Garret88 Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 I hear all this buzz about softer glass rods for crankbaits or traps. I suppose I understand why they can be good, due to being softer and letting the fish have a better chance of grabbing the bait. Are they really worth it though? Couldn't you buy a typical composite rod with moderate action or use higher stretch line? Quote
mjseverson24 Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 The best crankbait fisherman on the planet (KVD) uses a mix of glass and graphite rod, I think the composite is also the way to go, that being said I do have some just glass rods and some just graphite rods that i use for cranking, but most are a combination. Mitch Quote
Dave P Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 Are they worth it? Yes. It keeps them buttoned up when they hit, IMO. Quote
Super User iabass8 Posted January 30, 2014 Super User Posted January 30, 2014 It's all personal preference. a lot of people don't like glass rods because they were notoriously heavy. a lot of people do like them though because they like how they fish. some rod manufactures now build some very nice light weight glass rods that some people are turning back to them. it wouldn't hurt to try both if possible. Quote
Smokinal Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 I have a Reese S-Glass crankin rod and really feel I have landed fish on that rod that I wouldn't have on a graphite rod. Just barely hooked fish stay buttoned a little better on that soft rod. I throw a ton of traps in spring and fall. If you have never held and shook a true parabolic rod like a glass rod, you need to. It's a whole different feel. I will say that you lose sensitivity with a glass rod and they are heavier than graphite. So, if you like to feel your way around the bottom, a composite rod may be a good compromise. And if you are going to find one to try, make sure it's a true glass rod. I bought one of those teal blue Clunn s-glass crankin rods (it was only $20...) but it's nothing like the parabolic Reese glass rod I have. You'll know the difference as soon as you shake it. Quote
Smallmouth Hunter Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 I actually prefer graphite. I don't find myself losing a lot of fish with it either. I just use a rod with a moderate action and it works find. Just fight them really carefully and you won't have an issue. I have tried a composite rod and I just can't stand it. You lose so much sensitivity, and that is something I personally can't stand. Quote
Super User flyfisher Posted January 30, 2014 Super User Posted January 30, 2014 To me the material isn;t as critical as the action being moderate but mine is a composite Kistler helium micro guide and i like it when paired up with braid. I definitely keep more fish buttoned up with this set up than i did with a standard MF rod with mono. Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted January 30, 2014 Super User Posted January 30, 2014 I use a couple of older model Lamiglas glass crank bait rods and I really prefer them. The action is very different from graphite and even composite. It's an acquired taste. Some anglers who have tried and didn't like glass report that these rods are less sensitive. I'd say that it's a different type of feel. Very subtle but still effective. I prefer to use braided line with these rods. Cranking with glass dampens your feel so the fish has plenty of time to get the bait. The Braid serves to aid in hook sets, especially on long casts and the thinner diameter usually associated with 10-20lb braid allows the bait to reach a decent depth. My description may or may not be the same way you see or feel the action of these rods. The only way to know is to use one. The number one concern to me is getting fish to the boat. Using these glass rods with braid (and good after market hooks) has reduced my percentage of lost treble hook bait bass dramatically. A-Jay 2 Quote
black94gt50 Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 I like the glass rods, since switching to them I have lost way way less fish cranking. I have a rick clunn glass rod, the 7'8 version and it's a heavy big rod, but I like it pretty well, I'm sure there are better choices, but it gets the job done for me. I only throw my deep divers and bigger lipless cranks on it. I also use Powell diesel 7'0 rod and it's light as a feather, I use it for squarebills, smaller lipless cranks, and jerkbaits. It's a great feeling rod and I love it. The glass rods let you fight a fish that's not hooked very well, and get it in the boat, something I couldn't do with graphite style rods that I used to have. 1 Quote
Super User WRB Posted January 30, 2014 Super User Posted January 30, 2014 Only if making longer cast easier and increasing your strike to landing bass ratio. Tom Quote
Grantman83 Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 It's funny cause Dobyns rods are known to have some excellent glass rods yet Gary himself only uses graphite. It really does come down to preference. I have a 705cb graphite which I use for most stuff but a 765cb glass for deep divers. When the bait is really deep and far away, I feel the glass helps keep them pinned for the long ride back lol. Furthermore, the glass helps compensate for the fluorocarbon I use to get extra depth. With the 705cb, I use mono to compensate for the graphite. Quote
Super User Hooligan Posted January 30, 2014 Super User Posted January 30, 2014 Glass or graphite or a combination thereof. The sole key is that it is a slow enough rod that you wouldn't even consider fishing plastics or a jig on it. I have both, use both for different techniques. Quote
BobP Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 I tried E Glass, then S Glass, then went back to a M action graphite. The E Glass was too heavy and the S Glass was not different enough from a M action graphite to get exited about. I have better feel of what the crank is doing with graphite and I can cast more accurately with it too. Casting a glass rod is different because they load so slowly. Other guys love glass, so it boils down to what is important to you and how comfortable you are using one. To your other question, yes, the rod, the line, your reel, and even your fishing playing style all effect how often fish come unbuttoned. The combined action of Mono on a graphite rod might be very close to a glass rod with fluoro, or even softer than a glass rod with braid. It just depends on the specifics. All you can do is try one to see if it's a fit. Personally, I wouldn't buy one until I got a chance to fish with one. Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted January 30, 2014 Super User Posted January 30, 2014 All you can do is try one to see if it's a fit. Personally, I wouldn't buy one until I got a chance to fish with one. This is often hard to do but really is the best advice. A-Jay Quote
Garret88 Posted January 30, 2014 Author Posted January 30, 2014 Thanks everyone! I've been looking at st croix mojo bass glass rods, st croix rage rods, and duckett cranking rods. I wish I could just test them all out then make my choice. Quote
IowaHusker28 Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 I am also on the boat of the composite rods, part glass, part graphite. I am fan of the composites rather than the full glass because the graphite does help with feel a bit more than just straight glass. I use both the 7' and the 7'6" Veritas winch rods, which are composites. The 7' for shallow cranks and square bills and the 7'6" for the deep divers. The parabolic bend really does keep tension on the hooks and helps you land the fish. Not to mention the casting distance is pretty sweet and just an added bonus. I've fully bought into the idea for glass in the cranking world. Quote
Delaware Valley Tackle Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 A GOOD glass rod like the former Lamiglas SR705 is plenty sensitive enough for cranks, casts well and has plenty of back bone. The slower action really keeps them buttoned up. 2 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted January 30, 2014 Super User Posted January 30, 2014 A GOOD glass rod like the former Lamiglas SR705 is plenty sensitive enough for cranks, casts well and has plenty of back bone. The slower action really keeps them buttoned up. That's the one. A-Jay Quote
jhoffman Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 It really is all about the action more than anything. A rod that flexes nearly its entire length will protect hooks and line better than one that flexes at the tip only. Theres tradoffs, which is why there are so many rods. A tip flex rod will rocket a bait out of the boat where a full flex can but you will really be overpowering the rod itself to do so. Quote
Super User flyfisher Posted January 30, 2014 Super User Posted January 30, 2014 It really is all about the action more than anything. A rod that flexes nearly its entire length will protect hooks and line better than one that flexes at the tip only. Theres tradoffs, which is why there are so many rods. A tip flex rod will rocket a bait out of the boat where a full flex can but you will really be overpowering the rod itself to do so. I am not sure i agree about the casting part. I can really launch on my composite rod but it is a different type of cast as you have to allow the rod to load which takes a little more time than on a tip flex or faster action rod. It reminds me more of chucking a rig that is heavy out there for catfish, more of a heave or lob but it will definitely go a long ways. 1 Quote
Smallmouth Hunter Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 I am not sure i agree about the casting part. I can really launch on my composite rod but it is a different type of cast as you have to allow the rod to load which takes a little more time than on a tip flex or faster action rod. It reminds me more of chucking a rig that is heavy out there for catfish, more of a heave or lob but it will definitely go a long ways. KVD doesn't seem to do this Quote
Super User flyfisher Posted January 30, 2014 Super User Posted January 30, 2014 KVD doesn't do what? Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted January 30, 2014 Super User Posted January 30, 2014 For deep diving lures the Lamiglas SR705R is THE BOMB! Otherwise, for most cranking I'm using graphite: http://www.bassresource.com/fishing_lures/pinnacle-optimus-xlt-dhc-review.html 1 Quote
Smallmouth Hunter Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 KVD doesn't do what? Doesn't seem to lob it out there like a catfish rig. He just whips it's out there. Quote
Super User flyfisher Posted January 30, 2014 Super User Posted January 30, 2014 I wasn't as clear as i could have been, it isn't a lob as much as it is allowing the rod to load properly which is a little slower rather than your classic flick it out there. Quote
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