 734.  I feel the fact that the 704 is a bit shorter makes it more suitable for also being able to handle some tip-down techniques.

Maybe you can share your location and the types of water you usually fish.  From there, this crowd can help point you in the right direction.

 

Okay, cool.... I live in northern California and will be fishing 80% of the time on Oroville Lake or Bullards Bar (deep reservoirs). The other 20% of the time I will be going to Clear Lake, the Delta, and Lake Berryessa.

 

I can remember how blown away I was when I went from a cheap UglyStik to my MojoBass reel, so I'm really looking forward to this upgrade!

[Robert Riley]

Really depends what you want to throw. This is what I fish the most:

1. DX745 for jigs, C-rigs, swim jigs and frogs.

2. D735cb glass for Chatterbaits.

3. D704c for spinnerbaits and small paddletails (I have a savvy, but you'll want a champion).

4. D806cb for big crankbaits

5. D684cb for jerkbaits and squarebills. 

 

If you give us a few techniques you want to focus on, we can definitely narrow down your options.

[MDbassin]

On 3/18/2018 at 8:54 PM, fishnkamp said:

Well both of you forgot to include one of the most versatile rod Gary makes. That would be a Champion XP DC 734C.

I would go with the following:

Champion XP DC 703SF spinning rod for all my finesse stuff.

Champion XP DC 734C This is Gary's most versatile rod he build ( in all his series)

Champion XP DC 735C  This would be my frog, heavy jig and carolina rod.

Champion XP DC 735 CB Glass These are available in a mislabelled rod for a discount. Go to the "store" menu then  select "mislabeled.

My last choice would be decided by the way I liked to fish, I would look at my fishing style. If I had bodies of water to fish that were covered with heavy vegetation or stumps I would add a rod like a dedicated flipping stick ( 765Flip), if not I would add another rod like a heavy crankbait rod. It would be a 765C or perhaps a 736CB glass.  Otherwise if I do not need a dedicated flipping stick ( the 735C will handle frogs and flipping good enough) I would consider another all purpose rod like the 734c or perhaps a 744C

 

This.... although for me a like a shorter rod for topwater walk the dog style baits and jerkbaits. The 735c works good as a pitching rod or little bit shorter flipping stick. Those 735c's have plenty of backbone

[Blacktail 8541]

On 3/18/2018 at 5:54 PM, fishnkamp said:

Well both of you forgot to include one of the most versatile rod Gary makes. That would be a Champion XP DC 734C.

I would go with the following:

Champion XP DC 703SF spinning rod for all my finesse stuff.

Champion XP DC 734C This is Gary's most versatile rod he build ( in all his series)

Champion XP DC 735C  This would be my frog, heavy jig and carolina rod.

Champion XP DC 735 CB Glass These are available in a mislabelled rod for a discount. Go to the "store" menu then  select "mislabeled.

My last choice would be decided by the way I liked to fish, I would look at my fishing style. If I had bodies of water to fish that were covered with heavy vegetation or stumps I would add a rod like a dedicated flipping stick ( 765Flip), if not I would add another rod like a heavy crankbait rod. It would be a 765C or perhaps a 736CB glass.  Otherwise if I do not need a dedicated flipping stick ( the 735C will handle frogs and flipping good enough) I would consider another all purpose rod like the 734c or perhaps a 744C

 

 

10 hours ago, KenNorton said:

 

Okay, cool.... I live in northern California and will be fishing 80% of the time on Oroville Lake or Bullards Bar (deep reservoirs). The other 20% of the time I will be going to Clear Lake, the Delta, and Lake Berryessa.

 

I can remember how blown away I was when I went from a cheap UglyStik to my MojoBass reel, so I'm really looking forward to this upgrade!

I fish the same waters that you do Ken. The first 4 rods that fishnkamp suggested are a very versatile line up the would do you good on the waters you stated. However I would suggest the 736cb glass in place of the  5 power as you listed clear lake and the delta in your list.

I would add a DC705 cb or DC705 CB Glass as a 5th rod, the reason is that they are a very good rod for every thing from jerk baits to top water and spinner baits. Gary prefers the 704 for rip baits, but the two I have listed I feel are better for crossover applications. I have the DC705 cb glass and feel it is a perfect rod for the waters that we fish.

[bunz559]

I don't have a huge arsenal of rods but of what I have, I mostly have Champion XP and Extremes. I do also have a Fury and Sierra. This is the list I'd get with the coupon you received. SF stands for spinning, CB stands for crankbait which are casting, and C stands for casting, that's how Dobyn's distinguishes them. I have found that the HP feel a bit stouter and slightly lighter than the XP. They're both great rods. 

 

733c Champion XP (texas rigged baits, senkos, other soft plastics)

744c Extreme (finesse jigs and middle weight jigs, heavier bottom crawling baits)

735cb Champion XP (chatter baits, larger spinner baits, medium diving cranks)

705cb Champion XP (squarebill, lipless, jerbaits, smaller top water)

742sf of 702sf Extreme (drop shot, small finesse swim baits, weightless senkos)

 

Those are the rods I'd get and what I'd use them for. It really depends on what body of water you're fishing on. The lakes around me are mostly open water so I don't have too many heavy rods. If so, maybe you might want to consider a 745c or 746c. Also keep in mind of you prefer split handles or full handles, Dobyns distinguishes this by S/H and F/H.

 

[Columbia Craw]

Champion 733C XP

Champion 734C XP

Champion 705CB XP

Extreme 745C HP

Extreme 742SF HP

 

If someone sent me to any  random body of water, blindfolded and said I get five rods to cover everything, these are the models I would take.