Cheap Way To Get Into Cranking?

[1099gl]

is there a way to get into cranking cheap? rod reel and baits. I don't have a lot of experience with crankbaits but I really want to fish them more.

[Avalonjohn44]

Go to Walmart, buy a couple of KVD1.5s, maybe a Bandit 100 or 200 in whatever natural color they have (if your walmart has the 'root beer' color, grab it - that's my fav bandit color).  Each bait is about $5.75 and will catch you plenty of fish. For around $25 bucks you can have four excellent cranks. 

 

Since you are just starting, and you want to go cheap, forget about a specific rod/reel for right now, just go with whatever combo you already use, it will work fine. I prefer MH with a fast tip, not the typical setup for cranks, but it works for me.

 

The hardest part about cranking is being willing to throw them where they might get hung up. Throw them where there are rocks or wood structure and deflect them off of everything you can. Practice in the shallows to get the feel of things and so you can easily retrieve snags.  The KVD1.5s and Bandit 100s have square bills and will get hung up less often, but snags are always a danger when cranking. 

[Raul]

Bandits are excellent baits for little money, get a few 100, 200, and 300 series.

[greentrout]

Bass Pro or Cabela's sell their in house crankbait kits that ain't all bad for like 12 bucks. Bass Pro has its baitcaster Tourney reel on sale

for 39.99 with an option to get a combo with a matched rod with the reel. I prefer a lower gear ratio for crankbaits. Something like 5:3 should

be ok. Bass Pro product is good for the money and it's only a start for you.

 

Good fishing.  

[Catch and Grease]

Like said earlier the KVD 1.5s are great for beginners but if you have a local academy I'd reccomend the H20 CRS I Like them just as much as the KVDs (practically the same lure) but they are half the price at 3$

If you want a good budget rod I'd reccomend the Berkeley cherry wood HD (25$) and any reel will work but I prefer a 6.4 for most of my cranking

[WRB]

is there a way to get into cranking cheap? rod reel and baits. I don't have a lot of experience with crankbaits but I really want to fish them more.

From your avatar you are a shore angler. Without a boat it's difficult to retrieve any crankbait from a snag.

From shore I suggest using 30# for spinning or 40# braid for baitcasting tied directly to the lure so you can pull snagged lures free, not with your rod or reel but a piece of broom stick to wrap the line around.

I use Norman crankbaits a lot, good reliable lures at a reasonable price, DD14 is a good size to start with.

What rod/reel combo do you plan on using?

Tom

[ww2farmer]

 I'll offer my .02 on rods..........If you can wait, BPS several times a year has sales on there Cranking Stick series of rods. One of the best bangs for the buck in cranking rods bar none. Even at the regular $79 price you'll be hard pressed to find something better for the money. I started cranking years ago with one and have "updated" and have cranked with many different cranking specific rods since........$250 St Croix LTB's, Kistlers, Abu's etc...I am back to Cranking Sticks, they just can't be beat for the $$.

[Kevin22]

Buy a cranking rod. That's my #1 tip. It sucks hooking into a nice fish and watching the trebles pull out. 

 

As for cranks, watch ebay and online stores for good deals. Fishusa has strike kings for a good price, plus if you submit a review on their website they will send you a $5 off $30 coupon. They also have free shipping on orders over $30. I ordered some KVD 1.5's a little while back and it came out to $26.50 for 6 of them, or about $4.40 each with no tax and free shipping. Cannot beat that anywhere around here. 

[TNBassin']

Like said earlier the KVD 1.5s are great for beginners but if you have a local academy I'd reccomend the H20 CRS I Like them just as much as the KVDs (practically the same lure) but they are half the price at 3$

If you want a good budget rod I'd reccomend the Berkeley cherry wood HD (25$) and any reel will work but I prefer a 6.4 for most of my cranking

Academy crank baits are very good for the money. Very good. Online most of their crank baits are on sale for $3 which is a steal.

[Catch and Grease]

Yes they have all the same popular colors as KVD 1.5s and look almost the same, I buy them more than kvd's now except when I can find the 1.5's on sale!

Oh and BTW you can get them with or without rattles

[TNBassin']

I love Academy's lipless crank baits. Great quality, good hooks right out of the package, and like you said, tons of colors. I wish they had something comparable to a 6xd though.

[Catch and Grease]

I love Academy's lipless crank baits. Great quality, good hooks right out of the package, and like you said, tons of colors. I wish they had something comparable to a 6xd though.

Yeah the best lures they make are the lipless and squarebill cranks, I will admit though some of their lures are junk.... Like their poppers, they aren't very good.

I like the 2 hollow body frogs they make

[TNBassin']

Never tried those but their jigs are phenomenal, as are their jointed swim baits. I may have to goto Academy tomorrow lol.

[Catch and Grease]

Ehhhh Idk about their hard bodied swimbaits... I can't catch a fish on them to save my life, they look great in the water though

[TorqueConverter]

is there a way to get into cranking cheap? rod reel and baits. I don't have a lot of experience with crankbaits but I really want to fish them more.

 

Sure is.  A lot of your super cheap graphite rods have very moderate actions and are well suited to functioning as crankbait sticks.  I'm guessing it has something to do with the amount, modulus and wrapping of cheap graphite sticks that make their actions moderate.  A couple of cheap rods that would be suited for crankbaits off the top of my head are:

 

M power Berkley Cherrywood

M power BPS Graphite Series

M power Abu Vengence

M power rods that come with cheap reel/rod combos (black max for example)

 

I like a centrifugal reel when it comes to throwing cranks and one of the best cheap centrifugal reels is the Pfluger Templar.  Do keep an eye out for sales.  For example. the BPS Nitro Tournament Z is on sale for $60, the same as the Templar and down from $100.  It is Korean built, aluminum framed, externally adjustable centrifugal reel.  Much better than the Templar and the same price at its limited time sale price.  Sales, obviously, can be a great way to pick up items on the cheap.

 

I'm a believe in a good action when it comes to crankbaits and that a good action can be had at any price point.  Expensive crankbaits are not necessarily going to buy you better actions but it will typically buy you increased durability, hook quality and nicer paint jobs.

 

The BPS XPS, Academy H20 crankbaits, Strike King and Normans are some of the best cheap cranks out there.  The Cabelas Pork Chop and Grave Digger are worth a look too.