Rod for 3/8 Texas rigs and 3/8 buzz baits?

[TNReb]

I hate asking such generic questions... but I'm really stuck.

 

My dad has always fished spinning rods.  He has never used a bait caster.  He fishes farm ponds 99% of the time.  

 

Well, he decided he wanted a casting rod.  I'm going to get him one for Christmas.

 

I'm torn on what to get him.  He will only fish a few things with it -- t-rigged plastics (max 3/8), 1/4 and 3/8 buzzbaits, maybe a small whopper plopper.  

 

I bought him a Tatula Elite Signature Series Brent Ehrler Mutli-Purpose rod, but I tried it out myself and it's too stiff for what he's going to want.  So I kept it!

 

Any suggestions for rods that could fill those duties around $200?  I don't really mind spending more, but I can't really justify it because I don't think he'd care.  I've never seen him throw anything but a Shakespeare rod for as long as I can remember!

 

I prefer to stay right at 7' since he fishes from a small pond boat a lot.  Anything bigger could be too much.  

 

Right now I'm leaning towards the Dobyns Champion XP 703.  I have some Champion XP rods myself, but have never fished the 703.

[Catt]

Kistler Argon AR703LMH ?

[scbassin]

I have the Champion xp DC 703 C  it's a M/H  & will work for what you want.

[new2BC4bass]

On 11/14/2020 at 7:07 AM, Catt said:

Kistler Argon AR703LMH ?

And it is a whopping $10.05 off right now. 

 

You don't see much on this series.  I have seen it mentioned here a couple times.  Posters thought highly of the rod.  Would love to try one, but have reached a point...both financially and in number of rods...that I can't justify buying more.  Even to myself. 

[Catt]

2 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

And it is a whopping $10.05 off right now. 

 

 

That $10 in my pocket ?

 

Extremely light rod with plenty power & backbone.

[FishTank]

A little over your budget but, and I have probably over recommend this rod, the St. Croix Avid 7' MH Fast.  It will do just about anything. 

[TNBankFishing]

Shimano Zodias in 7’ 2” medium or MH.
 

A Dobyns Champ on sale could be a good choice as well. 
 

For pond fishing I would go lighter than heavier to give him more options. If I’m pond fishing with a casting rig I use a Megabass Otomat because it covers so many applications between 1/4 and 3/4 oz baits. I’m also partial to the medium action.  

[swhit140]

I have some of the Champ XP 703 & 734 models and I really like them. I think you can almost do everything with those two rod models. I've tried a couple of the Kistler KLX rods, they are alright but not worth the money in my opinion.  They have a large blank and don't have the nice balanced feel as a Dobyns rod. 

[WRB]

3/8 oz buzz bait may weigh the same as a T-rigged worm but is night & day different casting do to aerodynamics.

Moat spinning casters tend to snap cast and can’t do that within casting rod/reel.

What reel do you plan use? What line type?

Dobyns 704C is ideal for the T-rigs and 703C will cast the buzzer easier. If using braid the 703C works for both.

Tom
 

[NoShoes]

I have dobyns fury 703 and 704. For lighter plastics and 1/4 oz weight (roughly half ounce AUW) I love my 703. Sensitive and can cast that weight a mile.  I use mainly trick worms and ol monsters. 

 

It does get over powered in a hurry with much heavier though, a rage bug was about as big as I was comfortable with. Rodents while doable was a bit much. That’s when the 704 would come in. 

[DogBone_384]

On 11/14/2020 at 7:07 AM, Catt said:

Kistler Argon AR703LMH ?

This.

 

I prefer KLX's myself, but of the dozen or so Kistlers I own, there's not one I can complain about.

 

Check Kistler’s site. Their sale might still be active.

[MickD]

I won't confuse with more rod comments, think it's pretty well handled.  But on the reel, the Daiwa Fuego and Tatula SX 103's that I've experienced are great reels, especially for a newbie.  I started my granddaughter (17 current age) on a Fuego two years ago and she had no trouble catching on.

 

If going braid, go up to about 40 pound test, and go with a premium like Suffix Prem Braid.  I know it is good, but I also know that some of the cheapies I've bought don't cast as well.  The absolute best line for learning would be about a 15 pound test limp mono.  NOT FC!  You might get a bunch of recommendations for premium FC's, but trust me, your dad will get backlashes and FC's are very susceptible to breaking when clearing backlashes.  He could ruin a pretty expensive line in the first few minutes.

53 minutes ago, DogBone_384 said:

Grampa Casey is a pretty smart guy

.

 

[Boomstick]

With experience with the Sierra 703C and I've handled some Fury 703Cs as well, I'm confident the Champion XP 703C would be a very solid choice for those all of those lures.

 

Also start with 15lb Berkley Big Game. It's cheap and fat enough you can generally pick out a backlash and if he backlashes it enough he starts to mess up the line well it's cheap and easy to replace. He can move to braid or fluorocarbon from there.

[GReb]

Falcon Expert Head Turner. Light, sensitive, and one of the best all around blanks I’ve ever used. I own 3 Head Turners and if someone gave me 3 more I’d keep them all

[DogBone_384]

4 hours ago, MickD said:

Grampa Casey is a pretty smart guy

 

Yes he was...

[DogBone_384]

On 11/15/2020 at 10:42 AM, Catt said:

That $10 in my pocket ?

 

Don't kid yourself... that's $10 towards other fishing gear!

[txchaser]

Tatula Elite  7'2" Howell. It has Daiwa's "regular" tip, which is pretty soft vs a fast or XF. 

For the way I like them, it is perfect for moving single hook baits. It'll cast and fish all the other stuff just fine too, and is pretty forgiving with that tip. 

 

Kistler's FNR "all purpose" is a similar action, with a bit higher quality, but it is another $100 over the TAEL.