PBBrandon

Fluoro: invizX when straight Fluoro, BasiX as a leader mono: Big Game Braid: Power Pro

I’ve spent a lot of money over the years buying rods off the shelf and online, and want to give building one a try. I see NFC has some pretty killer sales on their X-ray blanks, and I have a broken Daiwa rebellion I can take the Fuji SiC guides off of. What tools/knowledge would I need to get started? I have my eye on the MB 724-1 X-ray LMX blank for weightless T-rigs and 1/4oz jigs for smallmouth.

As much as I love Dobyns casting rods, I’m not the biggest fan of the handle on the spinning ones. If you have 2 fingers behind the reel stem, they are fine and the 703sf Fury would be a nice rod. However, if you hold your rod with your pinky behind the reel stem or your whole hand above the reel, I’d recommend the old St. Croix Mojo Bass rods. I’d get the 7’1” medium fast, and you can get them for the price of a Fury.

December 28th at Lake Fork on the Yumbrella Flash Mob Jr. with 3” Spark Shad swimbaits on it. First cast. Unfortunately I snagged my A-rig a few casts later. Might not have been the last fish of the year had I not snagged the dang thing lol.

Threw Texas rigged craws a whole heck of a lot in the past. Still threw em last year but not nearly as much. I tossed crankbaits more this year than I ever had, and had pretty good luck on them too. One of the first places I always hit are riprap rocks with a squarebill

Tackle Warehouse sponsors Bassresource. Here’s the link to the $200 Victory carbon cranker (7’2” MHM) https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/St_Croix_Victory_Casting_Rods/descpage-CTV.html?from=gpmax&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAv8SsBhC7ARIsALIkVT3seWs5qy8hLodGz6u_tOY4Dd9C5ovaHoUXc3zoxsGYEPfcsCJiqtMaArxeEALw_wcB and the $315 Legend Tournament version with a better blank and guides. I’ve never fished with the Victory but I imagine the action is similar to the Legend Tournament. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/St_Croix_2022_Legend_Tournament_Series_Casting_Rods/descpage-SLZC.html?from=gpmax&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAv8SsBhC7ARIsALIkVT26rVesWXsq3NgqguJ25cocRyUWrQEYYp8TiWlaQHGRXVz7Ms4jWjQaAg8MEALw_wcB

Dobyns Fury 705cb is a great all around crankin stick for the price. Anything from lipless to medium divers. Most of my rods are in the $200+ range and this rod still stays in my starting lineup because of how balanced and versatile it is. My main crankbait rod is the 7’2” MHM Legend Tournament carbon cranker. It’s softer, slower and lighter than the Fury, feels weightless in hand with a 6oz reel. Pricey for a crankbait rod but it is amazing. I haven’t fished with glass but holding them I just don’t like how heavy and unbalanced they are. Moderate action graphite rods are slow enough for me

I got mine on a 705cb fury for burning lipless cranks and squarebills. I’m sure it would work just fine for plastics. Not sure about really lightweight rigs though

Went to Lake Fork today and made a stop at Dobyns Rods in Sulpher Springs. I had a DC734 that snapped a few months ago and I was gonna exchange it for a DX745. That is, until I held a DRX755 while I was there. The 745 felt really nice, but the 755 was perfect. It looks beautiful, and if I closed my eyes, I’d think I was holding a 7ft medium power rod, Not a 7’5” heavy. I paired it with a Zillion SV, 40lb power pro, and a 15lb red label FC leader. With my limited time today casting a 1/2oz jig and trailer, this thing is crazy sensitive. Dragging a jig literally feels like dragging my finger across the bottom of the lake. Definitely a step above the Expride, Tatula Elite AGS, Legend Tournament sensitivity I’m used to. Of course, I probably won’t be able to shell out $550 for another one anytime soon, but I’m sure glad I picked up the 755. As for the rest of the trip to Fork, the only bass that wanted to bite anything was this guy off of the A-Rig. Definitely gonna be back out at Fork around spawn season!

Dobyns Bull Shad 835sb Shimano Curado 200K 7.4:1 20lb Seaguar Basix FC Baitsanity Explorer Gill (thank you for the fishmas gift!) Was gonna get a Fury/Champ 795 or a Genesis III 783sb, but got a scheels gift card for Christmas and the Bull Shad rod caught my eye. I’ve heard great things about the 836 but nothing on the 835. I trust Dobyns though and I’m sure it’s gonna be a great rod for 1-3oz swimbaits and a-rigs. Anyone have experience with the 835? Gonna test it out at Lake Fork tomorrow!

I usually try to go twice a week, work typically keeps me at once a week though lol. About half of those days from shore and half from the yak. So in total probably about 60-70 times. Maybe 10 of those were catfishing at my local pond and the others mostly bass/striper fishing at texoma

Thank you, this was very thoughtful and I will certainly put it to good use!

I have a couple of Alphas and Zillion reels. Never owned a Coastal. It seems like a Tatula 80 that’s been beefed up for saltwater use. The Alphas has the free floating spool design of the Zillion, and honestly feels just as smooth. The Coastal I think has the longer spool shaft. Looks like the Zillion holds roughly 100 yards of 12lb test and the Alphas holds 110 yards of 10lb test. I don’t know the math but it seems like the Zillion has a bit more line capacity, but the Alphas has plenty for all-round use. The Alphas is a better reel than the coastal, and up there with the Zillion in quality

Order placed and it’s on its way!

TW is having a pretty insane sale on rods 99 bucks for Curado and 2017 model Tat Elite Rods. 129 for Zodias rods, etc. looks like only certain models are on sale though

Sounds like you need a good medium heavy fast for jigs/T-rigs. A Fury 734 or Kaden 714 would be perfect. They can throw a lot of different things

Thanks for the responses and info! I would get a 745 but I also have an LTB 7’3” HXF, and 7’4” HF and 7’6” HF Tatula AGS rods. The 745 would be in a dogfight for casting time lol. I guess another thing I could do is just replace it with a 795sb Champion. I’m also in the market for a small swimbait rod and that would kill 2 birds with 1 stone. Or like Tim said, I could spend a bit more and get a clear upgrade over my rods with the Xtasy.

Sounds like the 783 Irod is what I’ll go with. Thanks everyone!

I have a Champ XP 734 that snapped on me while casting a spook, and have yet to send it in for a replacement. I love the 734, could cast anything with it, but the option to upgrade to the HP line for like 80 bucks more is pretty enticing. It would be a better jig/T-rig rod for sure, but I’m wondering how it would would be for chatterbaits and spinnerbaits as well. My current lineup of medium heavys are: 6’10” MHF Zodias (skipping) 7’2” MHF Expride B (jig/T-rig) 7’2” MHM St Croix LTB (cranking) 734 Champ XP (spook/spin/chatter) im thinking if I upgrade, I can move spook duties to the Zodias, and 3/8oz bladed jigs to the LTB. Spinnerbaits and 1/2oz bladed jigs I would probably cast on the HP, as well as doubling as a bottom contact rod. Would the 744 handle bladed jigs and spinnerbaits well or is it too fast? Thanks!

The Tatula 100 should cast down to 1/4oz. That’s as low as I’d go with it though. Digitaka has really good prices because of the current exchange rate between the USD and the JPY. There are slight differences between the US and Japanese models (handle length, gear material, spool depth) but otherwise it’s the same reel for a lot less. If you find casting 1/4oz to be difficult on the Tatula, the Daiwa Alphas SV is a phenomenal reel for lighter stuff, and can be had from Japan for $160

Thanks everyone! I have the broken off piece and will try this first. Seems like I could learn something from it lol. If that doesn’t work I’ll just replace the top guide.

I’ve really been enjoying throwing smaller swimbaits lately and have been thinking about getting a rod to throw bigger ones. I plan on throwing S-Waver 168s, Gantarel Jrs, 6” Hudds, and A-rigs. Nothing over 2.5-3oz. I’m putting a 7.4 Curado 200K on it so I’m pretty much limited to that weight with my reel. Some rods I’m considering are: Dobyns Fury 795sb Daiwa DX 8’ MHF Irod Genesis III 783sb St. Croix BassX 7’10” HF Any input is appreciated, thanks y’all!

I’m in

I have a St. Croix Victory 7’3” MXF that turned into a 6’11” MXF a while back. I already got my replacement rod (6’10” MLXF LTB) but because St Croix just has you send a picture in for warranty replacement, I still have the old Victory. It’s still got a good action to it and I bet it’d make a nice wacky rod or just something I keep in the truck all the time. I have a Fuji tip guide replacement kit, but all of the guides in the kit are a bit bigger than the current top guide of my victory. Should I go ahead and replace the guide or just snip the 2mm of blank above the guide on my victory and leave it like that? Thanks

7ft medium fast Expride B is my go-to spinning rod. Great rod that can do a lot including jigs in that range. The newer Legend Tournament rods are awesome too