I've narrowed it down to these 4 rods for my next spinnerbait only rod. Help me choose please

Dobyns savvy micro guide

Powell endurance

Powell max

Shimano crucial

I am not overly familiar with all of the rod lines listed in great detail except dobyns. Referencing your previous post about spinnerbaits in 3/8-1/2 oz range I would look at the dobyns savy series 734. This is a 7'3 rod with a nice tip for baits in that range especially if you will be fishing heavier weed lines. It has plenty of power to move fish quickly away from heavy cover or potential snags. If you don't feel like your lakes present the above problems you could also try the 733 but this rod may not be great for those 1/2 oz spinnerbaits. A nice compromise would be the 703.

For reference I have a 734 paired with a Lews speed spool I use as a dedicated spinnerbait and swimjjg out fit for baits between 3/8/-5/8 oz. The rod and reel balance nicely and look sharp together.

On a side note I am using the standard guide model over the micro guide model.

Second side note... if you are wanting to make a rod decision fairly soon the good folks down at the hookuptackle are having a 20% off sale through January 6th I believe. You can get this rod for about $140ish with free shipping. They may be able to give you advice on rod selections from the above brands you noted. Their customer service is outstanding and all of folks I have talked to there been more than helpful and curtious.

_{I love my 733 dobyns champ for spinnerbaits}

You are the only person who can make that decision. Go to a local tackle shop that carries those rods and put a reel like the one you plan to use on the rod, with line and a casting weight, then try casting. The right rod for you should be a easy choice after touching and feeling it.

The other decision point is warranty , customer service and cost of replacement.

Good luck.

Tom

I've narrowed it down to these 4 rods for my next spinnerbait only rod. Help me choose please

Dobyns savvy micro guide

Powell endurance

Powell max

Shimano crucial

 Here is my experience with the rods you've listed:

 

Dobyns Savvy : I will say I think this rod is the best balanced of the bunch, but other than that, the rod feels dead. Not as much sensitivity as I would have hoped, and was dissapointed at the lack of crispness in the rod. I didn't like it so it got sold after about a month or two.

 

Powell Max/Endurance: These are some of my favorite rods out there, the balance is great on these rods, and the sensitivity is top notch! Very comfortable, and very crisp. Note though even though most of them are labeled XF, they fall somewhere between a true XF and a true F, closer to XF though. Keep that in mind when looking at the action charts for these. Now what's the difference between the Max and Endurance? Very simple, the colorways, and every guide on the Endurance is one size smaller than the Max (Standard size) so it kinda gives you a bit of a micro guide feel but without micros.

 

Shimano Crucial: I really like this rod, the balance is good, sensitivity is good, and is fairly crisp. I dont like the styling though, and the uplock reel seat has given me problems, but only twice in about 4 months, however i'm chaulking it up to me not tightening it enough, or something like that. Overall I like the rod and would purchase another one, but next to my Powells it just feels like it is lacking something, however I couldn't point my finger on it.

 

Overall, I would go with the Powell's or the Crucial. Both are great rods and should serve you very well, I think they are the best two options in the price range. I would suggest, however, that you go out and put a reel on both for feel and judge for yourself. I would personally opt for the Powell.

BASSclary that's awesome input on each rod I mentioned !! Do you find a difference between the "endurance" and the "max" sensitivity,comfort, or balance wise?

I don't like that savvy at all, like a pervious poster said it feels absolutly dead as far as sensitivty goes. I have a powell max and love it, never used an endurance but I think it just a max with a different paint job and different sizes/actions.

Go with A dobyns, I have two champions and love them with another champ flipping rod on its way , and I have a crucial and they don't have as much sensitivity and weigh more IMO, can't speak for Powell rods

The rod in question is a spinnerbait rod. Sensitivity is not a top priority for this technique to be able to effectively fish them. Ideally the rod should be comfortable for extended periods of time with constant cast and retrieve. The amount of sensitivity found in all the brands of rods in question are plenty sensitive for this technique.

The endurance is a better choice if you opt for a Powell rod. I have the 695 rod and feel it is more sensitive than the max series. Balance on both are about the same depending on the reel used.

If we were talking about a bottom contact rod I would steer you towards the endurance line unless the recon was in your list of options. But for a spinnerbait rod I would take the dobyns.

Another thing has anyone used the Powell max TW composite spinnerbait rod?

http://www.***.com/Powell_Max_TW_Composite_Spinnerbait_Casting_Rod/descpage-SCRP.html

I'd go with the Savvy. IMO, you don't need to spend over 150ish for a rod used for moving presentations. Is it important to have a sensitive rod, yes. But, at least on my budget, I can't justify spending THAT much on a spinnerbait rod. Plus Dobyns makes an excellent product. Really, you can't go wrong with any of them though.

I don't fish spinnerbaits, but the one Savvy I ever bought and fished felt "dead" in my hands too. I own a couple of Powell Maxes; very nice rods for the money IMO. For what it's worth, the baitcasting Max (753 FB jig rod is the one I have) feel more balanced than the spinning ones (owned a 703, still have a 733).

Off that list id go with the endurance...

Give Gary Dobyn's a call, he supports youth bass fishing and you will not be disappointed.

Tom

BASSclary that's awesome input on each rod I mentioned !! Do you find a difference between the "endurance" and the "max" sensitivity,comfort, or balance wise?

 

I dont have them in identical models, however, the closest I have is a 6'8" M/XF and a 6'7" MH/XF and they both balance very well. In comparable models, I doubt a would see a noticeable difference. They're equal rods IMO, just depends on if you want a smei-micro experience.