BFS Rod Dobyns, Phenix or Cashion

[Adamfraser]

I am looking for opinions/suggestions on some BFS rods.  Does anyone have experience with the above rods?  Which is the best?  Pro's vs Con's for each.  Basically I would like to buy 2 or 3 rods and would like to know which brand to go with?

[walleyecrazy]

I currently own the Cashion 7’ Light power, and so far I am very happy with it. It’s built pretty well, the carbon grips are nice, and it is very sensitive. I haven’t used the Dobyn’s myself, but from what I’ve heard from people that have used both the Cashion and Dobyn’s they are almost identical feeling rods. I also currently have a 7’1” Phenix Classic BFS on its way to me, so I hope to have an opinion on that one very soon, though I know that doesn’t help you much right now.
 

Also you may have seen them already, but Hobie wan kenobi has reviews of all three on his YouTube channel. 

[FishTank]

I have the Dobyn's Sierra Ultra Finesse 7' and really like it. The tip is fast but it softens up in the middle.  It makes it easier when fighting largemouth.  I have caught a ton of fish on this rod and tend to like it better than the two Megabass rods I have for BFS. My only complaint is that this rod is not made of best components.  The guides are so so and the cork looks old after just a year of use. These are minor things and wouldn't stop me from buying another one. 

[FryDog62]

I've had the Dobyns 740, Phenix Feather 7'1" Light and TFO Tactical and Expride BFS. For bass fishing, I found the Dobyns too light to pull through around any type of cover, and seemed under-powered to throw 1/5 oz Ned. The Expride and TFO were too powerful to be able to throw 3/32-1/8  oz Ned or 1/16th oz hair jig.  

 

In the middle of this bunch was the Phenix Feather - seems to work all round the best for me. 

 

There are others I would like to try (ALX Aura, Raison 67mmm) but I like the Phenix and also prefer a rod at least 7 feet long to get extra distance with lighter lures. 

[FishTank]

I liked the 700C so much, I was going to buy the longer 740C but in hand it felt different than the 700. It seemed softer and more whippy at the tip. Also, like you said, I am not sure it could pull a fish from cover. With the 700, I have used it for light jerkbaits, topwater and small BFS cranks without issue. 

[Adamfraser]

1 hour ago, walleyecrazy said:

I currently own the Cashion 7’ Light power, and so far I am very happy with it. It’s built pretty well, the carbon grips are nice, and it is very sensitive. I haven’t used the Dobyn’s myself, but from what I’ve heard from people that have used both the Cashion and Dobyn’s they are almost identical feeling rods. I also currently have a 7’1” Phenix Classic BFS on its way to me, so I hope to have an opinion on that one very soon, though I know that doesn’t help you much right now.
 

Also you may have seen them already, but Hobie wan kenobi has reviews of all three on his YouTube channel. 

Thanks, will watch his reviews tonight. 

 

I actually may throw him this questions in the comments and see if he replies.

[walleyecrazy]

He is great with responding to comments and questions. If you don’t get a response from him on YouTube I would try him on Instagram as well. He and I regularly have exchanges on Instagram discussing gear. 

[JediAmoeba]

I have the 7'4" Dobyns and it's great for hair jigs, drop shot and other small baits. 

[QED]

I have and really like the Phenix K2.  I also like the vintage Shimano graphite blank/aluminum grip shorter casting rods from way back for precision casting.  But the K2s are spendy and the old Shimano BC rods with aluminum grips will run around a kilobuck if you can even find one.

[ghost]

I have the newer Phenix Classic BFS in 6'8" casting rod. I did compare to a Dobyns Sierra Ultra Finesse in 6'9" Light. The Phenix was lighter and aesthetics were nicer to me than the Dobyns. 

 

It casts 1/16 to 1/4oz lures wonderfully. The Phenix is very sensitive, I can feel the vibrations from spoons, spinners and small cranks nicely.

 

I have it paired with a Kastking Kestrel Elite baitcast reel, and combo with is at 7oz.

[T-Billy]

I have and really like the phenix feather 7'1" L and ML rods for finesse stuff. Light and sensitive with great tapers.

[waymont]

I’ve had the Dobyns 700, Phenix 7’1” light and the Phenix 7’1” medium light, and the ML is my favorite of the bunch.

[Motoboss]

I use a Daiwa BassX MLF at 6’3” on my kayak which works well. Not either you’re asking about but very affordable.

 

[corey90]

im a huge fan of phenix rods but that might be that i can build my own from phenix blanks

[Darth-Baiter]

i have the phenix feather.  decent rod.  i havent fully embraced the BFS thing, but when i use it is fine.  

[Derek1]

I went through this same process over the winter. I ended up getting the dobyns 691. Because I have a couple other dobyns and liked them. It’s a light and fairly sensitive stick. I’ve mostly thrown 1/8th ounce spinnerbaits on it so far. It’s a blast and works great. 

[optimator]

On 4/28/2023 at 12:09 PM, FryDog62 said:

I've had the Dobyns 740, Phenix Feather 7'1" Light and TFO Tactical and Expride BFS. For bass fishing, I found the Dobyns too light to pull through around any type of cover, and seemed under-powered to throw 1/5 oz Ned. The Expride and TFO were too powerful to be able to throw 3/32-1/8  oz Ned or 1/16th oz hair jig.  

 

In the middle of this bunch was the Phenix Feather - seems to work all round the best for me. 

 

There are others I would like to try (ALX Aura, Raison 67mmm) but I like the Phenix and also prefer a rod at least 7 feet long to get extra distance with lighter lures. 

@FryDog62

 

 Which TFO rod did you have? I just ordered the MBR733 ML and I’m having a hard time deciding on the reel for it. It’s down to a Curado MGL or Curado BFS. 

[walleyecrazy]

On 4/28/2023 at 2:17 PM, walleyecrazy said:

I currently own the Cashion 7’ Light power, and so far I am very happy with it. It’s built pretty well, the carbon grips are nice, and it is very sensitive. I haven’t used the Dobyn’s myself, but from what I’ve heard from people that have used both the Cashion and Dobyn’s they are almost identical feeling rods. I also currently have a 7’1” Phenix Classic BFS on its way to me, so I hope to have an opinion on that one very soon, though I know that doesn’t help you much right now.
 

Also you may have seen them already, but Hobie wan kenobi has reviews of all three on his YouTube channel. 

I just wanted to update this now that I have received and gotten to fish with my new Phenix rod. I have to say that I think Phenix absolutely nailed this rod. The build quality is top notch, and the rod looks great. I would say that the sensitivity is on par with my Cashion BFS rod. I have been easily feeling strikes on semi slack line while fishing micro jigs on this rod.  To me this rod has an almost perfect action for an all around rod. It has a fast(solid) tip for working lures, but transitions very smoothly into a nice deep moderate bend when the rod is loaded while fighting fish. I haven’t weighed the rods, but in hand the Phenix feels lighter than the Cashion. Both rods are very nice and I am happy with both, but if I had to choose only one at this point I would choose the Phenix over the Cashion. I like the 7’1” version that I have that I 

actually thinking of ordering the 6’8” as well. 

[FryDog62]

6 hours ago, optimator said:

@FryDog62

 

 Which TFO rod did you have? I just ordered the MBR733 ML and I’m having a hard time deciding on the reel for it. It’s down to a Curado MGL or Curado BFS. 

I had the one below but returned it for the Phenix Feather. Liked the TFO but seemed a little too powerful for what I needed. I have the Phenix paired with a Curado BFS. 

[optimator]

9 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

I had the one below but returned it for the Phenix Feather. Liked the TFO but seemed a little too powerful for what I needed. I have the Phenix paired with a Curado BFS. 

Sounds like the MGL would be my best bet for this one then. Thanks.

[clemsondds]

On 5/14/2023 at 2:58 PM, walleyecrazy said:

I just wanted to update this now that I have received and gotten to fish with my new Phenix rod. I have to say that I think Phenix absolutely nailed this rod. The build quality is top notch, and the rod looks great. I would say that the sensitivity is on par with my Cashion BFS rod. I have been easily feeling strikes on semi slack line while fishing micro jigs on this rod.  To me this rod has an almost perfect action for an all around rod. It has a fast(solid) tip for working lures, but transitions very smoothly into a nice deep moderate bend when the rod is loaded while fighting fish. I haven’t weighed the rods, but in hand the Phenix feels lighter than the Cashion. Both rods are very nice and I am happy with both, but if I had to choose only one at this point I would choose the Phenix over the Cashion. I like the 7’1” version that I have that I 

actually thinking of ordering the 6’8” as well. 

Which 7’1” did you go with? Light or ML? Thanks 

[walleyecrazy]

20 hours ago, clemsondds said:

Which 7’1” did you go with? Light or ML? Thanks 

The Phenix Classis BFS only comes in one power. They don’t actually list what power it is, but I would classify it as a light power personally. 

[clemsondds]

Just now, walleyecrazy said:

The Phenix Classis BFS only comes in one power. They don’t actually list what power it is, but I would classify it as a light power personally. 

Yeh after I wrote that I realized that there's a classic line. I didn't realize that since it's not mentioned on TW.  I was referring to the feather line. Thanks

[Robinhood21]

I have the Phenix Feather light and absolutely love it.  For what I do I thinks it’s about perfect as I heard the Dobyns were pretty whippey.  I love it so much I’m contemplating getting another.  
 

It handles larger fish extremely well.  Landed a 20lb Flathead at our city d**n when I was throwing a little 2.5” Keitech for whitebass.  It took about an hour to land him but it was a very large fish.  

This was a 2.75” tube w/ 1/8oz jighead. 10lb power pro w/ 8lb invisix leader.  

 

 

On 4/29/2023 at 11:07 AM, waymont said:

I’ve had the Dobyns 700, Phenix 7’1” light and the Phenix 7’1” medium light, and the ML is my favorite of the bunch.

What reel do you have paired with the ML feather??  I’m contemplating getting this rod but not sure if a 70mgl would suit the rod better than a BFS reel.  

[BayouSlide]

I love my Dobyns rods, but for BFS it's Phenix Feather light with Curado BFS all the way.