Looking for honnest opionions please keep it non biased. I will start off by saying i have 4 St Croix LTB rods and i love them. I am not against try a new rod that fits my needs. I am more worried about liking the other brand more then the croix and then having to spend more money on new rods. But i will make the change if this happens. Rite now i am more interested in the best choice for flipping pitching punching rod.  Again please be honnest and only vote if you have used both and are not a brand loyale subjective person. If you use one or the other feel free to comment on what brand and what rod and why you like it.. Just want to keep the poll to people who have used both. Hence why i didnt even vote on my own poll. Thanks for your time..

 

I dont have a dobyns dealer near me so i cant go get my hands one. And to be quit honest i probably wouldnt be able to tell the diffreence with out fishing with both rigs. The real will be a abu garcia revo rocket.. Thanks Jeramy

Hello and Welcome to BR ~

 

Good Luck with your poll & your search for a new flipping, pitching & punching stick.

 

I've only used St Croix and I'm Bias.

 

So as per your request, I did not participate in your survey.

 

A-Jay

Ty if you have any suggestions on a croix rod thats fine. I just didnt want people voting on the poll if they are brand loyal. But i am alwasy open to suggestions. Just fliping pitching punching rod suggestions though.. Thanks for your time..

 If you like the St Croix Legend Tournament Bass line, then I'd recommend either the TBC79HMF or the TBC711HMF.

 

A-Jay

Check your pm

I haven't used both particular rods, but I have used that St Coix and I've used a couple of other Champion rods (733C FH and 734C FH). Overall, sensitivity gets a small edge to the St Croix in my hands. I thought that the St Croix was extremely tip heavy though, far too much so for tip up presentations anyway; wouldn't matter much for deep cranking if that was the rods purpose (which it does quite well). I think the Dobyns balance a lot better, probably has something to do with the diminutive split grip on the Legend Tournament rods. You can also find much better deals on the Dobyns if you look around, so that would likely be my choice. If you were looking at shorter, lighter action, rods in the Legend Tournament lineup I'd pick on of those for sure. That particular rod isn't one of my favorites though.

Can't participate because I'm croix biased love them. Good luck the LTBs are an awesome stick

Tight lines

Andrew

Ty guys.. 

Are you primarily flipping or pitching and what type of heavy cover??

Tom

coming from someone who owns both, without a doubt go with the Dobyns.  No even close.

Are you primarily flipping or pitching and what type of heavy cover??

Tom

I will be pitching more i would say. But i will also be flipping into some cattails quit often i have pulled my best fish this year off these cattails with shallow cranks. Thats why im in the market for a new rod. I need to get in nooks and catch that lunker..

I use to use legend tournaments and legend Xtremes. Sold all but one for Dobyns champ/champ extremes. Much happier. the LTB (for the most part, not all of them) are very tip heavy. This may get confusing so bear /w me. The 7'6 MHMF wouldn't really be what I'd want to use for simply pitching and flipping. If would be a rod I'd use for light punching. It can pitch and flip but a rod like the 7'3 carolina would be better suited in the LTB line up for pitching/flipping.The 711HMF is a rod I used to own and it was a beast for punching but that's about it. Personally, a mod-fast action is more ideal for punching through mats and st. croix makes a great mod/fast for punching. For pitching/flipping, I want a Fast (xfast is okay, but i prefer fast). On the dobyns side, i'm assuming you want to stay in the LTB price range so I will omit anything about the champ extreme. If I'm punching, I want the 766 over the 765. The 765 makes a fantastic pitching/flipping rod but isn't really what I want to use for punching those 1 1/4oz+ weights. For that, I want the 766. The 766 is a brute of a rod and can still pitching and flip say 3/8 (on the very bottom end) + plastic okay. Long story short, I personally don't want one rod for both pitching/flipping and punching.  you sacrifice too much on one end or another /w each rod BUT it can be done. It's nice to have an excuse to have another rod though =)

 

should say it does depend on the weight you use for the rod. If you aren't punching /w anything over a 3/4oz, get the 765 and it will do it all for you.

I use to use legend tournaments and legend Xtremes. Sold all but one for Dobyns champ/champ extremes. Much happier. the LTB (for the most part, not all of them) are very tip heavy. This may get confusing so bear /w me. The 7'6 MHMF wouldn't really be what I'd want to use for simply pitching and flipping. If would be a rod I'd use for light punching. It can pitch and flip but a rod like the 7'3 carolina would be better suited in the LTB line up for pitching/flipping.The 711HMF is a rod I used to own and it was a beast for punching but that's about it. Personally, a mod-fast action is more ideal for punching through mats and st. croix makes a great mod/fast for punching. For pitching/flipping, I want a Fast (xfast is okay, but i prefer fast). On the dobyns side, i'm assuming you want to stay in the LTB price range so I will omit anything about the champ extreme. If I'm punching, I want the 766 over the 765. The 765 makes a fantastic pitching/flipping rod but isn't really what I want to use for punching those 1 1/4oz+ weights. For that, I want the 766. The 766 is a brute of a rod and can still pitching and flip say 3/8 (on the very bottom end) + plastic okay. Long story short, I personally don't want one rod for both pitching/flipping and punching.  you sacrifice too much on one end or another /w each rod BUT it can be done. It's nice to have an excuse to have another rod though =)

 

should say it does depend on the weight you use for the rod. If you aren't punching /w anything over a 3/4oz, get the 765 and it will do it all for you. 

 

I will be in the 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 OZ range i should have mentioned i have   the 7.4 H/F frog rod LTB..  Its always got braid and a frog tied on it. The real is a revo stx 6.1.

If you go dobyns route then, based on those weights, the 766 would be a much better option. I certainly wouldn't be punching 1 1/2oz weights on the 765. I shouldn't say "certainly" but I wouldn't enjoy it.

If you go dobyns route then, based on those weights, the 766 would be a much better option. I certainly wouldn't be punching 1 1/2oz weights on the 765. I shouldn't say "certainly" but I wouldn't enjoy it.

 

If you dont mind me asking what was your reasons for switching to dobyns? ANd how many Rods did you have of the croix? Not trying to get off topic but that is one of my concerns liking the new rig so much i want to switch all 6 of my setups.. 

If you dont mind me asking what was your reasons for switching to dobyns? ANd how many Rods did you have of the croix? Not trying to get off topic but that is one of my concerns liking the new rig so much i want to switch all 6 of my setups.. 

I had quite a few of the LTB and Xtremes. At the time I started selling for Dobyns, I believe I had around 15. I still have the LTBC68mxf that I just love for topwater/jerkbaits. I forgot I also 2 spinning in the older legend Xtreme. 68mxf and the 69mlxf. Everything else is dobyns champ extreme, champion and a couple savvy. I absolutely hate the  newer LTB sk2 reel seat. some like it but it is the most uncomfortable seal i've used. the tip heaviness was bothersome. got worse on the new models.  Their selection of rods is very limited the furthe up the line you go. Dobyns balance better, are more comfortable to fish and i'm never left wanting more when I use them. don't get me wrong, st. croix makes some quality rods. Their scV blank is one of the best in the business. They just don't hit the mark for me anymore.

Well said and thanks for sharing.. I love my LTB 68MF for jerkbaits/popper as well one of my favorite setups.

Just a little update. I pulled the trigger on the Dobyns champion 766. After much debate and calling both companys i was still leaning croix. But then i said what the heck ive been wanting to try a dobyns and see if the hype is true. So i will have the rod tommorow and will be fishing saturday rain or shine. I will post a update with a photo for people to read thanks for all the help.. 

 

Im thinking 80lb braid any suggestions on brand of braid if 80lb is overkill?

Power pro and. 80 lbs might be a little over kill.. I would say 60 is plenty enough..Let us know how you like the new rod

Ok TY and will do..

 

Gonna fish saturday but its looking like overcast and high 50s water temp last weekend was almost 60 fishing has been decent but a cold front moved in saturday night and shut them down for the most part sunday morning. I fished from 5:30 till noon and caught 4 bass biggest 3lbs and smallest was a dinker maybe a 1lb. Did get on some crappie mid morning. The ol lady killed me she had 6 nice bass i dont get it we go out iim working the baits hard  and she is in the back of the boat drinking coffe daydreaming and kicks my butt. Dont like to say but she definatly has the biggest fish of the year so far and bigger then anything i have caught before. 2 weekends ago she got a nice 6 lber and then proceded to rub it in after i told her it was bigger then anything i have caught. But i cant complain being engaged to a women that loves fishing as much as me has its perks. She doesent say **** when i want to go shopping cause she knows she will get to go too.. And she gets spend some money too... Sorry for getting side tracked and babbling.. 

Just a little update. I pulled the trigger on the Dobyns champion 766. After much debate and calling both companys i was still leaning croix. But then i said what the heck ive been wanting to try a dobyns and see if the hype is true. So i will have the rod tommorow and will be fishing saturday rain or shine. I will post a update with a photo for people to read thanks for all the help.. 

 

Im thinking 80lb braid any suggestions on brand of braid if 80lb is overkill?

 

I too have LTB's and I recently purchased a Dobyns this past December. I got a Champion 736C. Although I enjoy my LTB's, which are a bit tip heavy. I really enjoy my Dobyns. Balances a whole lot better. You are going to really enjoy your new rod. Congrats!

I've found Croix blanks to be a bit more sensitive, as well as a touch heavier. In the factory world, Dobyns gets ya with the balance.

Im such a sucker for fishing rods. I have another update i ended up catching one hell of deal not gonna say where cause i am not sure if they are a board sponser. Or if they even want me to say. But it was to good to pass up.

 

I orderd a 

 

Dobyns

1-735c
1-745dx
1-705cb
1-734c
2- revo premiers for myself and 2 SXs for the ol lady to use on the LTBs. i will still be using them some as well. for cranking and jerkbaits. keeping one of the LTBs set up for frogs for girl. 

Good line up to start with right there.

I promise you that you'll end up wanting more.

TY..  And i couldnt of picked them out with out the help of iabass8...