Rods are not created equal

[Bud Kennedy]

Let me start by saying I have never been a rod junkie.  Never saw a need to have what we would call the latest and greatest available.  My only requirement was a rod that would get the job done.  So through the years as I have gained a little bass fishing knowledge, I started to consider moving to some better equipment.  It is not that I am some highly skilled angler, I simply wanted the best equipment that I was willing to pay for. 

A number of years ago, after joining up at Ultimate Bass, I started to pay attention to some of the discussions relative to a better grade of fishing rods.  I was a but unfamiliar with Dobyns products but since they are a site sponsor their products were mentioned and discussed on an almost daily basis.  I learned some of the lingo that identifies the rods but did not really understand at first.  Years later I think I am fairly familiar with their products but still had not taken the leap and actually purchased one of their products.  Instead, I became totally interested in having a custom rod made by Lee Smith.  So many of the LSCR owners had posted pictures of their custom rods and the idea of having a rod made specifically for me was a real turn on.  So, the bottom line is that I finally ordered a rod from Lee and since I don't know squat about rods, I simply asked him to provide the product that best suited the descriptions I was able to provide.  After the rod arrived it was just so beautiful it was hard to put it in the boat.  It was just too pretty to use.   It did not take long for that to change and soon, the LSCR was in my hands each time I was on the water.  The sensitivity and performance was just so fantastic that it made all of off the shelf rods feel like telephone poles.  It was not long after that when I ordered yet another LSCR but this time I wanted a short rod with a solid backbone and a fast tip.  After speaking with lee it was decided that the new rod would only be 6'6" in length and it would have spiral wrapped guides like my first rod but this time I wanted micro guides.  I don't know why I wanted them I just did.  This rod also was built with a composite grip instead of the Winn grip that my first rod has.  I really like the Winn grips and was not too happy with the composite grip on the new short rod  For some reason I thought they were slippery even though they were not.  I can't explain that it just was a preference thing I guess due to my prior satisfaction with the Winn product.

OK so now I have Two LSCR products but the short rod represented a bit of a problem.  I had paired it with a Lew's BB1 and had nothing but trouble with the reel so being an idiot I blamed it on the rod.  Bottom line was that the new short rod sit idle for almost a year because of all the problems I was having that turned out to be the reel.  I sold the Lew's reel and put on a Daiwa SVTW103 reel and instantly the problems I was having disappeared.  This smaller pattern reel seems to line up better with the micro guides and I was able to start using the small rod.  Here we are a year later and I must say that my favorite rod in my arsenal is the short LSCR.  It just flat delivers what I want and has the backbone to get the job done when you need it.  Today each time I hit the lake the  LSCR rods on on my deck.

So now lets get back to the Dobyns Rods.  I now own two of these products.  I have a 735C for Froggin and a 705CB  both being in the Fury series.  It turns out that these rods also get the job done and I could not be more pleased with their performance and in fact I am now considering getting another one that I really don't need but may have fallen victim to the potato chip syndrome often created by Dobyns purchases.

I have two racks full of rods but only 4 of these rods get any action.  My two LSCR and my two Dobyns.  The rest of these are just taking up space and one day I will get rid of them.  What I have also learned is that the reel selection being considered should also be compatible to the rods you own and buy the reels that get the job done.  I now have boxes full of reels of all types that also need to find another user because I won't use them  It is proven that with each new rod the requirement for a new reel becomes standard operating procedure. 

So here we are in a quandry.  Is the next rod gonna be a LSCR or a Dobyns.  Who knows but one day I would not be surprised if both will become my next purchase.  Heck I might even try a Shimano reel and although that seems unlikely you never know.

For folks reading this post, buy what works for you.  I know what works for me and this is my story and I am sticking to it.

[Terry G]

Good read Bud I agree.

[D.W. Verts]

One of each...

[Bud Kennedy]

I forgot to mention that the reason for buying the short rod is because I find myself sitting down more than in the past.  Although my preference is to stand I find that there is a bit more sitting these days.  The shorter rod makes this a bit easier but not for all styles of presentations.

[Mike Cork]

I've enjoyed watching you ask questions, then re ask questions based on given information to help you find tune your purchases and equipment.

Everyone knows I'm a shimano fan and you've found that Daiwa fit your needs best. But you've used the forum for it's intended use and that's to gleen information and make an informed decision. Hopefully that helped you with a learning curve and saved you money.

Bottom line is, you've found some equipment you really like and it makes the bass fishing experience that much better. 

As far as your next purchases? I'm with DW, one of each for everything...