Lure
Delivery, Connection and Catch - Considerations in Rod Selection
By
Doug Lane
Have
you ever felt a bit overwhelmed when looking for a new rod and making that
final decision in your rod choice? What length do I choose? What power and
action should I go with? Graphite or glass? We've all been there at
some point in our fishing experience. There was a time when your options were
really limited. Thirty plus years ago I custom built several rods hoping to
achieve exactly what I wanted in a rod. That is not the case today,
especially with the vast options provided by Dobyns Rods. But that's where the
process starts. Here's some thoughts that might help you make that
perfect rod choice, be it your first or twenty first.
LURE
DELIVERY
I
look at a rod as a three pronged tool. First comes the lure
delivery. Whether you overhead cast, pitch, flip or skip, you have
to present your lure where you want it and how you want it.
For
this. I consider the rod's power, length and action and how those factor
together. You want your rod to deliver the lure as effectively as
possible. Whether you choose spinning or casting, look at the range of
lure weights you plan to cast. The rod you choose should handle that range of
lure weight and the presentation you plan to apply.
Each
Dobyns rod, not only, provides the weight range for lures; but also lists a range
of baits/techniques the rod is designed to cast and work. This is especially
important if you are looking for a versatile rod that can handle a broad range
of lure weights and applications.
The
length of the rod also comes into play. The longer the rod, the more power and
lure speed you generate during your cast. The new Champion 806CB is a
classic example of length designed to "launch" the newer, heavier crankbaits, so popular right now. Dobyns recently added 6'3"rods
for tight quarters casting, where pinpoint accuracy is an absolute must. Proper
rod selection will only enhance your casting ability.
CONNECTION
The
second prong I consider is, how my rod becomes the telegraph and more
specifically, that connection between my pee size brain and my lure.
This
is a critical element because of the need to feel the lure, what it's doing and
as we all hope, when the bass eats it.
Not
every strike takes the proverbial, "rod out of your hand." I
first look at how the rod becomes an extension of my hand and sense of
feel. Some rods are designed to enhance the "feel" of your lure
and detect the slightest bite or change in vibration. The ability for a
rod to transfer that subtle vibration or cease of vibration comes from precise
blank design and high grade materials, guide placement and guide material, reel
seat design and
BALANCE.
Balance
is a feature that is much undervalued by many of today's anglers. A
perfectly balanced rod truly enhances the angler's ability to feel through the
blank and guides so that subtle weight offset is not a distraction to what your
lure is doing. Balance and design comes from years of design experience and
material selection.
Dobyns
provides a full selection of premium rods in the Champion Extreme series that
provide the optimum sensitivity in a rod from tip to grip. I like to call
these my "feel rods." If you want to feel the slack bow in your line
when it jumps or when a fish pushes your bait, this series is worth a serious
look.
THE
CATCHER
The
third prong is how my rod becomes the fish "catcher." Once
again I evaluate rod length, action, power and material and factor how
they work in concert to first hook the fish and then move it from cover and
distance to the ultimate location, my hand or net.
Every
rod is an extension of your hands and arms and translates the power and speed
you generate in your hook setting motion. Having a rod with ample length to
take up slack is very important. Each angler generates speed to the hook during
the hook set and fishing a rod with the optimum " shut off " point
will help you capitalize on that speed and energy.
The
length and action of the rod is paramount to an effective hook set. The speed
you generate can be lost in a rod that is too soft in its action. I ask
myself, what type of hook will apply and what type of cover am I planning to
fish with this rod? Are we punching heavy vegetation with an extra-heavy,
5/0 flippin' hook and braid or pulling a jerkbait with a #4 treble in open water
for smallmouth with monofilament. Each and every catching scenario requires I
factor in, not only the rod's action, but the material and how that material
impacts the rod's action.
The
bottom line is, what I hook, I want to land. Isn't that our goal as
fisherman? Gary Dobyns understands this concept so well and the result is an
extensive line if flippin/punching rods, swimbait rods and my favorite, the
crankbait series. The fact I can choose either, graphite or glass
composite in various lengths and actions, affords me and you the ability to
fine tune exactly what rod we want for the task at hand.
Try
this process in your next rod selection and consider each prong as you define
the performance and expectations for your next rod and assure your choice is
the right choice the very first time, be it the Extreme, Champion, Savvy,
or brand new Fury Series,.. And don't forget !! If you ever need
assistance or some personal advice, call the shop. Dobyns Rods
staff prides themselves in taking your questions, hearing your needs and
applying their expertise to help you put the right rod in your hand. The best
place to start is at the beginning when the name on the rod is DOBYNS.
Photo:
Minnesota Vikings DE Brian Robison "When he's not catching Quarterbacks,
he's catching BIG BASS/Courtesy of Dobyns Rods Photos
I look at a rod as a three pronged tool. First
comes the lure delivery. Whether you overhead cast, pitch, flip or skip,
you have to present your lure where you want it and how you want it.
For this I consider the rod's power, length and action and how those
factor together. You want your rod to deliver the lure as effectively as
possible. Whether you choose spinning or casting, look at the range of
lure weights you plan to cast. The rod you choose should handle that range of
lure weight and the presentation you plan to apply. Each Dobyns, rod not
only provides the weight range for lures, but also lists a range of
baits/techniques the rod is designed to cast and work. This is especially
important if you are looking for a versatile rod that can handle a broad range
of lure weights and applications. The length of the rod also comes into play.
The longer the rod, the more power and lure speed you generate during your
cast. The new Champion 806CB is a classic example of length designed to
"launch" the newer heavier crankbaits so popular right now. Dobyns
recently added 6 foot 3 inch rods for tight quarters casting where pin point
accuracy is an absolute must. Proper rod selection will only enhance your
casting ability.
The second prong I consider is, how my rod becomes the
telegraph and more specifically, that connection between my pee size brain and
my lure. This is a critical element because of the need to feel the lure, what
it's doing and as we all hope, when the bass eats it. Not every strike
takes the proverbial, "rod out of your hand." I first look at
how the rod becomes an extension of my hand and sense of feel. Some rods
are designed to enhance the "feel" of your lure and detect the
slightest bite or change in vibration. The ability for a rod to transfer
that subtle vibration or cease of vibration comes from precise blank design and
high grade materials, guide placement and guide material, reel seat design and
BALANCE. Balance is a feature that is much undervalued by many of today's
anglers. A perfectly balanced rod truly enhances the angler's ability to
feel through the blank and guides so that subtle weight offset is not a
distraction to what your lure is doing. Balance and design comes from years of
design experience and material selection. Dobyns provides a full selection of
premium rods in the Champion Extreme series that provide the optimum
sensitivity in a rod from tip to grip. I like to call these my "feel
rods." If you want to feel the slack bow in your line when it jumps or
when a fish pushes your bait, this series is worth a serious look.
The third prong is how my rod becomes the fish
"catcher." Once again I evaluate rod length, action,
power and material and factor how they work in concert to first hook the fish
and then move it from cover and distance to the ultimate location, my hand or
net. Every rod is an extension of your hands and arms and translates the power
and speed you generate in your hook setting motion. Having a rod with ample
length to take up slack is very important. Each angler generates speed to the
hook during the hook set and fishing a rod with the optimum " shut off
" point will help you capitalize on that speed and energy. The length and
action of the rod is paramount to an effective hook set. The speed you generate
can be lost in a rod that is too soft in it's action. I ask myself what
type of hook will apply and what type of cover am I planning to fish with this
rod? Are we punching heavy vegetation with an extra heavy heavy 5/0
flippin hook and braid or pulling a jerkbait with a #4 treble in open water for
smallmouth with monofiliment. Each and every catching scenario requires I
factor in, not only the rod's action, but the material and how that material
impacts the rod's action. The bottom line is, what I hook, I want to
land. Isn't that our goal as fisherman? Gary Dobyns understands this
concept so well and the result is an extensive line if flippin/punching rods,
swimbait rods and my favorite, the crankbait series. The fact I can
choose either, graphite or glass composite in various lengths and actions,
affords me and you the ability to fine tune exactly what rod we want for the
task at hand.
Try this process in your next rod selection and consider
each prong as you define the performance and expectations for your next rod and
assure your choice is the right choice the very first time, be it the
Extreme, Champion, Savvy, or brand new Fury Series,.. And don't forget !!
If you ever need assistance or some personal advice, call the shop.
Dobyns Rods staff prides themselves in taking your questions, hearing
your needs and applying their expertise to help you put the right rod in your
hand. The best place to start is at the beginning when the name on the rod is
DOBYNS.
built several rods hoping to achieve exactly
what I wanted in a rod. That is not the case today, especially with the
vast options provided by Dobyns Rods. But that's where the process starts.
Here's some thoughts that might help you make that perfect rod
choice, be it your first or twenty first.
I look at a rod as a three pronged tool.
First comes the lure delivery. Whether you overhead cast, pitch,
flip or skip, you have to present your lure where you want it and how you
want it. For this I consider the rod's power, length and action and how those
factor together. You want your rod to deliver the lure as effectively as
possible. Whether you choose spinning or casting, look at the range of
lure weights you plan to cast. The rod you choose should handle that range of
lure weight and the presentation you plan to apply. Each Dobyns, rod not
only provides the weight range for lures, but also lists a range of
baits/techniques the rod is designed to cast and work. This is especially
important if you are looking for a versatile rod that can handle a broad range
of lure weights and applications. The length of the rod also comes into play.
The longer the rod, the more power and lure speed you generate during your
cast. The new Champion 806CB is a classic example of length designed to
"launch" the newer heavier crankbaits so popular right now. Dobyns
recently added 6 foot 3 inch rods for tight quarters casting where pin point
accuracy is an absolute must. Proper rod selection will only enhance your
casting ability.
The second prong I consider is, how my rod
becomes the telegraph and more specifically, that connection between my pee
size brain and my lure. This is a critical element because of the need to feel
the lure, what it's doing and as we all hope, when the bass eats it. Not
every strike takes the proverbial, "rod out of your hand." I
first look at how the rod becomes an extension of my hand and sense of feel.
Some rods are designed to enhance the "feel" of your lure and
detect the slightest bite or change in vibration. The ability for a rod
to transfer that subtle vibration or cease of vibration comes from precise
blank design and high grade materials, guide placement and guide material, reel
seat design and BALANCE. Balance is a feature that is much undervalued by many
of today's anglers. A perfectly balanced rod truly enhances the angler's
ability to feel through the blank and guides so that subtle weight offset is
not a distraction to what your lure is doing. Balance and design comes from
years of design experience and material selection. Dobyns provides a full
selection of premium rods in the Champion Extreme series that provide the
optimum sensitivity in a rod from tip to grip. I like to call these my
"feel rods." If you want to feel the slack bow in your line when it
jumps or when a fish pushes your bait, this series is worth a serious look.
The third prong is how my rod becomes the
fish "catcher." Once again I evaluate rod length, action,
power and material and factor how they work in concert to first hook the fish
and then move it from cover and distance to the ultimate location, my hand or
net. Every rod is an extension of your hands and arms and translates the power
and speed you generate in your hook setting motion. Having a rod with ample
length to take up slack is very important. Each angler generates speed to the
hook during the hook set and fishing a rod with the optimum " shut off
" point will help you capitalize on that speed and energy. The length and
action of the rod is paramount to an effective hook set. The speed you generate
can be lost in a rod that is too soft in it's action. I ask myself what
type of hook will apply and what type of cover am I planning to fish with this
rod? Are we punching heavy vegetation with an extra heavy heavy 5/0
flippin hook and braid or pulling a jerkbait with a #4 treble in open water for
smallmouth with monofiliment. Each and every catching scenario requires I
factor in, not only the rod's action, but the material and how that material
impacts the rod's action. The bottom line is, what I hook, I want to
land. Isn't that our goal as fisherman? Gary Dobyns understands this
concept so well and the result is an extensive line if flippin/punching rods,
swimbait rods and my favorite, the crankbait series. The fact I can
choose either, graphite or glass composite in various lengths and actions,
affords me and you the ability to fine tune exactly what rod we want for the
task at hand.
Try this process in your next rod selection
and consider each prong as you define the performance and expectations for your
next rod and assure your choice is the right choice the very first time, be it
the Extreme, Champion, Savvy, or brand new Fury Series,.. And don't
forget !! If you ever need assistance or some personal advice, call
the shop. Dobyns Rods staff prides themselves in taking your questions,
hearing your needs and applying their expertise to help you put the right rod
in your hand. The best place to start is at the beginning when the name on the
rod is DOBYNS.
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