Expride B Rod Questions

[Goby]

I just picked up my first Expride B "first Expride ever" and must say, I am very impressed.

 

Quick question, I ordered the 7'7" Heavy Mod/Fast model and the intention I had for this rod when I ordered it was flipping and pitching jigs. Mostly 3/8 and 1/2 ounce models with trailers, maybe a 3/4 at the heaviest. I was planning on taking Seth Feider's advice on a video I seen and trying 30 pound braid with a 20ish pound fluoro leader like he uses a lot. I also have some 50 pound braid to use as well if I have issues with the 30.

 

The rod showed up and has "Swim and Big Baits" printed on it so it was obviously designed with swim baits in mind, which differ from what I had in mind for it, now I know that this doesn't mean you can't use the rod for anything else, but I was curious if anyone else had this model in either the A or B series and what you used it for.

 

I also have a 7'3" XH on order with frogging in mind, but not sure when that will be in stock and ship. I would also like to get a MH version, but not sure if I want the 7'2" or the 7'6", either way nobody has one in stock anyway lol 

 

Does anyone use the 7' 11" XH model for jigging the "slop" in Michigan, is it overkill?

 

Thank you for your time

[Deleted account]

22 minutes ago, Goby said:

is it overkill?

Yes, I've never fished in Michigan, so maybe bass are different there than everywhere else, but I see a lot of overkill in your rod choices.

[Dumbbassanglr]

Yes I had the 7'7" in the A model. Its a pretty moderate/soft rod. Not ideal for what you bought it for. I would have bought the 7'6" heavy.

[softwateronly]

I have the 7'7" Expride A.  My favorite uses for it; A rigs, open hook swimbaits, 3/4oz swim jigs in light cover, scroungers, and deep diving cranks.  My MI lake doesn't get much emergent grass, but the submergent grass gets real thick.  I've tried working jigs through it with the 7'7" but found it a bit too soft for me to effectively fish it through the stuff.  I use the 7'3XH for that now.

 

scott

[Goby]

Interesting, well, will just have to wait and see, hopefully will get to use it this week.

 

Worst case scenario, will make a good blade bait rod for Lakers on the bay in the Spring and early Summer and maybe a nice heavy football jig rod for deep water gravel humps for big water Smallies.

 

Thanks for the replies!

[softwateronly]

2 hours ago, Goby said:

Interesting, well, will just have to wait and see, hopefully will get to use it this week.

 

Worst case scenario, will make a good blade bait rod for Lakers on the bay in the Spring and early Summer and maybe a nice heavy football jig rod for deep water gravel humps for big water Smallies.

 

Thanks for the replies!

 

I had some similar thoughts when I got mine, but found some uses for it that were way better than I hoped; ie deep cranking.  It's an awesome open water swimbait rod, both trebles and single hook.  I use braid to leader and think that's why the mod action is very versatile for me.  Good luck!

 

scott

[NorthernBasser]

11 hours ago, Goby said:

 

Does anyone use the 7' 11" XH model for jigging the "slop" in Michigan, is it overkill?

 

I have the 7'11" XH in the Expride A. Great punching rod! 

[Goby]

21 hours ago, softwateronly said:

 

I had some similar thoughts when I got mine, but found some uses for it that were way better than I hoped; ie deep cranking.  It's an awesome open water swimbait rod, both trebles and single hook.  I use braid to leader and think that's why the mod action is very versatile for me.  Good luck!

 

scott

 

The weedy waters close to my house are FULL of Pike so swimbaits and crankbaits are something I would essentially never fish as you are going to lose a lot of them to teeth. 

 

With gas prices the way they are, I figured the half dozen or so lakes within a couple miles of my house would be nice to fish more this year versus driving to the bay, etc... plus would allow me to learn more about Largemouth fishing in shallowish cover, something I have never done a ton of other than a fair bit of frogging as a younger lad...

 

In comparison to the spinning rods I am used to, this rod feels like a meat stick in hand lol It's going to get used with jigs, perhaps I will have to keep my casts shorter and fish more vertically, which this taper may be great for being a little softer and all. Time will tell, like I said I do have a 73 XH Expride on order so maybe by the time it becomes in stock, it will align with the weeds getting denser and then I will switch over to it. 

 

Eventually as others mentioned, the 7'6" Heavy Fast rod may be something I will consider, it's not in stock anywhere though so this one will have to do for now lol

 

Thanks for your responses!

[softwateronly]

3 hours ago, Goby said:

 

The weedy waters close to my house are FULL of Pike so swimbaits and crankbaits are something I would essentially never fish as you are going to lose a lot of them to teeth. 

 

With gas prices the way they are, I figured the half dozen or so lakes within a couple miles of my house would be nice to fish more this year versus driving to the bay, etc... plus would allow me to learn more about Largemouth fishing in shallowish cover, something I have never done a ton of other than a fair bit of frogging as a younger lad...

 

In comparison to the spinning rods I am used to, this rod feels like a meat stick in hand lol It's going to get used with jigs, perhaps I will have to keep my casts shorter and fish more vertically, which this taper may be great for being a little softer and all. Time will tell, like I said I do have a 73 XH Expride on order so maybe by the time it becomes in stock, it will align with the weeds getting denser and then I will switch over to it. 

 

Eventually as others mentioned, the 7'6" Heavy Fast rod may be something I will consider, it's not in stock anywhere though so this one will have to do for now lol

 

Thanks for your responses!

This saves most all of my single hook baits from the toothy scoundrels. Doesn’t help with jerks or cranks though. 
 

https://www.amazon.com/American-Fishing-Wire-Surflon-Stainless/dp/B00144CS4C/ref=asc_df_B00144CS4C/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312125955110&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=958876038250930460&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9021717&hvtargid=pla-570584746221&psc=1

 

scott

[Fastbee]

I use the 7'7H as my main flipping/pitching rod. It works great for me. I pair it with a Curado 70MGL and 20lb fluoro. The combo is very light in hand. Primarily throw 3/8 and 1/2 oz jigs on it. Great tip allows easy skipping as well if needed. Plenty of backbone and I'd rate it much closer to fast than moderate.  I also have the 7'3xh Expride. I bought it as a frog rod but really like it for swim jigs as well. It has the same soft tip as the 7'7H but is a really stout rod.  The 7'2 MH is great as well. I loved the old OG Tatula rods and caught thousands of fish on the 7'6H, 7'6 MH and 7'2H but they are showing their age. I've bought/sold so many rods searching for replacements it's embarrassing. The Exprides are awesome rods. The previous posts just go to show how personal fishing gear is, what really works for one guy might not be ideal for another. 

[Goby]

1 hour ago, Fastbee said:

I use the 7'7H as my main flipping/pitching rod. It works great for me. I pair it with a Curado 70MGL and 20lb fluoro. The combo is very light in hand. Primarily throw 3/8 and 1/2 oz jigs on it. Great tip allows easy skipping as well if needed. Plenty of backbone and I'd rate it much closer to fast than moderate.  I also have the 7'3xh Expride. I bought it as a frog rod but really like it for swim jigs as well. It has the same soft tip as the 7'7H but is a really stout rod.  The 7'2 MH is great as well. I loved the old OG Tatula rods and caught thousands of fish on the 7'6H, 7'6 MH and 7'2H but they are showing their age. I've bought/sold so many rods searching for replacements it's embarrassing. The Exprides are awesome rods. The previous posts just go to show how personal fishing gear is, what really works for one guy might not be ideal for another. 

 

Thanks for the insight, very much appreciated!