Glass Rods For Cranking

[Sam]

I always am skeptical at what rods, reels, line and baits the pros say to use since they are being paid to hawk their sponsors' products.

However, I have Rick Clunn on my Facebook page and Clunn has always been down to earth and sincere with his information. His previous Bassmaster University seminars were outstanding.

Clunn posted the following video about glass rods. This is actually the history of glass rods from his viewpoint and it is very interesting to learn about another weapon in our arsnals.

For the price, the rod may be worth trying and I think I will get one and give it a test. I have no problems nailing bass on crankbaits but there are times when one gets away.

Here is the link. You all can view it and come to your own conclusions on using glass rods in lieu of graphite.

Let me know what you guys think.

[WdyCrankbait]

That's probably what happend with that big fish I lost with you on Chesdin. Still makes me sick losing that fish!!!!

[smalljaw67]

I hated glass rods because of how heavy they were and this year a friend of mine made me use his when we got on a crankbait bite in late April. Well after a day of using a glass rod I got one, it is heavy but it really helps. I was hitting small rock piles with my graphite rod and when the bait made contact I would stop reeling and use the rod and gently walk the bait up and over the rock pile and ultimately back to the boat for another cast, with the glass rod I was reeling an extra crank or two when I began to make contact with the rock pile and believe it or not that extra crank or two was getting me bit because I wasn't feeling the bait hit the bottom until it was starting to dig so I was actually able to get my crankbait closer to the rock pile by a few inches and thats all it took for the fish to bite. But that is mid depth and deep cranks, I still like working square bills and other shallow cranks on a graphite rod.

[hatrix]

My favorite rod is by mine and probably any ones standards a POS glass spinning rod that has gotta be atleast 30 years old. I don't know what it is but I just love that rod. It just works so great for me using moving baits on braided line. With that slow tip and huge bend it has it really pins fish good. The top eye is just huge compared to how they make rods now but I think it enhances the action on my baits. You can watch it just bounce from side to side like crazy compared to my other rods. The wobble from even a little baby crank bait really gets that tip moving.

[A-Jay]

I picked up a Lamiglass SR705R - mostly on the recommendations of members here who have them and swear by them for cranking.

I LOVE IT !

I will not pretend to know the science behind it - I do know that it is a fish hooking / landing machine.

(That avatar fish came on it) I have since purchased a second one.

btw - am a big R Clunn fan and could listen to him a day.

A-Jay

[Sam]

A-Jay, I agree and I could listen to him all day, too.

He was fantastic at the old Bassmaster Universities. He is down to earth and very professional at the same time.

We sure could another Rick Clunn in our industry.

[shootermcbob]

I have, and use, a mojo bass 7'4" glass crankin rod and love it as well. I do not "feel" as well with it as say the shimano TC4 crankbait rod I had, but I catch fish with it, and once hooked, they RARELY come off.

However, I just purchased two shimano cumara crankbait rods, and so far...wow. I have a medium and medium heavy, and both are incredibly sensitive and both have a parabolic bend to them. I have only caught a couple fish with the shimano cumaras, but, so far I really like them as well.

At times, I wish I had more hands....

[Hooligan]

Rick has changed dramatically through the years, not a personality I'm fond of anymore. A great salesman, yes...

As glass rods go, they're an essential tool. Not until the last couple years did I really find the perfect rod for me in a deep crank stick. I own a tremendous number of graphite crank rods and a lot of glass. The glass has so much more power in reserve, the slow recovery is generally what will save you. That said, I've not had issue with modern graphite, either. The new GLX crank sticks are incredible, and I cannot wait to get my mitts on them on the water. The advances in graphite construction and flexibility are making strides towards full glass rods being obsolete. Their weight being one of the biggest drawbacks. Anymore, my glass rods are really relegated to deep cranking, I may use one for squarebills from time to time, but they lack the moving power to get a fish from deep cover. They're excellent for controlling fish, but poor for moving fish, if you understand what I mean.

[smalljaw67]

Rick has changed dramatically through the years, not a personality I'm fond of anymore. A great salesman, yes...

As glass rods go, they're an essential tool. Not until the last couple years did I really find the perfect rod for me in a deep crank stick. I own a tremendous number of graphite crank rods and a lot of glass. The glass has so much more power in reserve, the slow recovery is generally what will save you. That said, I've not had issue with modern graphite, either. The new GLX crank sticks are incredible, and I cannot wait to get my mitts on them on the water. The advances in graphite construction and flexibility are making strides towards full glass rods being obsolete. Their weight being one of the biggest drawbacks. Anymore, my glass rods are really relegated to deep cranking, I may use one for squarebills from time to time, but they lack the moving power to get a fish from deep cover. They're excellent for controlling fish, but poor for moving fish, if you understand what I mean.

Perfect explaination Hooligan, that is why I use my glass rod for medium and deep cranking because I'm fishing those usually around rock or some sort of structure in open water rather than cover. When it comes to square bills and shallow divers that I'm using close to cover I always use a graphite rod, like Hooligan said, you need a rod to move the fish not just keep it pinned. If you watch the Lindners using cranks, they always use fast action graphite rods when cranking around and in cover.

[Fishes in trees]

I don't like fiberglass rods because them are heavy compared to graphite. I think that if I fished180 days or so a year and possessed finely tuned reflexes, then the slower action of a fiberglass rod might help. But I don't. It is a challenge for me to get out once a week in season ( March through November for me). I think that a graphite rod gives me better feel and it is lighter so I can fish with it longer.

[Bass_Fanatic]

Try a Powell 703 CB Glass or Dobyns 705 Glass...you will never look back.