Introduction: Dobyns Rods is one of only two rod manufacturers to benefit from two individual reviews in our Swimbait Rod Wars. The other was Megabass with their F7-76RSDti White Python and F8-78DG Super Destruction. Two other companies, Okuma and St. Croix, also sent in more than one representative, but their sticks were so similar to one another, only one review was warranted for each manufacturer. So what is it about today's stick that differs enough from our previously reviewed Dobyns Rods 795ML to warrant another article? Let's find out, introducing the second to last representative in our Swimbait Rod Wars, Dobyns Rods' 807MAGH Swim Bait.
 

Spine, Weight, and Balance Point: The 807MAGH wins "heaviest" swimbait stick in another category too and that would be in shear weight. Coming in at 9.9 ounces all by itself, this stick actually weighs more than some of my full combos! Fortunately, it is a well balanced rod with a balance point approximately five and half inches up from the centerline of the reel seat, so it does not feel nearly as heavy as some of our other representatives.

The 807MAGH features an array of 12 Fuji Alconite Guides plus the tip - all double footed.

 

A rare sight... the 807MAGH bending under load!

Real World Test: I fished the 807MAGH with a number of reels but felt it handled best with either the Daiwa Luna 300L or Shimano Calcutta 401TE. Somehow, these larger, round reels just felt more at home on this stick than the one low profile reel I used in the Shimano Antares DC7. Granted, I never did mount my Curado 301DSV on this stick as that reel was pulling duty on other rods.

Testing the 807MAGH's casting ability with the Rago Original Tool.

 

Complete Field Test Set-Up for Dobyns Rods Champion 807MAGH
Reel(s)	Daiwa Luna 300L	Shimano Antares DC7	Shimano Calcutta 400TE
Line	25lb Triple Fish X-Rated	80 yds 65lb Suffix Perf. Braid	175 yds 20lb Cuda Copolymer

Casting: We collected a handful of seriously big, heavy baits specifically with which to test this rod's upper end lure weight capabilities. Since 807MAGH is specified as handling five to twelve inch baits, it almost became a mission to uncover what that really meant in terms of ounces. To that end, the most serious bait we were able to acquire was the classic, original, thirteen inch Rago Tool. This bait weighs in at a hefty thirteen ounces!

List of Big Baits Cast on the Dobyns Rods Champion 807MAGH
Bait	3:16 1-up	3:16 Armageddon	3:16 Wake	Rago 10" Tool	Rago 13" Tool
Weight	5.2 Oz	6.8 Oz	6.6 Oz	8.7 Oz	13 Oz

The 807MAGH handled this and all our other large big baits without really breaking stride. The same easy loading, fun casting performance we found in the 795ML is here in the 807MAGH just turned up a few notches in terms of what baits it can handle.

 
The 807MAGH is up to the task of casting this thirteen ounce bait!

The only minor problem I found casting these huge baits with this stick was my own ability to keep enough pressure on the spool of my reel during the swing so I could make an effective cast! Having the ability to throw baits of this size pales by comparison next to the act of actually doing it. Nevertheless, the 807MAGH is up to the task and it's a crazy sight watching a thirteen inch bait sail through the air. Of course, the only thing crazier is the commotion created by one of these magnum baits when they splash down!

 
Look out below!!

Sensitivity: Sensitivity on the 807MAGH is actually pretty darn good. I was getting a little numb and bored with all these big bait sticks and tossing eight and six inch Huddleston Deluxe's to drag along the bottom and test sensitivity, so after the afore mentioned test met with satisfactory results on the 807MAGH, I decided to try something different just to see.

The 807MAGH sits in Dobyns Rods' baseline Champion Series of sticks.

 

I took the Luna 300L off this rod and mounted a Daiwa Zillion HLC spooled with Sunline Shooter Defier nylon monofilament. After running the line through the guides on the 807MAGH, I tied at the end of the line a Lucky Craft LV500MAX and made a couple of casts. I was surprised to discover I was able to feel this lipless crank coming through the water with this beefy stick. So, I took it to another extreme tying on the eighth ounce sized Luhr Jensen SpeedTrap (actual weight one quarter of an ounce) and gave that a shot. Casting was a bit of an issue of course, but once the bait was in the water and I was able to begin my retrieve, I found the same result. I didn't think there was a chance, given the fact I was using mono and given the stoutness of this stick, I'd be able to feel either let alone both these cranks in the water - a very nice surprise.

 
The specification on the 807MAGH lists baits from five to twelve inches... a bit confusing but as far as we were able to determine, baits up to ten ounces are well within this rod's rating.

Next Section: Its all about the power