Looking For 6 Foot Medium Action Casting Rod

[britguy]

Can anybody recommend a decent quality 6 foot casting rod with a medium to slow action, and a full cork handle?  Medium / lioght power suitable for half ounce crankbaits.

 

Just about everything I see  out there today is either "Fast" or " Extra Fast", and has a two-piece skeleton handle, which I hate.

 

I'm looking for something more traditional with a single cork handle and nice trigger grip, and a slower action. 

 

Anything out there???

 

 

 

[papajoe222]

Bass Pro's Bionic Blade XPS item#BNB60MC. It's a little heavy by today's standards, but likely just what you're looking for.  Full cork trigger grip and a true med. action, med. power blank.  Nine guides that'll stand up to braid if you decide to use it and you can get them on sale for around $60.  The six footer is a little short for cranks IMO, but if that's what you're comfortable with, go for it. If not, they make both a 6'6" and a 7ft. in the same action.

BTW, Welcome to the board.

[britguy]

Many thanks, PJ:

 

I'll check out your recommendation.

 

BTW, I've been on here for a year or so.  Just don't post very much.  But learn a lot from lurking around. . .

[tbone1993]

Fenwick hmg lineup 

[WRB]

You are looking for a crankbait rod, most are called medium heavy for lures 3/8 to 3/4 oz.

Go to Tackle Warehouse and look under bait casting rods or crankbait rods, just about every mfr makes a few, if you go to the mfr websites.

Most will be 7' to 7' 10" because of the longer cork handles that add about 3" behind the reel.

Tom

PS; I use a G.Loomis PR845C GL2 for smaller crankbaits. This rod is a popping rod, 7' with cork handles, rated for 3/8-3/4 oz lures and 10-20 line. This isn't a traditional bass rod, but works great for what you are looking for.

[Jrob78]

It's going to be pretty tough to find a 6' casting rod with a full cork grip.  These days, rods are getting longer and grips are getting smaller.  If you have access to Academy, look at their All Star Classic line of rods, I believe it is an Academy exclusive.  They have what you're looking for.  Actually, you can probably order online.

 

http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_10051_705703_-1__?N=101394130+4294951525

[Brayberry]

I understand your pain.  I'm 5" 11' tall, and any rod longer then 6 feet feels awkward.  I just can't work a bait properly or even set a hook correctly with a longer rod.  So every rod I have is between 5 and a half feet long to 6 feet long.  The only rod I have longer is my flipping stick.

[0119]

Ive been looking for the same type of rod for a year.  I wont use a bass pro rod but have been thinking about Cabelas in house rods. The closest I can find is either a St Croix Premier in the fast action you dont want or a 6'6" St Croix Tidemaster in med moderate but I think they just discontinued it.  Manufacturers have ignored us folks who want a what was once standard length rod.  Only anglers standing on decks of huge boats matter now, they dont think a bank fisherman or canoeist spends money.

[Goose52]

BPS Crankin' Stick - on sale right now for $60 ($20 off regular retail).  Here's the link to check them out: Crankin' Stick

 

Ignore the "Fast" action rating, these are true cranking rods and not a traditional fast action.  I have five Crankin' Sticks - a great value for the money.  Search this forum and you'll find lots of positive comments on this rod.

 

6'

Medium

Action: Fast
Line Weight: 8-17 lbs.
Lure Weight: 1/4 - 5/8 oz.
Pieces: 1
Handle: A
Model: CS602MT

 

Regular Price: $79.99
SALE Price: $59.97
In Stock

[britguy]

Thanks guys,  for some really usefull replies. 

 

I'll check out the BPS rods when I can get up there,

 

Question: 

What's the difference between the BPS "Bionic Blade" and their "Crankin Stick"  They look very similar.  Is it just the composition of the blank?

[Goose52]

Different blank material, different actions, different guides, different grips, etc.  The Blades are a bread-and-butter model line of both spinning and casting rods with a range of lengths, powers, and actions.  The Crankin' Sticks are only casting rods, optimized for cranking. 

 

This shot was taken a while back when I had only four Sticks...

 

[britguy]

Jesus, Goose:

 

You really must like those "Crankin Sticks"!

 

For the resaonable  price of those Crankin' and Bionic sticks I might just get one of each, for the hell of it. . .

 

Thanks. . .

[*Hootie]

What the heck is a jesus goose.....????....lol

Hootie

[britguy]

"What the heck is a jesus goose"

 

That's the one with the halo around the head, not the neck. . .

 

[smalljaw67]

I have one that might be right up your alley!! It is an older rod but well taken care of and like brand new, it is a Cabelas Fish Eagle 2, it was $79.99 when I got it but it is a 1 piece 6' medium power and although it is a fast action rod it is very forgiving. It has a full cork grip and to be honest I only stopped fishing it because I got a custom rod for the purpose I was using the Fish Eagle 2. The purpose of it was to cast spinnerbaits to a spot next that had a 6' ditch next to a bank that ran 50 yards or so when all the water around it was only 3' deep. The spot help big smallies but to hit the area you had to cast under overhanging trees and even a 6'6" rod was tough as the tip would hit the water but this little 6' casting rod had a good tip that loaded up with a 3/8oz bait that it took very little effort to make the cast and that rod won me a tounrament that provided enough money to have the custom rod made to replace it. I think Cabelas still makes the same model in an updated version, they may say fast action but if it is a medium power in a 6' length it is going to have plenty of flex.

[WRB]

There isn't a standard to rod makers that determines power verses bend rates, it's a personal touch and feel thing. The more parabolic the rods bends ( bends evenly from tip to butt; like a fly rod) the easier it is to cast because the rods loads up under the lure weight into a full bend. The faster the rod bends from tip to butt meaning the tip end bends faster then the lower section of the rod, the more difficult it is to cast. What you give up for good casting is less rod power to set hooks for example.

Crankbait rods are slower action or more parabolic, bend more like the letter U, good for lures with treble hooks that can tear out of the basses mouth easily. Fast action rods bend more like the letter J, most of the bend is in the upper 1/3 of the rod. One rod can't do everything and that is why application specific rods are popular.

In the fishing tackle you rarely get more than you pay for, it's easy to get less.

Tom

[BradH]

I used a 6' medium Fenwick GT for a few years.  I fished jerkbaits, rattle baits, topwater and squarebills with it.  It was a great rod until I goofed up the tip.  Full cork handle, light and a more moderate action than the typical 6' M/F rod.  The GT lineup has probably changed once or twice since I was using that rod but they would be worth a hard look.  For those applications the 6' GT fished well above it's price point.

 

I'll jump on the crankin' stick bandwagon too.  You just can't go wrong with those.

[Crookedneck]

Finding a rod with a full cork grip in todays day and age is sometimes a challenge.  A 6' rod maybe even harder.  If you are going to be going to be doing some shopping at a store, I agree with the above posts about taking a look at the cranking rods.  Also, take a look at some of the lower IM or graphite module rods out there.  Concetrate on IM6 rods versus the IM7 & IM8.  Typically (not always) the IM6 graphite is going to be a softer more moderate action than the higher grades of graphite. Being an IM6 has nothing to do with being a lesser grade of graphite it has more to do with other components added in the mixture, such as E glass.  Which is going to inherantly slow the rod down but also making the rod more durable. 

 

If you can't find what you are looking for get a hold of Deleware Valley Tackle a sponsor here on the board explain what you are looking for I'm sure he could build up a rod custom rod that would fit the bill.

[britguy]

I've had some really good suggestions from this post.  Thanks to all who responded.  You have all helped a lot.

 

The main reason why I'm having trouble finding a suitable casting rod is that for many years  I've always built my own, usually from Fenwick HMG and Mud Hole blanks. Last fall I left some rods lying in the grass near the dock (very dumb!! ) and my wife ran over them with the lawn tractor.  So I need a few new rods.  But now my old eyes can no longer do the windings.  So I have to go out and buy some rods.

 

Browsing around BPS and Gander Mountain recently I'm a bit confused by all the  new stuff that's out there on the racks.  Thin skinny rods with lots of tiny rings very close to the blank?  Is this the 'fashion' these days?  Those little rings look pretty fragile to me.  And why so many???  Doesn't this slow up the cast???