Pursuit Of A Cranking Rod For Myself (Harder Than I Thought!)

[webertime]

I've been looking for a cranking rod for a while now. That being said I mostly throw weightless plastics, T-Rigs, C-Rigs and swimbaits, so it's not like it's been a super hard search. However I know how effective Cranks can be and feel it's an area I can use some growth in. I fish Champlain and all over Vermont. Lots of rock, and places where there are a lot of weeds mixed in. Grinding and snapping are the name of the game. I toss Strike King 3,4,5's occasionally an XD or Rapala DT16. I have acquired a DD-22 and a few LC BDS, XD's to try this year as well. (I fully understand a DD22 is a different beast than a SK3, so lets say 90% of the time a SK5 will be tossed).

I have used a Lamiglas Excel 734 (7'3" Med MF, early production run) and found it to not have the back bone to snap a bait through the weeds and got shook all over the place with larger/harder thumping cranks (SK5's). I then got a Kistler Magnesium MgCbCGGM70. Now this rod is pretty sweet for BOMBING baits, it's rated for 1/8 to 3/4 oz. and it DOES handle that range pretty well. It doesn't feel like it's getting thrown around by bigger cranks, which I like. However, it's slowish action (flexes to within 8-10" of the front of the reel!) still keeps me from getting a good snap through the weeds (I'm thinking of going with braid on it to see if that would help, thoughts?).

So I am looking at a few alternatives. The Powell Diesel, Lamiglas Excel 705G, BPS Cranking Stick 7'6" mh XF, St. Croix Mojo 7' MHM (has me the most intrigued). Anyone have any input on these, I know they are all well respected and "great deals" , but given where I fish and what I'll be doing and the baits I'll be tossing does anyone have an opinion on which direction to go?

If it matters I can swap between a Citica 201E and an Abu C4 Winch (3.8:1 baby!) for reels and I have more darn line to spool up than is healthy, so that's not an issue.

Thanks for looking at all this.

Chris

[outdoorsman110]

The Powell diesel cranking rod, Rick Clunn Glass Rod, Cranking Stick from BPS. All great rods.

[roadwarrior]

For big lures and deep divers, Lamiglas SR705R is THE BOMB!

[Megastink]

Honestly, I wouldn't buy a glass rod for big deep cranks. Powell make a 7'5" MH Glass/Composite cranking rod in the Endurance series. IT has a good flexible tip and solid backdone the lower half of the rod. Its also extremely lightweight. I mean, EXTREMELY LIGHT (for a 7'5" rod).

Its my choice for deep cranking. Keep in mind, the hooks on a big deep diver, typically #2, tend to be a tad thicker than #6 or #4. And, if you want something to rip through grass, then rip a bass out of that grass, you are going to want to UPGRADE YOUR HOOKS! I suggest Gammy #2 SS Magic Eye hooks. All my crank wear them.

That treble has a thicker wire and very sticky. With the added thickness from the wire, I can get away with using a rod with moderate flex, rather than a noodle rod, and I have much more control over the fish.

Plus, those extra 5" contribute to an additional 10-15 yards of casting distance. Thats 10 more yards in the STRIKE ZONE!

Good luck!

-Mega

[BrianinMD]

Dobyns Champion 765CB Glass

[webertime]

Honestly, I wouldn't buy a glass rod for big deep cranks. Powell make a 7'5" MH Glass/Composite cranking rod in the Endurance series. IT has a good flexible tip and solid backdone the lower half of the rod. Its also extremely lightweight. I mean, EXTREMELY LIGHT (for a 7'5" rod).

Its my choice for deep cranking. Keep in mind, the hooks on a big deep diver, typically #2, tend to be a tad thicker than #6 or #4. And, if you want something to rip through grass, then rip a bass out of that grass, you are going to want to UPGRADE YOUR HOOKS! I suggest Gammy #2 SS Magic Eye hooks. All my crank wear them.

That treble has a thicker wire and very sticky. With the added thickness from the wire, I can get away with using a rod with moderate flex, rather than a noodle rod, and I have much more control over the fish.

Plus, those extra 5" contribute to an additional 10-15 yards of casting distance. Thats 10 more yards in the STRIKE ZONE!

Good luck!

-Mega

Good point about the hooks...

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

The Lamiglas model with the R designation is their "Ripping" model. I fish a custom on the same blank. It casts a mile, has plenty of backbone to horse fish out of cover if need be, sensitive enough to feel the vibration of the bait and enough forgiveness to get and keep them hooked up. For fishing traps across the top of the weeds I go with a faster graphite rod more similar to a spinnerbait rod.

[J Francho]

I use an Avid AVC70MHM for what you describe.

[.ghoti.]

Try something unconventional. I did by accident and solved this particular problem. Was on a decent deep crank bite when I backlashed the reel on my deep crank rod so badly that when I managed to cut off the snarl there wasn't enough line left to make a decent cast.

Rather than swap reels I picked up a Dobyns Champion 7'6" H-F jig rod and tied on a DD22. That rod works great for banging a DD22 in rocks and rippin it out of weeds.

I say this was an accident because I had the Dobyns with me to give it one more shot before getting rid of it. The rod would be perfect if the handle weren't so long. I'm still going to get rid of it, but I'm now looking for a rod just like it, in terms of power and action, with at least 6" less handle.

So, before you drop any cash on a moderate action crankbait rod, try one of your jig or plastics rods for weed rippin and rock bangin. If you have a MH, or even heavy power fast action rod with a softer tip, try that one first. You may be pleasantly surprised.

[JimmyMack814]

I am the kind of guy who is looking for Rods for different applications. I am going to buy the Powell Diesel cranking rod to throw smaller crankbaits like squarebills and also lipless crankbaits as well. I have a Powell Max 683 that I use for spinnberbaits and I am also getting another Powell Diesel to throw bladed swim jigs. You cannot go wrong with Powell.

[nwibass]

I've been looking for a cranking rod for a while now. That being said I mostly throw weightless plastics, T-Rigs, C-Rigs and swimbaits, so it's not like it's been a super hard search. However I know how effective Cranks can be and feel it's an area I can use some growth in. I fish Champlain and all over Vermont. Lots of rock, and places where there are a lot of weeds mixed in. Grinding and snapping are the name of the game. I toss Strike King 3,4,5's occasionally an XD or Rapala DT16. I have acquired a DD-22 and a few LC BDS, XD's to try this year as well. (I fully understand a DD22 is a different beast than a SK3, so lets say 90% of the time a SK5 will be tossed).

I have used a Lamiglas Excel 734 (7'3" Med MF, early production run) and found it to not have the back bone to snap a bait through the weeds and got shook all over the place with larger/harder thumping cranks (SK5's). I then got a Kistler Magnesium MgCbCGGM70. Now this rod is pretty sweet for BOMBING baits, it's rated for 1/8 to 3/4 oz. and it DOES handle that range pretty well. It doesn't feel like it's getting thrown around by bigger cranks, which I like. However, it's slowish action (flexes to within 8-10" of the front of the reel!) still keeps me from getting a good snap through the weeds (I'm thinking of going with braid on it to see if that would help, thoughts?).

So I am looking at a few alternatives. The Powell Diesel, Lamiglas Excel 705G, BPS Cranking Stick 7'6" mh XF, St. Croix Mojo 7' MHM (has me the most intrigued). Anyone have any input on these, I know they are all well respected and "great deals" , but given where I fish and what I'll be doing and the baits I'll be tossing does anyone have an opinion on which direction to go?

If it matters I can swap between a Citica 201E and an Abu C4 Winch (3.8:1 baby!) for reels and I have more darn line to spool up than is healthy, so that's not an issue.

Thanks for looking at all this.

Chris

I have a 7' 6" Veritas by Abu Garcia (winch series), which is their cranking series, and I love it, super light, great action, and a good price.. I'd suggest it for deep divers and mid divers, great rod overall

[Packard]

If you don't mind the weight, the St Croix Mojo Big Crankster 7'8" MH/M is a great Mid to Deep crank rod. It also can throw big squarebills and lipless cranks.