Crankbaits Too Light?

[lecisnith]

I just got a rod specifically for crankbaits with a rating of 3/8-1 oz. I've got quite a few shallow cranks (DT-4s, scatter raps) that are 5/16 oz. Will I have any trouble throwing them on the rod? Should I just use one of my medium spinning rods? Or am I splitting hairs over the 1/16 of an ounce.

[A-Jay]

Rod ratings are a "Guide" ~ not Gospel.

 

Go fish it - if it works, great.

 

If not, do something that does.

 

 

A-Jay

[lecisnith]

I suppose I'm just listening to the hamster wheel turn a little too much. I keep seeing the little ponds around where I live opening up and am getting anxious.

[tomustang]

I throw dt-4s and some scatter raps on my 3/8-1oz crankbait rod with 12lb line, it's not optimal but I don't use them much anyway. If you used 10lb it'll help a bit, you could also add a suspend dot or two to increase the weight

[junyer357]

Light rapalas and other balsa cranks have always been harder to cast on a baitcaster to me, and instant birdnests in wind. I switched to throwing them on a med-mod spinning rod and its much better. Also a shorter rod seems to work better as well when i do uae them on a baitcaster. I have one 5'6" i use alot with rapalas when my spinning rod is set up for wacky/weightless rigs

[new2BC4bass]

Rod ratings are a "Guide" ~ not Gospel.

 

Go fish it - if it works, great.

 

If not, do something that does.

 

 

A-Jay

 

X2

 

However, as we all know the proper way is to invest in another rod and reel. 

[Cgrinder]

Probably ok with the DTs. The Scatters might be problematic.

[BasshunterJGH]

What rod is it? I was playing around with my e6x 845 cbr (rated 3/8-1 ounce) was casting a 3/16 ounce bullet weight a good distance on 12 lb mono. Of course a bullet weight is easier to cast then a crankbait but still.

[BasshunterJGH]

Probably ok with the DTs. The Scatters might be problematic.

I agree. Dts you should be fine but I fish scatter raps on a med-light spinning rod and 8 lb fluoro. They're pretty light and hard to cast

[lecisnith]

Probably ok with the DTs. The Scatters might be problematic.

The Dt-4s and scatters are the same weight, allegedly. I'll give it a try my first time out-hopefully next Sunday-and if it doesn't work immediately I'll just tie on something heavier, and tell my wife that I hate to disappoint her but I need a new rod.

[lecisnith]

What rod is it? I was playing around with my e6x 845 cbr (rated 3/8-1 ounce) was casting a 3/16 ounce bullet weight a good distance on 12 lb mono. Of course a bullet weight is easier to cast then a crankbait but still.

It's a Shimano Sellus 7' MH/F. But it's much closer to a moderate fast than it is fast, it's got a much better tip than any of my other fast action rods.

[smalljaw67]

What you have will work but you won't like fishing them much, I know as I've been down this road. I got into finesse cranking and bought a 6'6" ML-M rod for Mann's Baby 1 minus, DT-4s and all my cranks that are in that 1/4oz to 5/16oz realm. I even use it for small jerkbaits and 3/8oz square bills if I'm not in heavy cover, the rod is rated 1/4oz to 1/2oz and while it does handle 1/2oz pretty good, most baits 3/8oz down to 1/4oz are optimum. The power curve is very close to a Falcon BuCoo 7' M-M cranker . I'm saying this as I would always start out with larger stuff and if I wasn't getting any type of action I'd reluctantly downsize but now I don't wait nearly as long and my fishing has improved, the simple act of getting a rod for the smaller cranks has got me more fish for 2 reasons. The first is I will now switch to smaller baits much sooner as I now love throwing them as much as I do larger lures, and the second reason, I'm getting bit more on the smaller stuff as the baits are working better, I'm no longer killing off action because of the rod being to powerful. I'd say try to throw those baits and if you feel like you are overpowering the bait then you probably are and it may be a good move to get a medium power set up made to handle the smaller stuff, finesse cranking was the best move I made.

[SNK]

I've learned that the rod is most of the equation, but line and the type of reel can help. I have been in a similar situation, so I went to a 10lb mono and picked up a Curado 50e. Now I can sling lighter baits much, much better than before. 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

The sweet spot for casting weight generally lies somewhere near the middle of the labeled range, but not always. The only way to know for sure is to fish it. If a rod does not load well, accuracy will suffer as you resort to forcing each cast. 

[lecisnith]

The sweet spot for casting weight generally lies somewhere near the middle of the labeled range, but not always. The only way to know for sure is to fish it. If a rod does not load well, accuracy will suffer as you resort to forcing each cast.

Yeah, that's the general consensus. If I decide I don't like it I've got a ML spinning rod that will take over. I'm covered either way. I always have a plan B.

[kschultz76]

Fwiw and I know it's pricey, but I've found that my MB Orochi XX Jerkbait Special tosses those scatter rap shallow cranks really really well paired with a Chronarch CI4+. Going to try out my new Scorpion 1001 XT on it as well. It is rated 1/4-3/4 oz and I have found it to be an extremely versatile rod so far. I have two other MH crank rods 3/8-1 oz, a Clarus and a Legend Extreme. Really don't think they'd load well enough to get a well controlled cast with those baits. That JS has so far handled jerkbaits, scatter raps, lipless cranks, and finesse jigs around 3/16 and landed fish on all of them. Also tried it with small top water poppers and love it.

If I were looking for a less pricey medium crank rod for that lighter stuff I'd look at the Tatulas, Compres, Crucials, E6x, Dobyns....well u get it, lots of options out there. I've thrown the light stuff on spinning as well but find I really prefer a bc rig for it.

[bass1980]

I have a GL2 845cbr and it's rated the same as the OP's. I'm able to throw scatter raps respectively only after I switched to a chronarch 51e. Previously I was using a Chronarch ci4+. The ci4 toss it ok, but it was either not the distance I want or adjust until I back lash. With the 50 spool with 20lb braid I'm noa able to toss with worry free and the distance is respectable for such a light lure. I'm even able to toss shad rap #5 respectively.

So I feel the rod is on the heavy side for those lure but could be helped with the right reel. If your using the typical 200 size crank reel I'm not so sure.

[kschultz76]

I have a GL2 845cbr and it's rated the same as the OP's. I'm able to throw scatter raps respectively only after I switched to a chronarch 51e. Previously I was using a Chronarch ci4+. The ci4 toss it ok, but it was either not the distance I want or adjust until I back lash. With the 50 spool with 20lb braid I'm noa able to toss with worry free and the distance is respectable for such a light lure. I'm even able to toss shad rap #5 respectively.

So I feel the rod is on the heavy side for those lure but could be helped with the right reel. If your using the typical 200 size crank reel I'm not so sure.

My CI4+ has been cleaned and tuned by DVT. Paired with the appropriate rod, in my case the Jerkbait Special or a St Croix LTB M/XF 6'8" top water rod, I have zero issues throwing those scatter wraps on the CI4+ using 12lb pline floroclear. I should note it worked fine before the clean/tune, but it rocks now.

[bass1980]

I'm not knocking the ci4, just praising the 50e for its ability to cast light lures. The distance between the two is probably just 5 feet or whatever but the ease of cast and control was noticable. I cleaned and relube both of my reels.

Also it's not that I had issues with the ci4 and light cranks, it was a combination with that particular rod that made loading an issue.

[Cgrinder]

Fwiw and I know it's pricey, but I've found that my MB Orochi XX Jerkbait Special tosses those scatter rap shallow cranks really really well paired with a Chronarch CI4+. Going to try out my new Scorpion 1001 XT on it as well. It is rated 1/4-3/4 oz and I have found it to be an extremely versatile rod so far. I have two other MH crank rods 3/8-1 oz, a Clarus and a Legend Extreme. Really don't think they'd load well enough to get a well controlled cast with those baits. That JS has so far handled jerkbaits, scatter raps, lipless cranks, and finesse jigs around 3/16 and landed fish on all of them. Also tried it with small top water poppers and love it.

If I were looking for a less pricey medium crank rod for that lighter stuff I'd look at the Tatulas, Compres, Crucials, E6x, Dobyns....well u get it, lots of options out there. I've thrown the light stuff on spinning as well but find I really prefer a bc rig for it.

 

Well now I want to try a #7 Shad Rap on my Flat Side Special.

[kschultz76]

I'm not knocking the ci4, just praising the 50e for its ability to cast light lures. The distance between the two is probably just 5 feet or whatever but the ease of cast and control was noticable. I cleaned and relube both of my reels.

Also it's not that I had issues with the ci4 and light cranks, it was a combination with that particular rod that made loading an issue.

Didn't take it as knock, just wanted to clarify that the reel can't really be expected to overcome the rods rating and ability to load properly under its rating.

[bigbill]

I think that the line test influences the lure action more than the rod does. With heavier line we get less side to side lure action. If it has a rattle were also cutting down the noise.