I'm thinking about upgrading my finesse jig rod. Right now, I use a Powell Max 733 (medium, extra-fast).

I was wondering if any of you guys have the Dobyns DX 743SF (champion extreme spinning, medium power, fast action). I'd like the know about the action on it, especially compared to a Powell Max extra-fast (which is midway between a fast and a true XF imo).

Also, how well does it cast a 3/16 oz jig? A 3/8 oz jig? The trailer might vary from a Rage Baby Craw to a Rage Lobster, for a given jig. So it's a pretty big range.

I'm specifically looking for responses from people who has/ fished the self-same Dobyns, or a comparable spinning rod in the Champion/ Champion Extreme series.

The line used would be 6 lb dia braid.

3/8 oz. would be pushing the limits of the rod. 1/8-1/4 would be fine.

3/8 oz. would be pushing the limits of the rod. 1/8-1/4 would be fine.

it's rated for 3/16 oz to 5/8 oz...

P.S. when I say finesse jigs, I mean small jigs that I like to finesse fish. The lakes I fish have so much junk on the bottom that a football headed finesse jig would pick up a bunch of trash.

Just realized you were talking about the spinning rod. No experience.

The rod will handle those jigs just fine. I often throw a 1/4oz tube or darthead on the rod and it is not stressing it at all. It could go up to 3/8oz with no problems. Now I do throw this out in open water but with the right line it will do just fine. I previously did use the 733 powell spin rod and the actions are different, the Powell is definitely heavier and heavier in your hand, however the Dobyns will handle those jigs just fine for you. This is my ALL TIME favorite spinning rod ever, I use a lot of baits on the 2 I own and I love them. Hope you enjoy yours as much as I enjoy mine.

I have never handled the 743, but I own a 3 power Dobyns Champion Extreme spinning rod, the DX 703SF.

Tossing a jig with a Lobster on the DX 703SF would be way overkill. Even a 3/8 oz jig with a average sized trailer with a total weight of about an ounce would severely overpower it and wouldn't allow for good hooksets. I fish 4-5" Senkos, flukes, and smaller 3/8 oz jerkbaits like the Pointer 78 on it.

The rod will handle those jigs just fine. I often throw a 1/4oz tube or darthead on the rod and it is not stressing it at all. It could go up to 3/8oz with no problems. Now I do throw this out in open water but with the right line it will do just fine. I previously did use the 733 powell spin rod and the actions are different, the Powell is definitely heavier and heavier in your hand, however the Dobyns will handle those jigs just fine for you. This is my ALL TIME favorite spinning rod ever, I use a lot of baits on the 2 I own and I love them. Hope you enjoy yours as much as I enjoy mine.

By that do you mean the Powell is of a heavier power compared to the Dobyns (as in medium-heavy to medium)?

Almost all of my fishing is in open water, isolated cover (rock piles, laydowns) situations. I also like to use a lighter power and lighter line than most people would...

Honestly, my Powell handles 1/4 to 3/8 oz swim jigs + RI skinny dippers trailers fine - the total weight would be probably around 3/4 oz - but that's the limit. Do you think that a 3/8 oz jig + a Rage Craw is around the sweet point for the Dobyns? That is the sort of jig + trailer I find myself using 90% of the time now-a-days.

What lure weight do you think is the sweet point for the DX743SF? What's the max weight do you think it can comfortably cast?

Also, did you ever put braid and leader on it? The guides are reported to be smaller than the usual Fujis.

I'm sorry for the slew of questions, but I already got burned once with a 3-power Dobyns Savvy I bought on a whim; I had to return that one. Hope you don't mind.

EDIT: Found a great TT style review on the DX702SF.. hopefully the action on the DX743SF is similar.. guess my questions about the "action" are answered, but not the "power".

http://basschat.yuku.com/topic/50

I do not mind at all. The Powell to me definitely felt like it had a heavier action. To be honest with you I haven't used the rod for whole lot of baits. I have not personally used braid on the rod, however I did have my girlfriend throwing 65lb braid and a frog on it and well, she caught fish with it. Definitely not ideal but she is a pretty good shot with a spinning rod compared to a baitcaster so that's what she was using. One thing about the 702 that you are reading the review on, the dx is a finesse special rod, it is VERY light in action, I have that rod as well and the rating is entirely different. I don't throw too heavy of baits on my 743 so I can't give you too much input about what might be the heaviest it can comfortably cast. The baits I use most often and feel the rod is great for are, 1/8-1/4oz dartheads, 1/8-1/4oz tube, 1/4oz jig with 5" double tail yamamoto grub, 5" senko with 1/8oz nail weight, 6" senko wacky rigged with size 1 owner mosquito hook, double rigged weightless flukes. I'm sorry I'm not much help to what you plan on fishing, I really wish you could have the rod in hand as rod actions are really someone's preference. While one person may say this rod is too heavy for 1/8oz dartheads and tubes, I happen to love it for them. What did you not like about the 3 power savvy?

I do not mind at all. The Powell to me definitely felt like it had a heavier action. To be honest with you I haven't used the rod for whole lot of baits. I have not personally used braid on the rod, however I did have my girlfriend throwing 65lb braid and a frog on it and well, she caught fish with it. Definitely not ideal but she is a pretty good shot with a spinning rod compared to a baitcaster so that's what she was using. One thing about the 702 that you are reading the review on, the dx is a finesse special rod, it is VERY light in action, I have that rod as well and the rating is entirely different. I don't throw too heavy of baits on my 743 so I can't give you too much input about what might be the heaviest it can comfortably cast. The baits I use most often and feel the rod is great for are, 1/8-1/4oz dartheads, 1/8-1/4oz tube, 1/4oz jig with 5" double tail yamamoto grub, 5" senko with 1/8oz nail weight, 6" senko wacky rigged with size 1 owner mosquito hook, double rigged weightless flukes. I'm sorry I'm not much help to what you plan on fishing, I really wish you could have the rod in hand as rod actions are really someone's preference. While one person may say this rod is too heavy for 1/8oz dartheads and tubes, I happen to love it for them. What did you not like about the 3 power savvy?

Well, thanks a lot for your inputs. That actually answers most of my questions. I'm going to give the Dobyns guys a call, and see if they can recommend a particular power rod. I also going to find out exactly what a jig + rage craw weighs. If the 743SF does well with **1/4oz jig with 5" double tail yamamoto grub, 5" senko with 1/8oz nail weight, 6" senko wacky rigged with size 1 owner mosquito hook**, I'm pretty sure it will do what I'm trying to do with it, but I better find out for sure.

About the Savvy (703SF): The only thing I liked about it was that it was a very well-balanced rod. I bought it for fishing plastics, sort of dividing the bottom contact duties between the Powell and the Savvy. Sad to say, I couldn't feel a darned thing with that rod. Not with braid, nor with fluoro. Whether it was grass, or rock, or a bite, all I got was a mushy feeling. And to add to that, the workmanship was pretty shoddy (excess epoxy on a couple of guides) and the cork had quite a few pits. I still believe that the particular rod I got was a dud though; I read several good reviews about the Savvy line.

I am glad the examples I gave helped. I'm sorry to hear about the Savvy, I do not personally own a rod from the line yet but I too have heard a lot of great things. I'm sure they will get you hooked up with the right rod and either way I hope you enjoy it and it helps you fish harder and catch more fish!