Is anyone in the south, specifically Florida using an Expride ? My home lakes are Kissimmee, Garcia, and Okeechobee. I’ve been tempted to upgrade to one for my workhorse t rig 10” and speed worm rod. I am throwing a Fitzgerald Stunner 7’2 Heavy currently and It gets the job done well. Would I go to the 7’3 Heavy? 
 

also considering upgrading my flipping rod to an Expride instead of this. 
 

I like to make sure it has enough backbone and strength to pull the big fish through and out of all the hydrilla we have. 

2 hours ago, BlackwaterPark10 said:

Is anyone in the south, specifically Florida using an Expride ? My home lakes are Kissimmee, Garcia, and Okeechobee. I’ve been tempted to upgrade to one for my workhorse t rig 10” and speed worm rod. I am throwing a Fitzgerald Stunner 7’2 Heavy currently and It gets the job done well. Would I go to the 7’3 Heavy? 
 

also considering upgrading my flipping rod to an Expride instead of this. 
 

I like to make sure it has enough backbone and strength to pull the big fish through and out of all the hydrilla we have. 

I cannot speak to the specific conditions that you face in Florida, but I have three Expride As, and have been very happy with them all.  I have the 7'2" Heavy, 7'3" Extra Heavy, and 7'11" Extra Heavy. 

 

The 7'2" Heavy was my first Expride, and has done a little bit of everything.  I currently have it paired with a Shimano Curado K, and have used it for Whopper Ploppers, 3/4oz swim jigs, and 3/4oz-1oz jigs/t-rigs.  No complaints with it for any of these techniques.

 

The 7'3" Extra Heavy is currently also paired with a Curado K (though I will probably pick up something else during the Black Friday/Holiday sales) and is my dedicated frogging rod.

 

The 7'11" is my do everything heavy cover flipping/pitching/punching rod.  I have it paired with a Shimano Bantam MGL and love it.

 

I don't think that you would be disappointed, or feel either rod was under powered, if you went with the 7'2" Heavy for 10" worms, and the 7'11" Extra Heavy as a flipping stick.

16 hours ago, mmoser52 said:

I cannot speak to the specific conditions that you face in Florida, but I have three Expride As, and have been very happy with them all.  I have the 7'2" Heavy, 7'3" Extra Heavy, and 7'11" Extra Heavy. 

 

The 7'2" Heavy was my first Expride, and has done a little bit of everything.  I currently have it paired with a Shimano Curado K, and have used it for Whopper Ploppers, 3/4oz swim jigs, and 3/4oz-1oz jigs/t-rigs.  No complaints with it for any of these techniques.

 

The 7'3" Extra Heavy is currently also paired with a Curado K (though I will probably pick up something else during the Black Friday/Holiday sales) and is my dedicated frogging rod.

 

The 7'11" is my do everything heavy cover flipping/pitching/punching rod.  I have it paired with a Shimano Bantam MGL and love it.

 

I don't think that you would be disappointed, or feel either rod was under powered, if you went with the 7'2" Heavy for 10" worms, and the 7'11" Extra Heavy as a flipping stick.

 

 

 

Thanks so much for the response! I’ll check out the Bantam also. 

SO now the tough decision of do I start with a flipping stick, or an all purpose rod. It is a tough decision because I do 80% of my fishing with a worm rod, but have 2 nice worm rods already, and I don't have a real nice flipping rod.