So after waiting for several months, the new Dobyns Champion 804C's have arrived. After watching the prototype video on TW, and speaking with Richard and Gary, I was sold. I placed my order around the end of December or early January and just sat and waited. After the container with the rods got into the US, they were then held up by Customs for a while. Then the long holiday weekend held up my shipment another couple days just to torment me. Was totally worth the wait though. Now, the rod is named a Carolina Rig Special, but it is definitely not limited to that. It's a great multi use big rod. Lighter flipping, swimbaits, alabama rigs, big spinnerbaits, etc etc. I bought it primarily to use as a soft swimbait rod in grass. I can honestly say, it may well be the best rod I've ever used for that technique.

You can absolutely launch a paddletail into the stratosphere with this thing. I was using an 1/8 ounce Owner Beast and a Gambler Big EZ today just playing around with it, and was blown away at how far you can throw it. The nice long handle on the rod definitely helps out with casting.

It has the power of a 745, with the length of an 805. It really doesn't feel like an 8 footer in your hands. Balances right at the winding check atop the reel seat with a Citca 200E. For you guys that like fishing paddletails and other soft swimbaits through heavy grass, you really should take a look at this rod. I really wish I had bought two of them.....

Good luck with your new Dobyns Rod.

Sounds sweet for that purpose.

You gotta love those Dobyns rods! I wonder if they will come out with an 804 Extreme?

Awesome Eric! That 804 sounds perfect for the kind of fishing we do. I wasn't in the market for a new rod, but that might have just changed!

Awesome Eric! That 804 sounds perfect for the kind of fishing we do. I wasn't in the market for a new rod, but that might have just changed!

Next time our schedules match up; I'll let you take it for a test drive, Mike. I was very surprised with it. I liked my other paddletail rod, but this one blows it off the water, quite literally...

You say that Customs held up the rods. Where are they made? I thought in the US.

You say that Customs held up the rods. Where are they made? I thought in the US.

Korea.