Fat-G

Yeah I'm just getting started. Might as well just suck it up and buy the Dobyns. I know I'll buy it sooner or later, why waist the time and money haha. I'm not really planning on throwing any hard baits for a while, so I guess this rod will just take a spot on the wall rack for now. Might make a decent blue cat rod and it can be my backup if the Dobyns breaks. Knock on wood. After getting the XC807 and tying the 4 oz. on the end I've come to the realization that I really do need two seperate combos for small baits and the Hudds. If the friggin' XC807 isn't HEAVY enough for Hudds, then damn... it sure wouldn't be good for a ML Tournament Channel Cat! Thanks dudes.

What makes it better for hardbaits? Is it not stout enough for Hudds?

Now I feel like I'm just annoying you guys.. I feel like this will help me understand the powers and actions of the rods you all are suggesting for me. I got an XC807 today for FREE. Lure rating 1-6 (although mine says 1 1/2 - 3). This is the first time I've held a big bait rod when I'm actually in the market for one. This was my friends rod and he threw the ML Baby Bass on it for a while, but it was so overpowering for that lure that he put it in his closet until today. Now that I have a reference for swimbait rods, how do other rods compare? I tied some line to the top guide and put a 4 oz. sinker on the other end and WOW a Hudd is one heavy-ass lure. How does the power and action compare to: Dobyns 807 Dobyns 806 Okuma 7'11 XH Crucial 7'11 H If this rod will work for the Hudds, I can just get a Crucial for the 6" baits which would put me at a whopping TWO swimbaits setups! I'm also trying to keep in mind that Hudd-wise I'll be throwing STRICTLY the ROF 5, so it'll be rigged with a treble on top BB style. Me thinks this would mean a less powerfull rod than a straight tree trunk would work as opposed to needing a ton of backbone to set the jig hook...?

Oddly enough I got a Lamiglas XC807 in really good condition for FREE today. I don't know if it would make a good Hudd rod, but you can't beat a free $200 rod haha. If it would work for the Huddys, I just saved $250!

Trust me, I'm drooling over the LDC's. Those are just beyond sick. Trust me after I graduate from VMI and am making a couple billion a year I'll get a bunch of LDC's haha. I just talked to David P and he told me to go with the 806 since I want to throw smaller baits occasionally as well.... Damn. This is a confusing journey haha.

No problem man! I'm 99% sure my final decision is this: Dobyns 807 Luna 300 CXX 20# (.45 mm) ROF 5 Hudd Gama. 2X Round Bend - 1/0 And the rigging will be done with 50# braid.

Fuggit, you only live once. Going with the Dobyns 807 to avoid having to upgrade later. Great warranty, I already love Dobyns, why the hell not. Can't wait to post a pic of a Hudd toad for you guys.

That was a big concern of mine. I'm looking at the Crucial 7'11 Heavy right now. Seems to be perfect for what I want to do with the rod. Slightly less stought, but still powerful enough to handle the Hudd. I could probably throw some 2-3 oz. lures as well. Thank you for confirming that for me. As for my ponds, I generally catch three to four 7's a year. Definitely not the bigger fish in my ponds. I actually have one pond that I strongly feel could give me a teener, possibly a state record. I'm the only one who seriously fishes it, too. Creek channels, deep water, brushpiles, laydowns, etc. Good lord I'm getting amped up just typing this. The first time I walked up to it to check it out, an 8+ swam away from me. It wasn't just an average 8, though, it was the length of a 6 with the GUT of an 8.

So you think the new Heavy model + 80# braid would get the job done too? As much as I would like to be able to throw 2-3 oz. baits with the rod as well, I don't want it to feel like I'm casting witha M action bass rod. I'll be throwing the Hudd a majority of the time. From the things I've read, the new Crucial 7'11 Heavy sounds like exactly what I want. Plenty of power and backbone to throw a big Hudd, but can throw a 6 bait in a pinch if I'm limited to one swimbait combo.

I feel like that little nephew at Christmas that won't stop asking questions and won't leave you alone. I'm trying to pick a rod for throwing 8" ROF 5 Hudds. No need for the ROF 12 in my ponds, so that is the heaviest bait I will use the rod for. If possible, I'd like to be able to throw baits down in to the 2-3 oz. range as well, but the rod doesn't have to "excel" in that area. I just want it to be able to, if that is viable. I was pretty certain about the Dobyns 807, but I've been thinking about it and I don't see the need for such an expensive rod right now. Especially since I'm a swimbait virgin. I'll have close to $500 to spend on baits, treble hooks, line, some jig trailers (I know, I know), Mend-It, etc. The reel is already taken care of, a Luna 300 that I'm trading a Cumara for. If this is important at all, I will be using braid on the reel. Probably 80# Sufix. Right now I'm looking at: Okuma 7'11 XH Crucial 7'11 H It seems like the Okuma would be really good for the 8" Hudds, especially with 25# line, but I'm not sure about such a stiff rod + heavy braid. I feel like between the hookset and fight the treble might get ripped out. The Crucial looks like it would handle both an 8" Hudd and a 6" Hudd, Mattlures Tourny Bass, Matt's Ultimate Gill, and the like pretty well. It seems like a good choice for me right now considering I can only get one swimbait combo for a while and it would probably do well with baits in the 3-5 oz. range. But then again, I have no clue, hence why I am asking you guys.

Cool, thank you all. I have a lot of confidence in braid, so I'll probably go that route. I'll need it anyway since the 5's don't come with a hook, so I might as well save some money and use braid for both the rigging and the fishing. I'm kind of second guessing the Dobyns...if I get an Okuma 7'11 XH I'll have money left over to buy a lot more things. Like Hudds, haha.

Just found out the reel will be a Luna 300 due to a sweet trade on another forum! I like that it has the power grips, but fear that it might be a MASSIVE reel to palm. Still debating 80 or 100 lb braid vs. 25 lb mono/copoly...

Got two questions for you guys, both pertain to throwing the 8" ROF5 Hudd. The rod will be a Dobyns 807SB, the reel will be a 300 size something (leaning towards a supertuned Cardiff 300A), and this setup will be STRICTLY for throwing Hudds for a while until I feel I've "learned" to swimbait fish well enough to buy a BAA, LOL. What brand and size hook are you guys using for rigging? I'm looking on TW and it seems like the Owner ST-41 1/0 would be a good choice, but I wanna hear from you guys first. What line (including # test) are you fishing Hudds on? I've heard Maxima flouro is good, Big Game, Hybrid, CXX, Izorline, etc. I'm thinking I should go with 25#..? PS - I've also considered braid. I don't want to be snagging/losing a Hudd very often. Maybe with the braid I'll be able to pull up the log, straighten the hook, or break the branch before the line snaps. Pretty much everything I would get snagged on is wood. No rocks. I also think that if I go with the braid I need to be using a 2X or 3X hook so I'm not straightening them on hooksets or during the fight. Maybe I'm overcomplicating this, LOL, but in the pond I'm planning to catch a state record in (yeah right), there is a pretty good amount of laydowns and the like.

I like Hybrid on my crankbait rods, haven't used it for the big stuff. I know you'll get this, many others may not: Roadwarrior doesn't throw swimbaits. Haha! That's some good stuff right there speed! It's great line, really. I wouldn't throw it with a jig or plastic, but it's really manageable. We miss you over there man. BASS, I think you're right - 20# Hybrid won't be heavy enough. Played with some today. Might even go with 80# braid, who knows. Also held a Cardiff 300 today at BPS. I was surprised at how well it palmed for me. Might have to go with a Cardiff and put the Power Grips on it, upgrade the bearings and drag, and if the Calcutta 300TE thumbar fits, put it on there as well.

That's fine. I'm going big or going home, LOL. Might as well get a superb rod right off the bat. If I really need to, I could always throw the smaller stuff on a Recon 796. So do you all think 20# Hybrid would be a good line?

Will the 807 still throw the Mattlures Ultimate Bluegill and Tournament Series? I want to be able to throw the Tourny Series in a couple specific ponds. Other than that the 8" Hudd is what I'll throw most of the time.

Thanks for the info gents! Bonesaw, I usually buy/sell rods and reels pretty quickly. I was trying to find a series that I felt was "perfect". I've had Cumaras, Savvys, Champions, Lowriders, and a couple others. Now I'm fishing Dobyns Champion Extreme rods. I actually sold all of my other gear except for my DX745, which will NEVER leave me. Strapped on it is a custom Revo Premier. Basically an Aurora. Staygold - HELL YES. I finally found the perfect jig rod! It's really versitile as well.

My bad, I should have been more specific. The $300 gift card is just the beginning of what I'm going to spend, LOL. Probably close to $600 all together. I'm pretty dead set on a Dobyns as I have a DX745 and LOVE it. Just trying to figure out which model now. Spectrum, I'm going to be throwing the Hudd a lot in the next couple of months, almost exclusively. Some other baits I'm getting: Mattlures Tournament Series 6" Hudd ML Ultimate Bluegill Slammer, when the warm weather comes back The reel will be a Luna 253. I'm not skimping on the equipment to start out with. I learned the hard way with all my other gear. "I'll fish a Compre my whole life". Yeah right. After a week I wanted a Cumara. This'll save me money in the long run. I fish VA ponds (neighborhood, farm ponds, etc.). Definitely some hoss mamas to be had. I should have said that I'm not going to have the money to buy another setup, therefore I want to get one rod that will do several things well. Sorry! haha.

Hey guys, first post here! I'm 17 and currently not working. College apps are a "Not Allowed" so I didn't have time for a job. Hopefully I get in to VMI! Got a question about the Dobyns 806 - for Christmas I'm getting a $300 TW gift card to buy swimbait gear. I'm planning on throwing a lot of 8" Hudds this next year. Is the 806 the rod I'm looking for? I want to be able to comfortably go down in the 2-3 oz. range as well. Probably won't throw anything heavier than the Hudd, but will definitely throw smaller baits.