Dropping Dobyns, need suggestions

[USMC22]

I have been with them a long time but it’s time to move on. I need some suggestions comparable to the Champion XP line.

[Maxximus Redneckus]

Berkley lightning rod..

[Scott F]

13 minutes ago, USMC22 said:

I have been with them a long time but it’s time to move on. I need some suggestions comparable to the Champion XP line.

St. Croix Avid or Avid X.

[Joshua van Wyk]

Megabass Levante 

[jbrew73]

What did you like/dislike about them? Maybe knowing that you can get suggestions that move you it a better direction.  

[Chris at Tech]

Kistler KLX and H3

[Fishin' Fool]

G Loomis rods IMX  rods or GLX if you can swing it.

[new2BC4bass]

You are talking rods out of my budget.  Rods in that price range I'd like to try...in no particular order: Poison Adrena, Expride, Orochi XX, Helium 3, Witch Doctor, IMX Pro and Fenwick World Class.

 

At a lower price and still a bit much for me: KLX, iRod Air, Hammer JAK, Cara T7, Techna PX,  Levante and ALX Expert.  Like my Zolos (on sale or I wouldn't have any ).  Also the Villain 2.0 is getting some good reviews.  Picked up the 6'10" ML casting rod (on sale naturally), but only out once with it so far.

 

I'm sure there are others.  That is a nice price range to be in.  Good luck finding the line you'd like to try.

[WRB]

Let us know how dropping Dobyns works out for you.

If you have taken care of your rods they will have good resale value.

Tom

[newyorktoiowa57]

2 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

You are talking rods out of my budget.  Rods in that price range I'd like to try...in no particular order: Poison Adrena, Expride, Orochi XX, Helium 3, Witch Doctor, IMX Pro and Fenwick World Class.

 

At a lower price and still a bit much for me: KLX, iRod Air, Hammer JAK, Cara T7, Techna PX,  Levante and ALX Expert.  Like my Zolos (on sale or I wouldn't have any ).  Also the Villain 2.0 is getting some good reviews.  Picked up the 6'10" ML casting rod (on sale naturally), but only out once with it so far.

 

I'm sure there are others.  That is a nice price range to be in.  Good luck finding the line you'd like to try.

I really like the Exprides, and the poison adrena is only going to be better.  I also have a H3, Zolo, Champion, and levante.  While the kistler is lighter, the Exprides are better balanced and more sensitive.  The Zolo is a nice feeling rod, but not sensitive compared the the H3 or Expride, and I don't like the exposed threads.  The Levante is sensitive for the price, and it looks sweet too.  

If I had to rank them:

 

Expride

Levante/H3

Zolo

Champion

 

Ultimately the balance on the H3 is a big negative for me. 

[Matt_3479]

I’d recommend the shimano expride for sure. Excellent series of rods. 

[WRB]

My idiosyncrasy about baitcasting rods without a fore grip reek seat locking ring eliminates off the self Dobyns rods for me with the exception of their swimbait rods. I can't say enough positive things about Gary's customer servive but Dobyns isn't into custom rod builds.

I had ALX biuld my custom rods with a short fore grip locking ring, no threads, perfect balance with NG+ blanks to equal NRX rods at that time.

Looking at Shimano Exprite in the DX price point looks good but haven't fished them.

Megabass rods that I have fished have slower action/power then I prefer.

Customer service is important when needed.

Tom

[NorthernBasser]

1 hour ago, newyorktoiowa57 said:

While the kistler is lighter, the Exprides are better balanced and more sensitive. 

I have an Expride as well as a Kistler Helium 3, and I actually find the Helium more sensitive. I feel every little tick with that thing. Now, the Exprides are great as well, obviously. 

 

 

[WRB]

The Kistler H3's are on sale at TW at the moment, new models are probably on the way.

Tom

[Basseditor]

What I like about Kistlers is the variety of models and actions. For reaction baits, I like the many options in Argon or KLX. For pitching, I’m using ZBones. Many anglers like rods with faster tips, but I mostly use more moderate tapers.

 

The Helium series is a big seller for Kistler. Most of my Kistlers are ZBones because I like the action, but that’s me. Once I find a model I like I get 2–3 rods of each.

 

I have several Zbone 5H (heavy) in 7’10” (3 each), 7’6” (3 each), and 7’3” (2 each). I’ll be adding another 7-3 soon. They’re paired with some super tuned reels so I get good performance. These rods/reels are great with 20 and 25 pound flouro. I lose fewer fish, if any, with moderate actions.

 

Sign up for email updates on Kistler’s website to get sale notices. They’ve been running sales on various models this month so if there is a rod you like, it may go on sale.

 

 

[Matt_3479]

7 hours ago, NorthernBasser said:

I have an Expride as well as a Kistler Helium 3, and I actually find the Helium more sensitive. I feel every little tick with that thing. Now, the Exprides are great as well, obviously. 

 

 

It’s funny you say that, I couldn’t tell you which is more sensitive between my expride and my helium. There both just great rods. I find the expride better balanced and my comfortable in the hand and is probably why I favour it. Both are fantastic rods though!! 

[DogBone_384]

Another vote for Kistler.

[newyorktoiowa57]

12 hours ago, NorthernBasser said:

I have an Expride as well as a Kistler Helium 3, and I actually find the Helium more sensitive. I feel every little tick with that thing. Now, the Exprides are great as well, obviously. 

 

 

Fair enough.  It may be that the better balance of the Expride sways me towards the characteristics of that rod as a whole.  Which Helium/Exprides do you have?  I have the Expride 72MH, 72MH glass, and the H3 73LMH.