Versatile crank/chatter rod recommendations

[Ogandrews]

Hey everyone I’m looking to get another crank rod in my lineup. I spend a good amount of time on my kayak or friends boats where I don’t want to bring 10 rods so I’m looking for something that is pretty versatile. Looking to throw 1.5-2.5 squarebills, shallow cranks under 10-12ft, normal sized lipless and  chatterbaits if I’m not around serious weeds. The two rods I’ve narrowed it down to so far are the expride 7’2” mh glass and the kistler feel n reel 7’6” all purpose. Both are composite rods. Most of my cranking is done around around cover. I know one rod isn’t going to be perfect for all these applications but I’m just looking for something that would get by throwing them when I don’t want to bring more dedicated rods. If anyone has experience with these rods or other recommendations in the $300 and under range I would appreciate it. 

[Dens228]

If at all possible I'd avoid using the same rod for smaller sized treble bait hooks and a single hook chatterbait.   

That being said when I first started this kayak thing a few years back and brought three rods, they were all MH/Fast and I still caught fish.  

Maybe you could go with a MH/Mod or Mod/Fast 

[jimmyjoe]

   I like glass, and I would go with the Expride. However .... this kind of do-all rod is a highly personal choice. You need to develop a certain "feel" with glass if you're going to use it around cover.

   The point made by @Dens228 with regards to the different hookset requirements between single hooks and small trebles is a good one, too.

   Just my 2 cents.                    jj

  

 

[Ogandrews]

I get what you guys are saying, and I don’t expect this to be perfect, I won’t be throwing chatterbaits much on it. I have a dobyns champion 736 glass as a dedicated chatterbait rod, but I don’t always bring it unless I’m on my own boat. I really like a softer rod for chatterbaits because I fish braid to a leader 100% of the time, even on cranks. If im in really heavy cover I’ll switch over to a jig rod but majority of the time I land a lot more fish throwing it on a stouter crank rod, just my personal preference.

[Boomstick]

I would think something MH/MF would be your best bet. I've heard the MH Expride glass rod is a pretty good chatterbait rod before, but I'm not sure how it works with smaller 1.5 sized cranks. I typically prefer M/M or M/MF for 1.5 sized cranks but it will throw 2.5s well.

 

You'll also want to be sure to give a giant sweeping hookset using a glass rod for chatterbaits (or spinnerbaits) as soon as you feel a bite.

[Finessegenics]

St Croix LTB 7'0 MH/MF. I've never used this rod but judging from the specs it looks like it would make a very versatile moving bait rod.