Expride 7'2 Heavy vs 7'3 Extra Heavy for Frog

[bunz559]

It's not frogging season but have been wanting to order a new frog rod. I was previously using a Dobyn's Fury 735 as a frog rod but found it to be a little too tip heavy for me to walk frogs efficiently. I switched it over to my Dobyn's Extreme 745 and walking and working a frog was a breeze. Seems like the Extreme, while the same power, had a little softer tip. 

 

Has anyone had any experience with the Expride 7'2 Heavy and 7'3 Extra Heavy rods? How are the tips? I'd like a good backbone but something with a little less tip. I don't fish too much heavy cover while frogging, mostly open water, occasional tullies, and sparse grass. 

 

This rod would also serve as a medium flipping, jig, and heavier Texas rig rod. 

 

Thanks for your input. 

[fishballer06]

Here's my input, as we seem to own a few similar sticks. 

 

I use a Dobyns Sierra 735 for frogging, but I wouldn't mind a Champion 736 for this purpose if a deal came along. I own the Extreme 745 as well, and I'm sure it would work great for frogging as well, but mine is used as a bottom contact rod. 

 

I also own the Expride 7'2" Heavy and it's an awesome all around heavy powered rod. It would work great for flipping and texas rigs for you. It's also great for Keitech's on a 3/8-1/2oz jighead, as well as spinnerbaits and heavier squarebills. As far as frogging, it's not a rod you would want to use in the heavy slop. I have used mine for open water popping frogs, but I certainly wouldn't want to use it in heavy weeds. I have read from numerous people online that the 7'3" XH Expride is the quintessential frog rod. So if you want to use it just for frogging, I'd go that route. 

[punch]

I have the 7'2 H expride and for what you're describing it would be perfect. It also can be used for heavier swim jigs or smaller swimbaits (like a 6" magdraft). You can even flip/pitch with it. 

I would say the 7'3 XH Expride is for strictly frogging ALL kinds of cover, including the very thick stuff. I would say the 7'2H expride is NOT the rod I would use if i was frogging super thick mats or really thick pads/reeds. It's a powerful rod but it's not the "broom handle" you would need for those kinds of applications. 

 

If you're frogging in sparse cover or open water, and want a rod that can do a few other things well.. I highly suggest the 7'2H Expride. You could easily fish a 1/2oz or 3/4oz jig on the 7'2H expride. 

[fishballer06]

30 minutes ago, punch said:

I have the 7'2 H expride and for what you're describing it would be perfect. It also can be used for heavier swim jigs or smaller swimbaits (like a 6" magdraft). You can even flip/pitch with it. 

I would say the 7'3 XH Expride is for strictly frogging ALL kinds of cover, including the very thick stuff. I would say the 7'2H expride is NOT the rod I would use if i was frogging super thick mats or really thick pads/reeds. It's a powerful rod but it's not the "broom handle" you would need for those kinds of applications. 

 

If you're frogging in sparse cover or open water, and want a rod that can do a few other things well.. I highly suggest the 7'2H Expride. You could easily fish a 1/2oz or 3/4oz jig on the 7'2H expride. 

The 7'2" H is such an awesome do everything rod. It and my Dobyns Champion 734 are my two most used rods because of how versatile they are. 

 

If you have the dough, buy both, because they're that good of a stick. 

[stratos4me]

I know this is an old thread, but I've owned both rods and have fished both extensively. Here's what I learned.

 

The XH is a pool cue. I found it lacked sensitivity when flippin and made accuracy with a frog difficult. It also made it hard to keep the rod loaded when fighting small fish in my light boat (lots of guys overlook this). The result was a lot of lost fish. I consider the XH to be a one trick pony. That is, heavy frogin by a large, physically powerful angler in a heavy boat. Smaller, less powerful anglers will have difficulty getting into the backbone for a good hookset.

 

The 7'2 H on the other hand is a great light to medium frog rod, far more sensitive than the XH, lighter, and super versatile. Also, you don't need to be Hulk Hogan to get into the backbone on a hookset. The lighter tip also makes walking a frog and casting easier. The 7'2" H  is a far more refined rod and just more fun to fish IMO.

 

For the OPs use case in moderate to light cover, it is no contest. The 7'2" H is the winner by a country mile.

 

 

 

[bunz559]

This was posted so long ago, but recently started fishing more again. Thought I would chime in for future readers if they ever search and find this thread. 

 

At some time or another, I ended up with both rods. As stratos4me mentioned above, I would absolutely agree. I have used the 7'2 H for a number of things: jigs, swim jigs, bladed jigs, Keitechs, 6in Magdrafts, open water popping frogs, Whopper Ploppers, and 10 inch worms. It's quite the versatile rod. Plenty of sensitivity, backbone, and a moderate enough tip that really allows you to use as a primary or backup rod to almost anything in its weight class. 

 

On the other hand, the 7'3 XH is very much a broom stick. I really like the tip for walking frogs and fishing them in heavy cover but there's just too much backbone for anything else I normally fish. I have also thrown the 6in Magdraft on it but the stiff back bone on it just makes for an awkward cast. I don't think the rod could handle stepping up to the 8in unfortunately. While the 7'3 XH had become my dedicated frog rod over what I was previously using, that's all I really only use it for. U could, if there was nothing else on deck, use it for other purposes like jigs, flipping and pitching but it would not be the ideal rod.  

 

Thanks for all the input.