Does anyone have any experience with the Okuma EVX Musky or Big Guide rods?  Or the Shimano Compre Musky rods?   I'm looking for something fairly affordable to throw heaver 1-4 oz. swimbaits for Musky and rock fish.

 

I'm partial to Okuma and Shimano since my local store does over the counter lifetime warranty on them.

 

Thanks!

I fish an Okuma Big Bait Rod 7'6" Med Hvy - It's rated to 5 ounces.

 

Nice stick for the $$.

 

A-Jay

Thanks.  That's the rod I'm leaning towards.  I can get it for $130 locally and get over the counter lifetime warranty.    The MH that's rated for 1/2 to 5 oz baits is the lightest and has a full cork handle.  The EVX Musky rod seems to really big and bulky.  I'm going to guess that if it can handle 5 oz baits, it can handle a rockfish too

I have the same rod as A Jay. It should work for what you want it for nicely. Get a bone colored lunker Punker and a bullshad and go nuts.

I use the 7'6" Heavy Okuma Big Bait rod.  It does pretty well with the smaller baits and handles the 8" Hudd.  It's a good all around rod for a fairly wide range of baits.

I too have the okuma mh 7'6" very good rod not as sensitive as some other sticks I've had opportunities to use but its the best bang for your buck

I love my Shimano Crucial 7'11" H but that's for bigger baits like hudds, soft tools, etc.  Think its rated from 5-8 oz which I mainly thrown around 4-5 oz baits but I like the heavier rods too!

Thanks for the responses.  The guy at my shop said that I should go with the lighter rod and if it breaks, he'll honor the warranty.  I think if it's got enough backbone to throw 5+ ounce baits, I should be able to fight a rockfish or musky with it.

Better off with Okuma Guide 7'11" Heavy swimbait bait rod. The extra length helps to ease your casting the 5+ oz (1-6 oz) lures and controlling big fish near the boat. This rod isn't heavier in weight, except the lower 1/3 is slightly thicker wall section. Traditional musky rods tend to be heavier wall thickness on the upper 1/3rd of the rod for setting big 3xx trebles that some musky lures have.

Tom

I too have the okuma mh 7'6" very good rod not as sensitive as some other sticks I've had opportunities to use but its the best bang for your buck

 

I've toyed with getting a dedicated rod for swimbaits, and this area always pops up in my mind.  Is sensitivity really a big deal in a swimbait rod?  I'm sure there's certainly a benefit to having more sensitivity, but is it money well spent?  I haven't thrown swimbaits much, but there's never been a doubt when I got a bite and that was on a cheapy BPS telescoping flipping stick.

I've toyed with getting a dedicated rod for swimbaits, and this area always pops up in my mind.  Is sensitivity really a big deal in a swimbait rod?  I'm sure there's certainly a benefit to having more sensitivity, but is it money well spent?  I haven't thrown swimbaits much, but there's never been a doubt when I got a bite and that was on a cheapy BPS telescoping flipping stick.

 

Though not a diehard swimbaiter, I'll tell you that as long as I can feel the tail kick on a Hudd, I'm happy.

 

A-Jay

I've toyed with getting a dedicated rod for swimbaits, and this area always pops up in my mind. Is sensitivity really a big deal in a swimbait rod? I'm sure there's certainly a benefit to having more sensitivity, but is it money well spent? I haven't thrown swimbaits much, but there's never been a doubt when I got a bite and that was on a cheapy BPS telescoping flipping stick.

for moving baits, topwater/waking/glide baits its great. you know when a fish hits the lure but for ny hudds i want a little more sensitivity but you can use the okuma no problem. its almost a personal preference thing. i fish the hudd rof 16 quite a bit and the sensitivity helps keep the bait under control as its a bit more tricky than the rof 5/12

Flipping rods are heavy and stiff, not designed to cast lures long distance. You will wear yourself out trying to cast large size swimmers for several hours. Sensitivity isn't a big factor, casting is the issue. Keeping in touch with what your lure is doing isn't any different for crank baits or swim baits, you need to learn when changes occur to the lure that indicates strikes.

Tom

Nothing wrong with the Okuma. I'm actually getting one of the EVX rods to throw the giant stuff around.

 

I've used the Crucial and owned most of the Guide Series Big Bait rods. The Okumas are a better stick at a lower price point.

Thanks again.  I've handled the Musky Rods before, they are big, big sticks.  I'd rather have the lighter rod.  I really do like everything Okuma offers.  I've just not seen the Big Guide rods.  Over the counter warranty is hard to beat. 

The Guide Big bait rod I have is a full cork heavy swimbait 7'10" model that weighs 6 1/8 oz., balances perfectly with Shimano Cardiff 300A. The newer split cork handles may be slightly lighter in weight. These are not heavy rods, they are excellent for casting swimbaits. My other swimbait rods are G. Loomis models that cost 3X more. Okuma's are a good solid swimbait rod, well made with good guides.

Tom