WRangler506

I was impressed with the feel of these rods, the Dobyns Fury. They were slower in action when compared to a St Criox Avid or Mojo. SOME but only some Fenwick ETB or Aetos seem to fall in between St Croix and Dobyns Fast actions. The dobyns also seemed lighter in power compared to a St Croix, or rather the St Criox seem heavier which seems to be well known. If I didn't already own a Champion XP 705CB, I would for sure buy the Fury 705CB crankbait rod. I finally got to handle the 733 734 and 735 just to see how the rod power felt. If I didnt have any good all around baitcasters yet I would have left with the 733 and 734 both. I like my other rods also, but I was happy to finally see some of these in person to see for myself. The balance seemed good but they had theft devices on them so I had to support the weight of that and try to feel the balance. Just an FYI since so many people here have given me opinions. In general, the dobyns rod power and action is what I would prefer and expect rod ratings to be.

Im no expert, wanted some weight in from expert setter uppers here for smallmouth. Fishing in MI clear and stained lakes, mostly not thick cover. Im currently using or just spooling up: Casting: Dobyns Champion 705CB ----- Crankbaits--Sunline Supernatural 12lb Avid X 7MF ----- Plastics -- Tatsu 12lb Fenwick Aetos 7MF & Mojo 71 MHMF ----- Spinnerbaits-- Invisix 15lb also plan to use above Aetos for up to 1/2oz jigs for now Spinning: Avix X 68MXF ----- Tubes, senkos, light jigs ----- Invisix 8lb Legend Tournament Bass---- Drop Shot ----- Invisix 8lb Elite tech 610MLXF ---- Back up drop shot and general ----Sunline Super 6lb or 10-15lb braid-FC leader Elite tech 7MF ---- Back up tubes, cranks, senko, etc --- Sunline Super 8lb or suffix elite 8lb

I cant tell if everyone is sick of rod comparisons ( I know I know sorry) or if nobody fishes the Aetos line much. I know lots of guys use the Avids here.

Im glad you commented. I think this is one big reason why I dont like the braid on a DS setup. It felt like i was either slack or moving. Sure you could balance just perfect if you are absolutely perfect, but I feel like the bow of mono or FC would make it feels like more what Im used to. I also didnt like the "snap" feel everytime I used up the floating slack on the water surface. I know thats not intended, but Im explaning the feel. Never had mono feel like that. Im going to try Invisix on this rod in #8 and see how it compares. The only time I like that distinct slack ending snap or tick feel is when im vertical jigging for walleye. Hope that makes sense. Again, I think if this rod had a softer tip like the 69MLXF Avid, it might feel ok with braid. That tip is way softer.

Yeah i get what youre saying, but im wondering if ill like FC better. I may try both, with the Invisix being on sale. Im not a big braid fan in general, but i see the benefits. I think part of the issue is this rod is just too stiff in the tip for my preference, but i can feel everything. I may try to retie, and then FC, and then try the softer 69 MLXF. Im a good "learner" lol, but yes Im not going for the difficult to tie knots just yet. Simple is best for now.

Has anyone fished with an Avid or Avid X 7mf and an Aetos or ETB 7MF, or something close? Im intersted in the spinning and casting models.

This is amazing. Some of the material im well familair with. Others like bait selections, this is exactly what i was looking for. Thanks!!! Cant wait to watch the videos posted above also. Do you have any examples of notable differences to be aware of when fishing for northern smallmouth?

I mostly fish for smallmouth in MI and Ontario, but some LM mixed in also. Can anyone give me some basic guidelines on time of year, temps, weather, etc. For using: Spinnerbaits Bottom contact jigs or swim jigs Crankbaits Worms, senkos, tubes, dropshot I really dont know when I should be focused more on each of these, or if some are used a higher % of the time. I feel like im using some of them in the wroing conditions. Thanks!

I checked the website dealers list and it's not accurate.

Does anyone know if there are any Michigan stores that have dobyns rods in stock?

I have an aetos casting 7mf that is a more stout feel and slower action than my avid x casting 7mf. Would this make the aetos a good spinnerbait rod? The action feels similar to the mojo spinnerbait rod. Would a dobyns 734c handle spinnerbait ok? I'm trying to pick between the 734c or keeping the aetos 7mf.

Thanks a lot guys. That's why I love this place. I'll look into that frabil that looks like the one I saw in the store a few months ago, or similar.

I dont always net my bass but i do with walleye and pike. My old nets are terrible and get lots of tangles with stinger hooks and trebles. Is everyone using rubber nets now? What nets do you recommend, mostly for bass and walleye, maybe Ill size one for the occasional pike not sure.

I fish Michigan and Ontario. How often are you using baits around 1/2oz total weight and higher? What baits or techniques, time of year, depth? Im usually using lighter baits for smallmouth, around 1/4 to 3/8, and just wondering when/what all heavy baits are used, that require all these MH rods I keep hearing about. I do want to fish weeds more, since I stray away from them normally. Id like a MHF rod for this but unsure how much I would actually use it in MI and Ontario.

I will inspect the knot when I get home and see if I can see a sloppy tag end. Then, Ill practice the alberto knot, and re tie it to see if that helps. Thanks for all the help. Normally yes I pitch it fairly close too but at times I have to send it into the wind or a farther target.

I havent used it enough to say for sure, but I know the mono felt super stretchy and not sensitive enough in several scenarios. I know braid would fix that but I dont want to be yanking hooks due to being a Med rod with braid, especially when Im using it for walleye.

Im learning I only like extra fast for a few applications. One is vertical jigging for walleye. Other is super light plastics.

I wrote double uni in the original post, but I think I got that wrong. I am FAR from a knot expert. I like to use the clinch, improved clinch and polomar whenever possible. I do remember google searching the alberto and fg when setting up my rods. I dont think the knot looks that bad, but its almost like its in the wrong location. If the leader was any longer or shorter it wouldnt be passing through the guides when the rod is still loaded during a cast, so maybe thats part of it. I dont know.

I do want to dropshot with it also. If I could tie the right knots I would think a shorter FL leader would help. Not proven just what I'm thinking. I have some tatsu and braid in the garage, I need to stretch test like a 10ft length.

I'm not sure I don't like the mono or just don't love the rod. I fish open water mainly sand gravel and rock bottom. I'm fishing ultraclear michigan waters mostly. I haven't tried braid only but I'm guessing the clear water is worse for straight braid.

I have an avid x 68 mxf and 2500 reel that I currently have some cheap mono on, and i dont like it at all. What line should I be running on this setup for tubes, senkos, dropshot, etc. Braid/leader? How long and what knots? Or flouro?

I'm using a st croix legend 610 mlxf for dropshot. I set it up with braid and about a 6ft flouro leader. I don't remember what size braid, but I think the knot is hanging up in the micro guides. Should I run a longer leader? Shorter? Or run full flouro to avoid the knot? I'm not great with knots, but probably tied a double uni when I set it up. I do still want to run some other finesse baits on this rod so not sure if that changes what I should run.

Thanks for the info. Im finding balance is big to me, and didnt think it would be. My Avid X 68MXF balances awesome and I need to use it more, my LTB 610MLXF doesnt balance great and I find myself not fishing it much because of that. Somehow the 7MF Avid X casting doesnt feel perfectly balanced but pretty darn close. Maybe I need to wait and see if Im overpowering the MF first before I try the 734C. Id say 1/4 and 3/8 swim jigs? I tried spinnerbaits on the 7MF AvidX and they were ok, but I think Id like those more on a slightly slower action. I have an Aetos 7MF I havent used yet that might be perfect for spinnerbaits as it feels slower than the AvidX .Not sure if thats the norm or not. Im not experienced enough to go super light on a casting rod, and I dont fish a bunch of heavy cover either. Just trying to use casting setups more, just because they are fun.

Is it as light or sensitive as the 7MF Avid? I want to fish more finesse baits and lighter in general most of the time, so Im not sure if the 734 is "better" than the Avid in that way either.

Looking to get one of these 2 rods for some light plastics and dropshot. Lots of people like the St Croix 69 MLXF, how does the Fenwick Elite Tech or Aetos 69 MLXF compare? I have not found them both in person to compare yet. Thanks