Cranking Rod Selection

[bayvalle]

I understand why we use high-quality fast-action rod for most presentations, jig, finese, Texas rig, spinnerbait, etc. For the sensitivity. I don't understand why we need anything more than an ugly stick for a casting rod? Can someone explain the advantage of a high quality rod for a casting rod?

[Mike L]

When useing trebled hard baits, All you need is a rod with a soft enough action to help keep them pinned. 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[new2BC4bass]

1 hour ago, bayvalle said:

I understand why we use high-quality fast-action rod for most presentations, jig, finese, Texas rig, spinnerbait, etc. For the sensitivity. I don't understand why we need anything more than an ugly stick for a casting rod? Can someone explain the advantage of a high quality rod for a casting rod?

So you only use spinning rods?

[LionHeart]

Not really sure I understand the question man, but I'll try to answer what I think you are asking.

 

Short and simple answer comes down to weight and sensitivity.  Using a light weight, balanced rod is more enjoyable and less fatiging than not.  

As far as sensitivity, I can't think of any situation other than maybe top water when it wouldn't be desirable to have a fishing rod to be as sensitive as possible. 

 

An Ugly Stik will certainly catch plenty of fish, but will not have the same qualities mentioned above. 

[bayvalle]

8 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

So you only use spinning rods?

No I mainly use baitcasters actually I prefer them for the accuracy. I should have said cranking rod not casting rod. I asked the question to determine if I should add a moderate action high-end cranking rod to my arsenal for my treble hook lures. But that brings up another question would you prefer a baitcaster or spinning rod for a  cranking rod?

[new2BC4bass]

Baitcasting down to and including 3/16 oz. (such as #5 Shad Rap).  Spinning rod below that.  Maybe some day I will get good enough with a baitcast reel to go down to 1/8 oz. 

 

You may not need a sensitive rod, but personally I like to be able to feel what the lure is doing.  I do not like a dead stick.

[J Francho]

I like a sensitive, moderate action, graphite rod for cranking.  With crankbaits, it's all about running into things, if you really want to use them effectively.  If you're hauling water, you're doing it wrong.  I'm not saying you won't get bit, it's just not the best way to go.  With a graphite rod, I can feel what the bait is doing, when it runs into cover like weeds, dock pilings, or laydowns.  I can tell what the bottom composition is.  When the bait makes contact, I can adjust my retrieve quicker, based on what I feel.  Can you do that with an Ugly Stik?  I don't know.  It's been a few decades since I used one.

[Boomstick]

I use a glass rod for cranking, but on my glass cranking rod (Daiwa Tatula 7'2" MH/MF) I still get a lot of feedback when I hit a weed, get a weak nibble etc. that I don't feel on the ugly stik. In fact, you'd never know it's glass based on the sensitivity - it's slightly muted compared to most midrange rods out there, but I have graphite rods with less sensitivity.

 

When it comes to soft plastics especially in the summer when the bass are just nibbling at it and not engulfing it, the sensitivity is even more important.

 

 

[Smalls]

Ever drive a Mustang Cobra?

 

How bout a Geo Metro?

 

both do the same thing. 

 

Hint: One does it better. 

[ww2farmer]

Rods tailored to specific techniques are tools.

 

A set of vise grips is a tool.

 

Can you install a trolling motor on you boat with nothing more than a set of vise grips? Probably. But it would be so much easier with the proper tools.

 

Same goes for fishing rods. 

[burrows]

Ugly sticks are good for cranking but you might not get the sensitivity you need when fishing shallow crankbaits for example you need to be able to feel every thing you’re bait is bumping into, rocks, wood, brush, grass you want to know so you can avoid snags or sometimes detect either a bite or a snag. If an ugly stick works for you use it. My suggestion try a cranking specific rod graphite or glass graphite composite even some of the newer glass rods are plenty sensitive and feel the difference for yourself.

[bayvalle]

Thx for the feedback, I'm convinced I need to pick up a cranking rod. In my area of Ohio I don't think I will need more than a medium power unless I hook a muskie accidentally (which happens around here). I'm considering a St Croix Premier PC 70MM, Mojo MJGC74MM or Diawa Tatula XT cranking rod TXT701MRB-G. Thoughts?

[Choporoz]

Couple years ago, I too, decided that I NEEDED a glass cranking rod.  I got the Mojo 7'4".   Turns out that I could do just fine without it.   Before I got it, I was using 7 MF rods for most cranks and a 7'11MHF for deep cranks.  The Mojo will throw all but the smaller cranks fine, but the other two rods work as well, or better for me.  That glass Mojo just doesn't have near the sensitivity of my MF graphite rods.  It just feels 'thick and heavy' most of the time.  I have three MF casting rods that I absolutely love and they can handle most of my cranking fine, and other applications as well.  I still use the Mojo, but I never feel like its any where near as responsive as I want it to be.

[burrows]

10 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

Couple years ago, I too, decided that I NEEDED a glass cranking rod.  I got the Mojo 7'4".   Turns out that I could do just fine without it.   Before I got it, I was using 7 MF rods for most cranks and a 7'11MHF for deep cranks.  The Mojo will throw all but the smaller cranks fine, but the other two rods work as well, or better for me.  That glass Mojo just doesn't have near the sensitivity of my MF graphite rods.  It just feels 'thick and heavy' most of the time.  I have three MF casting rods that I absolutely love and they can handle most of my cranking fine, and other applications as well.  I still use the Mojo, but I never feel like its any where near as responsive as I want it to be.

He’s been using an uglystick so I think he might feel a considerable amount of difference in sensitivity making the switch to the mojo s glass ? Thoughts @Choporoz

 My recommendation to the op is a glass composite like the Powell endurance or the Powell inferno glass composite very sensitive and plenty of give for those trebles?

[burrows]

4 hours ago, bayvalle said:

Thx for the feedback, I'm convinced I need to pick up a cranking rod. In my area of Ohio I don't think I will need more than a medium power unless I hook a muskie accidentally (which happens around here). I'm considering a St Croix Premier PC 70MM, Mojo MJGC74MM or Diawa Tatula XT cranking rod TXT701MRB-G. Thoughts?

What kind of cranking are you doing square bills and mid divers or mid to deep divers?

[bayvalle]

9 hours ago, Choporoz said:

Couple years ago, I too, decided that I NEEDED a glass cranking rod.  I got the Mojo 7'4".   Turns out that I could do just fine without it.   Before I got it, I was using 7 MF rods for most cranks and a 7'11MHF for deep cranks.  The Mojo will throw all but the smaller cranks fine, but the other two rods work as well, or better for me.  That glass Mojo just doesn't have near the sensitivity of my MF graphite rods.  It just feels 'thick and heavy' most of the time.  I have three MF casting rods that I absolutely love and they can handle most of my cranking fine, and other applications as well.  I still use the Mojo, but I never feel like its any where near as responsive as I want it to be.

Thx for the feedback. That's the kind of info I'm looking for.

9 hours ago, Burrows said:

He’s been using an uglystick so I think he might feel a considerable amount of difference in sensitivity making the switch to the mojo s glass ? Thoughts @Choporoz

 My recommendation to the op is a glass composite like the Powell endurance or the Powell inferno glass composite very sensitive and plenty of give for those trebles?

I have a Powell Inferno I do like the rod but in comparison I like my dobyns Fury better. Both of them are fast action not necessarily for cranking. To be fair the Powell is a medium power and the fury is a medium heavy power

[islandbass]

On 10/4/2018 at 4:43 AM, bayvalle said:

No I mainly use baitcasters actually I prefer them for the accuracy. I should have said cranking rod not casting rod. I asked the question to determine if I should add a moderate action high-end cranking rod to my arsenal for my treble hook lures. But that brings up another question would you prefer a baitcaster or spinning rod for a  cranking rod?

You have the ability to edit posts, even after you submit them. You might want to change it to prevent others from answering the wrong question. 

 

To your question, I use both spinning and casting for crankbaits. It primarily just depends what I happen to be using most of the time.

 

For really light baits for which a casting rod will be difficult to use, I prefer a spinning rod. For example, I don’t have a casting rod in my arsenal that could effectively cast a size 5 floating rapala minnow so spinning for that. Outside of that, it comes down to personal preference. 

[burrows]

9 hours ago, bayvalle said:

Thx for the feedback. That's the kind of info I'm looking for.

I have a Powell Inferno 

The Powell inferno also comes in a glass graphite comosite for cranking. I don’t know I like a good composite I feel you get the best of both worlds you get the give of glass and the feel of graphite. ??‍♂️