July 2022

Dobyns Rods News & Updates
Stay up to date on all the latest and greatest from Dobyns Rods!
Gary's Corner...


July is a hot miserable month and the only thing worse is August. Diehard bass anglers are still going to fish. Many will make a few adjustments, fishing 4-5 hours of a morning and again the last 3-4 hours of an evening. Still others simply go straight to night fishing and dodge all the hot temps as well as all the summer boat traffic. Here’s a few things to look for during summertime temps. If you have grass in your local pond, head straight for it. Bass love to get back under and in all of this vegetation. Some of the best ways to catch them are topwater frogs, or flippin’ the grass.

 

Do you have a lot of docks on your lake? These provide heavy shade and are a magnet to all species of fish. This is also the time of the year to get offshore and fish reefs, ledges, and deep island tops. This last scenario is found all over the country whether you are on Kentucky Lake, one of the Great Lakes, or one of the clear water reservoirs in the west. The popular technique many times are some type of worm, jig or Carolina rig, but I’ve caught some really good ones by calling them up on topwater. The bottom line is the fish are going to eat a lot this time of year.

 

The hot weather is going to affect anglers far more than it is the fish. Here are a few tips on must have items to make fishing more enjoyable for the anglers. You really need a good dose of sunscreen and it doesn’t hurt to apply it a time or two during the day. Next, consider your clothing. Preferably wear something that breathes and has at least an SPF rating of 50 or more. Also, lighter colored clothing is always cooler. You may grab one of those floppy Boonie hats. These are usually vented to breath as well. I’ve spent many days on Lake Mead in the summer fishing the US Open events. I wouldn’t think of going to that event without my Boonie hat. I dip it in the water every time it dries out.

 

Of course, you must drink a lot of liquids and make yourself drink more and more. If you get thirsty, you’re way behind on liquid intake and probably won’t catch back up. Drink and make sure you’re never thirsty. I usually drink at least a couple of bottles of water on the way to the ramp to get started for the day. Another tip is stay away from caffeine on hot summer days. I’ll never forget a day on Lake Mead in August when I came in to weigh fish. I felt terrible. There was an EMT on the dock and he came straight to me. He said, “You look like sh**.” I replied I felt the same, too. He asked about my water intake and I’d been hooked on this Lipton Green tea for a while and told him I’d been drinking it all day. He loudly says, “Gary Dobyns, you know way better than that. You don’t drink anything with caffeine in these types of conditions.” I got a royal butt chewing and I’d spent many years on Lake Mead in the summer and never really thought about the caffeine, but I was a water drinker, too. This day I was catching them really well and in full tournament mode, not really thinking about caffeine and figured as long as I was drinking a lot, I was good. Bad move!!! I’m passing on this bonehead tip that I learned the hard way thinking surely there’s got to be others that don’t realize it too.

 

Summertime is hot but so is the fishing!!! Just prepare a little for it, find some grass, boat docks, or offshore structure and you’ll be in business. Good luck fishing to all and I’ll see you on the water!!!

Josh Jones Hyperlight Series Now Available

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Dobyns Rods is happy to announce the new Hyperlite Series with Josh Jones. Josh and Gary are great friends and it didn’t take long when they were fishing together for Josh to convince Gary that this is something that is very much needed with the new popularity of the livescope. These longer rods let you put the bait right in front of the fish’s face as you see it on the livescope. You are no longer fishing for a school of fish but for a single fish in that school. Josh has proven to be a master with the livescope, winning numerous crappie events including the American Crappie Trail Championship in 2020. In 2020 through the start of 2022, Josh has caught 5 fish turned into the Texas ShareLunker program weighing 15.40lb, 15.10lb, 14.79lb, 14.13lb and 13.20lb!


Josh wanted a lighter, more balanced rod for this live scope technique. Most of the rods on the market are heavy and very tiring to hold all day long. The Hyperlite Series really addresses this problem making it a lighter, more sensitive and balanced rod. These will be available in the most popular lengths of 10, 11, 12 and 14 feet. These are all 2 piece casting rods but many of the crappie pros will also put small spinning reels on them.


***Note about JJ 14-2CR***

This model is now in stock, however, the factory did not make the rod per the approved sample. The finished product doesn’t meet our balance expectations. The rod is even stronger than it was designed and the balance is still better than competitors 14 footers. We are as upset as you are that the rod is not perfect and we are making the necessary corrections to rods still in production. As a result, we are going to blow out the existing inventory directly to you. This rod will not be available in a retail store until we receive corrected inventory. These rods will still have the same manufacturer’s limited warranty as the rest of the series. If you are interested, please go to the Dobyns Rods website to purchase the 14 footer for $169.99!


Click Here To Purchase

Pam Martin-Wells: Faith, Frogs and College Fishing

By Alan McGuckin for Bassmaster.com


As the all-time leading money winner among female bass anglers, it’s no surprise Pam Martin-Wells recently won the LBAA event on Bull Shoals. Far more astonishing however, she claimed victory with a Toyota sun buff covering her bald head, because just days earlier she had received her third chemo treatment to defeat ovarian cancer.

“There is no doubt in my mind that I am here because of the good Lord! So many factors took place from diagnosis to surgery that could have only been from the hand of God,” says Martin-Wells. “I had a CT on a Tuesday followed by an MRI and a CA125 blood test all in one day. All of which was pre-certified by insurance the same day. That doesn’t happen, only God can make that happen,” she insists.


Ten weeks after major abdominal surgery, buoyed by faith, her family’s encouragement and competitive determination, Martin-Wells put a Stanley Top Toad and Spro Popping Frog to work on Bull Shoals to generate explosive topwater strikes that lead to victory, and a Toyota Bonus Bucks check.


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Salzman Earns First Bass Pro Tour Win

 On Watts Bar Lake 



SPRING CITY, Tenn. – It was a fight to the finish during Thursday’s Championship Round among the very best anglers in the sport, but when time ran out it was Mercury pro Ryan Salzman of Huntsville, Alabama, whose name sat at the top of the SCORETRACKER® at the General Tire Stage Five on Watts Bar Lake Presented by Covercraft in Spring City, Tennessee. The Bass Pro Tour newcomer weighed 13 bass totaling 24 pounds, 3 ounces, to earn his first Bass Pro Tour win – as well as his first major career win – and take home the big red trophy and the top award of $100,000. 


“Right now, I’m just putting all my trust in God, and that’s the only way I can rise up to this moment, because it’s too big for me,” Salzman said in the final moments as the clock ticked down. “Words just can’t describe how I feel even being in contention to win this event, especially going up against some of the greatest anglers in the world. Fishing against my childhood heroes, it’s just amazing.”

Moments later, time expired and Salzman was announced the General Tire Stage Five Champion on Watts Bar Lake.


“I never in my life thought I would win this event,” Salzman said excitedly, amid cheers from fans and followers who surrounded him on the water. “I knew the winning fish were in this area, but I didn’t know if they would bite today. I’ve lost several fish this week, even lost two or three today that would have given me more of a cushion at the end of the day, but I’m just speechless and so thankful for this opportunity.”


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Thick Jungle Tree Fishing With Sam Sobi

Dobyns Rods' Pro Staffer Sam Sobi and Joel Willert headed out for a wild Tuesday night tournament. The team took 2nd place and Big Fish of the tournament. Follow along for all the lucky moments, and not-so-lucky moments.



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Strategic Angling - Season 2, Episode 6 - What Are We Doing In June?

In this episode, Dobyns Rods' Pro Staffers Brady Hanna and JJ Patton break down what they are doing as fish move from the spawn to the summertime hangouts.


Click Here To Watch The Video

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Dieffenbauch Takes 6th Place On Potomac River

Congratulations to Dobyns Rods' Pro Staffer Wil Dieffenbauch who took 6th Place at the MLF Toyota Series event on Potomac River. 


The pro never left Mattawoman Creek all three days and says he hit the same community holes in there as everyone else. So how did he emerge from the crowd to score a Top 10? “I think having a few different baits the fish are not seeing every day helped,” Dieffenbauch said.


Those “different” baits were a homemade swim jig and a homemade vibrating jig that both were just different enough from the rest to help him grind out a few more bites than the rest. He did also mix in a Strike King KVD 1.5Zoom Ultravibe Speed Worm and a topwater, though, to keep them honest. “I just kept hitting the same grass flats, and I’d get a little window where I’d catch two or three fish,” Dieffenbauch said. “Then I’d rotate to another community hole.”


Maverick Reels Now Available

Dobyns is excited to get into the reel business! Gary wanted to create high performance reels while staying in a budget minded price point. This took some doing but the results are awesome! You’ll find extra bearings and very smooth reels. Dobyns made these in accent colors of green, blue and red that will match many of our rod series.

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 The spinning reels are available in 2 sizes, 2000 and 2500. They have a gear ratio of 5.2. The Dobyns spinning reels feature 6BB+1RB Ball Bearings, new gear structure which is precision machined, and an aluminum forged spool.


Click Here To Purchase

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 The casting is a 100 size reel available in 3 different gear ratios: 6.5, 7.2 and 8.1. They feature a low-profile design with the streamlined shape, fully adjustable magnetic cast control, titanium coated line guide, and a new gear structure which is precision machined to reduce noise. 


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Drew's Clues - Respool Quickly

Follow along with Dobyns Rods Pro Staffer Drew Cook and Drew Benton on their brand new series on The Cut Line


They will be dropping their take on different fishing techniques, tips, and tricks to help you catch more fish this year.


Click Here To Watch The Video

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Dobyns Rods' Pro Staffer Of The Month

Logan Slaughter of Texas


Logan has been on the Dobyns Rods' Pro Staff Team since 2015. He's been using Dobyns Rods since he was a sophomore in high school and throughout his college fishing at Stephen F. Austin University in East Texas. Logan graduated from SFA this past December and is looking to start fishing more tournaments again, building his career path in this industry. He's thoroughly enjoyed his relationship with the Dobyns Team and all the great people he has met that work with Gary. He's looking forward to having the opportunity to continue to promote and use Dobyns Rods in the future.


Logans favorite rods are the Champion XP Series

DC 733C and DC 735C, they have been very versatile for him from North Texas to East Texas. 


New Models In The Sierra Ultra Finesse Series


The Sierra Ultra Finesse series was built strictly due to angler request and the growing popularity of BFS fishing. Ultra-Light bass fishing has become very popular over the last few years and we have heard from our anglers to bring back an Ultra-Light Finesse casting rod designed to throw baits as light as 1/16th oz (1.5g) and using 2-8lb line to target bass, panfish, crappie and trout.


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Ostrander Takes 6th Place On CA Delta


Congratulations to Dobyns Rods' Pro Staffer Christian Ostrander who took 6th Place with the MLF Toyota Series on the California Delta. 


Christian brought in a 52-2 over three days, including the Day 2 Big Bass of 7-12, by punching mats with two different color Missile Baits D Bongs on 1 1/2-ounce weights. One was a candy grass color and another was a black with red flake. Up top, he used a Jackall Gavacho Frog. 

Flag Lake TNT Wraps Up 2022 Season

By Brian Nelson with Flag Lake TNT


Flag Lake TNT was the brainchild of Dwight Laurence. There were a few onesie/twosie events back as far as ‘18/’19 but any chance at a circuit was derailed due to covid or salvinia. 2021 was the first full season with 5 WNTs and a Finals in the summer/fall. Anthony Fountain and Tim Faircloth were crowned the first-ever Dobyns Rods Team of the Year.


The 2022 season was moved to the spring/summer and consisted of 6 TNTs and the Finals which was held on Hosston due to Flag Lake being completely unfishable. 24 teams competed at one point or another and we averaged 20 teams at each event. In total, 294 bass hit the scales weighing 822.09 lbs., close to a 3 pound average.


A teams' best 5 TNT weights combined with their Finals weight would determine the 2022 Dobyns Rods Team of the Year. Teams endured TDY's, assignments, exercises, shift work, and weather delays. On several occasions anglers were forced to fish the team event alone. It takes a lot of skill, a little bit of luck and some consistency to be crowned TOTY.


Carter Harris and Trent Dorris had it all going on this year. They fished all 6 TNTs and they never zeroed. Heck, they never finished outside the top 10 and they had three 2nd place finishes. Going into the Finals they had built a 5 lb. lead on the second place team of James Grabbe/Thomas Cooper. Hosston is a lake known for 27 lb. stringers. If there was ever a place where a 5, 6 or even a 10 lb. lead could be erased, it was this one.


Carter/Trent were not about to let that happen. After a stellar 90 minutes of fishing on their practice day they came into the TNT Finals confident. On Monday they caught them from beginning to end. They had a 4+ pounder in the boat before the sun came up and had another 3 lb. cull with 3 minutes to go. When it was all said and done they dropped 5 bass on the scales weighing 17.92 lbs. giving them the TNT Finals win and securing the title of 2022 Flag Lake Team of the Year. They took home two Dobyns Maverick rods, two Dobyns hats and two beautiful plaques made by our very own John Elbert. Congratulations to Carter/Trent. And thank you to Gary Dobyns.


Other annual awards went to second place for TOTY (10 lbs. back) Darren Ellingwood/Brian Nelson. And after a 15 lb. stringer on Hosston, team Ramrod (Hearon/McClain) moved up to third place in TOTY. Both teams took home gift certificates for Dinga-Ling Baits and variety bottles of JJ'S MAGIC courtesy of James Grabbe/Aaron Lapka. BBOY honors went to Lapka/Ryan Hollis for a 6.76 pounder they caught April 2nd during TNT#2. They took home two ShredFin shirts and neck gaiters thanks to Cassidy Caldwell.


Thank you to everyone that participated. Thank you to Lapka/Brian Frechou for being the recorders and to Danilo Dancel Jr./Kevin Tucker for being the primary weighmasters. And thanks to everyone else who helped out at some point or another with something, which was most of you. It was a great year, I personally had a lot of fun and I’m really looking forward to 2023.

Picture This...

Dobyns Rods' Pro Staffer James Schubert II has been putting his Champion XP Series DC 744C to work in Southern Illinois.

Dobyns Rods' Pro Staffer Steve Latino reeled in a nice 6lb 9oz bass on his Xtasy Series

DRX 755C.

Jason Wood has been fishing this lake for a couple of years, and up until this month, he's never caught anything over 3 pounds. That's all changed now as this is his third fish larger than 6 pounds this month using one of the earlier versions of the Champion XP Series DC 703C.

Dobyns Rods' Pro Staffer Mike May had a good day on Lake Gaston in the Collins Bass For Cash Series finishing 10th place with 15.40lbs out of 88 boats. 

Brandon Bennington and James Olson have taken some top spots recently with the Augusta County Bass Club including Big Fish of the day with a 7.08lb largemouth. Currently the team is also sitting in first place for AOY with 818 points. 

Adrian Gimenez caught a nice smallie using his Fury Series

FR 703SF and a Berkley Choppo 105.

Dobyns Rods Fan Of The Month

Bill Friggle of Pennsylvania


Bill recently caught his personal best largemouth on a Fury Series FR 705CB using a Whopper Plopper. Bill said "I was at a dock with a railing and when I hooked the fish and realized its size, I knew I was in trouble. I knew I could not reach the water over the railing with my net. Luckily, two men were nearby having lunch and one of them came down to help me net it. It took time for him to get down to me so I had to fight it longer than normal. But I know I was able to fight a 4 pound 4 ounce largemouth because of this rod. A few times during the fight I looked at the bend in the rod, I'm no expert but I think it was perfect. I could keep tension on the fish as it repeatedly jumped, but still had enough backbone to move it to where I wanted it. I have used another brand of rods almost exclusively but I have always been impressed with Mr. Dobyns when I would see him on Youtube interviews and such. I knew he would only put out quality products and I knew I had to try one. I love it and it impressed me so much during the fight of my PB. Of course, now I want more." 

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