Dobyns Savvy Rods

[Steve K]

I found a good deal on these Savvy rods at my local tackle shop and was wondering if they were worth a try. They are the "good" part of good, better, best but I have been using Quantum's Superlite series rods and was looking to add a new rod to my collection. How does these rods compare for the money. Anyone using them? I am looking at the 7ft. Heavy Fast Action, split grip. Or should I just bite the bullet and buy the Champion Series? Thanks!

[yfz 450]

i fish all st. croix and loomis but i picked one of these up during a labor day sale and could not be happier. it is at a great price to begin with so if it is on sale i would deff. pick it up

[webertime]

They are fantastic rods.

[Bass_Fanatic]

I have a Savvy 734 and have no complaints so far. It balances well and fishes great!

[set_the_hook]

I have 2 ss733 and a ss734 they are awesome rods for the money.

[supreme]

I broke my ML savvy a hour & a half ago on a 1 lbs bass. The rod broke in two places. I don't no if I want to even give Dobyns another chance. The rod had been used maybe 5 times as my drop shot rod.

[breezy]

I broke my ML savvy a hour & a half ago on a 1 lbs bass. The rod broke in two places. I don't no if I want to even give Dobyns another chance. The rod had been used maybe 5 times as my drop shot rod.

Every rod, regardless of manufacturer, is going to have issues. It may have been a manufacturing defect or you may have inadvertently hit the blank against something that lead to the failure. I wouldn't let a broken rod steer you away from an entire company, especially since I have seen/heard of a broken rod from every popular manufacturer. Give Dobyns a call and I'm sure they will make it right whether it's a warranty issue or no-fault replacement.

As far as the Savvy goes, they're great rods for the price range IMO. A SS734c was my first Dobyns rods and I now own several Savvys and Champions. Haven't had the first issue with any rod. The 734c makes a great general purpose/jig rod...if you like it go for it. The Champion models are better rods and worth the extra cash if you have it but IMO there's a bigger jump from Champion to DX rods than Savvy to Champion.

[edbassmaster]

I bought the 733 from Cabelas a couple months ago and love the rod. I now have the Champion series too and they are awesome rods. Best rod for the price imo.

[LuckyHandsINC.]

I bought the 733 from Cabelas a couple months ago and love the rod. I now have the Champion series too and they are awesome rods. Best rod for the price imo.

Well would you look at that. It's a savvy. Just look at it. Sir would you just look at it.

[Canga]

i recently picked up a ss692fs (6'9" ml/f) with the intent to use it for some drop-shotting, but mainly for jig/minnow and jig/plastics for walleyes and smallies in the rivers around me.

initially i was pretty impressed with the rod, light weight, great balance with both the reels i put on it (daiwa exceler 2000 and a supreme xt 9035) and the "fast" action was similar to what i am used to with my st.croix extra fast actions (which i found to be a good thing), not to mention it is a very nice looking rod.

once i got it on the water, however, i was severly unimpressed. i fished it side by side with my 6'3" m/xf st croix avid, and, to me, there was no comparison. the avid was FAR more sensitive, feeling every rock, stick or fish, while the savvy felt pretty much nothing. both rods had the same line (10lb sufix 832) and jig (1/8th oz norhtland fireball with a shiner). the avid has a pflueger arbor 7430 on it, and i had the supreme xt 9035 on the savvy, and the 2 reels weigh almost the smae. so all things pretty much equal, i will be returning the savvy and buying another st croix product (most likley and avid, but i have seen a few legend tournaments on clearance, for a similar price)

i know sensitivity is different to every person, but fished side by side with another rod, i am disappointed in dobyns (at least the savvy series).

[supreme]

I'm with you 100% my Savvy 692 spinning rod broke in two places while the 1lbs bass was on the bank. My rod was used maybe 6 times.

[supreme]

I would not recommend a savvy due to I just bought the rod to drop shot and just to have something light around encase someone forced me to crappie fish. The purchase was purely a luxury to play around with. That said I'm out of $210 dollars for a new rod that sucks. $60 charge replacement charge is extreme

[northern basser]

i recently picked up a ss692fs (6'9" ml/f) with the intent to use it for some drop-shotting, but mainly for jig/minnow and jig/plastics for walleyes and smallies in the rivers around me.

initially i was pretty impressed with the rod, light weight, great balance with both the reels i put on it (daiwa exceler 2000 and a supreme xt 9035) and the "fast" action was similar to what i am used to with my st.croix extra fast actions (which i found to be a good thing), not to mention it is a very nice looking rod.

once i got it on the water, however, i was severly unimpressed. i fished it side by side with my 6'3" m/xf st croix avid, and, to me, there was no comparison. the avid was FAR more sensitive, feeling every rock, stick or fish, while the savvy felt pretty much nothing. both rods had the same line (10lb sufix 832) and jig (1/8th oz norhtland fireball with a shiner). the avid has a pflueger arbor 7430 on it, and i had the supreme xt 9035 on the savvy, and the 2 reels weigh almost the smae. so all things pretty much equal, i will be returning the savvy and buying another st croix product (most likley and avid, but i have seen a few legend tournaments on clearance, for a similar price)

i know sensitivity is different to every person, but fished side by side with another rod, i am disappointed in dobyns (at least the savvy series).

Agree that Dobyns rods are not as sensitive as some make them out to be. I owned a champion 733c and got rid of it because I got a Cabelas XML for less than half the price of a champ. and the XML was more sensitive IMO.

[Fat-G]

I agree about the Savvy rods. They're nothing "special" in my opinion sensitivity wise.

However, for techniques where sensitivity is not paramount, like spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, swimjigs, lipless cranks, and frogs, there is probably nothing I would rather buy.

The cork isn't up to Dobyns standards for me. Don't get me wrong, I have a 734 and it is a sweet rod! I would just rather have a Champion Extreme.

The jump from Savvy to Champion is pretty big, but the jump from Champion to DX is outstanding.

[EJVH3]

i fish all st. croix and loomis but i picked one of these up during a labor day sale and could not be happier. it is at a great price to begin with so if it is on sale i would deff. pick it up

I too fish nothing but St Croix and G Loomis and my wife got me a Savvy 733c for my birthday this past spring and I like it a lot, I use it for my jigs and soft swimbaits. I would buy another if I had the chance.

[Canga]

i returned my savvy to the place i got it (the reel shot in oshkosh, wi, great little store, btw) and they had the previous generation legend tournament bass rods marked down, picked up a 6'9" mlxf "drop-shot" rod for about 30 bucks more than the savvy. the balance is just as good or better than the dobyns and as i have a couple other st croix's i know the quality and sensitivity will be top notch, and if i feel the need i can always upgrade it to the legend elite or extreme. i know alot of people like the dobyns line-up, i just dont know that i will ever try another.

[supreme]

Dobyns Savvy scared me straight I will stick with ST Croix