How Do You Fish With A Cranking Rod?

[Yeti]

Hello everyone,

I recently acquired a Falcon Bucoo 7' Medium Moderate Microguide rod for cranking, but I had some questions on limitations of the rod itself, what kind of line to use with it, and just the general technique with the rod. 

 

The closest thing I have to this rod is my ultralight trout setup, which can bend almost twice as far as this rod can and it helps me set the hook with spinners in the little trout streams in Arizona. 

 

1) As far as limitations, what can a fast action rod do that a moderate action cannot do? I know with a medium moderate, I will not be horsing fish out of weeds or heavy cover, but is there anything else I should be looking out for? For example, do heavier baits (ie at the top of the rod's rating range) behave worse with the softer tip or will the rod break more easily than a similar fast action rod?

 

2) For line, I know that when using a fast tipped rod using mono is better for use with crankbaits since it allows for shock when the fish strikes. My question is, should I continue using mono or should I switch to fluorocarbon or braid since the tip should help compensate during the strike?

 

3) Finally, for fishing technique, what can I do with a moderate action rod for crankbaits that I normally could not do with a fast action? Will casting, retrieve, and fighting the fish be very different?

 

I'm looking for information so that I can use this new setup to its full potential and not worry about breaking it like I did with my previous high dollar rod purchase. Any advice is helpful.

Thanks!

[rippin-lips]

That rod has a pretty low maximum weight limit of 1/2oz. I use mine for kvd 1.0 1.5's and 1/4oz traps.

[Yeti]

Have you ever had trouble fighting fish away from cover with it? Moderate rods are a completely new experience for me and I don't want to push it too far.

[rippin-lips]

Moderate just means it's flex point is further down the blank vs fast or extra fast. Keep your drag set properly and get the fish turned away from the cover and you'll be okay. Falcon is known for over rating their rods. Like I have a 6'10 heavy bucoo micro and if you go by lure weights,it's really only a medium heavy. So that rod you have is kind of a mix between a med-med/light.

[Yeti]

Good to know on the power rating. I'm hoping it will handle my Rapalas and smaller cranks pretty well as that is what I fish most out here. Lots of pressured fish in Arizona.

Thanks for the info!

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

The main difference with the slower action is that it helps keep slack out of the line allowing the fish to throw the bait and get off. The fish will hook themselves for the most part as long as hooks are sticky sharp. A sweep and reel when you feel anything different is all you need. The ability to pull fish from cover is more a function of the power than action except for flipping/punching weeds when you want to get their head up and moving right away.

[fishguy613]

Youll probably find that some baits that are within your rods parameters but dive rather deep wont be ideal on that rod either. Example a crank that dives 12+ft and weighs 1/2oz. The deeper a crank dives the more resistance in the water so long rods handle deeper cranks much better, id stick to squarebills, smaller lipless and try it for light jerkbaits and topwaters as well

When im fishing cranks the rods out to the side, when a fish bumps or eats it i sweep the rod to the side setting pressure on the fish. The hooks set themselves

[Yeti]

DVT: Thanks for the info. I was wondering how the hookset would change and that cleared it up. Instead of crossing the fish's eyes, just pull the hook the rest of the way through.

 

fishguy613: Good to know for the deep divers. I'm starting to think I should have gotten the Medium Heavy variant instead just for the sake of versatility. Maybe Tackle Warehouse will take it back.

 

Thanks!

[rippin-lips]

In all honesty it's a wimpy rod that doesn't offer a lot of variety for cranks. Just small stuff that weighs 1/4-3/8oz and doesn't go deeper than mid depth, 6-8ft. However it's the only moderate rod in the bucoo series. Let's see of we can get you some more help.

What do you plan on throwing?

Weights?

Depths?

[Yeti]

I was planning on throwing my inventory of diving cranks, squarebills, and Rapalas ranging from 1/4 to 5/8 oz despite the rod's recommendation. The lakes here are deep. Most of them are flooded canyons so I can go from shore to 60ft of water with a good cast. I have some deep divers I would like to throw, but I have stouter rods for that if need be. The issue with using those rods for cranks is that they would normally be tied on with T-rigs or spinnerbaits to start the day and I would lose some utility. 

 

I think I am going to exchange the rod with Tackle Warehouse, but I'm not sure which rod to get now. I would have $130 in credit, but I think I can afford to go over that if there is an exceptional recommendation.

 

Thanks for all of your help rippin-lips. I don't mind being told that I screwed up and it seems I have screwed up and bought too little rod.

[rippin-lips]

Deep divers are typically thrown on a mh/mod rod with low ratio reel. A rod with like a 3/8-1oz rating. That's because of the torque they generate. So a stiffer rod and winch type reel help with fatigue. For me anything over 10-12ft are my deep divers. I don't throw anything like the 10xd. Squarebills will do just fine on a regular medium or med/hvy fast action rod. Okay so 5/8 is your heaviest crank? What's the max depth of your deep divers? You can definitely get into a nice rod for $130. I'd take a look at the Daiwa Tatula 7'2 mh glass cranking rod. It's rated 1/4-1oz and will handle all your needs. It's $20 more on TW vs your Falcon. It can be had cheaper elsewhere but you kinda have to go through TW. The Duckett Ghost would be another to check out. They have a 7' med and a 7'6 mh. Duckett doesn't ever give lure weight specs on their rods so I couldn't tell you which is the best choice.

[Yeti]

I have a 10XD and a couple Rapala DT-16s as well as a DD22. The 10XD has been used on my MH-F rod, so I'm not worried about that, but I would like to use the others on the cranking rod. That 10XD is my heaviest crank, but I can throw anything above 1.25 oz on my heavier rod if need be. 

 

Looking at those Tatula rods, one is a 7'1" cranking rod and the other is a 7'2" rod without the cranking label. Both have the same power and action, but do you still recommend the 7'2"?

 

Thanks again!

[rippin-lips]

http://www.***.com/Daiwa_Tatula_Glass_Crankbait_Casting_Rods/descpage-TCG.html

[Yeti]

Boy do I feel dumb. Scrolled right past it. I'm assuming you use one personally or have used one in the past? I know Daiwa makes a great product, but any problems or quirks I should know about with them? 

Thanks!

[rippin-lips]

I have a similiar daiwa rod. Tatula wasn't made yet. I have a tatula rod but it's not the cranking rod. Reviews and user feedback are very very good for these rods though.

[Yeti]

Thanks for all of the advice. It has helped a lot. I think I am going to swap out the Falcon for the Daiwa.