Top Water Rod?

[Brett's_daddy]

Is it possible to use a Moderate action cranking rod for top water lures like Whopper Ploppers and other larger top water baits? I need a new rod for some deep diving cranks and Cabelas has a KVD Tour 7'4" MHM glass composite crankin' rod that was $100 on sale for $40 that can handle lure weights of 1/4oz. - 1-1/2oz. which sound perfect for me to use for the deep cranks and maybe swim baits but wasn't sure if it would work well for those ploppers and such.

[buzzed bait]

yep that would work.  i think mostly all treble hook baits can be fished on the same rod.  you'll be fine.

[iceintheveins]

I prefer a composite, parabolic action rod for all topwaters except frogs. They help keep you from pulling the lure away from the fish and keep the fish hooked.

[papajoe222]

For me, it's much easier to work many top-waters with a shorter rod, but I'm not you. Will it work? Yes.  Will you feel confident in using it is the question and the only way to answer that is to try it. 

How much deep crankin' do plan to do compared to top-water? If you plan on using a rod for both applications, get one for what you do the most and try it out for the other.

[Brett's_daddy]

14 minutes ago, papajoe222 said:

For me, it's much easier to work many top-waters with a shorter rod, but I'm not you. Will it work? Yes.  Will you feel confident in using it is the question and the only way to answer that is to try it. 

How much deep crankin' do plan to do compared to top-water? If you plan on using a rod for both applications, get one for what you do the most and try it out for the other.

Probably more crank bait fishing than top water but of course that depends on the success I have with each technique too.

[lakeannaangler]

5 hours ago, iceintheveins said:

I prefer a composite, parabolic action rod for all topwaters except frogs. They help keep you from pulling the lure away from the fish and keep the fish hooked.

This^^. The only exception for me is poppers and frogs

[rangerjockey]

I like a shorter quicker rod for for topwater like spooks poppers ect, because I don't want to feel like I'm dragging the bait.. More like a jerkbait rod.

 I throw the plopper on a heavy jig rod. .. Thats a good buy on a great crankbait rod.. well worth 40 bucks.

[Cgrinder]

Yeah, solid buy for cranking. Will it work for Ploppers and wakes? Certainly. Will you find that you want a different rod for walking baits? Probably. But that's ok.

[LunkerFisher]

I've been through quite a few rods trying to find the "right" topwater rod. Since most topwaters I throw have no inherent action on their own and all the action is created by the angler, this is one area where trial and error becomes necessary. I've tried super short and somewhat longer rods to find the sweet spot of where I can work the baits I throw properly. For most of my topwater fishing, a 6'10" mhf crucial gives me the best results of those I've tried so far. I tend to work my rod more to the side than straight down fishing either in a kayak or from the back of a boat, and I find the slightly longer length helps me walk and pop much easier than a rod closer to the 6' mark. You'll just have to give it a try to see if it works for you. If not, you'll still have a nice cranking stick.