I currently have the Shimano Expride B 6'10'' medium rod for jerkbaits. I'm looking at the G-Loomis GLX 6'10'' medium jerkbait rod and Megabass options for jerkbaits. I like the shorter handles over the Shimano but am curious as to the powers of other options. Anyone have experience with these rods and can compare the power and differences to the Expride. Thanks in advance for your input. Ron

no one has fished these rods?

I had an Expride that I sold after using it an hour, the handle is just too long for jerk baiting. I debated over the Loomis GLX as it looks like an Expride with a better/shorter handle. Just was unable to find many reviews on it, or people that I personally know that had used it. It does look nice and has a great warranty.

I also looked closely at the Megabass jerkbait rods - Oneten Stick and Oneten Special. Firsthand reviews were excellent, described as "special rods." The knock against the Oneten Special was that it was maybe a bit too powerful for lighter jerk baits. I throw a lot of 110 +1 jrs and 95 Zumvernos in addition to the usual 110's. The knock agains the Oneten Stick was that it is shorter and does it get adequate casting distance?

For me, I solved the dilemma of what to get when I paired a friend's Oneten Stick with one of my Tatula Elite reels. Wow, casts a mile. Much farther than the Expride/Curado combo I had previously. Then the shorter length becomes an advantage in terms of not jerking and hitting the gunnel or the water. Handle is perfect. Keeps even hard-charging smallmouth/spots at the boat pinned.

The Oneten Stick seems to be the perfect fit for me, although I never tried the GLX. Loomis does have the better warranty over Megabass however.

I bought a P5 OneTen Special.

Love it.

So much that I bought another. Great topwater rod. When it gets really cold I change lines and have a second jerkbait rod.

Had the Expride B and currently have the GLX and love it. GLX is more moderate/deeper flex in comparison to the expride imo with a great tip to work the bait while the Expride B was pretty stiff to me. I've thrown 110+1 JR's, 110'S, and 110+1's all on it with no issues. It really launches the full size 110's but it throws the 110 JRs just fine as well and that's what I throw the most. It also works great as a 1/2 oz jigging spoon rod like the queen tackle/war eagle spoons and for throwing Frittsides as well.

When it comes to stick bait fishing it's the Indian much more than the arrow but that's never stopped me from trying new ones either.

Here in the Ozarks the stick bait is a religion and as I've said the Falcon weightless worm rod is fantastic and to me. it's much better than the rod they actually label as the jerkbait rod.

Virtus has one labeled stick bait rod that's really good also .

I usually pick up a few Kistlers during the Holiday sales and this year I ordered a klx 6ft9 LMH.

It's got the right action and handle length.

I have the Expride A. Like others, I found the handle too long for working jerkbaits. I use a Kistler 6'9" KLX for jerkbaits.

On 1/29/2026 at 7:31 AM, KSRonH said:

no one has fished these rods?

Nope.... I currently have my jerkbait setups using a Kistler Jerkbait model, a St Croix Legend Tourn Jerkbait model, and a local Bird Dog Rods 6'9" Medium "Jerkbait" rods.

I've held various Expride rods numerous times and just never felt I had to have one. I know LOTS of people swear by them, but I didn't care for the feel.

I've got a handful of G Loomis rods, but not the model you mentioned.

I haven't used these rods. My favorite jerkbait rod is actually the St Croix Mojo Bass (older gen) 6'8" M/XF topwater rod. It doesn't have a lot of tip, but bends all the way though (it's not as powerful as the other St Croix mediums), but I find that when they bite on the twitch I can still feel it where with rods with more backbone and softer tips I don't.

I have owned the 610 ex pride. I have owned the mega Bass 110 special. My favorite is the mega Bass 110 stick. At 6 foot five, you would think you can’t throw a jerk bae a long ways. You can. The action is perfect. It isn’t as versatile for other techniques as the Expride and One Ten Special, but for jerk baits, it’s as good as it gets IMO.

After owning a 6'10" M/XF jerkbait rod for several years, I decided to see how the other half lives and threw down for a ONETEN Stick that is 6'5" and sports a M/R rating. I also tossed in a Tatula Elite 6'9" ML/R Seth Feider Jerkbait rod.

Like most other pursuits, I am finding that jerkbait fishing can be it's own multifaceted rabbit hole and I guess I have decided that this will be my 2026 Bass Fishing Vision Quest. The bass may well have other plans. . . . . We shall see.

I went with a 110 Stick and Aldebaren 50 a couple years ago and is best set up I have ever used. 110s 110jrs and even casts x Nanahan really well. Also a great top water outfit

On 2/2/2026 at 1:57 PM, Boomstick said:

I haven't used these rods. My favorite jerkbait rod is actually the St Croix Mojo Bass (older gen) 6'8" M/XF topwater rod. It doesn't have a lot of tip, but bends all the way though (it's not as powerful as the other St Croix mediums), but I find that when they bite on the twitch I can still feel it where with rods with more backbone and softer tips I don't.

I have that Mojo and its perfect for topwater and jerkbaits. Short handle, light weight.

I recently bought the LTB Jerkbait rod, 6´8 MXF, also short handle, the butt is a little bit stiffer than the mojo, but for me its perfect for what I need.

Tacticalbassin sold many, many 6'10" exprides as the perfect jerkbait rod. I had to order online as it was impossible to find it in my area at that time, very underwhelm to say the least.