kschultz76

I tried the 704, it has a really soft whippy tip with a lot of backbone. Good for weightless senkos around cover but in my hands a 3/8 oz swim jig n trailer were overloading the rod on a cast.

Dobyns aren’t typically my go to rods, but was looking for the same thing for my wife. Landed on the Dobyns Sierra 705sf spinning rod. Haven’t fished it yet but test casting it handled a 3/8oz swim jig with rage menace trailer really well. Only complaint - handle needs to be longer.

Best of luck with it and enjoy it, those sticks get a lot of praise I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.

I’d go with the Helium 3, if you want to go up to 3/4 oz definitely the heavy xfast. I have no experience with Zodias or ALX Zolo Rods. But my H3s hold their own compared to my Orochi XX, GLX, and Legend Xtreme Rods. I really appreciate the light weight and balance of the H3s. I love the aesthetic of my MB rods, but the simplicity of the H3 builds has a beauty of its own.

Totally agree with Dwight’s recommendation but I’d add a 7’1” MH/XF as a third rod. I also love the Light Medium Heavy in a casting rod too. The XF the Helium 3 to me is a great action, it’s closer to a fast then an XF, definitely not like a St Croix XF.

Kistler Helium 3 Light Medium Heavy Fast. Comes in 6’8” and I think a 7’0”. Rated for 3/16-7/8oz. Great stick and versatile for those who like spinning gear for more then the lightest finesse.

I’d second the Dobyns Sierra 705sf spinning rod. Full disclosure haven’t fished with it yet but it’s got a really solid back bone and the tip has the stiffness to handle heavier lures but still loads for a cast. Have tested with 3/8 and 1/2 jigs. Got one for my wife to use for general heavier lures because she hasn’t learned to use casting gear yet.

Legend Elite/X/Xtreme in my experience will all be crisper feel and more sensitive then Avid or LTB. Sensitivity is always subjective. I’ve owned them all and the Elite/Xtremes have had the best feel and action to me. Another option I’d recommend that’s light, crisp, sensitive, split grip and in your price range is the Kistler Helium 3.

Jump from the SC3 to the SC4 blanks is not gigantic and the Avids are excellent. The Tackle Trap has a rep/demo sample Legend Elite 6’8” MXF on their website for $290. If you can swing it that’s a great option.

It’s essentially a Curado K with an MGL spool from what I’ve read.

Call Dobyns, worst case scenario you’ll have a new rod for $50 plus shipping.

No personal experience but from what I’ve read Phenix rods run light.

Is your current Mojo Bass the original SCII version or the newer SCIII version? If it’s the SCIII then the Avid isn’t really going to be a significant upgrade.

That’s interesting bc the handles on the Leg Xtreme that I’ve held in the store as I recal were a bit of a soft almost neoprene like material. I expected these to be a solid smooth finish.

Im very interested in these, and def think I’ll be trying one in the future. I’m curious if those carbon grips are going to be slippery though in the rain or with sweaty hands in the summer. That’s my only concern. Though in the summer I’m always wearing my half finger sun gloves that have some grippy stuff on the palms. The 6’11” Med+ looks intriguing to me.

Like others generally a 7-7’3” MH F but I like a rod that’s a little bit on the slow side of fast. My two favorite swimjigs rods are my Gen 1 Orochi XX Diablo Spec R and my Kistler Helium 3 LMH F 7’0”. With both 40lb braid and a 12-15lb floro leader, and generally a 7.x:1 reel. I like that rod to be just a tad slower and have a nice tip so that when that fish hits that moving jig the rod loads up real nice and I don’t pull it away from them. Then reel down and sweep set without that braid taking the lure from them.

Seems like you are well experienced and know what you’re doing so please forgive me if my question is insulting. But how are you setting the hook? Are you waiting long enough once you feel the bite, reeling down the slack, then getting a solid sweeping hookset? With braid and that rod you shouldn’t have to swing for the fences. If you’re not letting them take bait long enough you may not be getting a good hookset or a hookset at all. That at being said drag upgrade and proper greasing of the drag may be a cheap way to help you get your drag set well for a hookset without locking down. Do you have another reel you can swap in to try and eliminate the reel drag as the issue. Or you could just switch to dynamite!

I’ve been happy with McCoy Mean Green for inexpensive mono.

13 Metanium and Stradic CI4+. Followed closely by Zillion TW SV.

Fingers crossed they get you squared away and make it right for you. I think your patience and approach to looking for help here without bashing Shimano was admirable, as was your transparency about contacting them.

Too much of a generalization to me at this point. Would depend on the specific specs and characteristics of the rod in question. For example my St Croix LTB 6’6” MH/F is not a “search for the one” or all purpose rod to me, but is a great jig and worm rod in close quarters. My Megabass Diablo Spec R, also a MH/F, also carrying a 3/8-1oz lure weight rating is much more all purpose or “search for the one” candidate to me.

CI4+ without a doubt.

I’m pretty happy with the Zillion TW SV reels at this point and they can be had pretty close to $200. I’ve not tried a Curado K or a Curado 70. I have Curado Is, Chronarch CI4s and an MGL. I really like the braking system on the Zillion.

You could also cut and slit some rubber radiator hose or rubber fuel line and glue it in there.

Very nice! That’s a great design and execution, I like it a lot. I’m getting ready to build something similar myself.