Best Retrieving Rod in the ~$100 Range

[davidka5h]

Hey everyone,

 

I'm in the market for a rod for crankbaits, squarebills, swimbaits, etc.. From my research, I should be looking for a medium-moderate rod about 7'. I've never really had any luck with search baits and I'd like to improve on that this summer.

 

Thanks in advance for the suggestions.

[flyfisher]

Medium moderate would be fine for crankbaits but not square bills or swimbaits in my opinion.  I prefer to throw smaller swimbaits and square bills on a MH F rod.  I throw all other crank baits up to about 8' deep on a M moderate rod.  

As far as suggestions go on a crank bait rod I have no clue lol  I have a Kistler Helium I bought used and a Dobyns Fury that I just picked up used that I have yet to use.  I have heard lots of people rave about the BPS cranking stick though in your price range

 

[davidka5h]

8 minutes ago, flyfisher said:

Medium moderate would be fine for crankbaits but not square bills or swimbaits in my opinion.  I prefer to throw smaller swimbaits and square bills on a MH F rod.  I throw all other crank baits up to about 8' deep on a M moderate rod.  

As far as suggestions go on a crank bait rod I have no clue lol  I have a Kistler Helium I bought used and a Dobyns Fury that I just picked up used that I have yet to use.  I have heard lots of people rave about the BPS cranking stick though in your price range

 

That's brings me to another thing I need to do research on. Why do crankbait rods need to differ from square bills or swimbaits? I've heard many people say that but with my novice understanding my mind tells me "you just reel them all in until something bites" haha. Is it the depth of the bait or the type of retrieve that differs?

[flyfisher]

Some people throw square bills on crank bait rods, I just don't prefer it.  Square bills generally are thrown in shallower water and banging off things like rocks, stumps, trees etc...I prefer the MH F action for this application.  Other crank baits I prefer a moderate action to help keep the hooks buttoned up.  I do use copolymer line for square bills and crank baits to give that extra stretch.  

As far as retrieves go, you are right but for crankbaits you want to be running them into something whether it is rocks, wood, tops of grass, the bottom etc...swimbaits you can just reel them back and generally that is what I do with the occasional stop or twitch.  Depth of bait for swimbaits is up to you to let it sink long enough, crank baits are designated a running range based on their design

 

[Jrob78]

I think you're going to find a lot of different answers to this question. Rods are often a very personal thing and there aren't cut and dry answers. I fish all crankbaits, sq bills included, on glass rods. I prefer the extra give. Swimbaits is a wide category that includes many different sizes and rigging styles which dictate different rods, but it's going to be different for everyone.

[newyorktoiowa57]

The TCS 69mh or 7mh would be good choices for those cranks IMO. They just redid the rod line at ICAST. but you can find the older ones(basically the same rod) for alittle over $100.  IMO they are much nicer than the Dobyns Fury. For swimbaits I would uses a different rod, something in the 7-73 range, MHF.  Swimbaits don't require any special rod IMO. 

[Fishes in trees]

I don't like fiberglass rods.  They are too heavy.  You can look around and find graphite rods that do the same thing and don't weigh as much.   A previous post about choosing rod action for various baits is a personal preference thing is right on, IMO.   That being said, what I currently use for bigger square bills is a Kistler Small Swimbait Special, it is the olive green one - a Helium I think, but I don't know.   I also use a BPS 7'4" Extreme MH to throw cranks, buzz baits, and other reaction baits.  ( this rod is rated MH, acts more like a medium and has been discontinued for a few years now )

I have an All Star crank bait rod that works good for deeper divers.  It doesn't have any ratings written on it at all, with the exception of a picture of a crank on it and the label "Crank Bait Rod."  I have a couple of 6'8" Fenwick AETOS rods that I use for throwing reaction baits - Fenwick rates their action as MH/Fast.

 

I know you're looking for a rod, but IMO the reel is the more important part of throwing reaction baits for distance, and distance is important for throwing reaction baits.