Crankbait Rod Help

[NEjitterbugger]

I need some help picking a crankbait rod, I want to keep it under $150. I will be pairing it with an orra winch and want to mainly throw square bills... Should the rod be glass, graphite, etc? 

 

Any suggestions and help would be great!

[ww2farmer]

I like graphite cranking rods with a moderate or moderate fast action for just about all of my cranking. St Croix and Abu Garcia both make excellent graphite cranking rods in the price range you want to stay in. I had the 7'mh moderate Mojo cranking rod, and liked it for 1/2 oz. lipless cranks, and 1.5/2. 5 sized square bills. It didn't throw 1.0 size or 1/4 oz. very well, so I switched it out for the 7'm veritas winch cranking rod. And that throws the smaller baits better, as well as the stuff I used the Mojo for just fine. I will caution you on this...... If you're going to be ripping baits out of thick grass a lot, use braid, or switch to a faster action rod. Moderate action rods tend to load up too much to get a sharp, clean pop out of the grass. When this happens to me, I switch to tossing those baits on my 7' m vendetta or 7'mh lightning rod shock.

[ww2farmer]

I forgot to mention the BPS cranking sticks. For many years the 7'm cranking stick was my only cranking rod. Back when I pretty much had a three crankbait rotation.... A 1/2 oz rattle trap, a Manns baby 1-, and a wiggle wart. It fished those baits great, and I don't think it would be a bad square bill rod either.

[webertime]

I'll second the 7'MHm Mojo. Good for most cranks and bigger spooks and jerkbaits (5" Lunker Punkers and LC Pointer 128)

[Arv]

Powell TW Max Squarebill rod. If its anything like my Endurance 695cb its great for squarebills, lipless cranks and topwaters. Its on sale right now at TW.

[bass1980]

I've used the Phenix X10 MH, skeete Reese glass and now Gloomis GL2 MH and the one I liked more was the X10. I hated the glass rod feel but that's just me. The GL2 is very similar to the X10 but I thought the X10 felt a bit more sensitive. However I never had these rods at the same time. Sold one for another. Also I never used it much for what square bills are meant for. Banging off stumps and limbs. Only on occasion so I can't really say which one is better for that purpose. Wish I kept the X10. I'm thinking about the idea of using my *** medium fast action rod and putting mono on it.

[mjseverson24]

I love my skeet 7' s-glass cranking rod, but the shimano clarus or compre crankbait rods are great as well.

 

Mitch

[NEjitterbugger]

How about length? 7'MH?

[papajoe222]

One of your first considerations before deciding on which rod, action, material, etc. should be what length is going to suit you best.  If you fish mainly from a boat and fish off shore structure lean toward a longer rod.  If you shore fish or need to be more accurate with your casts, a long rod would be a poor choice.

Personally I prefer a long rod with med. action and good sensitivity and a long handle that I can tuck under my arm when cranking deep and a shorter rod/handle composite when fishing shallower.  If this will be the only rod you use for cranking, you'll end up compromising. Make that decision based on how you'll be primarily using it.

[Shane J]

7' Med Fast would be a good all around choice. The moderate that most serious crankbaiters will recommend, is also probably based on the fact that they also have a Fast available for more hook setting power in even moderate weed cover. If I were picking just one, I'd want it to be good in a wider range of situations, like what you are going to be fishing. If you're cranking real deep, like 16-20', then one of your MH rods will work just fine. I say 7', because you are going to want that extra length for casting distance, especially when fishing cranks, where covering water, and getting to your depth are crucial. Also, use flouro. It sinks, does well in weeds (when ripping the lure free), and the stretch (and finely adjusted drag) will help you accommodate for the faster tip by allowing some extra give to keep the fish hooked up.

[hike4steel]

I prefer graphite over fiberglass.  There is more feeling there.

[5dollarsplash]

Usable length is nice, Shane J did a great job explaining why.  I picked up a St Croix Rage 7'6" MH Moderate while at their shop last spring.  It does a heck of a job getting the bait out there so it can stay at target depth for a long time. 

 

I know people tend to overlook them due to them being assembled in Mexico, but your getting the same blank as the Avid and if you prefer the synthetic grip, its a great value.

 

They come in right at your 150 price point, but deals can be found.

Edited October 29, 2013 by 5dollarsplash

[bass1980]

IMO if your using it for square bill and using it to bounce off structure like what square bills are truly made for I suggest MH crank rod. Even at MH a crank rod is still very flexible with its moderate action. If your using square bills for just a typical shallow diver than MM is fine. That's just my opinion.

[bigbill]

Overall I believe a decent rod price wise starts at $99. The Lew's speed stick, the Garcia vengeance, even the Berkeley shock rod feels like a decent rod for the cost. I just took a shot and purchased them all even a quantum tour KVD rod too. There all 6'6" to 7'rods. I have a Berkley lighting rod HD i use for jigs. But it's your call.