Help me decide! Dedicated CB rod.

[TNcreekfishing]

First off, thanks to anyone who has input on this major indecision that I have 😂.  Basically, I want a rod that I can dedicate to squarebills and small swim baits.  I have a bunch of strike king 1.5s and 6th sense crush cranks that I would be primarily using this for but I also would like to use it for small swim baits like the Machshad series that weighs 7/16 oz.  I figured a crankbait rod would work well with these beings they have treble hooks and aren’t GIANT swimbaits that require a SB rod.  Beings that these are reaction baits I’m not looking for anything high end or super sensitive, I just want what’s going to keep the fish pinned best and help me land it.  I’ve narrowed it down to 3 and those are the Lews KVD composite crank rod in MH/M, Dobyns fury CB and I also really like the way the new Fenwick HMG cranking series looks in MH/MF.  It’s the age old composite/glass vs graphite debate I know but I gave specific brands and models so I hope that helps.  I also have a bunch of fast action rods and wonder if I just through some mono on those for the added stretch if it would be good enough…?   I’ve never had any confidence in cranks and I’ve never even caught a crankbait bass but I want to change that.  I hope I can find some people who have experience with these models and also if there are any suggestions around $120-130 I would be open.  Thanks guys! 🙏 

[MN Fisher]

Up your game - St Croix Victory 7'2" Medium Heavy Cranker - currently on sale for $142

https://www.americanlegacyfishing.com/st-croix-victory-casting-rods.html

[MediumMouthBass]

I only have cranking rods from St Croix and Lews. And i just put together a few 3700 sized trays last night of square bills and deep divers.

If you are throwing the 1.5's do yourself the biggest favor you can and get a medium rod.

St Croix, Dobyns, and Lews make very good options. If you dont have brand loyalty to a certain one try to find something on sale.

[Eric 26]

American Legacy is offering the St Croix Mojo glass for about $125.00. The problem is they’re on back order. Although I’ve not personally used them I did handle them in store and they felt really nice imho. 

[TNcreekfishing]

27 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Up your game - St Croix Victory 7'2" Medium Heavy Cranker - currently on sale for $142

https://www.americanlegacyfishing.com/st-croix-victory-casting-rods.html

Bad thing is all the rods are on back order 😂. I got an alert from ALF and was looking some yesterday.  I didn’t look at the victory but even other models I was looking into were sold out like crazy.

24 minutes ago, MediumMouthBass said:

I only have cranking rods from St Croix and Lews. And i just put together a few 3700 sized trays last night of square bills and deep divers.

If you are throwing the 1.5's do yourself the biggest favor you can and get a medium rod.

St Croix, Dobyns, and Lews make very good options. If you dont have brand loyalty to a certain one try to find something on sale.

Yea I get what you’re saying about a MH rod possibly overpowering the 1.5s but I do like how a MH allows me to throw a those slightly larger treble swim baits as well.  That’s why I heavily considered the dobyns because it’s a MH but from reports it’s very whippy and more Mediumish power.

[Choporoz]

21 minutes ago, Eric 26 said:

American Legacy is offering the St Croix Mojo glass for about $125.00. The problem is they’re on back order. Although I’ve not personally used them I did handle them in store and they felt really nice imho. 

Mojo glass rod is without a doubt my single worst rod purchase.  Heavy and dead.  

[MN Fisher]

48 minutes ago, TNcreekfishing said:

Bad thing is all the rods are on back order 😂.

If you can wait - you can order now, and they'll ship when it's available...still at the sale price.

49 minutes ago, TNcreekfishing said:

That’s why I heavily considered the dobyns because it’s a MH but from reports it’s very whippy and more Mediumish power.

I have the Fury 705CB - makes a great chatter/spinner bait rod, but I wasn't impressed with it as a crankbait rod.

[FryDog62]

59 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

Mojo glass rod is without a doubt my single worst rod purchase.  Heavy and dead.  

I agree, that’s the MO with St. Croix rods in general - heavy and tip heavy. 
 

I ordered 3 rods that I received and fondled before keeping one:

 

•Dobyns  735cb

•Alpha Angler Chatterbound

•ALX Zolo Rumble

 

The winner was the Chatterbound. I was almost 100% against any kind of glass/composite rod up until now. It’s a great rod for Chatterbaits as well as Spinnerbaits and DT10’s in a pinch. It’s not as thick and cumbersome as the others I tried. 

[rangerjockey]

2 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Up your game - St Croix Victory 7'2" Medium Heavy Cranker - currently on sale for $142

https://www.americanlegacyfishing.com/st-croix-victory-casting-rods.html

The victory MH Cranker is a great rod. It will easily throw a 1.5s  great wart and RK crawler rod

For me the tip heavy St Croix deal is way over played. Some of the older, longer LTB's. yes  

 

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, rangerjockey said:

For me the tip heavy St Croix deal is way over played.

Ya - I haven't noticed tip-heaviness in any of my Victorys...maybe slightly in my previous gen Mojo Bass

[TNcreekfishing]

13 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Ya - I haven't noticed tip-heaviness in any of my Victorys...maybe slightly in my previous gen Mojo Bass

I see on ALFs website for the victory they have a model called the “target cranker”.  It’s basically the same specs but a moderate action instead of moderate fast.  Would that be better for specifically fishing treble hook baits?  And I assume even though it’s moderate action it’s still graphite?

[MyKeyBe]

Falcon.

Bucoo Trap Caster for $100.00.

Low Rider All 'Round for $130.00

I don't fish square bills or small swim baits a ton so my suggestion is probably terrible 😔. 

Fishing a square bill you can usually get by with a faster rod than you would want for a deep diver. One of the rods you have may be fine. I certainly wouldn't run out and buy a rod for a bait I had never caught a fish on and had little confidence in.

[BrianMDTX]

6 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

If you can wait - you can order now, and they'll ship when it's available...still at the sale price.

I have the Fury 705CB - makes a great chatter/spinner bait rod, but I wasn't impressed with it as a crankbait rod.

Interesting. I like my 705CB for crankbaits (especially squarebills), but I do not like it that much for spinnerbaits. Too whippy. 

[Eric 26]

@TNcreekfishing It appears the rod you’re asking about is all graphite. And yes if the rod is “slower” in action it will keep the fish “pinned” or make it harder for them to use the rod to shake the hooks free. I love throwing square bills and I started with n a 6’-10” Lews Carbon Fire med power fast action rod and still do but I also love throwing them on a  BPS Crankin Stick 7’-0” med power fast which is a blended rod. Also the crank bait in the photos is a Wal mart Ozark Trail crank which are a nice cheap way to get started while you see if you like crank bait/square bill fishing. 

[TNcreekfishing]

@Eric 26 hey I appreciate the feedback.  Yea I have a brand new last gen Fenwick hmg that’s a 6’6 M/f with a basic 6:1 lews lfs on it and was trying to determine if i should just throw some mono on it for the added stretch to compensate for the fast action in helping to keep the fish from shaking the trebles.  I would be using it from a kayak and liked the idea of having a shorter rod for target fishing the cranks over laydowns and in tight spots but you know how it goes.. as fishermen we want to be as efficient as possible and love buying new gear.. no one wants to lose that 5lber wondering if they’d had the right setup it could have been prevented.  @MN Fisher and for some reason ALF isn’t showing the st croix rods at sales price anymore even though it’s supposed to be going until tomorrow.

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, TNcreekfishing said:

@MN Fisher and for some reason ALF isn’t showing the st croix rods at sales price anymore even though it’s supposed to be going until tomorrow.

Ya, I see that - might be a blip...I'd check later

 

I got my order in yesterday.

[TNcreekfishing]

@MN Fisher haha, I emailed them and they said they’re looking into it.  Smart man to not sit around and think too long on it 😂 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

Def a M power graphite.  I have a 7'1 Muse that does really well with kvd 1.5s, baby fats and lighter lipless baits.  The tip is crisp enough, I use it for JBs and soft plastics.  

[TNcreekfishing]

@MN Fisher I ended up ordering the MH/MF cranker model in the victory today.  I’m excited and hopefully won’t take it long to get here since it’s on back order. Thanks for the recommendation and thanks to everyone for your input.

[Cranks4fun]

I have been a crankbait fanatic for decades. I have used all kinds of rods (spinning and BC) for crankbaits of various sizes. I think the Fenwick HMG's are great with just enough flex to absorb shock upon the strike. Some like glass rods but they tend to be too heavy for my liking. I have used Dobyns fury's too but they are a little stiff for cranks. 

[TNcreekfishing]

@Cranks4fun yea I think I’m gonna put some mono on the 6’6 medium/fast hmg I have and use it for the smaller cranks I have.  It’s a beautiful rod I really like it aesthetically and given the Fenwick name I’m sure it’ll perform well.  I just didn’t want the fast action to be too quick for the trebles.. but at the same time I wonder how much truth there is to that.

[rangerjockey]

The new Fenwick Eagle and HMGs are really good. I have the new World Class and Elite and I'm impressed. 

For moving baits, the HMG is all you need.

 

[casts_by_fly]

Shame I didn’t see this earlier. I have the rod you want here and would have cut you a deal on it. Falcon expert Hudson special. MH/MF 3/8-3/4 rating. Fantastic rod for 1/2 oz crankbaits. If you prefer a more moderate rod for chatterbaits it’s great (that’s not my preference). It would fish the smaller swim baits you mention well.