GLoomis vs Dobyns vs St. Croix vs ??? for light lures.

[new2BC4bass]

Okay. I asked not too long ago on another forum about an inexpensive casting rod for light lures. I can't afford the Dobyns, GLoomis, Pixy rod, etc. A fine gentleman on that forum contacted me offering to sell his GLoomis CBR781 at what I felt was a fair price. Couldn't buy it at the time as I had ordered a new rod a day or two before that and a new reel just minutes before seeing his PM.

I researched it, and felt it would make an excellent rod for light lures. I'm hoping to buy another rod and reel with some of my tax return. I definitely want a rod for my Alphas ito for use with light lures. So I've done some more looking today. There is a used Dobyns 702C up for sale.

What I found (so it seems to me) is that although both rods may throw the light stuff well, they are for 2 different applications. As the guy said who offered to sell his CBR781, it is a great small crankbait and surface rod, but probably didn't have the backbone for setting small plastics.

The Dobyns is for shakey worms, jigs & drop-shot. So more research. I also found an Avid 6" 9" ML at a very good price. Couldn't find anything about the Avid until I found an ad that mentioned it was a drop-shot rod so I assume it is good at the same thing the Dobyns is...only at a lower price (and maybe a bit less sensitivity, or well balanced?).

Suggested lure weights for the CBR781 is 1/4-1/2 oz., for the Dobyns 3/16-3/8 oz. & the Avid 1/8-1/2 oz. You would think the Avid would be the best for really light lures. Is it?

Now to muddy the waters a bit. I came across a Crucial CRC-D70M which is listed for 1/8-3/8 oz. & the Kistler Argon for 1/8-3/4 oz. lures. Now the Argon is listed for heavier line, and given its lure weight range, I kind of doubt 1/8 oz. lures would be its forte. However the Crucial should do well, I'd think.

I was hoping there were a few people out there with experience using all 4 rods that could give me some hands-on impressions. It seems that it all comes down to that little item, "What are you going to use it for?" Well...I've had better luck catching fish with small Beetlespins and Roostertails than with crankbaits. Having said that, I enjoy using crankbaits. Catching less fish on them is most likely due to my technique (or lack of) and the fact that I use them less often than the others because I was catching less with them.

I've jigged fished only a few times. I'd like to change that. I guess I have come to realize while typing this up that one rod just isn't going to do all I'd like to try with it. So one new rod now, another in a few months to a year.

Choosing that one rod is tough. Wish I had someone close to me that would say "This is the rod you need for now."

I apologize for the long post, but the fishing forums are the only place I can talk about fishing.  I can't seem to keep it sort.  :-[

[avid]

I like Loomis and St. Croix rods.  the 1 power loomis is great for really light lures.  1/2 oz. is too heavy for the 781 IMO.  but the 782 and even the 783 would work just fine. 

[BassThumb]

I wouldn't suggest that you base your decision on the rod's recommended lure weights.  I've found that they can be misleading when comparing different brands, especially on the low end weight.

I think that Dobyns you found in the flea market would be a good fit.

[Craiger12]

First, I will admit that I do not have experience with the particular rods you have mentioned. Also, I am having a difficult time understanding what you actually plan to use the rod for. However, given the rods that you have mentioned and the information you have offered, I would opt for the Dobyns 702. Given the lighter power, it will be able to handle some techniques that would usually call for a more moderate action, like light crankbaits, and still have the backbone for setting the hook with lighter contact baits. Avids and Crucials are excellent rods at their price points from what I have heard/read, but the Dobyns will simply offer more.

[KYntucky Warmouth]

If you're looking for a rod for an Alpha, I would consider the Daiwa Zillion 7'M.  I have one paired with a 103 and it is amazing for jerkbaits, shakey heads, and tubes.  I got mine from gloomis.us on eBay for around $170.  The combo is extremely light and well balanced and throws 3/16oz jerkbaits a good ways with ease.

[David P]

I personally have a 702C Dobyns rod and think it's the perfect Shaky Head / Drop Shot rod. I cast 1/8oz baits with no problem with it. The reel will play a large part of your casting abilities, but the rod is easily able to cast 1/8oz baits if needed.

[uicdent11]

Do NOT get the CBR781 Loomis unless you plan to only throw crankbaits of 3/8oz and less. I found the CBR783 to be overpowered by anything heavier than 3/8oz, so I can imagine the 781 would be bent in half. Wouldn't even think about using it for any other applications. All the CBR rods up to the 845 are too whippy.

[LAO162]

I have the Argon AFCB69C if that is the one you are considering.  It is a graphite crankbait rod.  Although it has a fairly moderate action, it is actually quite stiff - meaning there is enough there to set the hook on a Senko.  It will chuck a 1/4 oz. crankbait or a Senko very easily.  It feels very light in the hand, especially when matched with a Chronarch MG51.  However, I've been using it with a Revo sized reel the last couple weeks.  I am really surprised at how sensitive it is.  It is a really fun rod, and currently my favorite to use.  If you see & hold the AFCB69C, you would questions the rating up to 3/4 oz.  Although it may load properly with a heavier bait, you'll notice that the line rating is fairly low.  The heaviest bait I've thrown is 3/8 oz. and it performed very well.  Given the closeouts, you don't need to pay more than $120 shipped, and you might be able to do even better.

Leon

[Raul]

I have a CR721 and yes, you can set the hook on soft plastics if you fish with razor sharp hooks and a few rigging adaptation I got from panfishing:

light wire hooks

tex-posed rigging.

not setting the hook but lifting the rod and keeping the tension so the fish hooks itself.

[new2BC4bass]

First, I will admit that I do not have experience with the particular rods you have mentioned. Also, I am having a difficult time understanding what you actually plan to use the rod for. However, given the rods that you have mentioned and the information you have offered, I would opt for the Dobyns 702. Given the lighter power, it will be able to handle some techniques that would usually call for a more moderate action, like light crankbaits, and still have the backbone for setting the hook with lighter contact baits. Avids and Crucials are excellent rods at their price points from what I have heard/read, but the Dobyns will simply offer more.

Rod will mostly be used for panfish. If it will work for smallies in the river, so much the better. As stated, I fish with small Beetlespins and Roostertails a lot, but want to expand my horizons to jigs and ???

However, I am an opportunist.  I'll fish for whatever I can catch.  If a small Largemouth wants my lure...great!