New Crankbait Rod

[JustinU1X]

I just got really into fishing this past year and I don't have a dedicated crankbait rod. I would like to use it for Medium/Deep divers. What are some good specs for a rod that can handle both of these?  (ex: Power, length, taper)

 

Edit: Something that can accommodate 3xd-6xd, DD22, and alike

[PitchinJigz]

7'2"-7'6" MH power, Moderate action

[Dwight Hottle]

Good suggestion above. Depending on your bait weights you might need a heavy moderate.

[dam0007]

Just want to throw a idea out there for ya. Sperate medium from deep divers for a Rod. If you also throw jerk-baits, sammys, big poppers, squarebills etc treble hooked baits equally as much as a medium diver. A quality Rod in the 6'8-7'0 range like a m or mh mod will be great. I see deep divers as a specialty that needs its own Rod definitely over 7' and more in the MH side. Just a thought. If money is a issue you don't need 2 full on combos you could use same reel on both rods...

[Robert Riley]

Above is a good point. I have a dedicated Mag crank rod (Dobyns D806), that I use for 6-10XDs and muskie baits. I've got a good deal on Veritas rods and I have a 7'6 MH winch rod that I use for every other crank/squarebill.

I would recommend getting a ~7' MH rod. If you throw a lot of big spinnerbaits you might consider getting a glass cranking rod, they're oh so versatile. I'd highly recommend Dobyns glass-composite rods, dont own any, but I've used them and hear great things. 

[smalljaw67]

Just want to throw a idea out there for ya. Sperate medium from deep divers for a Rod. If you also throw jerk-baits, sammys, big poppers, squarebills etc treble hooked baits equally as much as a medium diver. A quality Rod in the 6'8-7'0 range like a m or mh mod will be great. I see deep divers as a specialty that needs its own Rod definitely over 7' and more in the MH side. Just a thought. If money is a issue you don't need 2 full on combos you could use same reel on both rods...

 

This is an excellent point!!!! My mid depth cranking rod can handle a DT-10 and after that it becomes tough as the resistance really pulls. Another thing is casting distance, you will have to launch a deep diver much further to get it into its effective depth and keep it there for most of the retrieve, so you are looking at a 7'6" minimum but in reality a 7'9" to 8' is what you will want in a stout MH or H power depending on which type of deep divers you're talking about.

[dam0007]

Above is a good point. I have a dedicated Mag crank rod (Dobyns D806), that I use for 6-10XDs and muskie baits. I've got a good deal on Veritas rods and I have a 7'6 MH winch rod that I use for every other crank/squarebill.

I would recommend getting a ~7' MH rod. If you throw a lot of big spinnerbaits you might consider getting a glass cranking rod, they're oh so versatile. I'd highly recommend Dobyns glass-composite rods, dont own any, but I've used them and hear great things.

I love my graphite Dobyns CS. 684, 685, 705 all CB. 705 is awesome for the 10-14ft range. 684 and 685 rock for everything else with trebles less than 10ft

[JustinU1X]

7'6 MH/Moderate is what I would pick if I had to decide right now. I think the biggest thing I would throw is a 1oz 6xd or a DD22. I noticed a lot of deep cranking rods are Moderate-Fast, what's the reason you'd prefer that rather than a moderate?

[gulfcaptain]

Right now if you hunt E bay you can get a Quantum Tour KVD 7'4MH"  for about 50% lower then retail if you search.  I have 2 and they are light and have a great action.  I use them for squarebills, lipless, and all but the deeper diving (5XD and larger) then move up to the 7'10"MH but the 7'4" will handle that bait as well.

[JustinU1X]

Just want to throw a idea out there for ya. Sperate medium from deep divers for a Rod. If you also throw jerk-baits, sammys, big poppers, squarebills etc treble hooked baits equally as much as a medium diver. A quality Rod in the 6'8-7'0 range like a m or mh mod will be great. I see deep divers as a specialty that needs its own Rod definitely over 7' and more in the MH side. Just a thought. If money is a issue you don't need 2 full on combos you could use same reel on both rods...

Thanks for the input guys!

 

I have a 6'9 MH/MF Okuma TCS rod that I use for almost everything like traps, squarebills, chatterbaits, spinnerbaits. I didn't even think about using this for medium divers, I figured it would be to short. Would that work? Money isn't necessarily the issue just space (and girlfriend lol) that's why I wanted to try and limit it to one all purpose setup to round out my collection.

 

6'9 MH/MF Casting - traps, squarebills, chatterbaits, spinnerbaits

7' M/F Spinning - Finesse (dropshot, shakey head, etc..)

7' M/F Casting - Topwater/Jerkbait 

7'3 MH/F Casting - Jig, t-rigs

7'6 H/MF Casting - Frogs/ Flipping & Punching

[WIGuide]

I've got a 7'2" St. Croix LTB M/M for my squarebils. It can handle a DT-10 in a pinch but it wouldn't be a great rod for that, but their MH/M would be great for that mid-depth and I would think would do pretty well with deep divers just as long as they aren't too big (10XD size).

[fishballer06]

I love my graphite Dobyns CS. 684, 685, 705 all CB. 705 is awesome for the 10-14ft range. 684 and 685 rock for everything else with trebles less than 10ft

 

Agreed. I love the Dobyns 684CB for DT4/6's, Wiggle Warts, and Shad Rap RS's. 

[dam0007]

Agreed. I love the Dobyns 684CB for DT4/6's, Wiggle Warts, and Shad Rap RS's.

Try pointer 95s on it!

[Choporoz]

Right now if you hunt E bay you can get a Quantum Tour KVD 7'4MH"  for about 50% lower then retail if you search.  I have 2 and they are light and have a great action.  I use them for squarebills, lipless, and all but the deeper diving (5XD and larger) then move up to the 7'10"MH but the 7'4" will handle that bait as well.

Thanks for the tip.  $80 shipped - wow.  Now I'm stuck and even more indecisive, however.  I've had an $89 Mojo 7'4" MM in my Bargain Basement shopping cart for a week....I may end up flipping a coin.

[WRB]

Take a look at Cashion 7'3" MH crank rod.

Tom

[smalljaw67]

7'6 MH/Moderate is what I would pick if I had to decide right now. I think the biggest thing I would throw is a 1oz 6xd or a DD22. I noticed a lot of deep cranking rods are Moderate-Fast, what's the reason you'd prefer that rather than a moderate?

 

My square bill rod is a moderate fast, that little bit extra backbone is nice to pull baits over rocks and through light brush. On deep cranking rods it has to do with handling the resistance of a bait with a large bill and it also gives it extra backbone to help drive the larger hooks home. When you get into 2/0 size trebles, you no longer need a cranking rod because the trebles are large enough to fully penetrate the mouth of a fish so there isn't any danger of pulling the hooks out with a stiff rod.

[JustinU1X]

My square bill rod is a moderate fast, that little bit extra backbone is nice to pull baits over rocks and through light brush. On deep cranking rods it has to do with handling the resistance of a bait with a large bill and it also gives it extra backbone to help drive the larger hooks home. When you get into 2/0 size trebles, you no longer need a cranking rod because the trebles are large enough to fully penetrate the mouth of a fish so there isn't any danger of pulling the hooks out with a stiff rod.

Great info! my range of baits would be from 3xd-6xd size baits, would a 7'6 MH/moderate action be too much or too little rod those?

[gulfcaptain]

Thanks for the tip.  $80 shipped - wow.  Now I'm stuck and even more indecisive, however.  I've had an $89 Mojo 7'4" MM in my Bargain Basement shopping cart for a week....I may end up flipping a coin.

That 7'4" MH is really light too.  It fishes nice and the price I got for a pair I couldn't complain.  Thought about selling one, but think I'm going to keep it after fishing the other for a while now.