Rod and Reel for me based on the below

[MUSLENUTZ]

You guys helped me a lot when I bought my last rod. I have a Dobyns Champ xp 734 7’3 with a curado dc reel. The set up is just perfect for me except, for light tackle and areas  where I need a smaller rod. I use my sons ugly stick when he isn’t around. It’s 6’6 medium and is a great stick for a beginner. I’m looking to replace that essentially and carry something with my main stick, but I need a much more sensitive pole Than a ugly stick that’s better quality. I’m thinking a spinning reel and a rod for when I’m in woods and tight areas or spots where I can’t manage the bait caster and as well, I’ll spend $200-$400. I usually am throwing a Texas rig, a shaky head or a swimbait as well as anything else on the dobyns it is great, but perhaps something a bit less for finesse and when I’m in tight areas. Let me know your thoughts. 

[JediAmoeba]

Daiwa Tatula Elite ML Rod.

Daiwa Tatula LT 3000 CXH Reel.

 

This is the combo I have for finesse stuff and it's the first spinning setup I have ever liked.  Falls well within your budget.  

[RoLo]

 

Your concern sounds more like a 'rod length' issue than a brand loyalty issue.

In the main, I mindlessly gravitate to rods around 6 ft 9 in long (love'em to death).

With respect to brand, a Dobyns blank with a Shimano reel would keep me happy.

 

Roger

[Teal]

With that kinda budget you have alot of options.  What brands do you like?  If your looking for it to be a bank beating rod to and your concerned about length.  Are you thinking 6'6

[Cgolf]

Dobyns Sierra 692SF (medium light/fast) I bought and used last year. It hands down became my favorite spinning rod. Sensitivity was very good as was the balance. For me I use spinning reels in the 50$ range, and hope for a sale to get them even cheaper. 

 

The Dobyns Sierra 693SF (medium/fast) Might work if you want something a little heavier. I picked that one up this year but haven't fished it yet due to the pandemic keeping me off the lakes. 

 

Also don't sell that Ugly short. I still carry a 6'6" medium spin in my boat and it makes a great jerkbait and spy bait rod. I also leave it in the truck all year to river fish on my way into work.

[MUSLENUTZ]

21 minutes ago, Teal said:

With that kinda budget you have alot of options.  What brands do you like?  If your looking for it to be a bank beating rod to and your concerned about length.  Are you thinking 6'6

I wanna say before I bought the dobyns/curado I was leaning towards a 6’9 avid x and a stradic. It was super light the two together and just felt right. The only thing is when I used the st croix is I snapped the mojo bass and got an avid x. It was sweet problem for me was the micro guides. Tying my leader with the bait caster would snag unless the knot was perfect. I believe it was a 7 mhf. Do I drop to a medium for finesse? Also I wouldn’t run braid on a spinning so maybe the micro guides wouldn’t be an issue. I’m open, haven’t been on the forum or market in a year. 

28 minutes ago, cgolf said:

Dobyns Sierra 692SF (medium light/fast) I bought and used last year. It hands down became my favorite spinning rod. Sensitivity was very good as was the balance. For me I use spinning reels in the 50$ range, and hope for a sale to get them even cheaper. 

 

The Dobyns Sierra 693SF (medium/fast) Might work if you want something a little heavier. I picked that one up this year but haven't fished it yet due to the pandemic keeping me off the lakes. 

 

Also don't sell that Ugly short. I still carry a 6'6" medium spin in my boat and it makes a great jerkbait and spy bait rod. I also leave it in the truck all year to river fish on my way into work.

Hell yeah it’s a great stick. Not knocking it at all. I am around a lot of brush and weeds up in the northeast. I went with a tougher rod for that reason. The don’t s is a heavy I believe but feels much lighter. I’m thinking medium fast would be good, never used a medium light. 

39 minutes ago, RoLo said:

 

Your concern sounds more like a 'rod length' issue than a brand loyalty issue.

In the main, I mindlessly gravitate to rods around 6 ft 9 in long (love'em to death).

With respect to brand, a Dobyns blank with a Shimano reel would keep me happy.

 

Roger

I’m open to brand, wouldn’t mind spending less. Just a bad experience with $100 rod from St croix 

[Cgolf]

9 minutes ago, MUSLENUTZ said:

I wanna say before I bought the dobyns/curado I was leaning towards a 6’9 avid x and a stradic. It was super light the two together and just felt right. The only thing is when I used the st croix is I snapped the mojo bass and got an avid x. It was sweet problem for me was the micro guides. Tying my leader with the bait caster would snag unless the knot was perfect. I believe it was a 7 mhf. Do I drop to a medium for finesse? Also I wouldn’t run braid on a spinning so maybe the micro guides wouldn’t be an issue. I’m open, haven’t been on the forum or market in a year. 

Hell yeah it’s a great stick. Not knocking it at all. I am around a lot of brush and weeds up in the northeast. I went with a tougher rod for that reason. The don’t s is a heavy I believe but feels much lighter. I’m thinking medium fast would be good, never used a medium light. 

I’m open to brand, wouldn’t mind spending less. Just a bad experience with $100 rod from St croix 

Did the tip on the mojo break? When I got my Avid X and Mojo swimbait rod at the factory they warned me away from the lighter Mojo sticks because those were returned most often for tip break issues. 

[Teal]

If you like the stradic, go for it. I have 1.  Good reel.  Braid will be good to go on spinning outfit.  You should be fine with a medium.  If you go ML and are concerned that it's too light l, just use braid and that should help.  Either way you should be good.

 

My recommendations - daiwa tatula or tatula elite 7' ml ehler rod, dobyns champ 682 or 683, I havent fished a shimani zodias, but my friends love them.  Powell makes a good one, but moving forward, I'm just gonna buy the tatulas unless I find something better that I can get cheaper.  

[MUSLENUTZ]

29 minutes ago, cgolf said:

Did the tip on the mojo break? When I got my Avid X and Mojo swimbait rod at the factory they warned me away from the lighter Mojo sticks because those were returned most often for tip break issues. 

Broke like a twig, loved the rod but I may of broke two I believe before I decided it couldn’t handle my environment, my fish or my style. Any issues with the micro guides for you?

[PhishLI]

Daiwa Tatula LT 3000 CXH, Daiwa Tatula XT 6'6"MF. The reels's awesome. The rod's a good all arounder, reasonably light, and tough. I've abused mine slinging baits in tight wooded spots with branches all around me in areas around the bank. Pulled in a few 6ers. Happy with it.

 

[MUSLENUTZ]

30 minutes ago, Teal said:

If you like the stradic, go for it. I have 1.  Good reel.  Braid will be good to go on spinning outfit.  You should be fine with a medium.  If you go ML and are concerned that it's too light l, just use braid and that should help.  Either way you should be good.

 

My recommendations - daiwa tatula or tatula elite 7' ml ehler rod, dobyns champ 682 or 683, I havent fished a shimani zodias, but my friends love them.  Powell makes a good one, but moving forward, I'm just gonna buy the tatulas unless I find something better that I can get cheaper.  

I’ve only heard of great stuff about the dawai reels, I need to research more about them and the lighter dobyns. The dobyns I have is a work horse. When I posted on here everyone told me it’s a Heavy but acts more like a MH and it does to an extent. Are their other rods similar like that Where you need to go heavier? I’ve fished it hard for a year     With this set up, even using it for stripers. I actually feel less challenged reeling one in compared to the lighter ugly stick lol it’s just a battle ax. The curator is great, just feel the 11lb drag could be beefed up. 

[Cgolf]

11 minutes ago, MUSLENUTZ said:

Broke like a twig, loved the rod but I may of broke two I believe before I decided it couldn’t handle my environment, my fish or my style. Any issues with the micro guides for you?

No I love it. I use straight braid on it for cranks, casting rod, so don't have to worry about the leader knot being an issue with the guides. I got it as a blemish rod new for 100 bucks, mojo swimbait was 64 bucks. Only thing I am not nuts about is the fast tip. I have a st croix moderate MH premier casting rod that I love. Hoping my Dobyns 684cb Champ XP M moderate performs just as well.

 

I personally prefer moderate action rods, just hard to find them in the mid to premium rods. If I could get 6 foot rods too that would be even better, but it looks like that ship has sailed.