Champion 704C vs Megabass Dark Sleeper

[lunkerboss923]

Down to these two rods. I grew up on Dobyns, I've always liked longer rods, but I've gotten into kayaking and exploring the JDM market.  Longer rods make life a bit cumbersome on the ole kayak. The specs on both rods are identical. Does it all come down to price or what am I missing on the Dark Sleeper. 

 

What I'm looking for in a rod is being able to throw the entire kitchen sink with it with Spinnerbaits being the highlight, but with the capability of throwing Texas Rigged worms with a weight, Keitechs with a belly weight, swim jigs, squarebills in a pinch, little Kaera Frogs...all this from my kayak. I want to bring two rods, my NRX+ 852S and either the Megabass or Dobyns. 

 

Can anybody help me on this? 

[WRB]

The Dobyns will be well balanced but heavier overall. Megabass add more expensive, lighter weight and faster response.

Performance. Is how you feel about each rod .

Tom

[MiceNReets]

41 minutes ago, lunkerboss923 said:

Down to these two rods. I grew up on Dobyns, I've always liked longer rods, but I've gotten into kayaking and exploring the JDM market.  Longer rods make life a bit cumbersome on the ole kayak. The specs on both rods are identical. Does it all come down to price or what am I missing on the Dark Sleeper. 

 

What I'm looking for in a rod is being able to throw the entire kitchen sink with it with Spinnerbaits being the highlight, but with the capability of throwing Texas Rigged worms with a weight, Keitechs with a belly weight, swim jigs, squarebills in a pinch, little Kaera Frogs...all this from my kayak. I want to bring two rods, my NRX+ 852S and either the Megabass or Dobyns. 

 

Can anybody help me on this? 

I found the Blade to be good for spinnerbaits,  blades jigs, squarebills, swim jigs and will do t-rigs as well.   It’s shorter rod, 6’8 which might be good for kayak?  I like it for the few times I’ve used it from Shore so far.    

[lunkerboss923]

13 minutes ago, MiceNReets said:

I found the Blade to be good for spinnerbaits,  blades jigs, squarebills, swim jigs and will do t-rigs as well.   It’s shorter rod, 6’8 which might be good for kayak?  I like it for the few times I’ve used it from Shore so far.    

Hmmm...that looks like a possibility, but I'm wondering what you gain from a short rod

 

[MiceNReets]

6 minutes ago, lunkerboss923 said:

Hmmm...that looks like a possibility, but I'm wondering what you gain from a short rod

 

Makes you feel taller.   LoL

 

i got it for bank fishing so it’s easier to maneuver around the bank but also it’s more accurate than a longer rod.   I haven’t kayak fished so I’m not sure if a shorter rod is beneficial or not?   I do float tube and I’ve enjoyed the shorter rods on that over the years with my shortest being a 5’10 MH Megabass destroyer Go-Ten.    Oh and the blade is also good for topwater walking baits too

[FishTank]

I have the Super Destroyer and it's kind of my do all rod when I am kayak fishing. I have fished a weightless senko up to the Magdraft on this rod. It does a good job with jigs but it can also launch a crankbait. For spinnerbaits, I like it for 1/2oz but not so much for a 3/8oz. I can't say why but it might just be a personal preference. The thing I don't like about this rod, and it's minor, is the handle. It's slick but it fits my hand well.  

 

The Super Destroyer is a multi-taper rod so it takes some getting use to but it's fun fish. The tip is soft, followed by a stiff upper section, it then soften ups in the middle, and finally stiffens just above the handle. It's great at pinning fish. 

 

In the P5 line up, two other rods to look at (I don't own them), the Dark Sleeper and the Cyclone. Both have been touted as do all rods.  One P5 rod I do own but it would be on the lighter side of things, is the Z-Crank Elseil. I have been using it for 110 +1 JR, the regular 110, 3/8 and 1/2 oz cranks, and 1/2oz spinnerbaits. The tip on this rod is fantastic. It has this soft vibrating point that will cause a bait to have this sort of shaking motion. Also, when you are working a jerk bait the tip recovers quickly. I would not use this rod for frogs though, everything else topwater would be fine. 

[waymont]

I’d get the Dobyns. Save some money. It’s one of the best do it all rods out there. OR get an IMX-Pro 843 or 844 mbr.

[lunkerboss923]

2 hours ago, waymont said:

I’d get the Dobyns. Save some money. It’s one of the best do it all rods out there. OR get an IMX-Pro 843 or 844 mbr.

Said store is out. They suck at keeping things in stock.