Small Crankbait Rod

[Michbassin]

I'm thinking about buying a new casting setup for my smaller cranks (dt 4 and 6 for example). I'm looking to get better casting distance with these light lures. I've been using a 7' MH Veritas and 7' MH BPS Crankin Stick and both with Revo premiers for the past few years and have had no problems, except I feel like I should be casting farther than I am. This is all normally in open water just fyi. 

 

I'm thinking a rod along the lines of 7' Medium would be best for this, and the Veritas Winch has been what I'm looking at, but I'm very open to any suggestions. What do you guys suggest? Or am I doing something wrong with my current setup.

 

Thanks for any help

[ABW]

I think your selection is right on

[flyfisher]

I wouldn't change what you have either.  I have a 7' kistler helium cranking rod with a bass pro PQ and cast those same baits.  I don't think yo are gonna get much more distance but yo an always get your reel super tuned or turn off the brakes on the reel and see if that gets you more distance.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

A DT4 is just over a 1/4 ounce which likely within, but near the minimum the lure casting range for a typical MH. The rods I build for that application are a "Med" moderate-fast graphite. Something like this combined with a properly maintained and setup (possibly tuned) reel and soft line should maximize casting distance for you. Super long casts aren't as important here as they are for deep divers though. 

[Cgrinder]

I'd check out a ML or M 7' Crankin Stick. 

[new2BC4bass]

X2 on Mike's post.  A MH may handle a 1/4 oz. lure, but it definitely wouldn't be my first choice.  The 7' ML Crankin' Stick suggestion above is a good one.  I use one for #5 Shad Raps.  No experience with the Medium rod.

[Fishes in trees]

I find spinning gear better for lighter cranks.

[new2BC4bass]

I find spinning gear better for lighter cranks.

 

What?  And miss the fun of picking out backlashes? 

[zell_pop1]

Small diameter line, a bc reel designed for small lures will help that ml or m rod.

[J Francho]

Nothing better that I've used than my Avid AVC70MM for baits under a 1/2 oz.

[WIGuide]

I picked up a St. Croix LTB 7'2" M/M for my squarebills and lighter crankbaits. It definitely does seem to rifle them out there, but it's hard to say if it's farther than what you can cast with yours. What I can tell you is that I love the rod. It's super light and has a great action. Some people think it's to "whippy" when they handle them for the first time, but that allows better casting distance and it loads up well when a fish hits. Just because it has a soft tip doesn't mean it can't handle bigger fish either. It might be pricier than what you are looking to spend, but it's worth checking out.

[Crankinstein]

Agreed with the posts above a 7' M should get the job done just fine. I use the exact same rod for my shallow cranks

[BassSlayer71]

I find spinning gear better for lighter cranks.

 ^X2 on this.  I used to hate spinning gear but I'm finding a new love for it.

[Raul]

What?  And miss the fun of picking out backlashes? 

 

I don´t know for how long you have been fishing with baitcasters, only newbies get backlashes, we well seasoned veterans do not experience backlashes at all, in our case they are called "professional overrun "

[F14A-B]

What kind of distance are you getting now? What kind of distance are you wanting to achieve? Those Dt4 Balsa are not long bomb baits, I can throw a Dt6 fine, on the 4, not so much, I usually throw the 4 as well as smaller shad raps on spinning.

[smalljaw67]

I started "finesse cranking" this last year for the same reason you described. I could cast 1/4oz and 5/16oz cranks with my regular medium heavy cranking rod but distance was average and I could use the smaller Pointer 78s and the X-Rap size 8 on my jerkbait rod but it was lacking too. I kind of figured I was over powering the smaller cranks so I got a 6'6" ML-M casting rod, rated 1/4oz to 1/2oz to fish those small cranks but also fish the small jerkbaits and I love it and my fishing has improved a lot. The rod actually taught my a moderate rod is good for the smaller jerkbaits, they don't take as much to move but the Manns baby 1 minus cranks, the Bomber Square A, along with the smaller poppers like the Zell Pop and the Pop'R.  If it wasn't for the jerkbaits I would have gone with a 7' medium but it would have been a lighter action like the Falcon Bucoo which is rated 1/4oz to 1/2oz or the BPS ML crankin' Stick.

[new2BC4bass]

 

I don´t know for how long you have been fishing with baitcasters, only newbies get backlashes, we well seasoned veterans do not experience backlashes at all, in our case they are called "professional overrun "

 

Compared to you I am a newbie.    Only used baitcasters since '09, I don't get out near as often as many.  I could swear that a couple of my backlashes definitely deserved the term "professional". 

[iceintheveins]

I throw both dt 4s and 6s on a BPS Crankin' Stick, 7' M, with a Shimano Curado 200e5. Throws both of them very well, especially the 6 but plenty of distance with the 4 still at least 120 feet.

[rangerjockey]

I really like the Falcon shoal cranker, it's a ML power and works great for anything up to a wiggle wart.. I also have a kisselkrafts made on  MHX cb843 blank that's great for 1.5's ,warts and bandit 100 and 200's..