Getting my first baitcaster and am really struggling with what to get. I only bank fish ponds and most of all my Hard baits are 1/4oz-3/8 (Mainly 1/4) and maybe some 1/4-3/8Oz spinnerbaits (occasional 1/2oz frog) I fish t-rigs with 1/8-1/4 oz weight. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. I got a lot of gift cards to Dicks and have been looking at the Dobyns Sierra 703,704 and the Daiwa Tatula 7’3” MH Fast. I’m open to any other recommendations on rods as well. Trying to stay sub $200. Thanks 

734C

I have a handful of Tatula rods, 6'10" MH/F prior gen, 7' M/R glass (r or regular is basically mod. fast on glass and closer to fast for graphite rods), 7'2" MH/R glass, 7'1' MH/XF (new this year), and a 7'1" H/F. My oldest son has two Dobyns Sierra rods, a 704C (labeled as H/F but basically MH+/F comparable to Daiwa's MH/F) and a 703C (labeled MH/F but more of a MH/F or M+/F, comparable to Daiwa's M/F).

While I haven't got to use the Daiwa 7'1" MH/XF yet, it feels very close to the Dobyns 704C in overall power and action. It's not the extra fastest extra fast rod that I've seen and the 704C has a solid tip on it. Both rods should be good for weighted soft plastics, jigs up to 1/2oz plus spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, paddle tail swimbaits, hollow body frogs if you run braid and the like. I have fished 1/2oz jigs on my Tatula MH/F rod as well, but that rod is better suited for 3/8oz jigs.

 

The Dobyns Sierra 703C has a lot less tip than the 704C. That really is more of a mod. fast rod than fast, and I would say you can fish light, weightless soft plastics on it but I would not use anything more than a 1/16oz weight with a senko -- and that might even be better fished on the 704C. It's also great for squarebills, jerkbaits and topwaters and even 3/8oz and under spinnerbaits, but it's more of a medium plus with a mod. fast tip rod so it would not be comprable to a Daiwa.

 

Both lines of rods are very good rods and at a price where you get what you pay for. I would suggest either the Daiwa Tatula 7'1" MH/F rod for your needs as it will have slightly less tip than the Sierra 704C and may be a little better with the lighter lures and can still handle fishing a frog. If it wasn't for the frog I would say to downside your weights on your t-rigs and the Dobyns Sierra 703C would be great for those lighter lures.

2 minutes ago, Boomstick said:

I have a handful of Tatula rods, 6'10" MH/F prior gen, 7' M/R glass (r or regular is basically mod. fast on glass and closer to fast for graphite rods), 7'2" MH/R glass, 7'1' MH/XF (new this year), and a 7'1" H/F. My oldest son has two Dobyns Sierra rods, a 704C (labeled as H/F but basically MH+/F comparable to Daiwa's MH/F) and a 703C (labeled MH/F but more of a MH/F or M+/F, comparable to Daiwa's M/F).

While I haven't got to use the Daiwa 7'1" MH/XF yet, it feels very close to the Dobyns 704C in overall power and action. It's not the extra fastest extra fast rod that I've seen and the 704C has a solid tip on it. Both rods should be good for weighted soft plastics, jigs up to 1/2oz plus spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, paddle tail swimbaits, hollow body frogs if you run braid and the like. I have fished 1/2oz jigs on my Tatula MH/F rod as well, but that rod is better suited for 3/8oz jigs.

 

The Dobyns Sierra 703C has a lot less tip than the 704C. That really is more of a mod. fast rod than fast, and I would say you can fish light, weightless soft plastics on it but I would not use anything more than a 1/16oz weight with a senko -- and that might even be better fished on the 704C. It's also great for squarebills, jerkbaits and topwaters and even 3/8oz and under spinnerbaits, but it's more of a medium plus with a mod. fast tip rod so it would not be comprable to a Daiwa.

 

I would suggest either the Dobyns Sierra 704C or 734C or Daiwa Tatula 7'1" MH/XF or MH/F rods for your needs, only because you mentioned you want to fish a frog. For the smaller and lighter lures however, you would really like the Dobyns  703C or 733C.

So if I did a frog on a separate rod you would drop down to the 703 or 733c then or would you stay with the 4 power

7 minutes ago, Steve S said:

So if I did a frog on a separate rod you would drop down to the 703 or 733c then or would you stay with the 4 power

Yeah, if you were to fish the frog on a separate rod and fish your t-rigs either weightless or with a 1/16oz weight, the 703C would be perfect. It has a bit more flex and can can fish treble hooked baits nicely and throw lighter lures far but it's not a rod I would throw anything larger than light finesse  jigs on, and I would not use it for a frog. Ideally both the 703C and 704C rods would compliment each other very nicely.

53 minutes ago, Boomstick said:

Yeah, if you were to fish the frog on a separate rod and fish your t-rigs either weightless or with a 1/16oz weight, the 703C would be perfect. It has a bit more flex and can can fish treble hooked baits nicely and throw lighter lures far but it's not a rod I would throw anything larger than light finesse  jigs on, and I would not use it for a frog. Ideally both the 703C and 704C rods would compliment each other very nicely.

Sounds like the 704 from what your saying would be a better all purpose rod compared to the 3 power

11 minutes ago, Steve S said:

Sounds like the 704 from what your saying would be a better all purpose rod compared to the 3 power

Not necessarily. For the most part, a medium heavy fast tipped rod (basically the  704C) is a better all-situation rod (can fish cover better) but as far as the number of presentations, a medium rod is every bit as versatile or maybe more so.

 

Things you're not going to fish on the 704C: most treble hooked lures, except for large ones, preferably with heavy replacement hooks. So not a good crankbait, popper or jerkbait rod.

 

Things you're not going to fish on the 703C: T-Rigs with over 1/8oz weight (I would personally use 1/16oz oz like I suggested before), jigs, frogs, 1/2oz+ lures

 

Since it sounds like you have a lot of lighter lures, it sounds like the 703C might be a better rod for most of your lures. Also you can fish a 3/8oz spinnerbait on both. The 703C will launch a 3/8oz spinnerbait, but on the 704C you're going to need a meaty keitech trailer to get near the same distance. If you don't always use a trailer, a 1/2oz spinnerbait will get significantly better casting distance. While you can fish a T-Rig on both, the 704C will definitely have better hooksetting power especially in weeds, but the lighter weights are generally better in clear water. It's all about what you plan to use it for.

6 hours ago, Boomstick said:

Not necessarily. For the most part, a medium heavy fast tipped rod (basically the  704C) is a better all-situation rod (can fish cover better) but as far as the number of presentations, a medium rod is every bit as versatile or maybe more so.

 

Things you're not going to fish on the 704C: most treble hooked lures, except for large ones, preferably with heavy replacement hooks. So not a good crankbait, popper or jerkbait rod.

 

Things you're not going to fish on the 703C: T-Rigs with over 1/8oz weight (I would personally use 1/16oz oz like I suggested before), jigs, frogs, 1/2oz+ lures

 

Since it sounds like you have a lot of lighter lures, it sounds like the 703C might be a better rod for most of your lures. Also you can fish a 3/8oz spinnerbait on both. The 703C will launch a 3/8oz spinnerbait, but on the 704C you're going to need a meaty keitech trailer to get near the same distance. If you don't always use a trailer, a 1/2oz spinnerbait will get significantly better casting distance. While you can fish a T-Rig on both, the 704C will definitely have better hooksetting power especially in weeds, but the lighter weights are generally better in clear water. It's all about what you plan to use it for.

Is there a big difference between the Fury and the Sierra 703C or are the actions the same? I feel like I enjoy a slightly light action. I have the most fun fishing Ned rigs on a light action ugly stick. 

21 hours ago, Steve S said:

Is there a big difference between the Fury and the Sierra 703C or are the actions the same? I feel like I enjoy a slightly light action. I have the most fun fishing Ned rigs on a light action ugly stick. 

I don't have too much experience with the Fury, I only got to put them through the paces poking the tips in stores but I would imagine the general actions between the two should be close. I am told the Sierra is a bit more sensitive, but I know many people recommend the Fury lineup for the price too. I am told the Fury is similar to the St. Croix Mojo Bass, and my other son has a few of them and I have one too and they are also good rods, so if that's true then I would have no reservations with the Fury if you are looking to save some money -- or maybe buy a 703C and 704C.

Hardbaits/moving baits...   get a Fury over a Sierra.   Get a Tatula over both.  (I've owned all 3).

On 12/27/2019 at 5:00 PM, webertime said:

Hardbaits/moving baits...   get a Fury over a Sierra.   Get a Tatula over both.  (I've owned all 3).

Excuse me, I love to dig the older threads. Can you elaborate how is the Tatula better than Sierra? Thanks!