Need recommendations for a senko rod

[ETX92]

I’m in the market for a new senko rod. I will mainly only throw senkos/flukes/very light Texas rigs on it. I will be fishing around lots of buck brush/trees/hay grass/hydrilla and plan to use fluorocarbon line with it. I recently have been throwing them on a 7’ MH H20 Ethos and I do not like it at all. I feel like I do not feel the bait and the rod is underpowered for a MH.

 

I have been looking at both the Dobyns 734 and 733 and the Powell Max 3D in he same power ratings. The 734 was recommended to me because I fish around quite a bit of cover but I’m not sure about throwing weightless baits on a rod classified as a heavy. I also have looked at some TFO rods and some Falcon rods in MH.

 

What rod would you recommend and do y’all have any other suggestions? I would prefer something without micro guides. 

[NYWayfarer]

I have the first generation Powell Max casting rod Med/Xtra fast action. It is one of my favorite rods. I throw weightless stickbaits and wacky rigs on it mainly and it performs great.

 

I have no experience with Dobyns rods.

[Boomstick]

Dobyns Sierra or Champion 703C for weightless, 704C with a little added weight.

[Yudo1]

When choosing a rod, you have to consider lure weight, line weight and cover. It sounds like you are throwing into some heavy cover. I often use senkos and fat ikas in pads and weeds and use a heavy powered rod. The dobyns 734 should work well.

[bhoff]

I personally use the Champion 703 for throwing senkos most of the time along with some lighter t-rigs and it seems to work well for me. I've never tried throwing a senko on my 734, but I feel like if you're throwing them weightless the tip might not load up enough, not 100% though. Mostly use the 734 for t-rigs and some jig fishing.

[tim_kovar]

The Dobyns 734 is labeled as heavy action, but it is very much a medium heavy rod in my opinion.  It might even have a softer tip than most medium heavy rods that I have used actually.  Dobyns is about one power lower than their rating from my experience.  I have had that rod in the past and it would be good for what you are going to use it for.   

 

I have a rod I would maybe let go that I like way better than the Dobyns 734.  It a Megabass Orochi XX Extreme Mission Type F.  It is a little stiffer tip than the 734, but I love it for senkos in cover.  Only reason I would let it go is because I have two of them. 

[OnthePotomac]

Traditionally, I believe Senkos are fished on spinning gear, but I have always used 7" MH BPS Carbonlites because of the heavy grass beds on the Potomac.  All I can say is it has worked for me the last several years and I do no lose fish, even when I haul them out with 5lbs of grass hanging on them, or it is a 10lb snakehead, LOL.  My go to line is 15lb Invizx. A fast reel.

[ETX92]

1 hour ago, tim_kovar said:

The Dobyns 734 is labeled as heavy action, but it is very much a medium heavy rod in my opinion.  It might even have a softer tip than most medium heavy rods that I have used actually.  Dobyns is about one power lower than their rating from my experience.  I have had that rod in the past and it would be good for what you are going to use it for.   

 

I have a rod I would maybe let go that I like way better than the Dobyns 734.  It a Megabass Orochi XX Extreme Mission Type F.  It is a little stiffer tip than the 734, but I love it for senkos in cover.  Only reason I would let it go is because I have two of them. 

That’s what I have read about the Dobyns. I want a MH rod so I’m thinking if I get a 734 that should work. I do not want a M action so I’m worried if I go with a 733 it would fall into that category. PM incoming about the rod you have.

[LionHeart]

If you want a medium heavy rod with some tip, get a heavy power dobyns.

[tim_kovar]

3 minutes ago, ETX92 said:

That’s what I have read about the Dobyns. I want a MH rod so I’m thinking if I get a 734 that should work. I do not want a M action so I’m worried if I go with a 733 it would fall into that category. PM incoming about the rod you have.

That 734 would be more of a true medium heavy to me, definitely not a heavy.  I have never had a 3 power dobyns but I would guess it to be more close to a medium compared to other manufacturers.

[scbassin]

I too feel Dobyns rods fish a little lighter than most.

[grub_man]

The lures you are fishing on that that rod are not 'feel' type lures.  Unless you are snapping the rod to move them quickly, you won't feel them much.  When fishing weightless plastics, you have to watch the line, and even then it's surprising how often you feel the take when you don't feel the lure.  Light T-rigs, you should be able to feel, unless you are fishing them in deep water.

 

I would be looking for something with a lure rating of 1/4-3/4oz and line rating of 10-17lb with a fast action at the light end of things, and most likely settling on something with a lure rating of 1/4-1oz and line rating of 10 or 12-20 with a fast action.  Basically a pretty typical worm/jig type rod.  The cover you are fishing dictates the need for that type of rod.  Senko's are heavy and are no issue to cast on that type of rod, as are super flukes.  The smaller original fluke will be a challenge on that type of a rod, but what I typically do with them on that type of rod is to fish them as a double fluke rig.  Tie the first one on with a palomar knot and leave a tag end of about 12" or so, and tie on the back one about 6"-10" behind.  Sometimes I'll put a super fluke at the back and other times I'll fish both the same size.  The double fluke rig gets them down a little faster and keeps them down a bit better. When a fish is aggressive and bites when they land, I usually get it on the first fluke.  When they are more passive, I'll get them with the back fluke.

 

As far as any of the particular rods in question, I can't really comment on them since I haven't handled or fished them.  Something like the ALX Ikos Buzz or Promise would not disappoint in this capacity.

[CroakHunter]

I would suggest the 734 or 7'4 heavy falcon Bucoo sr

[Ariffy]

Can't go wrong with an Abu Garcia Veritas