Double Duty Rod Question

[Huckfinn38]

Due to kayak fishing and limiting myself to taking 4 rods Im looking for rod that would be good for both crankbaits and bladed jigs/spinnerbaits. I love glass but I dont like it for anything other than cranks. 
The Dobyns non glass crankbait rod looks like it would be good for both. 

[Jrob78]

I have graphite cranking rods that are good for both but the rods that are powerful enough for bladed jigs and spinnerbaits are generally too much for how I like a rod to fish shallow and lighter crankbaits.

 

I use glass for squarebills and small crankbaits but it's a lot different than the glass rod I use for bladed jigs. If you mostly fish larger crankbaits and deeper diving crankbaits then it will be much more doable. 

 

We all have preferences for power and action with different techniques but for me, these techniques require at least 2 different rods. Your mileage may vary though.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Alpha Angler Chatterbound was a game changer for me.   Has a glass tip.   If it moves, it excels at it.     I mainly throw chatterbaits on it because that's what I bought it for, but anytime I use it for cranks, blade baits, tail spinners, spinnerblades, I'm thrilled with it's properties.      

 

 

[softwateronly]

1 hour ago, Huckfinn38 said:

Due to kayak fishing and limiting myself to taking 4 rods Im looking for rod that would be good for both crankbaits and bladed jigs/spinnerbaits. I love glass but I dont like it for anything other than cranks. 
The Dobyns non glass crankbait rod looks like it would be good for both. 

 

If you're leaning dobyns, the champion 706cb is pretty unique.  I prefer faster rods for bladed jigs, but this does spinnerbaits, cranks, and small glides really well.

 

scott

[FishTank]

G. Loomis IMX Pro Crankbait rods are a pretty good go between. I have the 903C and it works great for a 3/8oz chatter bait with a trailer but that maxes out this rod. It can throw anything a long way especially a squarbill but for a kayak the 845C maybe more practical. 

[Huckfinn38]

1 hour ago, Jrob78 said:

I have graphite cranking rods that are good for both but the rods that are powerful enough for bladed jigs and spinnerbaits are generally too much for how I like a rod to fish shallow and lighter crankbaits.

 

I use glass for squarebills and small crankbaits but it's a lot different than the glass rod I use for bladed jigs. If you mostly fish larger crankbaits and deeper diving crankbaits then it will be much more doable. 

 

We all have preferences for power and action with different techniques but for me, these techniques require at least 2 different rods. Your mileage may vary though.

I do both. I guess bigger cranks and bladed jigs/spinnerbaits are do able. Right now throw a lot of 3-8 ft diving stuff. Squsrebills, Roccos, Money Badgers, and Dt6/dt8s

[Jrob78]

Just now, Huckfinn38 said:

I do both. I guess bigger cranks and bladed jigs/spinnerbaits are do able. Right now throw a lot of 3-8 ft diving stuff. Squsrebills, Roccos, Money Badgers, and Dt6/dt8s

You might find that you are totally comfortable throwing all that stuff on one rod. I generally prefer a med powered glass rod for squarebills and those smaller, lightweight mid diving cranks and it's way underpowered for spinnerbaits and chatterbaits. 

 

I have glass and mod fast graphite rods that I use for spinnerbaits and chatterbaits and they work well for oversized square bills, deeper diving larger crankbaits and things like heavier lipless cranks but I wouldn't use them for regular sized squarebills.

 

Like I said though, everyone has their own preferences and what works for me doesn't necessarily work for other people. If I were you I would buy a rod for the spinnerbaits and bladed jigs and just see how it does with other baits. 

[casts_by_fly]

Depends on the action you prefer on them all. I tend to prefer a little faster side of things, so I lean mf for crank baits and fast for bladed baits. But, I do occasionally drop to a mf for bladed baits for the same reason as you in that I only carry 5 in the kayak. 
 

depending on how heavy you’re throwing on the blade baits and how deep on the cranks, the falcon expert Hudson special is a good choice. 7’3” medium heavy moderate fast.  I’d maybe even class it on the slower side of moderate fast but definitely not a true moderate action. I use mine as a catch all rod a lot. In the spring I’ll throw crank baits on it like dt6/10, lipless, etc. Soon after that it will start with either a buzz bait or plopper for most of the summer, but if I find on the day I want to throw a bigger crank bait it still gets it (up to a dt20). Great treble hook moving baits rod. It’s also a decent chatter bait rod if you want the moderate fast side of things. It is great for 3/8 plus trailer. It’s is a little under powered for a full 1/2 oz plus zako (total bait weight just under an ounce). It’s also too heavy to throw dt4 or small bombers all day. With a good reel you’d be okay in a pinch, but not my preference. 
 

if you’re sticking to 1/2 oz bladed baits or bigger and throwing a dt10 or bigger then the falcon bucoo sr 7’ 6 power is a surprisingly good rod. It’s called the lizard dragger 1.  It’s a speck more power than the Hudson and a touch faster, but not much. It will absolutely fling a 1/2 oz chatter bait with a zako. That was my standard setup for that rod when I carried it all the time. It would then double duty for big crank baits as needed. 

[Huckfinn38]

8 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

Depends on the action you prefer on them all. I tend to prefer a little faster side of things, so I lean mf for crank baits and fast for bladed baits. But, I do occasionally drop to a mf for bladed baits for the same reason as you in that I only carry 5 in the kayak. 
 

depending on how heavy you’re throwing on the blade baits and how deep on the cranks, the falcon expert Hudson special is a good choice. 7’3” medium heavy moderate fast.  I’d maybe even class it on the slower side of moderate fast but definitely not a true moderate action. I use mine as a catch all rod a lot. In the spring I’ll throw crank baits on it like dt6/10, lipless, etc. Soon after that it will start with either a buzz bait or plopper for most of the summer, but if I find on the day I want to throw a bigger crank bait it still gets it (up to a dt20). Great treble hook moving baits rod. It’s also a decent chatter bait rod if you want the moderate fast side of things. It is great for 3/8 plus trailer. It’s is a little under powered for a full 1/2 oz plus zako (total bait weight just under an ounce). It’s also too heavy to throw dt4 or small bombers all day. With a good reel you’d be okay in a pinch, but not my preference. 
 

if you’re sticking to 1/2 oz bladed baits or bigger and throwing a dt10 or bigger then the falcon bucoo sr 7’ 6 power is a surprisingly good rod. It’s called the lizard dragger 1.  It’s a speck more power than the Hudson and a touch faster, but not much. It will absolutely fling a 1/2 oz chatter bait with a zako. That was my standard setup for that rod when I carried it all the time. It would then double duty for big crank baits as needed. 

I was noticing today how much more drag/weight 1/2 oz and a trailer was over 3/8 oz and a trailer.

 

i think what ill have to do is have single purpose rod for small cranks, duel purpose rod for dt10 up to dt20/6xd and bladed jig/spinnerbaits, jig rod, and drop shot/ned/small texas rig rod

[casts_by_fly]

13 hours ago, Huckfinn38 said:

I was noticing today how much more drag/weight 1/2 oz and a trailer was over 3/8 oz and a trailer.

 

i think what ill have to do is have single purpose rod for small cranks, duel purpose rod for dt10 up to dt20/6xd and bladed jig/spinnerbaits, jig rod, and drop shot/ned/small texas rig rod

 

I base which rods come in the boat based on which lake and what time of year.  I don't normally bring any rods that are single purpose rods.  In march/April/May I will bring a dedicated crankbait/lipless rod (my trapcaster) because I know I will have either a lipless or a DT6 type on all day regardless of the lake I'm on.  It will go down to a DT4, OG tiny, or a 1/4 oz RES as needed and I can also throw a small keitech on it pretty well (1/8 oz head plus 3.3 SIF).  I have a dozen or so rods that I'll pick a subset from and the trapcaster comes for these three months and then sits at home.  My head turner comes on every trip as its my primary rod for vibrating jigs, spinnerbaits to a half ounce, and swim jigs.  It will throw a half ounce walking bait just fine (though I have other preferences for that) and in heavy cover its a good squarebill rod.  Other rods are similar in that they aren't 1-trick ponies.  Even my frog rod doubles as my heavy spinnerbait/chatterbait rod (with a change in line when frog season comes around and the grass gets thick).

 

In your case it sounds like you've sussed it out.  See how that set plays for you and then go from there.

[Pogues2300]

For me these are two different actions. I like more of a jig rod for chatter bait/spinnerbait, much more moderate action for crank baits. For me the closest to a compromise would be my nrx+ 844c which does great for chatter/spinner baits and I suppose would be ok for deep diving cranks although i don’t use it for that. All personal preference I suppose as I see others use much more moderate for chatter baits. Good luck! Interested to know what you come up with. I also kayak fish by the way, four rods in corners of my crate, plus two more in built in rod holders for a total of 6 … sometimes take less though

[Huckfinn38]

Taking 5 or 6 rods makes a big difference. I took 5 rods a few times and felt crowded. However my new crate will hold up to 6 rods plus the two rod launchers in the back. Ill have to pay around with 5 or even 6 rods next time out

[casts_by_fly]

28 minutes ago, Huckfinn38 said:

Taking 5 or 6 rods makes a big difference. I took 5 rods a few times and felt crowded. However my new crate will hold up to 6 rods plus the two rod launchers in the back. Ill have to pay around with 5 or even 6 rods next time out

 

I don't fish tournaments, but I do fish that style.  I find that 5 is usually enough for me in practice, even if I think I want more in planning.  I don't usually carry a spinning rod and that's what my 6th should be.  Sometimes I'll throw it in the rear well (two piece rod) if I think I might use it.  Usually wanting extra rods means I don't know what I'll be fishing as well as I should so I want to carry extra rods.  This time of year I can be pretty confident that I'm throwing a crankbait, a lipless, a chatterbait, a heavy spinnerbait, and some form of jig/plastic.  And in fact those are the rods rigged right now to fish tomorrow.  Its still just a bit cold for topwaters here, swim jigs turn on when the grass is more grown, and some more specialist things aren't in play yet.  Come May and June anything is on the table and I'd carry 12 rods at times.

[Eric 26]

I’m not sure what your budget is but I’ll suggest taking a look at the Okuma TCS-A in 7’-0” medium plus or 7’-0” medium heavy or 6’-9” medium heavy. The 7’ medium plus is rated moderate/moderate fast and the other 2 are moderate fast.