Go-to Heavy Cover Rods in the Shimano Expride B Line

[@Alex.m.fishing]

7'7" H expride with that slightly slower tip is my go to frog rod aswell, casts a jackall kaera frog beautifully 👌🏻

[@patrickzajdel]

Dialed! 👌

[@PudJigs]

I’m late to the game on your videos..but I’m catching up. Great content! I’m curious on your thought on the 7’3 heavy Expride. I see lots of info on the 7’3 XH but not the H. Thanks!!

[@ryanmichael8870]

What’s the bottom end for pitching with the 7’6xh? Can you toss a 1/2ounce tungsten with a creature or is it too stiff for that? Also, would you consider the 7’6xh good for frogs too?

[@patrickzajdel]

For me personally I find that it does really well with a 3/4oz. You can get away with a 1/2oz if you need to with a larger bait, but the 7’6h would be better suited for that. I really like that 7’7h for frogs, the 7’6h is a good option as well, but throwing frogs on the 7’6xh hasn’t been a consideration for me.

[@ryanmichael8870]

What’s the reason you prefer the 7’7 over 7’6xh for frogs?

[@patrickzajdel]

@@ryanmichael8870 The 7'7H casts a lot better than the 7'6XH. It's still got a lot of power, but is a more moderate rod. Tip loads a bit better too compared to the 7'6XH for frog fishing. You get mile long casts and really good hookups from this rod, with lots of power.

[@ryanmichael8870]

Stop it, I can’t be buying more rods. I need a heavy pitching rod for 3/4 and up but also something I’d love for a back up for frogs. Doesn’t seem like either are best for both

[@patrickzajdel]

@@ryanmichael8870 I use the 7’7H for pitching as well. It does well with 3/4oz but does lighter as well. If you’re looking for one, that would be the one.

[@lightningmusky5286]

The 7’6 xh , I am looking for something that does well between 3/4 and 1.25 oz.

[@patrickzajdel]

The 7’6xh is what you will want. I fish up to a 1.5oz on that rod. Haven’t tried anything heavier. The 7’6h can do 3/4 very comfortably, but feels underpowered with a 1.25oz.

[@RyanSmith-fb8rf]

The 7’6 XH is a phenomenal soft Swimbait rod as well. I throw 6-8”soft Swimbaits with an owner beast hook on braid to flourocarbon leader and it’s perfect. You can also use it for flipping and punching heavy cover it’s got a great backbone with a mod fast tip. I’ll even fish glide baits up to 2oz’s. I put all double footed guides on it and it’s my favorite rod I own

[@GoodByeSeeYou]

Do you have any experience with the 7'11 XHF? I'm looking for a versatile rod that can throw 1oz+ jigs in deep water (up to 40-60') but also work for pitching/punching cover and smaller swimbaits in the 6" range. Don't want a broomstick though! The 7'7 H I've heard really good things about but it sounds a bit redundant with my Dobyns 764C, looking for something that can handle a tad heavier even if my 764 is pretty much always throwing a 1oz Carolina rig.

[@patrickzajdel]

Most definitely do! It's one of the better heavy weight pitching and punching rods. For me, I opted for the 7'6XH and 7'7H for how I fish, and wanted to keep it in that seven and a half foot range for consistency with my other rods for pitching and punching. I do however think that the 7'7H is a better action for swimbaits, but the 7'11XH is a great punch and heavy jig rod.

[@GoodByeSeeYou]

@@patrickzajdel Nice good to know! What would you consider the true weight ratings on both the 7'11 and the 7'7? I guess I probably just have to pick if I want more of a focus on jigs/bottom contact or swimbaits huh. I'm assuming the 7'7 would be a bit more versatile overall and better for swimjigs and A-Rigs? Also I've never pitched with a rod over 7'6 so is the 7'11 more difficult than a shorter rod for that?

[@patrickzajdel]

@@GoodByeSeeYou the 7’11 is definitely a lot more rod to manage compared to the 7’6xh. That is why I chose the 7’6xh, as it is more inline with feel to the 7’6h and 7’7h. 7’7h will be a great swimbait rod, a-rig, and beefy single hook bait rod, jig rod as well.

[@GoodByeSeeYou]

@@patrickzajdel Awesome really appreciate the input!

[@drewhurst383]

Would the 7’6 H and/or 7’7 H be too much rod for 3/8-1/2 jigs?

[@patrickzajdel]

Not at all, both would be great! I find that the 7’6h pairs better with most reels.

[@c.shoefish]

Nope. All depends on the cover and line choice. And not all H rods are built the same. If it's a softer rod, you can use braid, if it's a pool cue, try copolymer and/or flouro.

[@alexandermenningmann5469]

I have the 7’7” expride A heavy for swimbaits with trebles. I just ordered a 7’2” heavy expride b. What other rod should i get for medium to heavy cover? I bank fish mostly. Thanks!

[@patrickzajdel]

A 7’6MH or 7’6H would be a great addition to your existing arsenal!

[@alexandermenningmann5469]

How would the 7’7” H A compare to the the 7’6” h b.

[@patrickzajdel]

@@alexandermenningmann5469 the 7’7h is much more moderate. The 7’6h is a much faster rod.

[@alexandermenningmann5469]

Thanks. Exactly the info i was looking for. Your page has great information. Im a subscriber now!!

[@alexandermenningmann5469]

Will the 7’6” heavy be good for jigs 3/4-1 0z and weedless magdraft style baits on a keel weighted weedless offset hook.

[@Osiris363]

Is that 7'6 XH a true MF action? I've heard the Shimano tend to run faster in action, and since I like more of a pool cue, like an EF, I'd still be willing to pick up a couple of the 7'6 XH's if they aren't true MF but more a F action. I do a lot of heavy cover jig fishing, and T-Rigs, and want that F-EF action. And I don't want to go to a 7'10-8 ft rod.....I like to flip-punch-pitch with 7'3-7''6 at most. Thx.

[@patrickzajdel]

I really like that 7’6 length which is exactly why I went with the 7’6 instead of the 7’11 in the XH model. In my opinion it’s great for punching and flipping with heavy weights. It has enough tip to help you place the bait on casts, and definitely more than enough backbone to muscle them out. It is definitely more of a F rod than MF.

[@lonelydoggie]

whats the outfit, nice one

[@patrickzajdel]

Simms CX Jacket

[@MikoseM-bz4mn]

Casting,plus jamais,un bon Daiwa Certate et une Tenryu Spinning rien de tel pour prendre du plaisir. J'ai dépensé 10.000€ en casting pour être aussi dégouté au dernier lancer qu'au premier,j'ai essayé toutes les marques de moulinet,le moins de perruque c'est avec les Daiwa bobine SV ,les pires c'est Abu Garcia,entre les deux y a Megabass(Daiwa Zillion sans bobine SV),Shimano,Lews,13 Fishing,ZPI,yen a pas un qui fait moins de perruque l'un que l'autre c'est la même daube,Shimano DC est un peu moins mais c'est loin d'être top. Même avec un Steez et une EverGreen c'est perruque,obliger de couper de la tresse tous les 5 lancer et de changer toute la tesse une a 2x par mois,je suis dégoûté de ce matériel. J'ai pourtant essayé tout et persévérer pendant 5ans,rien a faire toujours autant de perruque qu'au 1er jour. La pêche c'est un plaisir,si c'est pour s'énerver tout le temps,jeter des ensembles a 1000€ dans l'eau,casser des cannes a 500€ en deux et piquer des crises ou est le plaisir ? Nulle part. Le spinning c'est bien plus agréable tant qu'on utilise pas de la tresse Varivas(quelle daube cette tresse soit disant haut de gamme),LA tresse c'est YGK Gsoul (la tresse la plus haut de gamme fabriquée par Gosen) 97€ la bobine mais c'est incomparable avec les autres tresse,c'est ça ou une bête tresse a 10€,entre les deux on en a pas pour son argent. Il y a une Gosen qui est encore mieux mais elle est quasi introuvable et c'est 200€ la bobine de 150m (uniquement trouvable au Japon). Shimano les cannes c'est de la chinoiserie entre mauvaise et très moyenne,les moulinets Casting bof,Spinning a partir du Stradic c'est bon mais moins fluide que Daiwa,donc aucun intérêt a moins d'être sponsorisé Shimano.

[@patrickzajdel]

😂