Medium Crankin set-up

[Deuceu72]

My buddy in the Denver Bassmasters is thinking of getting a new set-up for crankin medium diving crankbaits(10-12 ft).....he would like everyones opinion on what kind of rig they would use for this purpose? Secondly, he had another guy in the club tell him that everyone using a 6 to 1 ratio or above is using a reel that is too fast and need to buy a slower ratio reel. Opinions on that topic would be appreciated as well...........

[Hot n Tot]

You'll  get plenty of recommendations on this. I'm using a Loomis CBR783 and it doubles as a topwater rod. Very forgiving and I don't lose many fish like I did when using a fast action rod. If I were using it for 'cranking only, I'd consider the same rod in 7' (CBR843), Hope this helps.

[KU_Bassmaster.]

? Secondly, he had another guy in the club tell him that everyone using a 6 to 1 ratio or above is using a reel that is too fast and need to buy a slower ratio reel. Opinions on that topic would be appreciated as well...........

IMO, 10 ft is the cut off where you should probably start thinking about slower ratio reel. It just makes life soooooooo much easier. There are those that will say it's unnecessary ..... "To just reel slower" ..... well it's not about that and I honestly don't think those people have ever fished a deep crank and if they have it probably didn't last long because of fatigue. For instance .... reeling in a DD22 with a 6+:1 reel almost feels like you are reeling in a bucket. If you are going fishing for the workout :, have at it. ;D Now reel that DD22 in with a 5:1 reel and it feels more like a big spinnerbait. In this off season I think I am going to add a 3.8:1 for deep cranks and my 5:1 will be used for shallow and medium divers.

[RiskKid.]

I have the CBR843 with a Curado 200 5:1 ratio reel for crankin and am a happy fisherman......you can use a higher ratio but as KU said the 5:1 is easier

[roadwarrior]

I fish a Shimano Calais 200 (6.2:1) for fast retrieve, but for big lures and deep running lures I REALLY prefer my CTE200GT (5.0:1).

[.ghoti.]

About the gear ratio thing; I bought a PT baitcaster with 4.4:1 ratio, just for cranking, and hated it. I recently swapped out the gears for a 6.3:1 set, and it's a much better reel, for me. It's a heck of a lot easier to slow down with a fast reel than it is to speed up with a slow reel. Just wait until you have a nice bass, hooked on the back treble, run right at you. If you want a suggestion, have your bud borrow a slow reel, just to try it out, before buying one. He may like it. I know I did not.

Just about any moderate action rod would work for cranks. I found a pretty good one by accident. I bought one of BPS's Rick Clunn models on sale. It's the 7' worm/dropshot model. I've totally dropped the dropshot rig from my bag of tricks. Can't catch anything but dinks on it. But, that's another story. This rod is useless as a worm rod. The tip's too soft. I tried it one day, just for the heck of it, with a shad rap, and there it was, a great crankbait rod. It's been my main crank rod ever since. Good for distance, the tip loads easily, not too heavy, good backbone, once you get past the soft tip.

For me cranking is all about the reel, not the rod. I use 10lb test for most of my cranking, going down to 8 sometimes. That dictates a good reel, with a smooth, repeatable drag, and a free spool, for long casts. That's just my take on it. I may be all wet.

Good luck,

GK

[Hot n Tot]

I forgot to mention: I'm using a Curado 5.0:1 with my CBR783, unless I'm using a Rat-L-trap in which case I often prefer to crank faster and switch to a higher speed. I also use a Browning Aggrssor 7' medium action rod when I want longer casts.

[gatrboy53]

in my personal opinion and not to dis anyone elses opinion,crankin is all about the rod.to maximize the experience proper reel and line also,but if you dont have a slow action rod you will miss more fish than you will catch.for med. crankin to be technique specific you need at least a 7' rod for distance and leverage.it needs to be a glass or composite rod w/ a SLOW action.graphite reacts to quick and will result in missed strikes or barely hooked fish.the forgiveness of the glass or composite rod coupled w/ the length will keep a bass from pulling free and /or spittin the hook.for med. crankin especially if your going to use it for traps a 6 :1 reel is fine any thing deeper than 10-12' you will kill you arm w/ a hi speed reel and you wont get the depth like you would w/ a 5:1.line optimally should be flouro or co-polymer no heavier than 12# test.

my med.crank set-up :7' med. kistler magnesium t.s. composite rod

tdxl 6:1 for med.cranks and traps/or a quantum pt 5:1 for deeper cranks up to a dd14.

8# yo-zuri hybrid

hope this helps

[Bass XL]

i like the shimano citicas

[Mikey]

the best reel is the Speed Spool 4.3 ratio. the best crankbait fishermen swear by it. David Fritts and Gerald Beck. I'm kinda surprised no other company make a reel with that 4.3 ratio. anything lower is too slow anything liek a 5.1 is too fast. I only fish crankbaits and I have caught many big bass and this reel is part of my confidence "scene". for a rod I'd go with glass like the Browning e-glass. all you have to do is look at David Fritts and mimick him and your almost there. by the way David Fritts bought 50 of the last old style Speed Spools; gotta be something to it.

[lubina]

I agree with Mickey but I don't have any that slow. I use an old ( real old ) Quantum Accurist 401 that at 5.0:1 bring 19 "/turn. If you are lefty like me there are not to many options.

I think that when you are talking about med/deep cranking an slow reel and thin line are critical.

The rod, fiberglass, e-glass ( s-glass is coming in 07 )or combinations of it with moderate action. I use a Seeker 706 ( my favorite ) and the CBR 845 that does the job good too but I use it for wire lures as well.

[basspro48]

I would say a 7' Medium Kistler Crankbait Composite rod and a Shimano Curado 6.3:1 ratio reel. I prefer a faster reel because I can crank more line in if a fish swims towards me, I just crank the handle slower when fishing the bait.

[Alpster]

I use a G-Loomis MBR843C GLX rod and a Shimano Calcutta TE200DC reel (5:1). Very expensive, but it's the ultimate cranking rig. JMHO

Ronnie