David P

Great advice. My first " Bass Rod " was a lightening rod with a Shimano Sedona.

I don't have a certified scale, but all the guys I know that have them, all have salters. They are not water proof at all, so I'm assuming that guy got water on/in his.

They're great rods for the price. If I only had $100 to spend on a swimbait rod, it's the only rod I would consider. I do however find them a bit on the heavy side, especially compared to the $200 swimbait rods. Matt is sponsored by Okuma, so he has to endorse them ;D I order EVERYTHING from ***, and their free shipping can't be beat! You also will get a free shirt, and if you want, a TW sweatshirt for only $10.

Definitely go 1 piece if possible. Even my 8fters are 1 piece.

http://dobynsrods.com/champion.htm I don't have much experience with the crankbait rods, as I don't fish crankbaits all too much. But if you want all rods from one company, Dobyns rods are awesome. I have 6 now and the next rod I'm getting is the 705 Crankbait rod. They have two flipping sticks, both of which I love, great rods for frogs, if you're really set on a 7ft frog rod the 705 , or the 736, or 766 if you want taller. They all have no front grip, but only some of the models have a split grip. They balance perfectly , even the heavier flipping sticks feel light in your hands. As for reels, are you doing a lot of deep cranking? Some guys say they swear by the 5.1:1 , other says they like the regular 6.

No matter how heavy the mono, your line is going to stretch, and cause hook up problems, especially if you get bites far out. 50-65lb braid depending on what you're fishing (cover/vegetation) 7'6" rod is great for frogs, tons of hook setting power, leverage over the fish, and moves a lota line when you set the hook from a distance. I won't fish frogs on a rod under 7'3 ever again.

Finally I start hearing some complaints / negative reviews. The guides alone, not to mention limited actions and powers, were the two reasons I never even bothered to buy one. All power to the guys that like them though.

Good goin bud!

I don't think height matters one bit. I'm 5'11-ish, and have NO trouble at all with an 8ft rod.

Longer rod does help. I have two 7'6 rods, and a 7'3 when I do any type of pitching or flipping.

an ugly bait that catches 10lbers ;D That color isn't too hot though, but maybe you found a new go to color Russ. and another swimbaiter is born... Congrats.

50-65lb braid depending on the cover you're fishing. Very heavy weed mats, I'd go to 65, especially if there's trees and what not. Only time I use heavy fluoro it's 20 sometimes 25lb fluoro, and it's for heavy pressured smaller reservoirs for flipping and pitching into tules. Doesn't cut through as nicely though.

Definitely getting a Toro for my smaller swimbaits. ;D Should look pretty with my 3 STXs and possible soon to be Winch.

I love fishing for big fish, I dedicate some days to big baits, and other days to numbers. When I miss a bite on a huddleston, or any swimbait, I just try and tell myself that it wasn't the RIGHT fish. The RIGHT fish will bite, the right fish will INHALE the bait. Now... If I see a BIG fish bite the tail close to the boat. That's another story. I just want to die.

I walk the dog with a 9" Lunker Punker bait and an 8ft rod. No problem.

$100 a week easy. Not counting when I buy a new Dobyns rod and Revo STX every month or so. I think there's a lota guys here that would be in the $500 month no tackle range. I don't think I'm the only one :-/ After just reading everyones response, I'm in shock. $50 a week seems more normal, but I'm reading $50 a month. I just don't understand how people can get by on $50 a month!? What's going on!? Baitmonkey must be on summer vacation.

Line capacity is a big deal, especially when you're using 25 and 30lb test... I also retie pretty often, so the more line on there, the better.

Dobyns .

Not sure if you're into swimbaits and what not, but Big Bait Posse is a fun DVD to watch. Not really instructional, but I'll be damned if you're not ready to go buy some swimbaits and start looking for some toads.

I didn't mention the super flukes because he said he had a Medium action rod. I use to use a medium action rod to fish the supers but i couldn't seem to get a good hookset, i switched to a MH and now i do fine with them. Do you have any hookup problems with a Medium action and super flukes? I fish super flukes on a 7ft ML Dobyns 702, used to fish them on a Medium. The Medium was PERFECT, the ML is a bit under powered but I do just fine for the times I do throw a fluke.

Can't go wrong with a 5" or 6" Senko, wacky rigged weightless. Catches a lot of fish, can catch quality fish, and you experience several different types of bites that you will experience throughout fishing plastics. Watermelon seed with red flake is a great color to start with.

That picture is an especially tough picture to guess a weight, but that mouth is very big. Just by looking at it's mouth with your hand, I'd say 5 - 6

7'6 5power / 50lb braid / 20 fluorocarbon leader Lighter cover / open water jigging - 7'3 Heavy (4power) 50lb braid / 15lb fluorocarbon Not everyone likes long rods, but if you do, then this is what I would recommend. I would highly recommend at least a 7fter, and at least a MH , but if you have plans on fishing jigs right next to or in some cover, i'd go to a Heavy.

The SOL is a slow gear real, it's a 5.8:1 , vs the STX which is 6 or even high speed 7:1. What are you going to be using the reel for? Crank baits, I'd say the SOL, anything else, I'd say the STX . I have 3 STXs and plan on getting more.

NADA is like Kelly Blue Book they price cars, trucks, boats, etc... I have two friends now who have both boat pre-1990 boats, and they have POURED money into their boats, with nothing to show. 3 weeks out of the month it's not operating. It's more stress the pleasure. The guy sounds very shady as well, those aren't the kind of people you want to buy from.