As some of you know, I am replacing some of my other brand rods with new rods. I want to build my arsenal around one company's products, and it looks like Dobyns won a customer. I currently own a 683 c Champion and I am happy with it, although I seem to miss a lot of hooksets while T-rigging with it. The insert on the tip guide of my 683 grew legs and walked away. I emailed Dobyns customer service and within 30 minutes had two tip guides coming in the mail for free!!!! Richard Dobyns was the one on the other end of the emails and he just sold a bunch of rods!!!!

OK, on to the advice part. As stated I have a 683c. I need three other casting rods and one spinning rod to add to my collection for now. I was thinking of the following rods to start with: extreme 703c for worms and weighted plastics; champ 684c CB for jerks, poppers, sammys, shallow cranks, speed traps etc; champ 764c for c-rigs, pitching, light flipping, and paddle tail swim baits; champ 702s for drop shotting, shaky head, darter head; and of course the 683c, which I already have, for jigs, senkos, flukes and buzz/spinner baits.

I mostly fish t-rigs with all kinds of plastics, jigs, jerk baits (soft and hard), senkos, drop shot, darter/shakey head, and square billed cranks. Will this selection of rods be a good start or should I modify it based on the techniques I mostly fish at this time? Thanks, Dan.

It sounds good to me

Here's my recommendations for part of your list.  This is based on the rods I have experience with.

1) Extreme 703s for shaky heading and finesse

2) Extreme 704c for weighted plastics and jigs.  The 703 is good for me for T-rigs up to 3/16, but I step up to my 704 for anything bigger, and all my jig fishing.  Since you already have the 683, you can use that for lighter/weightless plastics

Here's my recommendations for part of your list. This is based on the rods I have experience with.

1) Extreme 703s for shaky heading and finesse

2) Extreme 704c for weighted plastics and jigs. The 703 is good for me for T-rigs up to 3/16, but I step up to my 704 for anything bigger, and all my jig fishing. Since you already have the 683, you can use that for lighter/weightless plastics

Chris and BASSclary, thanks for the feedback...... Chris, Do you also use the 703s for dropshotting? I will mostly be dropshotting with the sissy stick, but shaky heads and darters are always an option. I typically t-rig with 3/16 to 1/4 tungsten wieghts depending on current and or depth. I rarely go any heavier unless I am punching hydrilla or mats. With that in mind would you still recommend the 4 power?

As some of you know, I am replacing some of my other brand rods with new rods. I want to build my arsenal around one company's products, and it looks like Dobyns won a customer. I currently own a 683 c Champion and I am happy with it, although I seem to miss a lot of hooksets while T-rigging with it. The insert on the tip guide of my 683 grew legs and walked away. I emailed Dobyns customer service and within 30 minutes had two tip guides coming in the mail for free!!!! Richard Dobyns was the one on the other end of the emails and he just sold a bunch of rods!!!!

OK, on to the advice part. As stated I have a 683c. I need three other casting rods and one spinning rod to add to my collection for now. I was thinking of the following rods to start with: extreme 703c for worms and weighted plastics; champ 684c CB for jerks, poppers, sammys, shallow cranks, speed traps etc; champ 764c for c-rigs, pitching, light flipping, and paddle tail swim baits; champ 702s for drop shotting, shaky head, darter head; and of course the 683c, which I already have, for jigs, senkos, flukes and buzz/spinner baits.

I mostly fish t-rigs with all kinds of plastics, jigs, jerk baits (soft and hard), senkos, drop shot, darter/shakey head, and square billed cranks. Will this selection of rods be a good start or should I modify it based on the techniques I mostly fish at this time? Thanks, Dan.

First of all, Richard and the rest of the Dobyns customer service is great, and glad they got you squared away. Always nice to have a company right there ready to ship something your way if needed.

  As for the rods, I'm a firm believer in longer rods, and highly recommend them to everyone.

  The Extreme 742C , you get that added length to help with your casting, and hook sets.

  That 764 is a great rods for the baits you listed. I prefer a 5 power on the paddle tails but I think you'll be just fine especially for C-Rigs ands tuff.

It seems as though you like those lighter power rods as it is, so I won't get into what I actually use  ;D

If you're ever in the Oakland / Walnut Creek / Brentwood area, feel free to PM me and let me know, I'm glad to show you some rods to see what you like.

David, thanks for responding. I'm (kind of) sorry for calling you out, but I know you have extensive experience with Dobyns rods so I wanted your opinion. If you could list the Dobyns rods you use for the techniques I listed as being most used (by me) I would really appreciate it.

Thanks for the offer to check out your rod collection, but unfortunately I don't get up to the bay area all that often.

Here's my recommendations for part of your list. This is based on the rods I have experience with.

1) Extreme 703s for shaky heading and finesse

2) Extreme 704c for weighted plastics and jigs. The 703 is good for me for T-rigs up to 3/16, but I step up to my 704 for anything bigger, and all my jig fishing. Since you already have the 683, you can use that for lighter/weightless plastics

Chris and BASSclary, thanks for the feedback...... Chris, Do you also use the 703s for dropshotting? I will mostly be dropshotting with the sissy stick, but shaky heads and darters are always an option. I typically t-rig with 3/16 to 1/4 tungsten wieghts depending on current and or depth. I rarely go any heavier unless I am punching hydrilla or mats. With that in mind would you still recommend the 4 power?

I don't dropshot much, I use this rod mostly for shaky heads, slider heads and split shot rigs.

If you're anticipating 1/4 or less T-rigs, then the 3 power should be OK. Since you already have the 683, I just thought the 704 might fill a small gap in your arsenal.

David, thanks for responding. I'm (kind of) sorry for calling you out, but I know you have extensive experience with Dobyns rods so I wanted your opinion. If you could list the Dobyns rods you use for the techniques I listed as being most used (by me) I would really appreciate it.

Thanks for the offer to check out your rod collection, but unfortunately I don't get up to the bay area all that often.

Dan,

It's not a problem at all, feel free to always shoot me a PM as well. Sometimes I go a few days without checking on this forum or I skip over things accidentally. I'll get a list of all the rods I use and for what and post them up.