Best Value Composite Crank Bait Rod ?

[ChrisD46]

Looking for a best value composite lipless crank bait rod (7' or over) under $100 ... What are your current recommendations based on experience for ripping lipless crank baits through grass and bouncing off the bottom gravel , rocks , etc. that won't break the bank ? ...Thanks in advance !

[Bluebasser86]

If you're ripping a lot if grass I'd go straight graphite. If you want composite though, the Composite Cranker from Academy is a great rod for well under $100.

[ChrisD46]

*I stand to be corrected - it appears a composite crank bait rod may NOT be the best rod for a lipless crank bait rod (unless using braid) ... Please also list straight graphite models and actions ! ... New Academy & Cabela's opened up close to my house - I'm open to their house  brand if acceptable for lipless cranks as well as name brands they carry for comparison .  

[lmbfisherman]

1 hour ago, ChrisD46 said:

*I stand to be corrected - it appears a composite crank bait rod may NOT be the best rod for a lipless crank bait rod (unless using braid) ... Please also list straight graphite models and actions ! ... New Academy & Cabela's opened up close to my house - I'm open to their house  brand if acceptable for lipless cranks as well as name brands they carry for comparison .  

Medium Heavy Fast for me.

[crypt]

bass pro crankin stik.      I would rather use my own build, but it would be over 150 to do it right for me.

[fishnkamp]

Look around for a deal on a Falcon Bucoo Micro Trap Caster. Look here they are $99 These normally run over $130.

https://www.amazon.com/Falcon-Rods-Casting-7-Feet-Medium/dp/B0032Q02I4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487425880&sr=8-1&keywords=falcon%2Bbucoo&th=1&psc=1 Thisis amazing since Walmart used to sell these rod and clearance them out for less than $40.  That is what mine cost.  These are great rods for small to mid sized cranks, traps, squarebills even slow rolling a spinnerbait or throwing a Pop R.  They are worth the price

 

Dobyns Fury  FR 705CB is $109 but another terrific stick,  This rod looks and acts more like a $150 to $200 rod.

 

Powell Inferno 704CB  $99

 

If these are just too high priced, look for an Abu Garcia Veritas 2 winch series 7 ft medium moderate for $79. see TW.

 

For the bottom of the price range look at a Berkley Lightning rod Shock series.  There is a 6'6 medium moderate that I use as part of my striper arsenal. During the fall the stripers leave the main body of the Chesapeake Bay and enter the tidal rivers chasing bait. At that time I need 4 rattle trap rods, so I add these two rods to my regular two crankbait rods. I normally fish 1 Irod and 1 Falcon Bucoo micro trap caster.  I throw 1/2 & 3/4 traps, some Redeye Shad, some Bill Lewis Rattle Traps and some XCalibur/Boohya traps in regular and one knocker style.  I use the Berkleys because I can not justify having $800 in just crankbait rods on deck! LOL. These rods do the job, but certainly are not Irods or Falcons.  They have never cost me a fish yet.

[tander]

Lew's David Fritts Cranking Rod, $79.

[ChrisD46]

On ‎2‎/‎18‎/‎2017 at 9:20 AM, fishnkamp said:

Look around for a deal on a Falcon Bucoo Micro Trap Caster. Look here they are $99 These normally run over $130.

https://www.amazon.com/Falcon-Rods-Casting-7-Feet-Medium/dp/B0032Q02I4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487425880&sr=8-1&keywords=falcon%2Bbucoo&th=1&psc=1 Thisis amazing since Walmart used to sell these rod and clearance them out for less than $40.  That is what mine cost.  These are great rods for small to mid sized cranks, traps, squarebills even slow rolling a spinnerbait or throwing a Pop R.  They are worth the price

 

Dobyns Fury  FR 705CB is $109 but another terrific stick,  This rod looks and acts more like a $150 to $200 rod.

 

Powell Inferno 704CB  $99

 

If these are just too high priced, look for an Abu Garcia Veritas 2 winch series 7 ft medium moderate for $79. see TW.

 

For the bottom of the price range look at a Berkley Lightning rod Shock series.  There is a 6'6 medium moderate that I use as part of my striper arsenal. During the fall the stripers leave the main body of the Chesapeake Bay and enter the tidal rivers chasing bait. At that time I need 4 rattle trap rods, so I add these two rods to my regular two crankbait rods. I normally fish 1 Irod and 1 Falcon Bucoo micro trap caster.  I throw 1/2 & 3/4 traps, some Redeye Shad, some Bill Lewis Rattle Traps and some XCalibur/Boohya traps in regular and one knocker style.  I use the Berkleys because I can not justify having $800 in just crankbait rods on deck! LOL. These rods do the job, but certainly are not Irods or Falcons.  They have never cost me a fish yet.

fishnkamp : what is your line set up on your lipless crank rods (if more than one size - please also list) ... Thanks in advance !!

P.S. Formerly from Ellicott City , MD. and married a girl from Towson (upgrade kicker wife) ... Also if you are from MD. we call 'em Rock Fish (Stripers if you are from outside of MD.) ...Terps , O's , Ravens forever :) !

[fishnkamp]

I grew up in Ellicott City, just a few house behind the Dolly's Ice Cream restaurant on 40. And yes it rock I know but I forget because I keep fishing out in Tennessee and those boys look at you weird if you call em rockfish. LOL

 

I carry one Irod Genesis II 703 CC Gabe's Riprap Special and a Diawa Tatula Type R 6.3-1  loaded with P Line FlOROCLEAR in 10 pound test mist green. This rod is a 7 foot medium moderate rod

My second one is a Falcon Bucoo micro Trap Caster with a Diawa Tatula Type R 6.3-1 loaded with 12 pound mist green FLOROCLEAR.  This rod is also 7 foot and fishes traps really well but it has a bit more backbone for bigger baits.

The next two are Berkely Lightning Shock rods.  They are both 6'6" medium moderate action rods. One has a Bass Pro Extreme 6.4-1 reel with Suffix 832 20 pound test

The last one has a BPS Ricky Clunn 5.4-1 reel and again 20 pound 832 braid.  So it is a smorgasbord so to speak. I can change rods/reels to sorta match my needs.

[ChrisD46]

fishnkamp : LOL - small world ! ... Thanks for the set up information - I have the exact same Berkley rod and will experiment with Braid + FC and Co-Poly leaders . I also have 6'10" Med / Fast and 7' Med Heavy / Fast All Star Classic rods which I will try with straight 12lb. ~ 15lb. FC or Co-Poly lines (all using a BS PQ 6:1 bait cast reels). Not much grass in North Georgia reservoirs - mostly rock , gravel and riprap 'trap applications (until I move to Central FL. to retire , then grass + 'traps will come into play ...)

[Hez]

On 2/18/2017 at 9:34 AM, tander said:

Lew's David Fritts Cranking Rod, $79.

 

x2 on this rod.  Lightweight...manufactured well...and the thing I like about it most -  is the hook keeper.  To me - it was just the little bit of extra thought that was put into the design of this rod that sold me, and I have loved every cast with it.  

[fishnkamp]

Try P Line CXX in 8 or 10 pound test moss green copoly for leaders. I use 4 foot leaders and that is all I need. The 10 pound line breaks around 23 pounds. 

[iceintheveins]

Veritas Winch, BPS Crankin' Stick, Lew's David Fritts Crankin' Rod, or the Quantum Team KVD Crankin' Rod. I really like my Veritas.

[Cmiller]

I have both the veritas winch cranking rods. Great lightweight rods. 

[A-Jay]

Tough to beat this one ~ Both in performance & especially this price.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00688XYV0/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_54?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3NU6AZPJLBBJ0

A-Jay

[Hez]

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

Tough to beat this one ~ Both in performance & especially this price.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00688XYV0/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_54?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3NU6AZPJLBBJ0

A-Jay

 

He's right, ya know!

 

[DaleGribble]

I like my Powell Inferno for this application. Right at the price point too.