Considering buying an all-purpose casting rod. Looking at St. Croix Avid seris 7 ft. MH 5/16-3/4 oz. or Dobyns Champion seris MH 1/4-3/4 oz. also 7ft. Would be used primarily for smaller plastics, 3/8 oz. bladed jigs, 1.5 square bills, 1/2 oz blade baits, and some 1/2 oz to 5/8 oz. crankbaits.

 

Any opinions would be appreciated.

   Navy Vet here again. Forgot to mention in original post that there is not a lot of money difference between the Avid and Champion. Champion is about $30 more.

   Here's my opinion, for what it's worth.

   The 5/16 -3/4 Avid is MH/XF. I would only use that rod from a boat (not a big problem on this forum!) and then only for jigs and worming, and heavier bottom contact.

   That rod is great, but it is NOT an all-purpose casting rod. Not in the least.      jj

I have this rod and it I use for all the things mentioned.  It is my primary kayak rod.  The only thing I would add is, that if you plan on using weightless soft plastic with this rod, I would go with the 7' M Fast instead.

No experience with the Dobyns here, I'm a St. Croix guy. For an all purpose St. Croix casting rod I'd recommend without a doubt the Avid M/F (AVC66MF) or the Premier M/F (PC66MF). For the St. Croix lineup I use the MH specifically for 1) 3/8 oz bullet weighted Texas rigged soft plastic worms, 2) bottom contact jig with trailer and 3) frogs in pads. The St.C MH rod is a little too heavy for all purpose. The M/F could handle those scenarios if really needed, but the MH might not be as great if used for lighter duty applications.

 

All purpose baitcaster with performance that doesn't break the bank? PC66MF.

 

Your mileage may vary depending on your most often fished region, conditions, species and available dollars.

 

 

I've used the Dobyns Champion XP DC 703C for a couple years, it is a good multi-purpose rod if you're looking in the 1/4-3/4 range.  The Sierra Series are pretty good also for a little cheaper than the Champ XP. I use it for Stick baits, plastic worms, spinner baits, 3/8-1/2oz smaller jigs, 3/8-1/2oz bladed jigs. I wouldn't recommend it for a crankbait rod. 

19 hours ago, haggard said:

No experience with the Dobyns here, I'm a St. Croix guy. For an all purpose St. Croix casting rod I'd recommend without a doubt the Avid M/F (AVC66MF) or the Premier M/F (PC66MF). For the St. Croix lineup I use the MH specifically for 1) 3/8 oz bullet weighted Texas rigged soft plastic worms, 2) bottom contact jig with trailer and 3) frogs in pads. The St.C MH rod is a little too heavy for all purpose. The M/F could handle those scenarios if really needed, but the MH might not be as great if used for lighter duty applications.

 

All purpose baitcaster with performance that doesn't break the bank? PC66MF.

 

Your mileage may vary depending on your most often fished region, conditions, species and available dollars.

 

 

I have owned many St. Croix rods over that last 17 years, most of them m/h or heavy. I have a ml xf avid and other than my spinning rod I have never owned a medium powered St. Croix, but that is going to change! Some of St. Croixs mh rods have gotten softer in the tip, bass x and mojo are good examples, but the mediums I’ve used are much closer to a medium heavy in other brands. A St. Croix medium fast is really really nice, for a lot of things, especially for a braid user like me.

 

I have used the 7’1” mh xf in legend elite. St. Croix is pretty consistent for the most part across the lineup, so I’d think avid/avid x would be similar, it’s a true xf tip. That rod is a bit lighter in the tip compared to the equivalent in mh fast, a bit less versatile maybe but really nice for small Texas rigs and 1/4oz jigs. I do feel a medium fast could handle those same lures with more versatility. 
 

 

I’d go Dobyns. I’ve got a whole fleet of them!  Perfect balance, sensitivity, and weight. Dobyns rods and bass fishing go together like peas and carrots...

 

If going St Croix, I completeyl agree with the others that the M is more what ypu want rather than the MH. St Croixs tend to run on the heavier side in terms of power. That said, Dobyns makes some awesome sticks in their Champion series. Their 705CB would be perfect for the squarebills, bladed jigs and blade baits you mentioned.

I like Dobyns, but I'm not in love with them like other people are.  The Champion XP was the highest tier Dobyns Ive got to lay lands on and even that felt a little heavy.  SC is a safe bet, but the XF is a little stiff for cranks and bladed jigs.  The Fast action would be much more versatile.  If you didnt have the 3/8 bladed jig in the list of baits, I would say go with a Medium Fast.  I found that a M F does really well with 1/4 bladed jigs for relatively open water.  I have some Avids and I love them, but last year I bought a 13 Muse and TBH I like it more then my Avids.  Its slighly lighter, just as or more sensitive and I really like the action of it.  Its cheaper then the Avid as well being 180$.  13 has another rod that uses the same 36t blank as the Muse its called the Omen Black and its the best feeling rod for 140$ that Ive ever used.