Can you guys give me a quick guide to Dobyns rods? From what I've heard, I Dobyns Medium Heavy Fast is more like a Medium Fast. That would mean a Dobyns Heavy would handle like a Medium Heavy and so on. 

What I'm wanting is a rod to take place of a Medium Fast action rod. That would mean I'd throw Texas rigs, spooks, poppers, and the occassional spinnerbait. 

They fish 1 power lighter. Their 3 power is what I call a medium. For what you listed above the 3 power might not do the 'best' depending on how heavy your t rigs and spinnerbaits are.  

Power ratings are like belly buttons, each manufacturer has it´s own power rating, interpretation of power ratings is also like a belly button, why ? you can´t give an interpretation without establishing a known rating for comparison ( I own X brand, so this brand I want to compare how it stands ), because we are back to point one, each manufacturer has it´s own power rating.

 

4 hours ago, rippin-lips said:

They fish 1 power lighter. Their 3 power is what I call a medium. For what you listed above the 3 power might not do the 'best' depending on how heavy your t rigs and spinnerbaits are.  

x2

you want a 3 power for what you describe

I just recently bought a powell max 3d rod which I beleive uses a similar power rating scale as dobyns, it's a 723 mh which feels very close in power to my  7'3" mh duckett micro magic pro, I'd that helps at all

There's no right or wrong. Rod ratings are all subjective. Look at lure weight ratings first then power label to possibly get an idea how much butt it has. Asking for feedback from other users as you've done here is a good idea but fishing one for yourself is the only real way to get your answer 

i have 2, 3 and 4 power dobyns rods.  i'd opt for the 3 on what you've listed and seem to be looking for.

 

2 hours ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

 get an idea how much butt it has.  

I like butt. 

 

It is interesting how varied rod ratings are from one manufacturer to another. Fenwick medium are like a heavy ml while some Croix med are more mh, Imo.

When browsing dobyns rods, I was almost set on a 2 power but this thread may have changed my mind. 

Are all of their rod series 1 power lighter than rated? 

Just now, I.rar said:

 

I like butt. 

 

It is interesting how varied rod ratings are from one manufacturer to another. Fenwick medium are like a heavy ml while some Croix med are more mh, Imo.

When browsing dobyns rods, I was almost set on a 2 power but this thread may have changed my mind. 

Are all of their rod series 1 power lighter than rated? 

All of the ones I owned were to me. 

3 minutes ago, I.rar said:

 

 

Are all of their rod series 1 power lighter than rated? 

 

For the most part, yes. However, their new DXHP series seems to fish closer to what they are rated from the limited use this year but I think that's due to the blank upgrade and the blanks being faster in action. 

The 3 to me is a medium. Their 733s are great. But I personally would be more likely to grab my Champ 734 (4 power) or something like it for weighted Texas rigs, 1/2 oz jigs, spooks, and 1/2 oz or bigger spinnerbaits. The 734 is medium heavy -- strong but real nice to cast. Now, my Champion 682 is really light, fun and easy for lighter baits like weightless flukes or senkos. So, yeah, the 3 is a medium for sure.

I have a 705 CB that feels medium because of the medium action even though its a five and is supposed to be medium heavy. I keep a trap on that at all times. It's perfect for that and can throw the trap about 5 miles in calm wind. And I have a 735 that's quite heavy and is almost always sporting a hollow frog. The tip is a little stiff for my taste but I guess its worth it to send home that double hook into some tough jaws.

I really like my Dobyns rods. I bet you'll eventually end up with a few of them!

The 3-power is a medium to me, but I think the techniques specified are more suited to a 734.

My 703 definitely fishes light, I'd say more as a medium than a medium-heavy. My DX745 is a mag-heavy, but fishes more like a heavy (h*ll it's more like a medium-heavy IMHO haha). So definitely off by 1 power. 

It sounds like you need a 3-power too.

2 power - medium light

3 - medium

4 - medium heavy 

5 - heavy

As long as the lure weight falls within the ratings of the rod you should be fine. Don't over think it. I throw 1/2 oz - 3/4 oz topwater frogs on a 3 and 4 power rod all the time and I prefer them over 5 power that most people recommend. It's personal preference and if it works for you then that's all that matters.

20 hours ago, I.rar said:

 

I like butt. 

 

It is interesting how varied rod ratings are from one manufacturer to another. Fenwick medium are like a heavy ml while some Croix med are more mh, Imo.

When browsing dobyns rods, I was almost set on a 2 power but this thread may have changed my mind. 

Are all of their rod series 1 power lighter than rated? 

You can't say they're one power lower than rated because there's no definition or standard what 1,2 or 3 power, med, mh etc is. That's the problem. Across the board Dobyns tend to be on the lighted end and st croix on the higher with everything in between. None of them can be said to be "right" though. 

Keep in mind the champion series line (non crankbaits rods) is different 

3MH/F, 4H/F, 5MH/XF, 6H/XF 

the best way to figure out what each rods power is, using their website and search through rods they also list recommended techniques for each and every Rod they make. 

As far as comparing to other brands it's each persons opinion of what power Rod they are comparing. ^ what DVT said

The 703 is a great all around rod in my opinion . I use it for spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, and t rigs. Their  MH is more like a M I think.