Orochi Jerkbait Special or Expride 6'10 Medium

[bunz559]

Been contemplating on the above two rods for jerkbaits. What's everyone's experience? I have a few rods from each line but would like more insight on each rod. 

 

Thanks in advance! 

[Fishes in trees]

It is going to be your rod.  Is there any place you can go where those rods are in stock, where you can touch them and feel them?  If I'm buying a rod over the internet, it is to replace one I've had previously or get more of one that I like and already own.  It would drive me nuts to buy a rod I hadn't messed with prior to purchasing.

 

You're in California - how far away is that store that the guys on Tackle Tour are commonly promoting?   Apparently they got everything there, or at least the guys on Tackle Tour write that way.  Maybe they're like Bass Pro, in that they are supposed to have everything, all the time, but sometimes they don't.  Call first.

[NHBull]

This is an area that MB shines....The flatside and jerkbait are great and also good for topwaters and small CB.   That said, there is no wrong decision here. 

[bunz559]

8 hours ago, Fishes in trees said:

Is there any place you can go where those rods are in stock, where you can touch them and feel them?  If I'm buying a rod over the internet, it is to replace one I've had previously or get more of one that I like and already own.  It would drive me nuts to buy a rod I hadn't messed with prior to purchasing.

 

Unfortunately not. Closest Bass Pro is about 2.5 hours north. Tacklewarehouse is about 2 hours South from me. And the local tackle shop, while great on bait selection, hardly carries higher end rods other than Dobyns. I totally agree with you, I have purchased several rods based on Youtube reviews and have ended up selling them or handing them over to family as gifts. 

5 hours ago, NHBull said:

This is an area that MB shines....The flatside and jerkbait are great and also good for topwaters and small CB.   That said, there is no wrong decision here. 

I appreciate your insight. I definitely like my EMFT second gen Orochi. I've been using a Shimano SLX rod for jerkbaits this fall and feel it's finally time to get a nicer rod. Prior, I had a Dobyn's 685cb and it was just to much of a noodle. 

[Tizi]

I really like my SLX, it's not an expride, but it is really good.  How much better does it need to be for jerkbaits?

[mrpao]

I haven't fished a SLX rod.

I haven't fished the jerkbait special.

I do really like my 6'10" exprides for both jerkbaits and topwater. I do wish it had a little more backbone though. But the flex in the tip helps to keep the fish pinned on those treble hooks.

[bunz559]

On 11/5/2019 at 6:02 AM, Tizi said:

I really like my SLX, it's not an expride, but it is really good.  How much better does it need to be for jerkbaits?

Let's just say I should've ordered a Medium power rather than a Medium-Heavy. So since I want to try a medium power rod, I figure I might as well step it up. Other than that, the SLX is a great budget rod.

 

Thanks for all the input guys. I think I'm going to try out the Expride as I did get to demo a friend's Jerkbait Special this past weekend. 

[NorcalBassin]

If you're up for investing just a little bit more the Destroyer Oneten Special is pretty close to perfect.

[punch]

42 minutes ago, NorcalBassin said:

If you're up for investing just a little bit more the Destroyer Oneten Special is pretty close to perfect.

The action on this rod is incredible. 

[newyorktoiowa57]

I have 3 exprides and while they are great, the reel seat is not that comfortable. 

[mrpao]

4 hours ago, newyorktoiowa57 said:

I have 3 exprides and while they are great, the reel seat is not that comfortable. 

I feel differently.

I really like the expride reel seats.

I think it fits medium to smaller hands better 

[Stephen B]

The Exprides are awesome though

[newyorktoiowa57]

The sensitivity is amazing, I find the reel seats a bit cramped though. 

[bunz559]

I definitely can see that the reel seat takes a little getting used to. But after fishing my 7'6 MH and 7' M spinning, I've grown to like it. 

 

As for the Orochi, they're a perfect fit. Sensitivity is a toss for me between the two. I'll have to try out more of the rods to know. Would love a Destroyer but they're a bit out of the price range. I try to keep my rods in the $300 range. There is an exception on my Dobyn's Extreme as some I purchased second hand and some I got a great deal. 

[newyorktoiowa57]

18 minutes ago, bunz559 said:

I definitely can see that the reel seat takes a little getting used to. But after fishing my 7'6 MH and 7' M spinning, I've grown to like it. 

 

As for the Orochi, they're a perfect fit. Sensitivity is a toss for me between the two. I'll have to try out more of the rods to know. Would love a Destroyer but they're a bit out of the price range. I try to keep my rods in the $300 range. There is an exception on my Dobyn's Extreme as some I purchased second hand and some I got a great deal. 

How do you like that spinning model? 

What have you use the 76mh for? 

[bunz559]

12 minutes ago, newyorktoiowa57 said:

How do you like that spinning model? 

What have you use the 76mh for? 

The spinning is nice. Comparably to what I have, the Medium Expride is a little bit stouter than my Dobyns. I tried throwing lighter rigs on it and couldn't cast very far. But this past weekend, I tied up a dropshot and added a 1/4oz tungsten weight and casting distance is no longer an issue. So my finding is I need to throw at least 1/4oz or slightly heavier. With the tungsten weight, sensitivity was amazing. I would assume that a jerkbait would be great on this rod as well. 

 

For the 7'6mh, I've thrown Texas rigs, Keitechs, and finesse jigs on it paired with a Chronarch 51e. Again, it's a little faster tip than I am used to so I feel it shines in the half ounce and slightly heavier and lighter weights. Definitely has to be heavier than 1/4oz. Bottom contact is where I'd use it though. The extra length really helps with deeper reservoir fishing like where I'm from. 

[newyorktoiowa57]

26 minutes ago, bunz559 said:

The spinning is nice. Comparably to what I have, the Medium Expride is a little bit stouter than my Dobyns. I tried throwing lighter rigs on it and couldn't cast very far. But this past weekend, I tied up a dropshot and added a 1/4oz tungsten weight and casting distance is no longer an issue. So my finding is I need to throw at least 1/4oz or slightly heavier. With the tungsten weight, sensitivity was amazing. I would assume that a jerkbait would be great on this rod as well. 

 

For the 7'6mh, I've thrown Texas rigs, Keitechs, and finesse jigs on it paired with a Chronarch 51e. Again, it's a little faster tip than I am used to so I feel it shines in the half ounce and slightly heavier and lighter weights. Definitely has to be heavier than 1/4oz. Bottom contact is where I'd use it though. The extra length really helps with deeper reservoir fishing like where I'm from. 

How is the balance of the 76? I’ve thought about that medium spinning as a ned/wacky rod but am probably going to try a loomis 842 instead. I hate a 72MH expride, but it feels a little short for swinging hooksets sometimes. 

[bunz559]

26 minutes ago, newyorktoiowa57 said:

How is the balance of the 76? I’ve thought about that medium spinning as a ned/wacky rod but am probably going to try a loomis 842 instead. I hate a 72MH expride, but it feels a little short for swinging hooksets sometimes. 

I'm sure the Loomis is going to be nice.