Help me choose a rod brand

[amoss]

The college I fish for is sponsored by Dobyns and Lews. I am interested in the XP in the dobyns but have heard mixed reviews. I am also looking at St.Criox, shimano, and Diawa. Anything else I should look at, how good are the Dobyns?

[Stephen B]

Brands I would recommend: Shimano, G Loomis, St Croix, Megabass, ALX, Phenix, Daiwa, Miller Rods. I know some people like them but Dobyns is one of my least favorite as I don't find the rods sensitive at all. I have fished the Champion, Xtasy, Champion Extreme, etc and not impressed. The tapers are quite nice for moving bait rods though. Bottom contact I would look elsewhere. 

 

 

[Randy Price]

I'm a St. Croix fanboy but just recently purchased a Dobyn's at Scheel's to try out.  It is just a Fury 703C for one of my less expensive baitcasters.

[Tizi]

I really like Daiwa Tatula line of rods, great rods for the price. They are well balanced, sensitive, and very good quality. I prefer cork handles.

[lunkerboss923]

Dobyns for crankbait (705cb)

Dobyns for single hook moving baits (734c)

Dobyns for soft plastics (703c)

St. Croix for topwater/jerkbait ( 6'8" MXF) 

St. Croix for finesse (spinning) 

Diawa Tatula Frog Rod (7'4" HF)

[Dens228]

I loved my St Croix's until I bought a MegaBass.  Now most of my arsenal is MegaBass.

That being said, some people love Ford, some love Chevy..........so you're ultimately going to have to make this decision yourself. 

[NYWayfarer]

7 hours ago, amoss said:

The college I fish for is sponsored by Dobyns and Lews. I am interested in the XP in the dobyns but have heard mixed reviews. I am also looking at St.Criox, shimano, and Diawa. Anything else I should look at, how good are the Dobyns?

Nice sponsorships. If you go the Lew’s route I recommend the TP1 Black Speed Stick. 
 

Give St Croix a look as well.

[swhit140]

I've been happy with the two Dobyns that I own. I have a Fury 705CB & Champion XP 703C. I also have been happy with my Falcon Expert rods also. Falcon warranty/cost is amazing, sent my broken rod for warranty/along with $20 and received my new rod no questions asked within 4 days. There are a lot of good rods out there to choose from.

[FishTank]

St. Croix and G. Loomis is where I would start.  Depending on your budget, the St. Croix Avid is probably the best value of the bunch from both manufactures. 

[kayaking_kev]

I bought 14 Dobyns in the last year from every series they make, but I would choose an Shimano Expride over the XP, or even better the Poison Adrena. My favorite Dobyns rods are the Fury 663c for jerkbaits, but it also a very versatile rod, and the Champion XP Glass 704cb for light crankbaits. 

[new2BC4bass]

4 hours ago, Tizi said:

I really like Daiwa Tatula line of rods, great rods for the price. They are well balanced, sensitive, and very good quality. I prefer cork handles.

Second this.  I have one each of the other brands the OP mentioned,  but 11 Daiwas...mostly OG Tatulas.

 

OP, you don't mention a budget.  Are you one of those burying yourself in debt to go to college or do you come from an affluent family and have no money worries?  Or somewhere in-between?

 

The Lew's TP-1 Black has been praised the times it has been mentioned here.  Don't think I've read a negative comment on the Aird X.  Congratulations if you can afford $350-$370 sticks.  If so, then the Poisen Adrena gets great reviews.

[shimanoangler]

I've fished them all, and I have landed with Dobyns Champion Extreme HP for my moving baits, Dobyns Xtasy for my heavier finesse baits, Shimano Exprides for Jerkbaits and Walking Top Water baits and Daiwa Steez for my finesse baits.    

[MidwestBassAttack]

I would suggest going Dobyns. I have a 734 and 735 in the XP and a 734 in the Micro Sierra series getting delivered today. Sensitivity is pretty subjective and varies from person to person. I find the Dobyns ranges PLENTY sensitive. Great looks, quality components, and customer service that is simply amazing. You can’t go wrong. I’ve tried an Expride once and didn’t find much difference at all to be honest....but that’s just me.

[amoss]

appreciate the replies guys

trying to spend around 200 a rod btw

[MidwestBassAttack]

50 minutes ago, amoss said:

appreciate the replies guys

trying to spend around 200 a rod btw

Dobyns would be right up your alley then.  You can buy direct or look at various online, authorized dealers for some great pricing that fits your budget. 

[Chet C]

17 hours ago, Stephen B said:

Brands I would recommend: Shimano, G Loomis, St Croix, Megabass, ALX, Phenix, Daiwa, Miller Rods. I know some people like them but Dobyns is one of my least favorite as I don't find the rods sensitive at all. I have fished the Champion, Xtasy, Champion Extreme, etc and not impressed. The tapers are quite nice for moving bait rods though. Bottom contact I would look elsewhere. 

 

 

HI Keeper

i thought it might have been me, but of all the rods i bought in the last year, the Dobyns is the the poorest when it comes to sensativity

[gim]

St Croix has a really nice warranty policy on most of their rods.  They will replace it within the designated time frame, no questions asked, most of the time.  I had a premier broke almost in half by the tail gate and it was about a decade past its 5 year warranty but they replaced it with a new one for a minimal cost and shipping which only came to about $45.  Its about a $150 rod brand new MSRP.

[GReb]

Unfortunately there’s no way to know what you will like or not until you fish with the rod. Either borrow one from a teammate/friend or just bite the bullet and buy a couple. You can always sell a rod if you don’t like it. 
 

Facebook buy and sell pages are your friend. Just be careful of scammers but they are pretty obvious. 
 

For the record I’ve bought and sold many rods and reels. After years of trial and error I’ve settled on mainly Falcon rods. I do have several Dobyns, Shimano, and Kistler sprinkled in. Every rod line seems to have one or two that really shines. Don’t limit yourself by just one brand. 

[Stephen B]

8 hours ago, MidwestBassAttack said:

I would suggest going Dobyns. I have a 734 and 735 in the XP and a 734 in the Micro Sierra series getting delivered today. Sensitivity is pretty subjective and varies from person to person. I find the Dobyns ranges PLENTY sensitive. Great looks, quality components, and customer service that is simply amazing. You can’t go wrong. I’ve tried an Expride once and didn’t find much difference at all to be honest....but that’s just me.

Big difference between the Exprides and Champion. 

[Columbia Craw]

You couldn't ask for two better sponsors. Talk to your team mates.

[DaubsNU1]

Amazing how fishing has changed / progressed over the year. When I started back in the early 1990's we had BP and Cabela's...no internet goodness. 

 

I still have a two Cabela's C44x rods that I purchased in 1992 and 1994...for $95 and $110 respectively. It was either Cabela's brand or Loomis back then. 

 

My advice, buy-once-cry-once...get the very best rods you can afford...you will likely have them for many, many years to come! 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

The owner of my local tackle shop is always pushing dobyns.  He said the fury would blow my SC mojo away.  I picked it and as soon as I felt how heavy it was I put it down.  I picked up a champion and still felt heavy.  I used a buddys sierra one day, had nice action good for JBs but the exposed threads on spinning gear drove me nuts.  For $200 the zodias is hard to beat IMO.  Some people look at me like im crazy when I say this but the 13 Omen black is a good budget option if you want to upgrade to Expride.  

Edited September 11, 2020 by Rusty_Shackleford
accidental posted early

[Teal]

Go with whatever u can get free or discounted and then save money and do research and buy what u think is best.  I dont think u can go wrong with Dobyns rods and lews reels for a good start.  Daiwa, shimano, loomis, dobyns, powell, are good places to start.   

[Kdizzle]

I've been buying Fenwick and St. Croix rods almost exclusively for the past couple years(except for one ARK rod that was on sale for 70 bucks but that was marked down from 140, of course it just sits in my rod rack now) and I love both brands.  Fenwick makes rods that feel like they should be double the price and St. Croix is just St. Croix, they make great rods.

[dodgeguy]

On 9/11/2020 at 8:08 AM, amoss said:

appreciate the replies guys

trying to spend around 200 a rod btw

Bass Pro Shops Patriot Rods.