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!

First Look - Dobyns Fury Series Rods

Last weekend at the 2015 BassMaster Classic the Dobyns team started people talking with the teaser style introduction of their forthcoming  Fury series rod. Not expected to hit the shelves until May 2015, the Fury series will run anglers $109.99, and let me tell you this entry level rod is anything but ordinary.

The Fury series was designed and built to meet the high standards of Gary Dobyns, which includes using quality components (including a split handle with cork grip and EVA butt) as well as being perfectly balanced and of course looking good in green.

The Fury Series will initially be launched with 10 hand picked models, including a 7ft crankbait rod, a pair of spinning rods including my favorite the 703.  The line will also include a 765 Flipping stick to round things out, and just to keep us on our toes Gary promises a swimbait rod will also be made available soon after launch. I dont know about you, but news like this already has me making room in my rod rack for a couple new toys.

I can honestly say its been a while since a $100 rod has had me excited, but don't take my word for it.. here's the man Gary Dobyns giving us a brief introduction on what we can expect from the Fury Series

 

Coming to a DOBYNS DEALER NEAR YOU.. MAY 2015

to saty informed on Dobyns products and updates Like their Facebook page HERE

How Crowd-funding can help you and your fishing dreams

Crowd-funding is a relatively new term that has taking the investing world by storm and it has allowed even the smallest of companies/individuals to grow with the support of like minded individuals,  fellow inventors, friends, family and enthusiasts alike. And even though this new method of fund raising is big in many markets, it still hasn't seen much growth in the fishing industry.

What is crowd-funding?  

Crowd-funding is the practise of funding a project or venture with a large number of investors via an intranet campaign. I would also add that a good portion of these investors are not typical in the fact that they are not looking to make large sums of money off their investment but in turn they are looking to support a small business or project in hopes that it will succeed that they the investor will get to share in the success by using the product, or being offered a small reward for their support.

Great examples of this have been seen in both the movie and music industry, many investors support projects they want to see created, not to get rich, but so that they can actually use and enjoy the final project. In turn, for their support investors are often given credits at the end of the movie, or on the liner notes of a CD. When the product gets made the investor usually gets a copy to enjoy and share with friends

How could Crowd-funding benefit Anglers and the Fishing Industry 

Like it or not fishing is big business, and more often then not the big boys control most of the market and get to make the decision on what products see the light of day. This can hurt small more regional baits, lures or equipment that may sell well in your area, but don't have a global enough appeal to make these big boys take notice.. Crowd-funding gives the smaller bait designer, rod builders or even fishing guide an outlet and way to get their works created and sponsored. Many inventors have the idea but not the means to get their product created, this is where crowd-funding comes in.

Example of Current campaigns

There are many reasons that an angler may want to start a crowd funding campaign, above I mainly focused on inventions and business related ideas. But this is not the only way a crowd funder campaign can be used. Charities also use this new method of raising money in order to reach a wider audience and gain a wider knowledge of their cause. A quick look through the various crowd funding sites will provide you with an extremely long list of worth while causes, including Fishing for wounded warriors, Send a Solider Fishing and even anglers looking for support to fulfil their dream of fishing in a Bass Master Open event. All of these are great causes and ways that you can get involved in supporting other anglers within the industry.

I will personally be starting a crowd funding campaign later this season to help a Solider fish in the Kingston Canadian Open.. i lived my dream last year and this year it is someone else's turn, stay tuned for more details

If you have a crowdfunder project underway, let us know about it !

Great Finds - The Toronto Spring Fishing and Boat Show 2015

Today wraps up the 2015 Spring Fishing and Boat show that takes place at the International Centre in Mississauga Ontario.  This past weekend I made the annual 3 hour journey in order to take in the show as well as a seminar being held by Kevin VanDam. While at the show I of course did some snooping and came away with a few cool new finds,  that you really need to check out for your self

 

The Perect Jig - Elite Jig

The team at the perfect Jig has taken the opportunity to release their new Elite Jig at this years show. Featuring an all new, unique, exclusive mold  the Elite Jig comes in both Big (5/0) and a Mini (3/0) sizes. Prior to the show this bait was on the hush hush, but word spread quick once Brendan and the team started showing it off, and if you were at the show this weekend you already know if was damn near impossible to get anywhere near the Perfect Jig booth. 

For those who did not get the chance to hold and drool over the Elite jig, keep your eyes peel, rumour has it this bad boy will be hitting the shelves (and on-line stores) in the coming month. Check out  the Perfect Jig Facebook page for more details 

We jig fishermen have to stick together 

EZ Cam Post

As an angler who spends a good deal of time fishing solo, I'm always in the market for a new (and easier) way to shoot the best quality pictures of my catches while out in the boat. The team at Ez Cam post seems to have this covered.. by developing a a universal camera mount that will allow me to do just that and more.  

This light weight mono pod can be secured to objects up to 3" in diameter (insert joke here) and is perfect for attaching to pedestal seats as well as trolling motors. The Ez Cam Post can telescope from 27" up to 6' in height, this is an impressive amount of adjustment that will allow you to capture images from various heights and angles all while fishing with or without a partner. The mounting plate provide also allows you to accessorize your Ez cam post by adding various style camera mounts, like a GoPro Mount, a Glif mount as well as various ball and pan/tilt mounts. The EZ Cam really brings advanced photography equipment out of the studio and into the boat with you.

Check out their booth while you still have time.. or if you've  missed out, you can find them on FB as well as at http://ezcampost.com/

I see one of these in my immediate future

 

Tandem Stand-up Angler Kayak by Fronteier

Ill be honest, I'm a canoe and boat guy and have never spent as much time as I would like to fishing from a Kayak. But while wandering the Boat show floor this thing of beauty jumped out at me and had me second guessing my time in a canoe.

The Tandem Stand-Up Angler Kayak has a swivel seat and stand up casting bar that would make any bass angler feel at home. It may not be equipped with some of the bells and whistles that other Kayaks are now coming with (like built in trolling motors) but it does add a whole new level of comfort that is key when spending 8+ hours a day on the water.

Ventana Tear Shot - Drop Shot Weight

Each season like many anglers I seem to find myself spending more and more time dropping shotting, and because this technique is still growing in popularity companies are continuing to innovate and develop new products in support of drop-shotting. The Tear Shot weigh by Team Davies Ventanan is a great example of these innovations. The tear drop shape allows you to fish a drop shot in almost any condition, its pointed head will drive through top cover, and its long thin design will not get caught up as easily in rocks or logs while dragging. Last but not least an inserted rattle will provide you with even more fish calling noise to drive those big fish crazy.

If you want to check these our head on over to the Pro J booth or visit their Scarborough based location. The team at Pro J are die hard anglers and focus on brining us products that are otherwise hard to find. Trust me, if you haven't  checked out Pro J's selection of gear you have not clue what your missing our on 

Mann's Bait Goliath Frog

I seem to be a sucker for Mann's baits, their past success drives me to buy and test out new products, even though the past few years I have been nothing but disappointed.. so here we are again, the new Goliath Frog. Its big, and looks like a frog, but once in the hand the parts feel cheap and poorly constructed. I will perform a test drive on this bait once the ice melts, and for now I will give it the benefit of the doubt (again). I have a thing for large frogs.. what can I say?

 

Obviously the best find at the 2015 Spring fishing and boat show was Kevin VanDam, I arrived earlier in the day hoping to get a chance to shake his hand and of course pose for a picture. I knew by the time his seminar rolled around things would be getting crazy.. luckily enough I ran in to him at the Minn Kotta both and got this quick photo opportunity. It always amazes me how this angler has a rock star like appeal. The only hard part was asking Mercer to step out of the shot (joking)

If you didn't take the time to check out the 2015 Spring Fishing and boat this year, I would suggest you add it to your calendar for 2016. Its not the biggest or flashiest show, but many companies here are home grown and showing off the newest in innovation. We as anglers owe it to ourselves and our sport to continue to grow, learn and improve, and support the companies that help us do so.

See ya next year

December Recipe - Smoked BBQ Turkey

It's been awhile since I have shared a recipe with you, but after this past weekends trial run of BBQ'ing a Turkey i just had to share the results.

With milder then average temps BBQing this years Turkey was a no brainer, all it took was a little preparation and some snow removal.. here is a step by step guide on how to BBQ the perfect Turkey

Step 1 - It's all about the brine

if you skip this step you might as well stop now, brining a turkey ensures it stays flavourful and moist giving even novice Chefs a chance at immortality.

My brine consists of equal parts 2 parts Apple Juice to 1 part water. I then throw in 1 cup of salt, a few Bay leaves, a few sprigs of Thyme and 2 tsp each of mince garlic and ginger.. then a hand full of peppercorns to top it off.

Place the bird in breast side down and and refrigerate for 24hrs (you can go for less, but I wouldn't)

Tip: All in all you should be looking at 2 quarts of liquid for a 10-13lb bird. I do a test run by putting the Turkey in an empty pot and covering it with water 4-5 cups at a time, once covered I know how much I need.

On the day of the cook your turkey should come out of the brine for a couple hours prior to hitting the grill. This will allow the excess moisture to run off and ensure a crispy skin.

Step 2 - Fire Up the Grill

Time to fire up the grill. You have two options here.. low and slow (225 for 6+ hours) or the faster version at 350 for about 3 hours.. I chose fast for this cook.

Once the BBQ has hit temp and stayed their for 15 minutes or more you are ready to add the wood chunks or chips. I prefer Chucks, simply because Im lazy and there is no need to soak them, they burn longer then chips and I find it much easier to determine the right about needed to get that smoke kiss (3-4 2 inch chunks)

Step 3 - The Rub down & Stuff

A basic salt and pepper rub will do the trick, but since Im BBQ'ing this Turkey I decided to use a BBQ rub, meaning it contains paprika salt, sugar and a mix of spices. Watch the sugar level on your rubs as the more sugar they have the quicker the skin will char up. 

Apply some serious pressure and make sure you get this rub to stick to the bird.

Tip: I like to give my Turkey its rub down prior to doing the injections. Too much pressure on the bird while rubbing it down can push the marinade out.. so rub first then inject

For a BBQ'ed Turkey I opted to stuff the cavity with aromatics over a traditionl bread stuffing, This turkey was jam packed with onion, apple and thyme. Slice each in quarters and stuff in as much as you can

Step 4 - Prepare the Injection & Basting Sauce

Just like the brining stage, this is a very important step to adding flavour and moisture to your Turkey. I keep it pretty simple by melting 3/4 cup of un salted butter and toss in a handful of bay leaves and thyme. I let this mixture soft boil for a good 10 minutes to get the flavour of the herbs into the butter. Let it cool and then begin the injection process.

Tip: for added flavour you can add various liquids to your injection, apple juice and beer are my two fav add-ons.

When give your bird it's shots of liquid gold, be generous, cover as much of the breast as you can, and be sure to give the thighs and legs some love as well.

Step 5 - Get it on the Grill 

As mentioned above there is two ways you can do this, for the purposes of this recipe I went with a higher temp (350) and shorter cook time (3hrs). No matter if you are going slow and low and fast and high, the key to a good cook is to leave the bird alone and let the BBQ/Smoker do it's thing

I don't touch the Turkey for the first 1.5 hours of the cook, this mean lid down and no basting at this time. Once it hits the 1.5 hours I will take a peek, adjust the birds position if needed and give it its first baste using the left over butter mix from the injection.

For the last 1.5 hours of the cook I will baste the Turkey every 45 minutes (so two more times) prior to taking it off the grill.

Checking the temp at 2.5 hrs, this will let you know if you are on track or if the brid will need more time. You are looking for an internal temp of 165 in the breast and thighs and slightly higher on the legs. use an instant read at this time, as your probe may be off a bit during longer cooks,

Step 6 - Let it rest

Once off the grill I allow the bird to rest for 30-45 minutes prior to cutting. This allows the juices to redistribute and keeps your Turkey super moist.

Step 7 - Carve and Enjoy

No words needed.. time to eat

Why Jig fisherman choose Dobyns rods.. and you should too

Over the past 2 seasons I have dedicated a good portion of my time on and off the water to improving my skills as a jig fisherman. It is something I came to late in life, and I still have a lot to learn. A major part of this learning includes finding the best jig for the job, and even more importantly the best jig rod. I could sit here today and go over the rods and jigs I use and explain to you what I love them, but why would you want to hear from me a self professed novice? So instead I went out and rounded up three anglers that make a living fishing with and designing jigs, and one guy who just happens to own the single day weight record at the Bass Master Classic (yeah.. Paul Mueller)

 So if you're like me and are looking to learn as much as you can about jig fishing and jig rods, or if you're an avid pro just looking for the next jig or jig rod for your already stacked arsenal...you best keep reading because these 4 sticks sure know what makes the perfect jig rod

Rich Lindgren

Co-Founder BassTek Jigs

Rich hails from Minneapolis Minnesota and when he is not at home being a husband and father, you can often find him perusing his other passions.. tournament fishing, writing and of course helping design jigs as one of the co-founders of BassTEK Tungsten Jigs. Believe me when I tell you, this is one man who knows what he wants and needs in a jig rod.. Here is why he chooses Dobyns.

When Jig fishing Rich often relies on 2 main techniques or types of jigs… flipping jigs and Football jigs. Both of these he throws with a Dobyns DX745c giving him the perfect combination of feel, and power that both these techniques require. 

The DX745c is touted as a heavy jig rod, and excels at throwing jigs weighing in at  3/8oz all the way to 1-1/2oz draggers. Being that it is a DX series rod its light weight body is an anglers best friend and will help take some of the stress and pressure off your back and shoulders, that often comes with fishing larger jigs.

If flipping and skipping docks is your thing, Rich recommends dropping down to a DX705c, the slightly shorter length gives him better accuracy in the close quarters often attributed to dock fishing, while still maintaining the power needed to drive home hook sets even at those awkward angles you  find yourself in while fishing docks, pontoons and overhanging trees.

When it comes to jigs, Rich throws BassTEK tungsten, a company he helped co-found back in 2013 after finding himself unsatisfied by many of the jigs being offered by other companies.  BassTEK currently offers three types of skirted tungsten jig including a Flipping Jig, a Bitsy Flipping jig, as well as a football jig. By making all their jigs from tungsten, BassTEK is able to provide anglers with greater sensitivity on the bottom and in the fishes mouth. Tungsten also allows them to give their jigs a smaller profile while keeping the weight required to get down deep and be pulled and or dragged over and through various types of structure, I personally have thrown all three, and I'm a big fan of what BassTEK is doing.

I would also be remiss if I did not mention their Jig Sling, which is hands down the best trailer keeper on the market today.

If you want to learn more about Rich or BassTEK jigs be sure to check out his work on RichLindgren.com and give his Facebook page a like HERE

Brendan Knaggs

Owner: The Perfect Jig

Brendan Knaggs created the Perfect Jig way back in 2007 to immediate success. Not one to sit still the Perfect Jig continues to introduce new and improved version of their already classic baits. I have had the privilege or working a few sportsman shows with Brendan and after getting to personally pick his brain on jig fishing I knew he was a must include in this article.. Here is why Brendan Knaggs of the Perfect Jig chooses Dobyns..

The rods i use for flipping consists of around 8 rods in total, including four 684c, two o705's and two 746. The 684c  is Perfect for close combat flipping, this includes  docks, tress and other places where fish are sitting tight to cover and accuracy is must. A shorter rod allows you to hit your target and be precise and accurate each and every flip

The DX705 is an all around good jig rod and a bit stiffer than the 684c. I use this rod for my swim jig rod. Has a great feel and a softer tip that allows me to feel bites quicker.

For heavy flipping, heavy slop and deep weed i use the DX746c. This rod handles jigs up to 2oz  allowing me to fish all my heavy jigs in heavy cover , something that other jigs rods may not allow. With a stiff backbone, it is my go to for deeper jig fishing as i can snap this rod with ease shaking weeds and debris off. This rod has a nice sensitive tip for those times when feeling a tick, is really key, especially down deep.

Ever year, trying to come up with new and exciting jigs can be a challenge. This year The Perfect jig is bring out three new styles of jigs and one really custom design. Football head and a punch jig will be added to line up for the 2015 season along with our NEW one of kind, custom mold, our Elite Jig!! This jig is a new and improved arky jig with a twist. We have added a special chunk lock system to the jig allowing anglers to save money on buying chunk and not having them ripped off or sliding down every flip. This jig will be released at the 2015 Toronto spring Fishing show in Feb 13-16th at the International center.

Perfect Jig products can be seen at www.theperfectjig.ca and we are also on facebook, twitter and Instagram under The Perfect jig. Give them a follow and stay tuned for their all new 2015 offerings

Mark Hiser

Owner: Ganns Performance Tackle

Mark Hiser is the owner of Ganns Performance Tackle a company he purchased from his good friend John Gann about 8 years ago. Along with his wife Jana, (who without her help and support the company simply would not exist) the two spend their evenings hand tying jigs every night just to keep up with demand and to ensure the Ganns high standards of quality are always met… Here is why Mark Hiser chooses Dobyns

“So, I love to fish jigs, that is how I met John in the first place. For most part my style of jig fishing,  is all about depth and water clarity, these two scenarios combined is how I choose the rod and line combo I want.”

My choices for different situations:

Shallow (bank to 15 feet deep), clay or gravel, limited cover, Casting Jig ( Ganns Hummer Jig) - Dobyns DX 703C, 10-12lb Seaguar Tatsu Fouro. Typically here in the west, this will be light 1/4-3/8oz jigs, perhaps some clear water, so longer presentations. the 703 has a great tip for this, but is still quick enough into the backbone to drive a good hookset and control the fish. I control the rate of fall of the jig with different trailer choices, I have caught many good fish with a 1/4oz Draggin jig and a five inch double tail trailer. The slower descent of this bait combo in the spring results in crushing strikes at times!!!

From 20 feet on down to around 40 feet I go with the DX 744CFH, 12-15lb Tatsu. I typically use the Hummer Jig in 1/2 or 3/4 for casting onto flats and pulling them off the deep edge. Again, clearer water usually, but this combo works great for muddy water and cover too! Muddy water usually means shallower fish, rising water and cover, this rod will do all that and more.

Football Jigs (Ganns Draggin Jig) are the winter staple here, and for these I always have my DX784C ML, sometimes with 15-20lb Tatsu, or Braid with a flouro topshot when it is really deep ( 40-60 foot range), and I am around rocks. This rod is simply amazing, it has the tip for sensitivity and forgiveness with the fish at the boat, the backbone for the the hook sets and the length to take up a lot of line on longer casts and at these depths. The DX784C ML is also the rod I throw Swim Jigs with, Coupled with 12-15lb flouro in open water and Braid when around weed beds, reeds or tules. The tip will throw the lighter baits, and still do the work when around this type of cover.

As far as new baits are concerned, I have introduced a new line-up of small profile spinner baits " The Mirage series", these are designed for ultra clear water, or to represent the profile of smaller bait fish, available in Ind/Willow or Double willow design with translucent styled skirts for a harder to pinpoint bait. Also introducing the same small profile spinner bait in the "Stryker" series that is outfitted with double Indiana, or Colorado/Indiana style blades. Designed to be used in shallow water when some added vibration is in order, tied with opaque colored skirts for more presence in the water.

I have a new swim jig in the works as we speak, it will also be using the Gamakatsu line of hooks as all our baits do, head sizes will be 1/4-3/8oz, Hand tied, and like all our baits, have our wire bait keeper for holding the trailer in the position you put it at"

Mark continues to operate under the name GANNs  because he continues to use some of Johns original designs and It just seemed like the right thing. When he finally calls it quits (what do fisherman do when they retire?) he will probably change the company. Lets hope this isn’t any time soon

Paul Mueller

Elite Series Angler

2014 Bass Master Classic Runner-Up

For those of you who may have been under a rock this past year  and do not know the ever growing legend of Paul Mueller. You know the virtually unknown walk-on angler who went from 47th place on Day 1 of the 2014 Bass Master Classic to breaking a single day record on day 2, and then finally coming within ounces to taking home the title by the end of Day 3. What you may not know, and I  can tell you from personal experience is that the stories of Paul's friendly on and off the water demeanour and professional attitude are real and not just part of the legend.

So recently when I reached out to some members of the Dobyns team in support of this article Paul was one of the first people to respond and offer his support. In typical Paul fashion a simple "call me" was followed by "what can I do to help". And although the original plan for this article was to focus mainly on Anglers that also own or work for jig companies, how could I pass up his generous offer

Bass Master Elite anglers are not known for giving up their secrets, but below Paul spills the beans on why he believes Dobyns makes some of the best jig rods on the market today...

 "The  DX764SF is my all around favourite multi-purpose spinning rod for light finesse jigs and hair jigs. It is an exceptional finesse swimbait, tube, and even light texas rig rod but is my rod of choice when fishing small finesse jigs such as the Punisher hair jig. Because of it’s extra length, it provides a unique balance between tip and backbone. It has plenty of backbone to drive a hook home on a long cast when fishing in deep water. The extra length enables you to pick up more line on a hook sets, resulting in better hook to landing ratios with your catch. I really enjoy how soft the tip is on that rod. It allows me to feather a jig over and through heavy cover and the blank on the champion extreme detects even the lightest of strikes”.

For deep water football jig fishing you can't beat the DX745c. It is also an exceptional jig rod for skipping docks with larger jigs and is a great pitching stick for a variety of applications. Plenty of backbone in this rod but enough tip to work a jig properly. The sensitivity and balance of this rod is what separates it from others. This is as powerful and sensitive as it comes and is a must for any serious jig fisherman"

"Whenever I am fishing a big jig, 3/4 oz. and up and especially when I am fishing super thick cover, the 736c is my rod of choice. It has the power of a flipping stick but measuring in at 7’3”, it makes for a very comfortable pitching stick. This rod's extra fast extra heavy action is excellent for solid hooksets and driving a heavy gauge jig hook home. The extra power in this rod enables me to get a fish’s head up, turn him and keep him coming, moving him away from thick cover. When there’s heavy cover or big fish are in the equation, this is the rod"

Be sure to follow Paul's exploits in 2015 as he competes in a full schedule of Elite Series events. You can also stay in touch via his Facebook or get schooled by his many YouTube videos

So there you have it, four fisherman who live and breath jig fishing, all of whom entrust Dobyns to make the rods that allow them to perfect their technique or dare I say art form. Anglers so demanding about the quality of their baits that when they couldn't find the right jig, they went out and made their own., and If these guys choose Dobyns why don't you?