Hey guys, you helped me make a decision about a rod for myself a couple months back and I love it. Now I’m getting a new rod for my wife as a gift before our Lake Powell trip. It’s a toss up between two  spinning rods: The Shimano Expride 7’ Medium or the Megabass Orochi XX Shakyhead. She throws a lot of T-rigs, and bottom contact techniques, like jigs and shakyheads, but every so often she enjoys throwing Neds. Sensitivity is very important. What’s your experience with these rods?

I don't have the Orochi XX spinning rods but have the casting.   Bought one to try it out, now have three.  Far and away my best rods.  I'd imagine that before summer is out I'll have replaced three more of my existing with the Orochi's. 

Both are awesome rods for what you are looking for, I would lean more towards the Expride.  Shimano is releasing the new Zodias next month which look great as well.

@BrianNJ31 I was just looking at the new Zodias and it seems awesome. I definitely want to get one for myself, but as for my wife she just doesn’t like it. She is a big cork fan.

@Dens228 I haven’t really seen an unhappy Megabass owner. I think if this is the route I take it’ll be a great rod. I will soon buy a Leviathan but first I need to figure out this spinning setup.  

For what it is worth, the Orochi is just about the perfect rod for a SH and Ned rod. It’s not the greatest TX rig rod because it doesn’t have a lot of guts to drive a hook through larger plastics. Trick worm, robo, finesse worms and such are fine. Start getting to a TX rigged Rage Craw or Menace and it is less than optimal. 
the Expride is more powerful, just given the taper of the blank. It’s slightly slower and transitions to power more efficiently giving you a better hook set. 
Both are outstanding. The third I might throw in the mix, albeit a little more bank, is the LegendX 6-10 ML. This is the rod that has taken over a huge portion of my Ned/SH/DS/Neko/Light TX rigging. I like it almost more than my NRX822DSR and that’s the greatest rod ever known to man. (And no one will ever be able to present me a valid argument otherwise.) But seriously, any of those three rods is very suitable for what you’re asking it to do, personally would lean towards the Orochi for what you’ve prescribed. 

@Hooliganthanks for the insight! St. Croix is releasing the new Legend Extreme soon. I might hold out just to see how it turns out. I haven’t owned a St. Croix before so I can’t say much other than I hear a lot of good things. Right now, I’m leaning towards the Expride only because I can get a better deal on it, but I’m a sucker for the aesthetics of the Orochi. I might just skip the surprise and make my wife pick one, or buy them both haha

On 2/24/2020 at 11:24 PM, Centrarchidae said:

@Hooliganthanks for the insight! St. Croix is releasing the new Legend Extreme soon. I might hold out just to see how it turns out. I haven’t owned a St. Croix before so I can’t say much other than I hear a lot of good things. Right now, I’m leaning towards the Expride only because I can get a better deal on it, but I’m a sucker for the aesthetics of the Orochi. I might just skip the surprise and make my wife pick one, or buy them both haha

Nothing coming in the Xtreme in a moving bait rod. Everything is bottom contact. 
Disregard this. I was replying to another Megabass rod thread that I had responded on and gotten them confused in mine head. 
Now, on the the reply:  Xtreme is legit. That’s about all I have to say about that. 

I have used both and I find myself picking up the megabass, more often then not. However I don’t think you could go wrong with either rod. Megabass actions seemed more dialed in to me, but I wouldn’t sleep on an expride. Tough choice, but I’d go with megabass imo.

On 2/24/2020 at 11:24 PM, Centrarchidae said:

@Hooliganthanks for the insight! St. Croix is releasing the new Legend Extreme soon. I might hold out just to see how it turns out. I haven’t owned a St. Croix before so I can’t say much other than I hear a lot of good things. Right now, I’m leaning towards the Expride only because I can get a better deal on it, but I’m a sucker for the aesthetics of the Orochi. I might just skip the surprise and make my wife pick one, or buy them both haha

I own a legend xtreme casting rod fast 7 ft. It’s the best rod I’ve own/owned. You get a limited lifetime warranty. I got mine on clearance several years ago when they were coming out with a new model. I feel every nook and cranny on the bottom. If your up to buying a legend xtreme it’s worth it. I got mine on clearance and love it.

4 hours ago, dias869 said:

I have used both and I find myself picking up the megabass, more often then not. However I don’t think you could go wrong with either rod. Megabass actions seemed more dialed in to me, but I wouldn’t sleep on an expride. Tough choice, but I’d go with megabass imo.

Which Orochi do you have?

Perfect pitch, emtf, and the Shakey head. All first Gen though.

On 2/22/2020 at 8:55 AM, Dens228 said:

I don't have the Orochi XX spinning rods but have the casting.   Bought one to try it out, now have three.  Far and away my best rods.  I'd imagine that before summer is out I'll have replaced three more of my existing with the Orochi's. 

what casting models do you have?

Just now, dias869 said:

Perfect pitch, emtf, and the Shakey head. All first Gen though.

i really wish they still made the first gen EMTF

Two Braillists and a Flat Side Special

 

I cannot speak for the Orochi. I have several, but not that model. But I do own the Expride spinning M and it's become my go to spinning on deck. Plenty of power with a nice fast tip. Great for any application with a j hook. I don't mind it for drop shotting too so long I'm throwing a 1/4 ounce weight. 

I ended up going with the Expride and paired it with a Stradic Ci4+ 2500, but it was also another 5 days just to pick between that and the Daiwa Ballistic LT. It’ll arrive on Monday and think she’s going to love it. I will, however, buy the Orochi Leviathan for myself this summer. 

The Leviathan will more than likely be my next rod as well. I really wanted it before spring but ended up with a few new spinning combos and a frog combo.