Last minute advice before I place a rod order.

[kayaking_kev]

I'm about to purchase a Dobyns Champion XP 704cb Glass Rod tonight and just want to make sure I'm going the right route.

 

I have the 705cb Glass and it's great for lipless, chatters, medium cranks, but I'm wanting something better for lighter cranks around 1/4 oz.

 

My choices are between the 704cb graphite and the 704cb glass. I pretty much know what the differences are, but the biggest thing that makes me want the glass is that I'm wanting something a little better for river smallies that fight like crazy and are in shallow depths of 1-2 ft usually and they end up jumping a lot and trying to shake the lure. The past season I have fished with the Ugly Stik GX2 6'0 out of a kayak, and it has done a great job being that it is a Medium and has a flexible glass tip. Every time that I've tried with stiffer rods, I end up losing more fish and, even though I just bought 12 new rods in the last couple of month, I don't feel I replaced my Ugly Stik Gx2 for river smallie cranking. That's where I feel the need for the 704cb Glass. A few things to add though, I will be also fishing for largemouth with this rod, and my plan for the next year is to build my own kayak rods that are shorter in length with shorter handles. One for bottom fishing and one for cranking, with actions geared towards smallies.

 

There are a few reasons that do make me consider the graphite version though.

 

Gary Dobyns himself fishes the graphite versions.

I don't own a graphite cranking rod.

More sensitivity.

 

But, somehow the 704 glass is lighter than the 704 graphite, go figure.

 

Anyway, does it seem like I have the right idea about the 704 glass over the graphite for what I want it for?

 

 

[bwjay]

You might consider going to a 3-power instead, as it will flex more than a 4-power, so it should keep fish pinned. This would allow you to go to a graphite rod for better sensitivity, but it would have to be a ~ModFast action if you really want a lot of flex like a glass rod. A high power fast action rod is going to be stiff and unload easier than a slower rod or a rod with less power. There are so many rods out there that I can't tell you what's right for you, but if you're planning on throwing 1/4oz-3/8oz lipless and chatterbaits, a 3-power should get the job done, and keep fish buttoned up better than a stiffer/more powerful rod. At least, that's my thinking. I currently don't own any glass rods because I don't do enough cranking, and my LMH/MH Helium3s are soft enough that they've worked well for cranking and chatterbaits/spinnerbaits so far, so I haven't wanted to seek out a dedicated cranking rod. Hopefully this helps...

[Boomstick]

I can't provide any input on the specific rods, but I have read the 704CB glass is very good for those lighter cranks. I will say I own the Daiwa Tatula glass rods, both M and MH which are heavier and I have not had a problem with the extra weight. I had the first gen MH rod, which I sold to a friend and got the 2nd gen with the medium at a great price (for the same handles for matching feel) and the first gen had more tip and I will say that was actually a very sensitive rod! I could feel any bottom structure, just everything was slightly muted. The new ones aren't too far off but have more bend in the tip, which doesn't provide quite the same input.

 

I would say if you like the 705CB glass and don't have issues keeping fish pinned on larger crankbaits then go ahead and get the 704CB glass.