A loss 7 year old Dobyns rod dies

mark poulson · Post by **mark poulson** » Tue Oct 14, 2014 5:39 am

I lost a good friend Sunday, my Dobyns Champion 681S XS.
It was a birthday gift back on my 60th.
It had served me for seven years, never complaining when I pulled in fish, both largemouth, smallmouth, and stripers, with it, or when it sat in my rod lock in a sleeve for months sometimes.
Sunday, after catching five fish on a dart head, including a 2-11 largie, and two stripers, a 4 and one way over 5, it broke on a cast, five inches above the fifth guide. It had take me almost five minutes to get the bigger striper to the net, and the smaller one was almost the same. I guess the strain was just too much. After all these years, "her heart was there, but she just didn't have the legs anymore".
It was the first generation rod Gary sold, and I bought it from Ted at J&T. I actually got to fish with it at Casitas, before it went "private", up until the last Top Stick Tournament there.
It lasted through two boats, and two daughters going to college. One of them actually fished with it, and caught fish.
So it had a lot of great memories attached to it. I
For those out there who said the first generation rods broke, you were right. It just took mine a little longer, enough time to make some great memories.

Brian D. · Post by **Brian D.** » Tue Oct 14, 2014 5:52 pm

Mark, that was a wonderful eulogy to a dear friend. RIP G1 Dobyns rod. Now that you have grieved, give Gary a call and I am sure he can help you with moving on and create new memories.

mark poulson · Post by **mark poulson** » Fri Oct 17, 2014 4:19 pm

Brian,
You were right. I emailed Gary and he took care of me.
Thanks for the idea.

jrbasspro · Post by **jrbasspro** » Mon Oct 20, 2014 5:58 am

mark can you PM gary's email to me please
walt

mark poulson · Post by **mark poulson** » Mon Oct 20, 2014 12:07 pm

Done.

Gary Dobyns · Post by **Gary Dobyns** » Wed Oct 22, 2014 8:40 pm

I haven't been here in a little while. Just saw this thread. All of our rods carry a warranty. Gen 1 rods are now about 7 years old or more and will fall under our no hassle policy. A rod 7-8 years old did not have a blank defect or it wouldn't of had this long of a life. There are lots of Gen 1 rods still out there. I was shocked when Kyle Grover showed me one of his "favorites "...a Gen 1 at Delta FLW this year.

When Mark shot me an email about his....I replied and took care of it. He was a little surprised but It's our standard procedure. Many of you guys on here know either me or Richard. We try to make our customers happy and succeed most times.... Mark is getting a FAR better rod in exchange too. I'd bet this new friend will help with his loss