fishindad

Any idea who will have the best Labor Day sales? If memory serves TW usually has 15% off. I plan to order a couple of Dobyns rods so am hoping someone knows who might have 20% off? Thx!

Keeping this on topic and about rod and reel combos, I would recommend to someone just starting out to use their money for 3-5 entry level combos, with more emphasis towards the reel. This way one could start out the right way with maybe 3-5 hard baits of each : spinnerbaits, topwater, cranks, jerk baits, lipless. And a small box of jigs and soft plastics, etc. Learn to use both baitcaster and spin gear. Learn to use each bait type and which situation you use them for. Then move up in quality as desired and skills increase. No question it's human nature to want something better, with time. As one gains more experience they "outgrow" their tools and gadgets, be it fishing, photography, cycling, whatever. When I started fishing, a Fenwick Lunkerstik and red 5000 or Daiwa Millionaire was high end. But that was over 40 years ago and now look at the evolution of the sport. No one in the industry could have ever envisioned touch screen electronics, GPS, 300HP, 21 foot bass boats, etc. JDM gear? Unheard of. It is tempting as a beginner to "copy" the pros but as was pointed out in another thread, today's pros don't use high end equipment on the scale the most enthusiasts do. What you can buy for $100 far exceeds the performance of yesterday's gear. All this said, that bait monkey is awfully hard to ignore

I know JVD uses NRX rods. Ish uses Steez rods and reels. The majority do use not-so-high end rods though, maybe because of the durability issues and they are much rougher on their tackle? Another factor could be rod companies would rather push their rods that the general public can afford? There is no question that a top tier pro can flat out catch fish with almost any grade rod. But I'll bet they are meticulous about their line, their knots, hooks and the more important aspects of presentation like the right depth and speed of their lures rather than the rod bling or modulus rating. It's just more fun to try out the latest and greatest gear though!

I think line is probably the most important and most irritating variable in fishing. You are on the right track though by posting your thoughts and questions. IMO, there's no one rod, reel, or line company that makes the perfect product for each and every situation. The thing about rod and reels though is those are more subjective, meaning an XX dropshot rod may feel the best to you but the Dobyns DX feels the best in my hands. Just because a reel has 10 BB doesn't mean it's going to feel smoother than one with 7 BB. Line can be more objectively evaluated; diameter, stretch, hardness/abrasion resistance, knot strength, etc. But where the variability comes in is we as end users. The knots we choose and tie, the lb. test we use for the situation, the UV exposure, the cover we fish, etc. My opinion is one can have the "right" rod and reel but if the wrong line is chosen the end result is not good. Compared with using a 'suboptimal' rod or reel but the right line, which will result in success more often than the previous scenario. All that said, the pros are tied to one sponsor so the have to use i.e. Sunline for all purposes. We don't. So one suggestion is to use Siege, Sniper, P-line, whatever - for the given situation. Mono for topwater, braid for punching, FC for dropshot, etc. Most have budgetary concerns as well or we'd spool up with Tatsu in every lb test, lol. Or just make things easy and remove as many variables as possible and keep using Sunline (or Seaguar) for everything but as others mention, size up in lb. test for the situation and adjust lure weight accordingly. That is what I would do.

Yes, the most versatile way would be to use braid main line, say 30-50 lb and switch out your leader based on the cover, etc. you're faced with. But, to simplify things, you could go with straight fluoro like 15-20 lb. test if you do mostly T rigging plastics. Also, if you fish mostly stained to dirty water then don't even bother with a leader.

I think this is most likely true for most anglers (including me), they just want to have the option to fish with every style of lure known to man. I love fishing soft plastics too but would find it difficult with only one or two rods. I think you have a good idea of selling tackle you don't really use in order to buy one or two really nice combos. I'd be perfectly happy with one spinning and one baitcasting combo.

I can tell you that I've fished GYCB Senkos since they were first introduced and since then have also fished quite a few knock-offs in search of a cheaper, more durable, equally effective option. I also fish his single tail and DT grubs for smallies and agree that all his baits are "fragile". You don't want to whip cast those things, lol. If I had to fish with only one lure/bait for bass for the rest of my life, a green pumpkin or watermelon Senko (toss up between 4" or 5") would be in my top three, along with his single tail grub (again a toss up between 4" or 5"). Doubt there will ever be any soft stickbait as good as his Senko. I'll typically catch at least two or three bass per Senko, which means about 20-30 bass per 10 count bag. I doubt I've caught more than 30 smallies on one of my $18 Pointers so in terms of cost to benefit ratio, just fish the originals and be done with it.

A big shout out to A-Jay and Preytorian for the detailed reviews of this new line. I also use 832 (and uni to uni) almost exclusively so I hope my results will be similar. Will order some when I get home from work today!

What's up Pond King? I lived and fished in the SF Bay area for many years and miss it dearly. You've gotten great advice so far but what I would recommend to you is to go directly to Hi's Tackle Box (it used to be on Geary St.) in SF. Those guys know their stuff! Tell them exactly what you can afford and what you want to use the rod for, which I assume is bass only. And don't exclude other rods if what you want is best bang for your buck, etc. And buy the rod that feels best in your hands! GL

X3

I recently sold that rod. It just didn't do what I needed or wanted to do - fish and drag tube baits - even though it was a nice spinning rod. Depending on what you're wanting a long spinning rod for, I can recommend a different Dobyns Extreme.

Oops, meant F not MF. Have no experience with the MF glass version.

Agree with all the above, especially kickerfish's comments. The first crankbait rod I reach for is my 705CB glass (F and MF).

Not sure I want to check out that club Thanks for all the replies, a visit to Cabela's it is.

The local Cabelas has the Boomerangs but I looked them over (in the packaging) and they didn't seem like they'd work as effectively as scissors but maybe I'll try em out if I can't find the KVD cutters or the BPS hemo cutter. It is interesting to see the many options with more people using braid. Thanks for the replies!

Thanks guys. That's the same experience I've had - needing to replace them every year. I know they are inexpensive but I wish there were something that lasted longer that didn't break the bank, relatively speaking. I'll try the KVD scissors. Fishes in trees, I agree that pulling the tag end works the best for making a nice clean cut but I was hoping for something easier since I hate re-tying in general.

I've tried to find the best tool for cutting braid. I've tried Fiskars, clippers, multitools, but is there anything better? I usually use Sufix 832 and Power Pro and don't usually get a real nice clean cut. Maybe I'm being anal about it since it doesn't affect performance only the looks. I've seen the Boomerang (I think that's what it's called) tool on TT but haven't tried it. What do you guys find is best? Thanks.

Absolute tanks. Those are the fish we Northern guys wait all winter for! You got those on Simcoe, I presume?

Another vote for Cabela's Guidewear. I've had mine going on 15 years and it will probably outlast me, lol. One thing I did was buy the Men's Tall size jacket and bibs, not just because I have "basketball" length arms but because I wanted to make sure my wrists and ankles had total coverage when casting and seated. Plus I wear the gear in the colder months and it does a fantastic job keeping me warm. I agree with the others that investing in a quality set of rain bibs and parka will last forever. During the warm months I just wear a lightweight rain jacket and hat since the temps are usually high enough that I don't mind. Unless it's a driving rain or hailstorm as can happen in Michigan summers.

I also have no issues with straight FC on my spinning reel for dropshotting. I only use Sunline Sniper, usually in 7 lb. test. I have tried using straight FC on my tube rod (also spinning) but that's 8 lb. test and the line stiffness (lack of mono-like softness) was very noticeable even with an increase of only 1 lb in test. So I am back to coply to see if I lose anything (feel or abrasion resistance). I'm no expert but with the line choices we have today, there is an optimal line for every fishing situation. The problem is when we as anglers expect or want one single line to cover all bass fishing situations. Or we don't have the patience to work with tools long enough or extensively enough to take advantage of each line. Braid, fluorocarbon, and mono/coply all have their strengths and weaknesses. No question almost all braid floats (I use 832). Mono/copoly stretches the most, in my experience, even though some claim FC stretches just as much. FC is the most dense of all the lines and technically closest to the refractive index of water, which is why trout and bonefish anglers swear by fluoro leaders/lines. That also means other than copolymers, which combine harder FC outer coatings with softer nylon inner cores making them similar in abrasion resistance to pure FC, pure fluorcarbon line is the most abrasion resistant making it the best for rocks, wood, zebra mussels. And in my hands, straight FC has the most slack line sensitivity. Where I fish in the Great Lakes for smallies, there's lots of "dragging" of tubes, grubs and dropshot baits so many guys use braid with FC leaders on spinning gear. But for situations like jig fishing or flickshake/wacky, I feel more bites with straight FC. The ideal scenario is to use the right line for each situation to gain every advantage over the fish and situation. You just need to spend the time to learn each type of line and their respective advantages and disadvantages. No one line is best for all fishing situations. FC is the least user-friendly but it does have clear advantages over braid and mono IMO. Learn to use the line in the right place and it will pay off. And always use a quality line.

Blake, thanks for the hands-on review of the Furys. I agree with rippin there's no standard between rod makers regarding power and action. I fish Falcons and they are like Dobyns (less powerful), and my 13 and St Croix rods feel more powerful than their rating. Using Loomis as the 'gold standard', lol. It seems the $100 price point has become very competitive and that's a good thing for everyone.

I echo everyone's sentiments thus far. I've had many interactions via phone with Adam, Bryan and Sarah and they have all been positive. Rods have arrived on time and in great shape. Will continue ordering from them in the future.

I have a total of 3 Dobyns rods, a Champion and 2 Extremes. Therefore, I am not a 'fanboy' of any rod (or reel) company. There's pros and cons with every rod I use, Loomis, St Croix, Dobyns, Fenwick, etc. You had absolutely nothing positive to say about the rods other than they are overpriced. Guess you're a glass half empty guy who only has negative things to contribute. Do you get jealous of folks who drive Ranger or Lund boats because they're 'paying for the name'? Incredible that almost no one has even seen, touched, or fished with the Fury rods and already the Dobyns 'haters' come out of the woodwork. Tell me Loomis or St Croix don't have rod lines that are overpriced and overrated. I'm not mad, just tired and disappointed at the moronic statements that sometimes get posted online.

And opinions are like, well... So, what rod brands DO you use? Loomis, St Croix, etc? You're paying for a name and overpaying in MY opinion. I own plenty of high end "overpriced" rods (GLX, IMX, Legend Extreme, LTB, Techna AV, Champion Extreme) with the exception of JDM. The way Gary Dobyns builds rods and runs his company is in my opinion the way Gary Loomis once did. Top notch. Dobyns caters to bass fishermen like no other rod company and I will bet his profit margin is nowhere near Loomis or St Croix. Not saying Dobyns is the innovator Loomis is when it comes to blank design but IMO Dobyns rods are the most balanced rods out there, bar none, especially for the price. And Gary D is a hard core bass fisherman, he's not building walleye rods and saltwater rods. The guy knows bass fishing. Not the lightest (which is measurable) but being lightest build doesn't mean balanced. Maybe not the most sensitive (am guessing that's the $550 + tax NRX) but that's subjective and always debatable. People get so caught up in rod weight, looks, name brand, etc. but the bottom line is how a rod feels and performs on the water for what we need it to do and the Champion series of rods are about the best balanced and best-feeling out there for a bass fisherman. There's 60 rods in the Champion line, choice of full and split grip. I'd take them over any rod lineup in that price range with possible exception of MB XX or 13 *** (neither of which I own so can't say for sure). It's like a BMW for a vehicle. People will pay top dollar to say and show they ride around in a BMW. But is it worth the price tag? Are they paying for the name?

I completely disagree with the guys who suggest the gift card and agree with the OP that it is the lazy way out of putting some thought and effort into a gift. As convenient it may be for the giver and recipient, I've gifted my share of cards/certificates but actually appreciate when someone gets me something that I know they put forth time and effort. My suggestion is not to get something top end like an NRX or Stella, as much as any serious basser would love it. To the OP, you stated he has a 13 *** so my suggestion is to give them (***; 800-508-6013) a phone call and have them "trick out" a reel by customizing it for him. Go to their website and check out the "Trickshop" section and you'll get an idea. What that means is you can have the reel customized with some of his (or yours!) favorite colors or something to match one of his present rods. Not sure what the cost would be but give them your budget and I am sure then 13 staff will help. And I have no affiliation with ***... If he doesn't truly appreciate the reel, practice a little catch and release of your own, lol.