Is a Berkley Lighting Shock Rod for throwing cranks crazy?

[Stephen Selph]

So when I first got into bass fishing I bought what I thought was going to be an amazing technique specific rod for cranking. It's the yellow Skeet Reese S glass 7ft rod, until I started learning about throwing cranks. I left it at home one day and was using my MH, fast actionFalcon Cara finesse jig rod for throwing small to medium squarebills, and I loved it! I loved the sensitivity of the graphite rod, the lack of the wet noodle feeling during the retrieve. 

So on an unrelated matter, I lost my job about a week and a half of 7 years, and now don't have any expendable income for the time being. I had the crazy idea to throw my Zillion 5.1 reel on my 7ft MH lightning shock rod since it had a fairly soft tip. Do you guys think this would work in the mean time for small to medium crankbaits until I can afford a better rod matched for cranking?

Thanks for any input everyone!

Stephen

[CroakHunter]

4 hours ago, Stephen Selph said:

So when I first got into bass fishing I bought what I thought was going to be an amazing technique specific rod for cranking. It's the yellow Skeet Reese S glass 7ft rod, until I started learning about throwing cranks. I left it at home one day and was using my MH, fast actionFalcon Cara finesse jig rod for throwing small to medium squarebills, and I loved it! I loved the sensitivity of the graphite rod, the lack of the wet noodle feeling during the retrieve. 

So on an unrelated matter, I lost my job about a week and a half of 7 years, and now don't have any expendable income for the time being. I had the crazy idea to throw my Zillion 5.1 reel on my 7ft MH lightning shock rod since it had a fairly soft tip. Do you guys think this would work in the mean time for small to medium crankbaits until I can afford a better rod matched for cranking?

Thanks for any input everyone!

Stephen

Thats about like putting lots of chrome, saddlebags, exhaust, and a big fat back tire on a 49cc moped....but it'll work! Lol

[ww2farmer]

I crank all the time with Lightning Rod Shocks. They are excellent, and have no problem using them right along side more expensive store bought rods, and custom made rods that I also use.

 

The 7' MH is a great rod for 2.5 sized square bills, 1/2 + 3/4 oz. lipless cranks, and SK series 4, 4s, 5, +5xd sized cranks. IMHO it's a little "too much rod" for 1.5 square bills, series 1, 3, and 3xd, and 1/4 oz lipless baits. I tend to use the 6'6" M Shock for those.

 

I sure wish they would make a 7' M casting rod in the Shock line, and I have had the crazy idea of buying a 7' M spinning Shock, taking it to my custom rod builder buddy, who works for beer + jigs, and having him re-wrap the blank with casting guides, and redoing the reel seat with a casting/trigger seat that I have off of a broken Shock rod. I don't even know if that's possible, but as a braid fisherman, I really really like these blanks/rods for reaction baits.  IMHO they can't be beat in their price range, or for that matter, even for $50-$75 more above their MSRP you will be hard pressed to find a rod that fishes reaction baits as good as these.

[Master Bait'r]

I think the question you should ask yourself is "why not?!"

 

Try it and see!  ??

[riverbasser]

I have a 7ft MH shock and it is my crankbait rod. Ive never wanted to spend a ton of money on rods. I couldn't tell you what a specific crank rod feels like but I can tell you I catch plenty of fish cranking that shock rod

[Hawkeye21]

I use my 7ft MHF Lightning Rod Shock for just about everything.

[fishnkamp]

My wife and I fish with a bunch of rods and three of them are Lightning Shock rod.  Her's is a 6'6" medium spinning and my two are 6'6" medium baitcasters.  They are terrific for throwing rattle traps up to 3/4 ounce, and plenty of small to mid sized cranks. I would not use cranks that dove below say 8 foot.  The 7 footer others have mentioned is better for those deeper divers.  My 6'6" would also handle some square bill duty as well as any wakebaits.

In my opinion these rod sorta fly under the radar but for the price they are decent rods.  They are plenty sensitive and are very durable.

 

For bass fishing I usually have my more expensive Irod Genesis II and my Falcon Bucoo Trap Caster on deck.

When fall striper season hits you will find all four of my rods on deck. Each one will have a different trap tied on it.

We catch stripers up to 30 inches, big blue and channel cats and bass all feeding on the same bait schools.  The Shocks fish just as well as either of the other two.  

[fishballer06]

A Zillion on a Lightning Rod?!

 

I imagine that rod is going to feel a lot like Julia Roberts did in Pretty Woman with a reel like that on it. 

[Jaderose]

My answer is very simple.  I wish you good luck with your job situation and please do what you gotta do to keep fishing.  You will need that time more than ever for stress reduction.  Can you put a Zillion on a Lighting Rod?  Yes.  It will catch you some fish and help keep you sane.

[Stephen Selph]

12 hours ago, fishballer06 said:

A Zillion on a Lightning Rod?!

 

I imagine that rod is going to feel a lot like Julia Roberts did in Pretty Woman with a reel like that on it. 

I was using my Antares 2016 JDM Antares DC on that rod before my Zillion, and it actually worked really well! Using a $650 reel on a $45 rod just seemed so wrong, but so right at the same time! I will go ahead and try to use this rod in the mean time util I get my job back, or find another. I think I should be ok, thanks for the help everyone!

By the way, what is the action rated for on my 7ft MH lighting shock rod? Seems like more of a medium fast due to the soft tip.

[Clackincrank53]

The only two shocks rods I ever owned both broke, one on about a 15lb carp and the other one setting the hook with a jig on a 3lb bass...I contacted berkley through email both times and never got a response so I have nothing good to say about them and will never buy another of their products again, I wouldn't use them if I could get them for free....

[ww2farmer]

7 hours ago, Stephen Selph said:

 

By the way, what is the action rated for on my 7ft MH lighting shock rod? Seems like more of a medium fast due to the soft tip.

Moderate fast would be the best description of them, and what Berkley claims them to be as well.

[Jar11591]

The more important question, did you get your phone back?! 

[Stephen Selph]

2 hours ago, Jar11591 said:

The more important question, did you get your phone back?! 

 

Ugh.... not yet. We've had torrential downpours the last few days. I am so close I can almost feel it! Just waiting for a break in the weather. The water temp is now up to 7-, so I should be able to retrieve it as soon as the weather calms down!

[Senko lover]

Lightning shock rods are dope. Don't let the price tag or color fool you.

[Damn Yankee]

49 minutes ago, Senko lover said:

Lightning shock rods are dope. Don't let the price tag or color fool you.

I agree 100%

[Stephen Selph]

I weill be going out Sunday to fish a tournament and will be throwing cranks with my $200+ zillion reel, with my $45 lightning shock rod. We shall she how it goes. I have high hopes.

Does anyone have any experience with that yellow 7 ft skeet reese S glass rod I was using before? I thought it would be awesome for squarebills, but didn't work out so well on the water! Seemed liked fishing with a big fat wet spaghetti noodle!