Good medium or Medium Heavy rod for smaller 1/4-3/4 oz swimbaits.

[Ksam1234]

Looking for a good medium+ or mag medium rod for smaller swimbaits.  I would even go to a MH as long as its not a broomstick, looking for something lightweight and sensitive as sometimes these bass barely touch it and just feel the “mooosh” . My price range is around 250$ ! Thank you ! 

[jbsoonerfan]

I have the Poison Adrena 6'11 M+ and it is a FANTASTIC rod! I have used it for 110's, lipless, jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, squarebills, medium divers and I even tried it with 1/4 oz texas rigs. It absoluetly excels in every way. It casts anything with ease and has just the right action for moving baits, especially slow moving baits.

 

I know it is above your price range but I was just throwing it out there in case you found a deal on one.

[NHBull]

Don't laugh

They are awesome.

I have one for Topwater and 3 inchish swimmers

 

https://www.alphaangler.com/collections/bait-casting-rods/products/clutch-power-finesse

[Cgrinder]

Open hook? Beast hook? Something in between?

 

I'd be looking at the Expride in that price range. Lovely rods for the money.

[jimmyjoe]

   St. Croix Mojo Bass casting rod, 7'-0", MH/MF and 3/8-3/4 oz. They call it the "spinnerbait" model, although I don't know why. Excellent small swimbait, fluke, twitchbait and flutter rod.

   And yes, I have one.   ??    jj

[Ksam1234]

2 hours ago, Cgrinder said:

Open hook? Beast hook? Something in between?

 

I'd be looking at the Expride in that price range. Lovely rods for the money.

I wish! I can’t find any Exprides  for sale.. literally everyone is out

[jbsoonerfan]

29 minutes ago, Ksam1234 said:

I wish! I can’t find any Exprides  for sale.. literally everyone is out

I just bought a 6'6 M Expride for jerkbaits on the auction site. $225 shipped

[Fin S]

I've been using a Dobyns Champion XP 703c for 3.8" Keitechs, and I really like it for that application. Since it's a Dobyns, it's not quite as stiff as a typical MH but definitely stiffer than a M. It's sensitive enough for me, but I throw 20 lb braid with a 10' mono leader. It's my only $200+ rod, so I can't comment on how it stacks up against similarly priced competitors.

[Ksam1234]

5 minutes ago, Fin S said:

I've been using a Dobyns Champion XP 703c for 3.8" Keitechs, and I really like it for that application. Since it's a Dobyns, it's not quite as stiff as a typical MH but definitely stiffer than a M. It's sensitive enough for me, but I throw 20 lb braid with a 10' mono leader. It's my only $200+ rod, so I can't comment on how it stacks up against similarly priced competitors.

How lightweight is it?

[Fin S]

8 minutes ago, Ksam1234 said:

How lightweight is it?

I can't say I'm a good judge of how lightweight it is because it's my first $200+ rod and lightweight is a relative term, but it feels plenty lightweight to me and balances nicely with a Daiwa Tatula reel. It was a definite step up from the BPS Carbonlite I had been using.

[FryDog62]

I have a Tatula Elite Medium/Medium Heavy and Expride MH.  I think either one could work depending on your tip preference.  Tatula is XF and Expride is Moderate-Fast.  

 

If the Expride are too long a wait I think the Tatula is a very good rod, and would give you great sensitivity. I use it with stretch lines (fluoro/co-poly) rather than braid so the XF tip doesn’t overpower.  
 

Other options just above/below your price range:  

 

*Tatula Elite (non-AGS) 7'2" Howell rod is MH "Regular" and probably closest in action to the Expride. Less money than the Expride and I'm sure the Shimano guys would say its not in the Expride's class, but it is closer than the $100 difference.  

 

*I also have an Orochi Braillist at 7'5" MH-F.  Great rod if you want a little more distance.  I have thrown Dark Sleepers down to 3/8 oz with those but not sure I'd go any lighter.  That rod shines when dragging/bouncing 1/2-3/4 oz swimbaits, Biffle Bugs, Dark Sleepers along the bottom.  If you want something similar but a little shorter, I don't have one but the Tour Versatile might fit what your looking for very well.  

[Fishes in trees]

I have an older 7' Kistler ( the olive green one ) that says Small Swim Baits on the side of it.  I used it for spinner baits & square bills.   For a current, more readily available rod, the 7' Bucco Trap Caster might be an option.

[gilkeybr]

On 5/4/2020 at 3:28 PM, jbsoonerfan said:

I have the Poison Adrena 6'11 M+ and it is a FANTASTIC rod! I have used it for 110's, lipless, jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, squarebills, medium divers and I even tried it with 1/4 oz texas rigs. It absoluetly excels in every way. It casts anything with ease and has just the right action for moving baits, especially slow moving baits.

 

+1 on this.  The 611M+ is a very flexible rod.  I got mine for $242 from ALF ebay auction.  Hard to beat at that price

[fishwizzard]

On 5/4/2020 at 3:28 PM, jbsoonerfan said:

I have the Poison Adrena 6'11 M+ and it is a FANTASTIC rod! I have used it for 110's, lipless, jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, squarebills, medium divers and I even tried it with 1/4 oz texas rigs.

I have that rod as well and agree that it’s amazing. It’s a testament to it’s versatility as my experience with it is completely the opposite of yours, to me it is an outstanding light t-rig/jig rod and I’ll even throw a treble hook lure on it now and then.

[Ksam1234]

I ended up going with the daiwa rebellion ! MH/F , says it has a soft tip yet lock of backbone.  Rated to 1/4-3/4 oz I believe. I’ll see how that goes and if not I’ll wait for the expride ..

[FryDog62]

1 hour ago, Ksam1234 said:

I ended up going with the daiwa rebellion ! MH/F , says it has a soft tip yet lock of backbone.  Rated to 1/4-3/4 oz I believe. I’ll see how that goes and if not I’ll wait for the expride ..

Sounds like a great choice - give us a review when you get a chance ?

[Ksam1234]

26 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

Sounds like a great choice - give us a review when you get a chance ?

Will do!! I looked online for some kind of review but couldn’t find anything ! So figured I would be the first , rod should arrive Friday 

[Ogandrews]

I would say to get a Shimano expride but their all sold out everywhere. I would recommend looking into a dobyns champion 733 or 734. I would go with the 733 if you will be using lighter wire exposed hooks or the 744 if heavier wire and weedless hooks. I use my Sierra 733 for most keitechs under 4.8 and it is a perfect patch. Sensitive, has some give in the tip but is still fast enough and has enough backbone to get a good hook set. I paired mine with a curado k 7.1 with 40lbs maxcuatro braid and will use 12-17lbs mono leader depending on the water clarity. I have also use my Sierra 735 for heavier wire swim jigs and swimbaits and it is great for those applications as well although I usually prefer a longer rod if I’m casting anything over 1/2 oz.