Winter 2022
®
XTASY
page 52
Champion XP
TRENDS AND TENDENCIES
Over the years, Dobyns has seen the national market follow the West’s lead in preferring longer rods.
“In the West, you can hardly give a 7-footer away,” he said. “And now we sell more 7’3” nationally than any
other length. Longer rods cast further, I believe they fight fish better, and their not clubby like in the old days. Now they’re more balanced.”
He’s also seen a switch in handle materials. When he first started the company, split grips were all the rage, but that pendulum has swung in the other direction.
“If we offer a model in both split grip and full cork, 10 years ago we’d sell 75 percent split,” he said. “Now we probably sell 60 percent full.”
NOTES ON OTHER RODS
The company’s number
one seller is the Fury 705CB
crankbait rod, which retails for a comparatively light $129.99
One of his other favorites is the 794SB light swimbait rod, which he uses not only for swimbaits, but also for a 10XD and an Alabama rig, “any time you need a little bit more power.” •