lunkerboss923

I saw a Coastal in Academy yesterday. It is a very blue reel. It seemed to be marked down considerably. iCast is coming soon. I think Daiwa is going to release a bunch of new stuff they just lowered the price of the Tatula SV TW 103.

The Zillion SV TW G is the best reel Daiwa has produced in recent memory. I know Steez is the flagship bougy reel, but you can buy 2 Zillions for the price of one Steez. They both have similar frames one is Aluminum while the other is Magnesium. The magnesium frame is decimals to an ounce lighter than the aluminum. I will never get rid of my Zillions. The Alpha is JDM and never tried, but I will say that the Tatula 100 is a very underrated reel. It doesn't have an SV spool but it does have Hyperdrive.

Count me in on the camp getting delays on orders. ALF used to have a fool proof program with Dobyns for customers in Texas. You order a rod from them, they process it directly to Dobyns who then ships directly from headquarters. I was told that there have been countless Dobyns orders, not solely in Texas, that have been delayed due to their new software that was implemented by GSM. The customer service rep told me that it will get worse before it gets better. I have been a long time customer of Dobyns but I'm really getting a sour taste in my mouth towards them. Gary has found out about the delays and he is getting very impatient about the problem. I'm hoping this is just transfer of ownership issue and they are ironing out the kinks. On a side note, I tried a Phenix rod the other day and it left a lot to be desired. Was not impressed. Kistler is about 15 minutes from my house and they have some good products. I might start building a collection with them.

To be honest I resurrected it. I have been searching for a good 6'10" Medium Heavy. Didn't know there were rules against it. Sorry

J Braid or Suffix 832

The Zolo is good, but I think of financial practicality. How often are you going to be faced skipping or using that rod. If you can afford $250+, the Zolo Skipper is a nice choice so is the Dobyns Champion 610-4 ($239). I personally own a TFO 6'10" MHF ($150). I get by just fine. The rod is perfect for a weightless senko, creature bait, a Dark Sleeper, a spinnerbait, chatterbait, finesse jig, and about anything skip-able you can do on that rod. I use all these on my kayak and it's an awesome rod. I feel it's a steal of a rod. I really feel TFO is very underrated. The rods look exactly like G. Loomis. Same aesthetics. You put a TFO and G Loomis side by side and hide the badging you would think you're holding a GCX. Same price as a matter of fact.

Here's my list: Champion 734c 30lb braided Buzzbaits, Small Kaera Frog, 1/2oz Swim Jig, Spooks Champion 704c Chatterbaits, Spinnerbait, Texas Rig Worms 3/16 or 1/4 oz, Finesse Jigs, 6th Sense Finesse Swim Jigs KLX703LMH Texas Rigged Senkos, Flukes, Speed Worm, 1.5 Squarebill, anything 3/8oz NRX+ 852S Tubes, Shakeyhead Sometimes I'll break out the Expride B XH for heavy cover froggin, 745C Extreme for dragging Jigs, X Bites for strictly Finesse jigs, I'll breakout the 795SB checkout the Glide Bait scene (It's hard to cast in a kayak, I wish i still had my Tequila Baccarac).

The 7'0" 703LMH is perfect for a 1.5 squarebill. It's medium moderate so you can throw just about anything in the 3/8oz. This rod lives in 3/8oz. My favorite rod thus far.

I would be willing to bet the H/MH would be perfect for a big bladed chatterbaits, Whopper Ploppers 130 to 190, 2.5 Squarebills, Taylor Mann's Scatter Shad multi-blade spinnerbait, hollow body frogs in sparse cover, big worms and creature baits. NRX+ is pushing it. I would put it in the IMX-PRO class. Great rods nonetheless. I'm real curious about the H/MH.

Kistler is going to be the new Dobyns. Hopefully Trey doesn't take the bait of Private Equity. GSM Outdoors is public enemy #1 to me. I just purchased a Kistler and I'm very impressed. In fact, they remind me of Dobyns rods a little bit. They operate about 20 minutes from my house. It's bittersweet for Gary and I do wish him well.

Went out to try out my new rod for Father's Day. I got a Kistler KLX 703LMH. This rod is incredible. Throws senkos, Dark Sleepers, light Texas Rigged Worms, Speed Worms and Squarebills. I'm telling you this rod is a dream. No luck all morning, throwing the usual spinnerbait, buzzbait, and chatterbait. I figured I'd put this new rod to the test and throw a Rapala OG Rocco and see if the specs hold up from the description. Sure enough 4 or 5 casts, I landed her. I love a crankbait bite. You're reeling and all of a sudden it's like a wet sock. Fun bite. Great rod, highly recommended.

Just curious what rods you usually take with you on the Kayak. There are just so many possibilities. Let's hear it!

Nope, it's a tube of nachos.

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

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

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?

Great thread! Was curious about the 6'10" MH Expride B. I went out Kayaking yesterday and I was short struck 8 times. My rods were all 7'3" to 7'4". I couldn't throw into tight spaces around docks and cover. It was a bad day. I'm thinking this 6'10" would fit the bill better. Plus it would make for a great spinnerbait rod and an all purpose kayak rod.

I like the 734 for topwater walking baits, buzzbaits, underspins, and heavier spinnerbaits. Gary Dobyns made the 734 for spooks and it excels at it. It's a great all purpose rod. The 744 is a better bottom contact rod. If you want a moving bait in the 734, I think the Sierra is a great option. It's a little slower than the Champion and the Kaden. In fact, I think the 735CB Kaden is a great chatterbait rod. For spinnerbaits, I like the 703. It is is very hard to beat as a spinnerbait rod. Perfect for squarebills as well.

Kistler uses Dobyns blanks?

Yes the Vision 110s especially have tiny Finesse hooks on them. I've bent a few out using a Dobyns 705CB. There was one YouTube video that said the Fieder was made in a lighter power to pair better with the lighter hooks and that the Walters was more for FFS. The problem for me is I like to use a regular sized Rico or Pop Max popper in the summer or use smaller squarebills and I'm not sure the Fieder could handle either. They both seem to be one trick ponies, with the Walters able to do a tad bit more.

Features correct me if I'm wrong but isn't a 70 mgl Spool made for lighter Finesse or pitchin and flippin?

Can somebody explain to me why somebody would buy a $500 reel for jerkbaits and finesse applications? Why wouldn't they release a more versatile reel at that price? Maybe I'm way off on this. What am I missing? Can a Shimano Fanboy shed some light on this. Thanks

Yesterday, I experimented with a 1/2oz Arky head skipping style white Z Man cross eyes with a white Strike King Rage Menace. I threw at a couple of laydowns and stumps. I caught 4 nice fish. I don't know what it is about white, but they catch fish this time of year.

Personally the Dobyns Fury 795SB is the deal.

Dobyns fanboy here too. I really like Dobyns casting rods from Extreme even to the Fury. Once I handled both the NRX+ 852S and the Expride 7'2" Medium Light spinning rods, there’s is just no contest with the Extreme. It's a very good rod, love the casting version, but I just feel the Extreme doesn't have the sensitivity that the NRX+ has, and the Expride is a steal at that price. Maybe comparing the NRX+ to the Extreme isn't fair, but the Expride is everything you want in a finesse rod. Best value for what rod is light, sensitive, and way under priced.