Do you find glass cranking rods ideal for throwing cranks, and if so is Dobyn’s the way to go or are they too heavy?

[Ohioguy25]

I’ve heard Dobyns are much heavier than St Croix, I just sort of wanted to try a different brand as every last rod I own is St Croix.  Any other brands you’d recommend?

[Reel]

I like the Shimano Zodias Glass cranking rods.   My favorite is the 7'2'' MH Glass

[newyorktoiowa57]

I have 2 of the expride glass Rods which I really like.  I haven't tried the equivalent rods in the other Shimano lines, but I've handled the equivalent curado models, and they seem a little slower, which is arguably better for cranks, but it depends on personal preference. 

My expride 72MHG definitely feels heavier in hand than the equivalent graphite version of the same length.    

 

You could use a fury 703 for smaller cranks like square bills/dt6. I've never had any issues with ripping trebles even though it isn't technically designed for cranks.  Also, the defy Black cranking series is super nice for the price. I got the 7'9" for $55 on Amazon and it's very well built and light.

 

As far as weight goes, glass will always be heavier/more unbalanced when compared to graphite, but it gives more to absorb the shock of the strike/fight the fish.  The St. Croix's I've had weren't particularly balanced so I'd imagine a st. Croix glass rod could be pretty cumbersome.

 

 

 

 

[casts_by_fly]

I don’t like glass for crank baits. You can get a much lighter rod with the same slow or moderate action in graphite. 

[FishTank]

For a glass rod, I like St. Croix Legend Glass.

 

My favorite crankbait rod is slowly becoming the G. Loomis 866C IMX Pro Deep Flex.  I tend to fish a lot of spots that are 10-15 feet or more and this rod shines at keeping fish pinned. The taper is very much like a glass rod but made from graphite that it is thin and light.

[Columbia Craw]

Dobyns glass CB rods are hybrids.  The lower portion of the blank is graphite which translates to a glass tip section. This design helps reduce weight, add that mid power portion and set a defined location the blank locks up.

 

Another option is the Alpha Angler Rebound.  This is an all SX2 glass by NFC and is light, sensitive and responsive well through the blank. It’s growing quickly in popularity in my region.  It warrants serious consideration.

[FrnkNsteen]

My experince with glass has been mainly on the Dobyns 735cb glass and 736cb glass. I like Dobyns CB Glass models because as Columbia Craw said, they are hybrid graphite and glass. As such, they are much thinner than other company's glass rods and I feel they are actually lighter and better balanced. 

 

I use my 735cb glass for deeper cranks (5XD and 6XD) while I use my 2 736cb glass for bladed jigs on braid.

 

My only other experuence with a glass rod is a St Croix Legend Glass 6'10" MM I just picked. I put my 2021 Zillion SV TW G reel on it, and like it so far, but havent had much time on it yet. Just throwing it around a bit in the yard and atva friend's farm pond. It is thicker and a little more tip heavy than a similar sized Dobyns, but so far, I kind of like it.

[Boomstick]

I have the medium and medium heavy Daiwa Tatula glass rods, they weigh about 5.5oz each and I never find them too heavy personally.

[Dan N]

I like a glass rod for cranks, I’d suggest an ALX,  IKOS , hustler. My favorite crankbait rods, along with St. croix , which you are familiar with.

[Ohioguy25]

2 hours ago, Dan N said:

I like a glass rod for cranks, I’d suggest an ALX,  IKOS , hustler. My favorite crankbait rods, along with St. croix , which you are familiar with.

All of those superior to Dobyns?

[Dan N]

Are ALX rods superior? Not sure I guess, I don’t own a dobyns. The IKOS , hustler is  the line of rods by ALX, not a different brand.

[MickD]

Cast by fly has it right, IMO, glass is just too heavy and you can get any action and power in graphite that you can get in glass. I tried the NFC "fast glass" , built one, seems like a club compared to my graphite rods of the same length and similar power/action.  

[Dan N]

4.5 oz is heavy?  
I guess I don’t think it is. Hey, everyone likes their own thing. I’m a fan of glass rods.

[txchaser]

On 9/5/2023 at 2:12 PM, Ohioguy25 said:

I’ve heard Dobyns are much heavier than St Croix, I just sort of wanted to try a different brand as every last rod I own is St Croix.  Any other brands you’d recommend?

St Croix has a mod-fast that for me is perfect for cranks with mid-size and large hooks. Same thing for Daiwa's "Regular" 

 

I have a composite glass rod, I don't like it, it feels dead to me. It's certainly personal preference, but I have a strong preference for graphite.

[Ohioguy25]

3 hours ago, MickD said:

Cast by fly has it right, IMO, glass is just too heavy and you can get any action and power in graphite that you can get in glass. I tried the NFC "fast glass" , built one, seems like a club compared to my graphite rods of the same length and similar power/action.  

What power/action do I want for 3/8-1/2 oz squarebills?

[KP Duty]

On 9/5/2023 at 3:33 PM, FishTank said:

For a glass rod, I like St. Croix Legend Glass.

 

My favorite crankbait rod is slowly becoming the G. Loomis 866C IMX Pro Deep Flex.  I tend to fish a lot of spots that are 10-15 feet or more and this rod shines at keeping fish pinned. The taper is very much like a glass rod but made from graphite that it is thin and light.

I have the imx-pro 864 deep flax, and will pick up the 866 over Christmas.  I think this series is the best cranking rods Loomis has ever built.   

[FishTank]

10 minutes ago, KP Duty said:

I have the imx-pro 864 deep flax, and will pick up the 866 over Christmas.  I think this series is the best cranking rods Loomis has ever built.   

I also have the 904 CBR and it works great for square bills but after owning the 866 deep flex I wish I would have picked up 864 instead.

 

Also, I think you're right about this series of rods. I use to have one of the original CBR series rods and it was just ok. It kind of just didn't feel right to me.  I also had one of the GLX Crankbait rods and it was too sensitive. The vibration you would get back from the rod was almost painful and hook sets were questionable. One of two rods I sold from Loomis. The other being a Bronzeback spinning rod. This was a mistake on my part due to my own inexperience. It just didn't fit my style of fishing. 

[casts_by_fly]

2 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

What power/action do I want for 3/8-1/2 oz squarebills?

what you want is your own preference. For me, up to a 3/8 or so is a spring crank bait in more open water or light grass. That’s a 7’ mh/mf in my set. I also fish a smaller straight medium rod if I know I am throwing the light stuff that day. It it’s summer and I’m throwing a bigger square bill in the half range around cover then I might even fish it on a fast action light heavy with heavy line. That’s also my chatter bait/spinner bait rod for fishing the same cover. 

[WRB]

Whatever you choose you better like to cast it because cranking requires hundreds of casts. The rod should be moderate action with lively tip that moves with the lures action. 

I prefer composite/glass blend 7’ for shallow to medium divers between 1/4 to 3/4 oz lures. Deep divers longer 7’4” rod for 1/2 to 1 1/2 oz lures.

My favorite crank bait rods were* Loomis Popping rod PR845C and custom Lamiglas.

* no longer available.

Imo you don’t need expensive crankbait rods they just need to perform for you.

For Example Lew’s KVD composite crank bait rods are good, but I don’t like large diameter blanks they have.

I like Dobyns composite crank bait rods but no fore grip. So custom crank bait rid made with Dobyns blank would be my choice today.

Tom

 

[MickD]

8 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

What power/action do I want for 3/8-1/2 oz squarebills?

Moderate or moderate fast action, power recommendation for the rod should have 3/8 at about the center of the range.  The longer the rod the more a fast action will act like a slower action.  

[dodgeguy]

I'm like Bill Dance. I don't like glass. I much prefer the feel of graphite with braid for cranks. Just don't horse the fish and use your drag.

[JackstrawIII]

I've yet to find a glass rod that I enjoy. The added weight really bugs me. I much prefer moderate action graphite.