Elite Tech Smallmouth crankbait rod?

[DaveT63]

Anyone use the Elite Tech Smallmouth 6'10" MHMF rod as a crankbait rod?  If so, what are your thoughts on it?  When I broke my St Croix 7'2" MHM crankbait rod last year, they replaced it with a 7'8" model, which is longer than I prefer.  I can get one of these for a good price.

Thanks,

Dave

[MIbassyaker]

I bought one over the winter, was planning to use it for spinnerbaits, bladed jigs, buzzbaits, and probably lipless and other cranks that need a bit more beef than my MM.  Nice rod, but I haven't been able to fish it yet.

[Kevin22]

I was looking at that rod also, at "the discount store in Iowa". Very good price. That would be a KILLER squarebill rod, which is exactly what I would buy it for. 

[Choporoz]

I love mine.....It's such a great rod for bottom contact sensitivity that I never considered putting crankandwind baits on it.

[Hogsticker]

10 hours ago, MIbassyaker said:

I bought one over the winter, was planning to use it for spinnerbaits, bladed jigs, buzzbaits, and probably lipless and other cranks that need a bit more beef than my MM.  Nice rod, but I haven't been able to fish it yet.

I had one and the above post is spot on for what it excels at. Perfect for throwing small to medium paddle tails as well. Very, very universal stick. Definitely not a one trick pony. It won't be as moderate as your Croix was. I couldn't get use to the handle and short grip below it. I liked the blank so much I contemplated stripping the whole thing and rebuilding it, but I wound up selling it. 

[KP Duty]

I also looked at that rod from ffo. Nice to read some reviews on it.  I thought the grip did look short.

[smalljaw67]

That was one of my favorite rods in the line up and as others said, it isn't very moderate in action. I like using mine for ripping lipless cranks out of weed and spinnerbaits and chatterbaits have been great as well. I also like square bills but the rod is very stout, it loads up further down the blank with a stiffer tip section so it feels like there isn't much give but there is. I'm guessing it was designed for shallow cranks banging through cover and deep diving baits. I'm also guessing you are looking at it over on FFO, if so and you are looking for a little shorter cranking rod there is one there. The Fenwick HMG GT72MFCB, I have the new version of the rod but it is the same action, it is a strange, but great rod. It is a 7'2" medium power, but it is rated for 1/4oz to 1oz baits and it handles that range really well. Over there they listed it as a medium power, fast action crankbait rod, but it is actually a 7'2" medium fast action crankbait rod, the original never listed a power because the tip was more medium power that went into a nice backbone that allowed it to handle weights more in the MH range, that is how it was explained to me. Anyway, that rod will handle cranks much better as it is more of a cranking rod than the 6'10" MH-MF ET Smallmouth. Just for the record, I do think the smallmouth rod is incredible but the HMG is going to feel similar to the 7'2" St. Croix you had as the actions are going to be closer because the smallmouth rod will feel too stout.