Cranking With Graphite

[rockchalk06]

Yesterday I finally got to get out to a lake where trees, brush and sticks cover more area than water. (No joke). This has always been a place for tubes and rage rigs due to the constant hang ups. I do fish jigs here, but I don't recommend doing so without a boat. The Jig Gremlins average 3-4 North Star Jigs a trip!

Anyway, I usually don't bring a cranking set up at all due to the trees. Until this year, I've always cranked with a glass rod and never really felt the trees until it was too late. This was the first time I've been on Bell Cow lake in my boat so I brought my new Avid cranking rod. All I can say is WOW!

I ran lipless and Squarebills all day. Never lost a one. I was able to feel every branch limb etc. I could slowly drag it over everything. I felt every tick on it too. I started getting cocky and throwing it into submerged trees and never got a hang up.

If anyone has ever thought about making the switch to graphite for cranking, don't look back. I new I liked this rod, but after yesterday, this was one of the most enjoyable trips I've ever had. Minus the 10th degree sunburn and me scoreing a big 0 on bass, it was a blast!

Big thanks to Roadwarrior and the rest of y'all on the recommendation of this rod!

[Sam]

Yep. Graphite for cranking is the best.

 

Great you had a good venture and the rod performed as promised.

 

And I love to feel the rod vibrate from the crankbait's wobble, too.

[rockchalk06]

Yep. Graphite for cranking is the best.

Great you had a good venture and the rod performed as promised.

And I love to feel the rod vibrate from the crankbait's wobble, too.

Yep. It defiantly lets you know your running something with action. Mines a MHM and 2.5's really test it out. I may get another in HM to run the larger stuff. On a side note, I have 75 yards appox. of #40 PP Slick backed with mono. On a good Happy Gilmore cast, I could see my backing underneath the line. That has to be around 65 plus on a cast lol

[Hooligan]

I like graphite for some applications, and glass for others.  I actually like glass for deep cranking wood because I can really put the wood to fish, if you will, to get them moving and still be fairly safe.  I usually have no problem feeling the way the bait is running with glass rods, but don't much like them for fishing squarebills or traps unless I am in grass.  Just a preference thing. 

[Dave P]

I ran lipless and Squarebills all day.

 

That's what I use graphite for.

[JeziHogg]

I know you got a MHM, but try the LTB Big Cranker for bigger crankbaits. I use the Big cranker for mid/deep divers and a LXC72MM for shallow/squarebills.

[dodgeguy]

I use graphite and braid with no problems.

[bait__Monkey]

I like graphite for some applications, and glass for others.  I actually like glass for deep cranking wood because I can really put the wood to fish, if you will, to get them moving and still be fairly safe.  I usually have no problem feeling the way the bait is running with glass rods, but don't much like them for fishing squarebills or traps unless I am in grass.  Just a preference thing. 

 

dat hooligan pretyy smart guy, huh? graphite shallow, glass deep...we go buy two rods & reels now, yes?

[Fishes in trees]

I've broke down and bought fiberglass cranking rods a couple of times.  Never again.  If I got to fish all the time, I might appreciate the delayed reaction time offered by fiberglass rods.  I wouldn't say that my fishing reflexes are atrophied, but I wouldn't call them finely tuned either.   I like the quicker, faster feeling of my graphite crank rods.