Dobyns Fury or Fenwick HMG (spinning)

[BigAngus752]

I picked up a Lady President for my wife during Pflueger's ridiculous sale.  I want her to have a nice, sensitive rod to go with it.  I need help deciding between a Dobyns Fury or Fenwick HMG (both in medium).  She already fishes with my finesse set-up so this will be a Texas-rig rod.  I'll tell you in advance I love Fenwick rods (and the warranty) so I'm leaning that way but I've never handled a Dobyns Fury and I hear great things about them.  Plus I can get one for about $100 right now which is the same price as the HMG.  If you have some experience with these rods please let me know what you think.  

 

 

[Jcj90]

Fury hands down 

[Djohn]

Love the Fenwick it's a great rod for the money

[Jig Man]

I only know about the HMG.  I have 7 of them.  Some of them date back to the mid 90s and keep on going.

[new2BC4bass]

As you can see.....a positive answer on which to get. 

 

I have no experience with the Fury.  I do have a couple HMG rods and like them a lot.  Also Aetos, Smallmouth and Elite Tech.    I've always felt I got good value for my money with Fenwick.  My only Dobyns is a Champion.  It is also a rod I like.  Yup.  A definitive answer from me, too. 

 

Dobyns are known to fish a bit lighter than rated....Fenwick often a bit higher than rated.  Dobyns are also known to balance well....at least for the casting models.  Hopefully you (or the better half) can get to handle each before buying.  I don't have a Smallmouth spinning rod, but an Online friend told me the handle is one of the best for comfort.  Don't know if that carries over to the HMG.  The HMG casting models feel good to me.

[ike8120]

I would say the Dobyn's Fury 702 or 703 SF

[BigAngus752]

1 hour ago, new2BC4bass said:

As you can see.....a positive answer on which to get.

Yup.  Just as I figured.  Oh well, at least it's a win-win!  I've got an HMX and an Elite Tech and I love them both so I'm leaning Fenwick.  Wish I could handle a Dobyns but there's no place close.  

[fishballer06]

My vote goes to the Fury. 

 

My father and I purchased 5 HMG's about four or five years ago and only 1 is still in service. I do think it's a decent blank, and I like the hybrid cork they use, and the reel seats seem great. However, 4 of those 5 rods have bent/broken guides on them in the middle of the blank (some of them multiple guides are broken). The foot of the guides they use on these rods are very weak and are not durable by any means. Maybe Fenwick has switched guide manufactuers since that time, but I know for a fact that the Dobyns does not have this issue. 

[new2BC4bass]

33 minutes ago, fishballer06 said:

My vote goes to the Fury. 

 

My father and I purchased 5 HMG's about four or five years ago and only 1 is still in service. I do think it's a decent blank, and I like the hybrid cork they use, and the reel seats seem great. However, 4 of those 5 rods have bent/broken guides on them in the middle of the blank (some of them multiple guides are broken). The foot of the guides they use on these rods are very weak and are not durable by any means. Maybe Fenwick has switched guide manufactuers since that time, but I know for a fact that the Dobyns does not have this issue. 

I'll have to keep an eye on mine.  I am a bit anal about treating my gear.  Also thanks to my rod to days fishing ratio I don't normally use any one rod a lot since I try to rotate my combos.  However, that is gradually slowing down as I've been upgrading my gear and would rather use a more expensive combo to justify spending the money on it.  And as I come to prefer some rods over the rest.

[BigAngus752]

@fishballer06 @new2BC4bass Well, we have a winner.  Turns out our local F&S just started carrying the Dobyns Fury so we were able to go let her handle a Fury and HMG side by side.  I was shocked but the Fury wins hands down.  The comfort/quality of the handle/reel seat plus (just testing in the store) what seems to be a slight edge in sensitivity made the Dobyns the winner.  I'm kind of disappointed in the HMG.  It didn't really seem too much above their lower quality rods.  Only improvement I could see was the guides.  And my Elite Tech just blows the HMG out of the water.  With these results I'm going to buy her a Fury unless I can find an Elite Tech on a big sale somewhere.  Thanks to all for the help.  I still love Fenwick but I can see that Dobyns is building a fine rod  too.  

[bayvalle]

On 2/21/2019 at 10:33 PM, BigAngus752 said:

I picked up a Lady President for my wife during Pflueger's ridiculous sale.  I want her to have a nice, sensitive rod to go with it.  I need help deciding between a Dobyns Fury or Fenwick HMG (both in medium).  She already fishes with my finesse set-up so this will be a Texas-rig rod.  I'll tell you in advance I love Fenwick rods (and the warranty) so I'm leaning that way but I've never handled a Dobyns Fury and I hear great things about them.  Plus I can get one for about $100 right now which is the same price as the HMG.  If you have some experience with these rods please let me know what you think.  

 

 

Where are you finding a fury for $100?

[ww2farmer]

I switched to Fury's from Fenwicks (and other Pure Fishing and Daiwa offerings) last year. I won't be going back. Read into that what you will.

[BigAngus752]

14 hours ago, bayvalle said:

Where are you finding a fury for $100?

I’m working a 15hr shift right now but I’ll PM you right after I grab one...