Rod Recommendation

[BeardedBassCaster]

Hey guys, looking to make an upgrade in my lineup and wanted to hear some recommendations. I'm looking for a new all purpose work horse (mostly light jigging, Texas rigs, swim jigs, worming). Budget is sub $200 and I'd like to stay at or under 7'3". I'm envisioning a MH/F but open to discussion.

 

Some rods I'm considering: Diawa Tatula, Shimano Zodius, Dobyns Fury, G. Loomis E6X, St. Croix Bass-X. Looking for a MH/F with a really good parabolic. Anyone with experience with any of these, some insight would be greatly appreciated. 

 

The rest of the rod lineup in below. Thanks! Ready...GO! ?

 

- St. Croix Mojo 7'1" M/F (Finesse, Ned, Dropshot)

- Dobyns Fury 7'0" MH/MF (Reaction, Jerk, Lipless, Shallow Crank, Squarebill)

- ???

- Okuma TCS 7'3" H/F (Heavy Jig, Flipping, Frog, Small Swimbait) 

- Lew's TP-1 7'3" MH/M (Deep Crank)

 

 

 

[5by3]

Of the rods you’ve listed, I’ve only fished the Dobyns fury and Loomis e6x. 
 

The fury is a solid rod for the price and balances well. Sensitivity is about what you’d expect for a $130 rod. Imo, the 734 is Dobyns most versatile rod and will handle pretty much any technique you throw at it.
 

I’ll say that after owning a few e6xs, I would not pay full price for another one. They aren’t a bad rod, but I feel there are better rods in their price range. 
 

Also take a look at the ALX IKOS line - the promise 7’3 is a workhorse of a rod that can handle all of the techniques you’ve listed. Hammer rods and Cashion rods also get good reviews in the $150-175 price range. The ALX and the hammer will be more on the slower side of fast, but definitely not parabolic like a crankbait rod. All 3 of these are built in the U.S. 

[FryDog62]

Zodias, iRod Stone Cold, ALX, Dobyns Sierra.  No to St. Croix - line up in MH is tip heavy, poorly balanced IMO.  

[kayaking_kev]

Sierra 734c

[BeardedBassCaster]

I'm really liking the ALX IKOS 7'3" MH Promise and the Dobyns Sierra 734c. Both seem like they'd fit nicely in the lineup. They are fairly similarly priced, I'm wondering which would have the edge in sensitivity. 

[5by3]

They would probably be pretty close in sensitivity. Better build quality would go to the Ikos

[Boomstick]

I would say a rod like the Dobyns Sierra 704C or 734C would be great choice (I don't have much experience with the Fury but will assume it should have similar power and action). It has a solid tip on it and can fish up to 1/2oz jigs. I just got a Daiwa Tatula 7'1' MH/XF rod on Black Friday, and while I haven't got to use it it feels very similar overall.

The Shimano Zodias MH/F is worth a look if you want a rod that's a little better for jigs than t-rigs.

[BeardedBassCaster]

20 hours ago, Boomstick said:

 

The Shimano Zodias MH/F is worth a look if you want a rod that's a little better for jigs than t-rigs.

Thanks for the input, what characteristics make a ride better at one over the other?

[Boomstick]

8 hours ago, BeardedBassCaster said:

Thanks for the input, what characteristics make a ride better at one over the other?

Well in the case of the Zodias, those are maybe a little bit beefier and are geared towards using heavier line than the 704C or similar Tatula, so they will likely handle 20lb fluoro/mono a little better. But the 704C/Tatula are great with 12-17lb fluoro/mono - 12-15lbs typically for T-Rigs and 15-20lb typically for jigs although I like 17lb if I am running fluorocarbon for jigs. It's really preference and what you fish. I don't have a lot of lakes with really heavy weeds, so 20lb fluorocarbon is a little overkill for my needs - 17lb has adequate hook setting power and pulls them out of most of the weeds I fish and if not I use 65lb braid on my heavy rod.