Some Finesse worm set ups…my opinions..FWIW

There is no doubt fishermen will always have their favorite rods & reels. I know also that there are sponsored anglers that have committed to a company and are locked into those products.
For most of my professional fishing career I have been with rod companies per Guide Staff programs…inferring that you like the products and will buy them for your business, indirectly promoting their products. But not entirely restricted to those products.
Its no secret that I am pleased with Dobyns Bass rods and have had great success with them…They fit my style…but I
will always give an honest opinion on “new” to me, rods that I can also recommend…In my travels the past year and this spring I have fished a few comparable finesse worm rigs that I can give some impressions…
1) Loomis NRX 802C JWR NRX 68MH, Shimano Chronarch…
WOW! Super light and sensitive w good backbone…reel casts like a dream (500$)rod ($200)reel
2)Duckett White Ice DFWI71M-C. Pete Ponds Pro Series Model, Lews Tournament Pro
Not quite as light or crisp as the Loomis, but darn close…I actually caught a couple bass on Wheeler lake with this rig and was super impressed with the action, fit and finish. The Lew’s Tournament Pro Speed Spool was like you’d expect…butter smooth…
Rod ($200) Reel($200)
3) Quantum Smoke 7′ Medium ($159), Quantum Energy E100HPTA..BX3($159) This was a bit of a pleasant surprise, as I’d not fished one before…The combo cast great, and the rod was all you’d want fishing a T rig with a 1/8oz bullet. The rod is light, crisp action nice tip…If the Smoke doesn please, the Exo will! No surprise on the Energy PTs, they have been smooth and solid for years…No wonder Al Lindner and Randy Wieland like em!
4) Denali Rosewood RMC843WJ, Worms & Jigs,7′ Med Hvy…($199) Abu Garcia REVO STX 6.4:1 ($199)
Rod looked great with the Rosewood foregrip and new locking guide system…good balance with the STX, which was very, very smooth and cast beautifully.
Well this may be a boring post cuz I couldn’t find much bad to say about any of these rigs and would be happy to fish any of them. I had a rare opportunity to fish with a few guys that let me try their set ups and just thought I’d pass it along.
For finesse T-rig worms I brought a Dobyns Extreme DX 743C FG…The other guys liked that rig too!

Let’s be honest Tom when was the last time you used a new rod that costs over a hundred dollars and you didn’t like it. I own a lot of different brands and I like them all one of the things I consider is warranty service. I won’t say what company but I recently had a bad experience with a warranty issue and that will probably be the last time I purchase that brand.

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Let’s be honest Tom when was the last time you used a new rod that costs over a hundred dollars and you didn’t like it. I own a lot of different brands and I like them all one of the things I consider is warranty service. I won’t say what company but I recently had a bad experience with a warranty issue and that will probably be the last time I purchase that brand.

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It is not much help to other fishermen if you don’t post who the bad experience was with. Is there something here that I’m not aware of that would prevent you from saying who it was. I’m like you in that service plays a key role in what product that I chose to purchase. Like others here I fish several different brands of rods and reels. Some are better than others.

Excellent report Tom. I have not had a chance to try any Dobyns rods. I may have to take a look at one from my next rod purchase. I may get a frog rod and I’ve heard they make one of the best for frogging

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Let’s be honest Tom when was the last time you used a new rod that costs over a hundred dollars and you didn’t like it. I own a lot of different brands and I like them all one of the things I consider is warranty service. I won’t say what company but I recently had a bad experience with a warranty issue and that will probably be the last time I purchase that brand.

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It is not much help to other fishermen if you don’t post who the bad experience was with. Is there something here that I’m not aware of that would prevent you from saying who it was. I’m like you in that service plays a key role in what product that I chose to purchase. Like others here I fish several different brands of rods and reels. Some are better than others.

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I’m not affiliated with any brand and I have no reason not to bad mouth the company other then the fact that I don’t like to do that. I’m not a big fan of people ranting about that one bad experience they had and how nobody should ever do business with them again. The company in question is very popular, very reputable company that make most of their rods here in the U.S.. The issue I had was I went to replace a lifetime warranty rod that broke in half while fighting a fish and when I sent it in they told me I had to pay a $70 fee plus shipping to get a new rod. I asked him why the fee and he said it was because the rod was close to ten years old. I thought lifetime was lifetime. Now this isn’t a horrible thing and it might not be a deal breaker for some but it is for me. I’ve dealt with other companies on warranty stuff and never had an issue so I’m going to lean towards their products because in my opinion if you’re looking in the similar price points the differences in quality are minimal.

If it is the company I think it is ( Not many made in the US rod companies ) Here is the warranty policy from their web site:

1. Write a note explaining the problem. Send the note, a check for $20* and your entire rod to XXXX. We suggest using our Discount Shipping Program, which is described elsewhere on this page.

2. If your rod was damaged due to faulty workmanship, then of course we will cover the cost of the repair or replacement during the warranty period.

3. However, if evidence indicates that the damage is due to an accident, normal wear or neglect, then we’ll advise you of the additional cost to repair or replace your rod.

* The $20 s&h charge applies to shipments within the continental USA. The s&h charge for shipments to Canada is $30. Contact St. Croix for s&h charges for shipments to Alaska, Hawaii, and all other countries. The s&h charge for international orders must be paid by credit card (VISA, MC, American Express, Discover.)

I have only needed their Warranty twice and both times my rod was replaced at their expense. Now if the rod was more than 10 years old then most likely not due to faulty workmanship ( I’d think any issues of that nature would show up in the 1st 10 years ) Like you said there are many manufactures out there you can choose to use and customer service is usually the difference that seperates them from each other

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I feel your pain Bbasser…I think we can figure that one out

I just thought I’d post some experiences I recently had and encourage others to do so. I am affiliated with Dobyns per Guide staff and work with Quantum when I am Pro Staff Tech Support at Cabelas…but we don’t always get a chance to actually fish different rod/reel set ups on the water.

I am not a wealthy man by any means, but by todays standards, a $100 rod or reel is pretty much just above entry level.

I am planning on fishing some with my friends new Duckett Ghost rods soon ($99)and will be sure to post my impressions.

Customer Service is a very big component but not part of this post since I don’t own those rods. CS will vary for different companies per the post above…Dobyns has a “no nonsense” lifetime warrantee…Either take it to the dealer for an instant exchange of send it to them with $60. If it was their fault you get a new rod and the $60 back. If you stepped on it you get a new rod for $60.

I haven’t fished a St. Croix Bass rod for a while but found them to be just fine…In recent years they have increased their offerings in bass casting rods and I believe they are very competitive.

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Dobyns has a no nonsense lifetime warrantee…Either take it to the dealer for an instant exchange of send it to them with $60. If it was their fault you get a new rod and the $60 back. If you stepped on it you get a new rod for $60.

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If you take it back to the dealer you purchased it at for exchange, do they determine if it is workmanship or customer fault or are you saying they will replace it for free – no questions asked?

Didn’t mean that Thumper…The dealer has the ability to make that judgment on the spot…but the few instances I have heard of either personally or via Bass websites were not contested and received new rods.
I have had a client step on my rod and break it…they still sent me a new one…and I was honest about it. Not wanting to promote Dobyns here…hope I answered your question.

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Didn’t mean that Thumper…The dealer has the ability to make that judgment on the spot…but the few instances I have heard of either personally or via Bass websites were not contested and received new rods.
I have had a client step on my rod and break it…they still sent me a new one…and I was honest about it. Not wanting to promote Dobyns here…hope I answered your question.

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The reason I had the ? was the warranty policy reads:

If you need to get a replacement rod immediately for that fishing trip tomorrow, simply take the damaged rod to your local Dobyns Rods dealer and pay them the replacement fee detailed below. They will keep your damaged rod and give you a new, same model rod in return. No questions asked, no shipping, no waiting or wondering about warranty claim charges. This replacement is dependent on the dealer having inventory of your damaged rod model and their willingness to participate in this program.
Replacement Policy

For damages determined to be from accident, normal wear and tear, or neglect, Dobyns Rods offers a No Hassle repair and replacement policy. In the event a rod is broken, the rod owner must pay the replacement fee in order to receive a replacement rod. If we no longer offer the exact model, we will replace it with the closest comparable model from our current product line.

It make it sound like if you do it at the dealer you have to pay the replacement fee at the time of the exchange – The wording is a little hard to understand