Better rod w/ similar action to Sierra line

[Functional]

I've had my Dobyns Sierra micro 704c dedicated as spinnerbait and vibrating jigs for the past 1-2 years now but after rigging up my Kage 73MHF I've realized how much sensitivity i've been missing out on. Both run the same lb test mono and I plan to do the same with a new rod. While I dont need to feel EVERYTHING I can definitely notice the blade vibration feels a lot more muted on the sierra. Before someone says "just use the Kage", I feel I need something a big slower action. While I caught fish with spinners/chatters on the Kage my hookup ratio was definitely lower than the sierra. Could be me reacting faster with more sensitivity but I honestly feel a proper fast doesnt let the bait get inhaled as good as whatever Sierra's Fast is. 

 

My question is what rod series/brand/etc. have a similarly slower action for their rating like the Sierra line and is more sensitive than the Sierra. Looking to keep this under $175 but would stretch to $200 if the performance is noticeably different. No brand loyalty as long as it works like I'm looking for. 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I’ve never bought into the theory of slower action to give them time to eat it. If you’ve ever bed fished and seen the speed with which they grab swim and spit out a bait, it’s hard to imagine being faster than that. Imo if you’re getting short strikes and misses you’re better off adjusting retrieval, trailer, color etc. 

[JediAmoeba]

That's kind of the whole point to slower action - it's more muted. 

Everyone has a preference for spinnerbaits and action - I subscribe to the school of a fast action rod and a drag adjusted accordingly.

[Functional]

1 hour ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

 Imo if you’re getting short strikes and misses you’re better off adjusting retrieval, trailer, color etc. 

 

I feel kinda dumb but I did have a different trailer on than typical now that I'm thinking about it. Didnt fish the sierra yesterday because I wanted to really see how the Kage handled spinners/chatters and had to use a different trailer because I ran out of my typical. 

 

I'll give that a shot this weekend and see how she goes. 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

4 minutes ago, Functional said:

 

I feel kinda dumb but I did have a different trailer on than typical now that I'm thinking about it. Didnt fish the sierra yesterday because I wanted to really see how the Kage handled spinners/chatters and had to use a different trailer because I ran out of my typical. 

 

I'll give that a shot this weekend and see how she goes. 

Nothing dumb about it. These talks are why the forum exists and imo the best run, best community and best “resource” on the web regardless of genre. 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

Just about every bite can completely different, so it makes it really hard to say what exactly is going on at the end of the line without actually seeing it.  Even though I cant say for certain how the fish has eaten my chatterbait, Ive found that waiting a half a beat after feeling the hit, regardless of how solid it felt, is going to result in more fish hooked compared to swinging on them as soon as you feel the hit.  As long as you have some give in the equation, whether its mono line with stretch or a rod with a soft tip, maybe even both its going to work benefit you in the end. 

What has worked for me for 15 years may not work for you, no 2 people have the same hookset.  I used a stiff with rod with braid in the mid 2ks when the chatterbait was just blowing up.  I caught fish, but I dont have a super aggressive hookset.  I just found I would lose the bigger fish that had just slapped at it and been skin hooked because I would pull the hook.  I figured out that a slightly softer rod helped me work the bait more efficiently and helped me cover more water.   

 

[Derek1]

Try braid on the sierra. I used to use a fury 705 cb with braid for spinnerbaits. It was my favorite spinnerbait rod until I broke it. 

[BrianMDTX]

35 minutes ago, Derek1 said:

Try braid on the sierra. I used to use a fury 705 cb with braid for spinnerbaits. It was my favorite spinnerbait rod until I broke it. 

I have not used spinnerbaits or chatterbaits on my 705CB. Only squarebills, lipless cranks, etc.  Yet you aren’t the first that’s posted they’ve used it for spinnerbaits. I’m fishing this Thursday (cloudy, low 67° high 81° thank God!). I think I’m going to tie one on and see how it fishes. 

[dodgeguy]

Try braid or Sufix advance mono.. also use..a trailer hook

[NYBasser]

I have fished chatterbaits on fluoro on both the Sierra 734 and Champ 736 glass. I actually felt that the sierra had a little too much vibration and much prefer the deader feeling of the glass rod. I find that it keeps them pinned a lot better than a graphite rod. I hated the dead feeling of glass at first but you’ll get used to it.

[Fat Ika]

On 2/20/2023 at 8:42 AM, Functional said:

I've had my Dobyns Sierra micro 704c dedicated as spinnerbait and vibrating jigs for the past 1-2 years now but after rigging up my Kage 73MHF I've realized how much sensitivity i've been missing out on. Both run the same lb test mono and I plan to do the same with a new rod. While I dont need to feel EVERYTHING I can definitely notice the blade vibration feels a lot more muted on the sierra. Before someone says "just use the Kage", I feel I need something a big slower action. While I caught fish with spinners/chatters on the Kage my hookup ratio was definitely lower than the sierra. Could be me reacting faster with more sensitivity but I honestly feel a proper fast doesnt let the bait get inhaled as good as whatever Sierra's Fast is. 

 

My question is what rod series/brand/etc. have a similarly slower action for their rating like the Sierra line and is more sensitive than the Sierra. Looking to keep this under $175 but would stretch to $200 if the performance is noticeably different. No brand loyalty as long as it works like I'm looking for. 

If you want something slower, yet still value the vibration feeling, maybe try a slower graphite rod such as the Dobyns Kaden 735 mod fast. I personally use Champ 735 and 736 composites, but I have used the brother's Kaden 735 with bladed jigs. You might not feel as much as the Sierra, but it's slower. 

[WRB]

Do you have KD734C ? 

Ask Dobyns if a DC 733C would be a bit slower to load up.

Tom

[Functional]

On 2/20/2023 at 1:16 PM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

Nothing dumb about it. These talks are why the forum exists and imo the best run, best community and best “resource” on the web regardless of genre. 

To follow up on this, different day but I swapped the trailer from Chartreuse to white and caught everything under the sun. No short strikes and everything stayed pinned on the Kage. Thinking back my hint should have been all the tails being pulled off, typically my hint to switch color on my spinners. 

 

Also looked back into my notes and I'm using 12lb yozuri hybrid on the kage and 17lb trilene XL on the Sierra. Going to swap reels on my next outing and see what kind of sensitivity difference I get between the two. If no difference both will be mono, if the sierra wakes up I'll swap it to hybrid. 

[Peddiesake]

I fish all spinning gear and as such noticed a vast difference in hook up once I started using a moderate or moderate fast rod. I use a Lews TP 1 X moderate fast and only dropped one fish on moving baits last year. For 100 bucks I couldn’t beat it. Good luck.

[Functional]

16 minutes ago, Peddiesake said:

I fish all spinning gear and as such noticed a vast difference in hook up once I started using a moderate or moderate fast rod. I use a Lews TP 1 X moderate fast and only dropped one fish on moving baits last year. For 100 bucks I couldn’t beat it. Good luck.

Still may end up with another rod and will keep it in mind. Bought a new reel and now have a spare. Overall I feel the same though and I'd be curious how a mod fast works for me.