Dobyns Rods - Get Furious with 6 new Fury Rod Models

You don't have wait for the Classic to see whats new for 2017! Dobyns rods decided to get a head start with the release of 6 new Fury models offering anglers even more choice when it comes to the perfect rod for each and every technique in your arsenal

Included in the mix are a pair of heavy hitters to help bulk up your flipping and swim bait game. Along with a literal 1,2,3 punch of spinning rods rated at... wait for it... 1, 2 and 3

Here's the full 6 rod collection:

R 805FLIP/PUNCH - 8'0" 1pc. 15-30lb, 3/8-2 1/2oz, Heavy Flip Power Fast Action

FR 806HSB - 8'0" 1pc 20-40lb 2-8oz. Heavy Swimbait Power Fast Action

FR 664C - 6'6" 1pc. 10-20lb, 1/-1oz, Heavy Power Fast Action

FR 661SF - 6'6" 1pc. 4-10lb, 1/8-3/8oz, Light Power Fast Action

FR 662SF - 6'6" 1pc. 6-12lb, 1/8-1/2oz, Med/Light Power Fast Action

FR 663SF - 6'6" 1pc. 8-17lb, 3/16-5/8oz, Med Power Fast Action

Keep an eye on your favourite Dobyns dealer as these babies will be hitting the shelves any day now!

Why Carolina Rig Fisherman choose Dobyns Rods, and you should too

If there was one technique I have always wanted to spend more time on, it has to be the Carolina-rig aka the C-Rig. This technique offers anglers the perfect combination of noise and life-like movement and it's incredibly versatile in that it can be fished at any depth, bottom type and/or structure. Not to mention the bait combinations are endless, from traditional lizard baits, swim-baits and even senkos.

The C-Rig is known to put big fish in the boat and yet it is highly under utilized (even more so in northern Canadian waters). I believe the reason behind this simply comes down to confidence, confidence in the technique and confidence in your equipment. Rod choice is paramount when working the Carolina Rig and the wrong rod will not only effect your ability to properly fish this technique but it will also mean missed bites and missed fish.

 If you're like me and would like to learn more about why Carolina Rig fisherman choose Dobyns rods, read on....

Eric Turner

Lake Oachita

I used to hate fishing a Carolina Rig or as some call it the C-rig. That was until I gained the confidence in it. I could normally catch a few fish on it but never had great success. I have tried everything there is to perfect the technique and to me I believe I have done just that. I will explain my complete set up and why I chose each item. To begin with, rod selection is as important just as important as the reel and the line. You want something that is stout yet still a bit flexible in the tip. Gary Dobyns has designed the perfect rod for this technique. It is the Dobyns Champion 804C and is called the C-rig special. The feel of this rod is amazing and I have not used another rod for C-rig that compares. 

Next is the reel and line.

                  I pair the Dobyns 804c with a Lews BB1 Speed Spool (7.1:1 gear ratio). Lews has one of the smoothest casting reels on the market and the 7.1:1 ratio will allow you to retrieve line quickly to connect with fish on longs casts. I will spool the Lews reel with 17 pound Vicious Pro Elite Fluorocarbon. I want line strong enough to fish brush and abrasion resistant when I am in and around rocks. 

Now that we have the rod, reel and line covered, its time for the most important detail in a C-rig setup which is at the opposite end of the rod.  I started with a standard weight (tungsten or lead), a bead (glass or plastic), and a clacker but I was not satisfied with the sound. To me it was not natural. I looked to a company called Stoney River Sinkers. They manufacture stone sinkers. When a baitfish scurries or more so a crawfish they will push rocks against rocks. Once I tried the rock weights my bites increased considerably. This rock on rock noise is what both the fish and I needed. I use two rock egg sinkers weights on my C-rig. Always use weights you are comfortable with. I use ½ oz. and ¼ oz. and the sinkers will stop at a swivel allowing them to slide. It is imperative to have the “slide”. It is what makes the sound that calls the fish in and also has very little resistance when the fish bites.

Following the swivel I use 12 pound Pro Elite Fluorocarbon leader. Leader length depends on what the fish want. I start off with 2-3 foot and will make it shorter to see what the fish prefer. Attached to the leader I have a 3/0 Owner J hook. I use Owner hooks because of the three cutting edges creating less resistance of any other hook in its class. You can use just about any plastic bait on the market and it all boils down to what you have confidence in throwing.  Use the offset hook and skin hook your plastic bait. My bait of choice is a creature or craw style bait to mimic the sound of my sinkers.  Location is still critical when fishing a C-rig. Focus on long points, shallow humps, or deep ledges. The technique can work anywhere. Use your electronics to find fish. Cast your C-rig and drag slowly along the bottom.  Stay in touch with the bottom. Vary your retrieve and leader length. Remember what you were doing when you get bit and duplicate it. I have gained the confidence I need in the C-rig not only succeed but win tournaments.  You can too!

                                    

Justin Brouillard

Lake Champlain

As soon as the Smallmouth have finished spawning on Lake Champlain, the first thing I am looking forward to is breaking out the Carolina rig. Its not that i don't enjoy the month or so in between of non stop top water and jerk bait fishing, but the Carolina rig is one of my favorite ways to both learn more about the lake and absolutely crush some big fish in deep water. The think you are able to do with this bait on a lake like Champlain is pretty fun! I use this tactic to learn the bottom of the lake, learn how to use my electronics, and of course catching fish in places other people may not look! Just as important as the bait, the other pieces (hooks, line, weights, rod, and reel) of equipment that I use for this tactic are just as important.

Using your Electronics and Find the Key

The other thing about throwing a Carolina Rig that makes is so fun is that it is an opportunity to learn your electronics while you cover water. Typically when I am in exploration mode on the ever complex Lake Champlain I am pin pointing areas with my Humminbird Helix 10 SI that fit what I am looking for. I look for small area that stick out to me that I don't think others would notice. With the amount of people who fish the lake, that may be difficult, but I still feel confident in my ability to locate something a little different. I find the places the look good and then scan and drag through until I can find the key spot. Often times I am able to locate a key spot by dragging a Carolina rig and watching the graph. I am able to feel the bottom, while watching the bottom on the graph, and by doing so I am able to find things that are not obvious on the graph, or something I miss. I am looking for a spot I can lock into and make repeated casts or sit on and pick apart with a variety of baits and techniques. Its a great way to catch fish and learn the fine details that you may not understand on your fish finders. On lake like Champlain, with very deep water and many reefs, humps, points, islands, and grass, it can often times be very convenient to fish the obvious places because with the many places to fish, there are indeed places that anyone who drops a boat in the water is going to see and fish. Most likely there will be fish there, and they will catch them. I like to look deeper and explore anything that looks good, no matter the depth. Sometimes that extends to over 50'.

The Gear

The equipment for this tactic is as important as the presentation. I like a heavy rod and a fast reel. My go to almost 95% of the time is a Dobyns 735C. The Savvy or Fury Series will both prevail for this tactic and I pair it with a high speed Daiwa Tatula Reel with 17-20 pound Gammafluorocarbon line. I like a 1 OZ weight most of the time because I want the bait to get to the bottom fast and I want constant bottom contact. Being able to feel each rock on the bottom is important and the sensitivity of the rod allows you to differentiate between a bite and bottom contact. The drawback with a heavy weight is you do snap off more often but I will always make the trade for bottom contact. The heavy weight allows for a slower drag especially when fighting in the wind. When I am fishing a grass edge for Smallmouth (and Largemouth) I will sometimes drop down to a lighter weight and make the switch to the Fury 734. On lakes where wind and current can be a determine factor, the heavy weight and heavy rod is key and the ability to get a solid hook set and keep the fish hooked makes all the difference.

The Fury series works perfect for throwing a Carolina because the rod is the perfect mix of backbone and sensitivity. Another key with the 735, spooled with 17 or 20 lb fluorocarbon, I can easily make the switch to another tactic. I love to mix and match rods and put them to absolute test with as many uses as possible on any given day. The Fury line up will certain make you a better fisherman and the Carolina Rig is just one of many things I use my 735C for.

For other uses and more information on the Dobyns Fury Series, check out my top 5 Fury rods and read about all of the different ways I am able to use them during the course of a fishing season

Jason Kincy

The Carolina Rig is often a go-to technique for me when I’m in need of finding some fish on a tough day. Using a C-rig to cover a lot of water while keeping the bait low and in front of the bass seems to work on days when not much else will.

I’m primarily a kayak angler from Northwest Arkansas and will fish rivers, small no motor lakes and FLW Tour stop, Beaver Lake. Even though these types of water are all different, a C-rig can play a part in each one, whether I’m dragging it deep in the clear waters of Beaver Lake, or attacking wide flats near the main current in a river system. My favorite places are often gravel and chunk rock gently sloping banks in spring or areas of standing pole timber in hot weather. Generally I’ll use a pretty standard setup with a large Carolina weight, along with swivel and hook. Depending on the situation, weather and water color I will choose either a YumDinger, Yum Wooly Hawg-Tail or a Yum Lizard as the bait.

Like most kayak fishermen, I’m looking for good equipment at a lower price point. I’ve become a huge fan of the Dobyns Fury rod series, which is a great rod at an affordable price. For a C-rig I use the Dobyns Fury 704C, which is a 7’ Heavy Fast Action stick along with an Ardent Apex Grand 7:3:1 reel. It’s also important to a kayak angler to be versatile on the water, we can’t carry a dozen rods on an outing like a bass boat fisherman. The Dobyns 704C is also a great option in case I need to switch to a Texas Rig, Jig, Spinnerbait or Horny Toad. By adding a Dobyns Fury 705CB and a 734C to the mix, I can throw just about any baitcast technique I need. Give the Dobyns Fury Series a try, you will be surprised what a quality rod you can get for the money.

Special thanks to Jason Kincy, Justin Brouillard and Eric Turner, 

                      

Video Interlude - Gary Dobyns Showing off the Redesigned Champion Extreme HP

There is not much I can say about the new look Champion Extreme rods that Gary doesn't say himself in the above video (and he has that drawl that's hard to match to my Canadian "eh" accent).

What I do know is that the Champion Extreme series plays a big roll in my every day arsenal. Making up 75% of the rods I have on deck each and every outing.  From spinner baits, and frog fishing all the way down to finesse drop-shot fishing the DX series of rods gives me the power, sensitively and reliably I need on the water.. If you'd asked me I wouldn't have thought Gary could top the classic Champion Extremes, but he has.. so watch out

To Learn more: Click HERE

Why Frog Fisherman choose Dobyns Rods

With over 100 rods in the Dobyns arsenal there is one for just about any technique you could possibly want to fish. But with that said I do see how a rod line with so many options could be daunting to someone looking for a specific rod for a specific technique.. so we are here to help.

I've rounded up some anglers that when the going gets tough (and there is money on the line) reach for their frog rod each and every time (myself included). So if your in the market for a new frog rod this season, keep reading while the 4 men below tell you why they choose Dobyns and you should too!

Christian Gervais

Gatineau, Quebec, Canada

Weapon of Choice: Dobyns Savvy SS735C
Frog Selection: SPRO USA

My part of the country (Ottawa River) is considered by many to be a paradise of largemouth fishing. We have some awesome bays with lots of vegetation. The perfect habitat for growing and catching largemouth bass. Since the beginning, I've been fishing Spro U.S.A. frogs (with Gamakatsu hooks). What I like about these frogs is that they come in three different styles (original, popping and walk-the-dog shad models).

Whatever frog model I use, my rod of choice is the Dobyns Savvy SS 735C. I particularly like this rod because I usually fish very heavy cover, and rated with mag heavy power, it as tonnes of backbone, giving me the confidence that I will have all the strength I need to control and bring the largest of bass to the boat each and every time. I love the fact that this rod has an extra-fast tip and gives me a solid hookset. The key to having a high hookset ratio is to take your time before setting the hook. Make sure that the bass has the frog in it's mouth and is diving back with it (you know, the 2 second rule ) and then set the hook hard.

 For a frog reel, I use a Lew's BB1 Pro Speed Spool 7.1:1 gear ratio and spooled with 65lbs braided line. This combination allows me to turn the fish quick and get him back to the boat with our without a side of salad. 

To Learn more check out Christians Facebook page and National Pro Staff profile. He has been part of the Dobyns team since 2014 and offered yet another great Canadian perspective of Frog fishing in the north. 

Rich LindgrenLakeville, Minnesota 

Weapon of Choice: Dobyns Champion 736C
                                 Dobyns Champion 805 Flip/Punch
                                 Dobyns Savvy 735c 

Frog Selection:       Evolve Nervous walker 2.0

My first Dobyns Frog specific rod was the Champion 736c and it is still a big part of my rotation.  Its a great for doing a little of anything with a frog and a great choice if you only have the budget or need for a single frog rod.  Casts frogs a mile and has all the back bone needed to winch a hawg out of a mat.  Plus the 7'3" length is perfectly suited for skipping and casting frogs in, around and under docks, trees and cut banks.

For me, there are two basic types of frogging, you are either accurately casting to targets at close range or you are covering expansive mats.  For the close quarter stuff, I still use my 736 most of the time.  But when I am on the Upper Mississippi River and the water and cover is expansive, I switch over to my rocket launcher, aka Dobyns Champion 805 Flip/Punch rod.  This 8' beast will out cast any rod I own and has unbelievable power and leverage to tow any size bass back to the boat.

My frog of choice for either application is the Evolve Nervous Walker 2.0, it is super soft and realistic, walks great and the hooks are good as they get in my opinion, plus you can get them for $6-7, which is handy in pike infested waters.  The combination of hooks and soft body increases my landing percentage and that is crucial whether you are fun fishing or tournament angler.

Lastly, if you are in to buzz frogs or toads, I like the Savvy 735c rod for that application, it still has the length for a frog rod with a little more tip for whipping around what are usually lighter soft plastic offerings.  In the end, the 735 will also handle floating frog duty as well in a pinch.

Rich is a wealth of knowledge and I'm honoured to have him participate in both this article and the previous jig article. To learn more please check out his website HERE as well as his Facebook page HERE

Justin Brouillard
Vermont, USA

Weapons of Choice: Champion 764C

                                   Savvy SS735c

Frog Selection:         SPRO USA

Living in Vermont, only 10 minutes from Lake Champlain, frog fishing is something I have enjoyed since I was a kid first learning how to bass fish. Since then, I have learned  many things about fishing a top water frog. There are basically 2 types of frogs/applications that I utilize depending on a number of factors and I choose 2 different Dobyns rods to help me flip the big ones in the boat.

Keep it simple with a frog selection is key to becoming a better frog fisherman and Justin explains his favorite applications and rod choices below:

In the Early summer when the grass mats have started to form but are not as thick as the summer, I will toss around a Whiskey River Bait Company Saloon Girl. This bait walks and darts around erratically similar to a Jerkbait. I am able to make a long cast with a Dobyns Champion 764C. Some may argue that the rod is a little light to yank the fish back to the boat but the longer rod really allows me to get a solid hook in the fish a long ways away from the boat. The long rod moves a lot of line fast and the Heavy action loads up solid when a fish explodes on the bait! One thing I like to do is start with a Crankbait (Strike King 1.5)/Chatterbait (Red Dirt Bait Company Dancing Blade Jig) along the grass edges or over submerged grass to get a reaction bite. If I can get a few to commit or follow, it tells me the Saloon girl moving faster along the surface is the bait to start. This bait is most affective in the spring when the grass is forming or the fall when the fish are shallow chasing bait. I am able to cover a lot of water and with the bait moving around with as much action as it does, I can quickly switch from the emerging grass or use it as a search bait along the edges.

As the grass mats begin to thicken and blow back into the bays and rocky main lake shorelines, it is time to bring out the Spro Frog. This bait is as versatile as it gets and you can buzz it along the surface or walk it slowly tantalizing the lakes largemouth bass. I pair the Spro with my all-time favorite rod, the Dobyns Savy 735C. I cannot say enough about the different applications that are possible with this rod, but it happens to be the perfect rod for yanking bass from the thick milfoil beds of Lake Champlain! I will gladly give up some casting distance with this rod just for its ability to get a solid hook set and get them back to the boat quickly. I am most always throwing a Black frog in any situation because I think the bass are able to track it down quickly. Some guys switch to White on Champlain but I always stick to Black as long as they are eating it good.

Keeping your frogging gear simple will help you hone in on what the fish are doing. If you can get them to react to faster moving baits you can cover a lot of water and really find where they fish are positioning in the grass beds. When you find a group of bass you can switch between applications to catch a few extra fish. Pair these Dobyns rods with a Lew’s Tournament Speed spool and 50lb Gamma Torque Braid and you cannot go wrong. At Lake Champlain the frog bite can start and stop really quick so I am always ready with my 2 Dobyns to pick up and make a few casts!

Justin lives in northern Vermont and is a recent college grad. When he is not fishing he is either working as a Civil Engineer or teaching his girlfriend Becky how to fish. She can catch them on a frog as good as anyone!

Rob Edwards

Kingston, On, Canada

Weapons of Choice: Dobyns DX746c

                                   Dobyns Champ 735c

                                   Dobyns Champ 736c

Frog Selection:        Nories NF60

                         

I am a frog fisherman, and at no time will you look through my rod arsenal and not find a frog tied on to one or many of the rods in my boat. It's like an addiction that I can't shake, there is just something about that JAWS like anticipation and feeding frenzy that frogs bring out in Largemouth and Smallmouth bass alike. And in all honesty being a frog fisherman is the main reason I choose to use Dobyns rods.

Prior to picking up my first Dobyns Stick I was happy with the other guy (name omitted) They offered me a quality product at a decent price point and for most applications I could find a rod that would suit my purpose. But for frog rods I found the selection lacking, thus the search was on. My first two Dobyns rods were a 735c and a 736c and I immediately felt at home with a frog tied on. The 735c is what I consider to be an all around frog rod, meaning it has the perfect mix of tip and backbone to allow you to cast and retrieve both hollow and soft body frogs. For my first year with Dobyns this rod saw the majority of my everyday frog action in both sparse and medium cover situations. 

The 736c I consider to be my power frog rod, and it gets used in heavier cover or when fishing with a larger heavier frog. It has some added backbone and gives me the confidence needed to drive the hook home even from a great distance. This powerful rod has allowed to me muscle some pretty big fish back to the boat no matter how much salad their tangled up in. If you are strictly looking for a Hollow body rod, this is where I would start. 

Recently I have added a third Rod to my Frog fishing arsenal and that is the DX746, which kind of feels like the 735c and the 736c mated and had a super human baby. This rod is lighter then it parents but shares both their traits. It has the tip and sensitivity that I need for soft body toads and frogs, yet hidden in it's shiny DX body is some serious power. If you only have room for one frog rod in your boat, this rod will do you justice.

When it comes to hollow body frogs I look for a soft flexible body with no appendages and a short shirt. I want to see some movement on the pause but I don't want anything that will get in the way of my hookset. The Nories NF60 improves upon the classic scum frog, it has a similar shape and design but with higher quality components and a bit more weight for improved casting distance. It is pricey at $15 but worth every penny in my opinion 

Last but not least when I first started this article I reached out to Gary Dobyns to get his personal choice for frog fishing, and true to his nature his answer was short and sweet..

 "I don't know of a rod that compares with our Champ 736C as a frog rod. Light, balanced, with brutal power, and a great tip to launch the bait. I know many guys prefer the 735C and it works great....but in heavy slop...nothing compares with 736C"



I think that about says it all, lets go frog fishing!