In the Daiwa Tatula Elite AGS rod lineup, I’m considering the 7'3" Brent Ehrler model or the 7'5" Cory Johnston model for Texas rigs. Which one would be the better choice for that technique?

I haven’t used those 2 particular models, but you really can’t go wrong with a MHF rod for T-rigs. Looking at them I do think the 7’5” is more catered to bottom contact whereas the 7’3” is a multi-purpose rod. So the 7’5” might have a faster action. That’d be the one I’d go with if it’s solely for T-rigs

The Brent Ehrler 7’3” rod is generally designed as a multi purpose. I’m fairly sure that both models are roughly 70% backbone and 30% tip but with a fairly strong tip, so a little more on the MF side and will still do T-Rigs well.

 

In my personal opinion here, the rod you want is the 7’ M-MH/XF Brent Ehrler rod. It is a touch lighter than the typical Daiwa MH but still more of a MH than a M but it will throw weighless senkos pretty well short of wind. It still has enough power to pull them out of lighter cover. This rod could be called “ The Senko Special”. Also excellent for finesse jigs. And it will handle up to it’s upper 1oz rating.

The Daiwa 7'3" MH/F multi-purpose all-around rods (they have this same design intent represented in several of their model lines at different price points) are multi-purpose MH/F rods more so than a multi-purpose rod as in good for things that a MH/F rod would traditionally be good at. So, TX rigs, jigs, carolina rig. . . that type of bottom contact fishing. They have other rods that are for things like chatterbaits, larger topwater, swim jigs, etc. that have a slightly more moderate bend, like the Randy Howell 7'4" Tatula Elite MH/R (I'd call mine more of a mod-fast than "regular"). Both excellent for their designed purpose in my opinion, but different.

I had the 7'5" inch MH Cory Johnston rod, it's a good open water style texas rig rod even with its squish tip. I believe Cory wanted a rod similar to loomis 893 and this one is it. Plenty of backbone when setting the hook and enough sensitivity.

Also keep in mind the two 7'5" Cory Johnston rods have 11 guides minus tip top, that's 3 more than most other tatula elite rods, but priced the same considering extra components and labors, especially 7'5" MH AGS rod.

11 hours ago, 4g63power said:

I had the 7'5" inch MH Cory Johnston rod, it's a good open water style texas rig rod even with its squish tip. I believe Cory wanted a rod similar to loomis 893 and this one is it. Plenty of backbone when setting the hook and enough sensitivity.

Also keep in mind the two 7'5" Cory Johnston rods have 11 guides minus tip top, that's 3 more than most other tatula elite rods, but priced the same considering extra components and labors, especially 7'5" MH AGS rod.

What does his shine for?

1 hour ago, GoneFishingLTN said:

What does his shine for?

 

I think you'll find some clues about the true nature of this rod (the 7'5" Chris Johnston Tatula Elite MH/F) in the specifications. It's rated as a MH/F, but has a lure rating of 3/16 to 5/8 oz, a line rating of 12-16 lbs, and it has 11 guides. All of these specifications are notably different than most of their other MH/F rods. The Brent Ehrler Tatula Elite that's only two inches shorter, has the same "rating" of MH/F, yet has three less guides, is rated for 1/4 to 1 oz lures on 10-20 lbs line. Some Daiwa MH/F rods have lure ratings up to 1-3/8 oz and up to a 12-25 lbs line rating.

 

Club me over the head with a rubber chicken and call me crazy, but that (the CJ rod) reads more like the specs of a M/F (or M-MH/F or M/F+ at most) casting rod than a true MH/F rod. I'm not sure why this is (**cough** marketing **cough**), but at least some manufacturers skip over the M/F casting rod designation and I am not quite sure why? . . . Or maybe I do feel like I have an idea why they would do that.

 

For the record, I think the CJ rod could secure a comfy spot in my quiver, so I am not saying I wouldn't love to own one. Seems like it's sweet spot would be Neds, smaller jigs, TX rigs, smaller c-rigs, shakeyheads, etc. Just saying that comparing it to a traditional MF/F from Daiwa or just about any other rod maker. . . IMHO the math ain't quite mathin' for me.

3 hours ago, GoneFishingLTN said:

What does his shine for?

T rig with 3/16-1/4 oz weights, 5-6inch senkos, 1/2-5/8 oz Carolina rig. You can even throw spinnerbait and lipless with it, pretty versatile stick.

Has anyone used this for bladed jigs or swing head jigs (1/2 oz.)? Saw a video where Cory claimed to use it as his all-purpose rods and made mention of bladed jigs.