Deep Cranking Stick

[Rockhopper]

Taking a hard look at diving into the realm of deep crankin'.  I have a lot of interest in the LTB Power Glass Cranker after seeing @A-Jay's video review and some others online.  My dilemma is no one close to me carries this rod, and I have a real hard time spending the money without being able to handle what I am buying first.  I am not just stuck on this stick though, I am also open to Loomis, Edge, and Lamiglass.  I currently run shallow to mid cranks on a Mojo 7' mhmf "spinnerbait" rod that works very well for those lures.  65% of my stock is St Croix, and most the others are Loomis.  Those are my main go to manufacturers.  Can anyone help persuade me in my decision of buying a $$$ rod blind?  My biggest hold up with the LTBC74MHM is from the photos I can see, it looks as though the cork for the palm of your hand has a rather slender, skinnier diameter than I like.  I like a fat cork as I have large hands, and get fatigued easier with skinny cork grips.

[A-Jay]

11 minutes ago, Rockhopper said:

  My biggest hold up with the LTBC74MHM is from the photos I can see, it looks as though the cork for the palm of your hand has a rather slender, skinnier diameter than I like.  I like a fat cork as I have large hands, and get fatigued easier with skinny cork grips.

Compared to many of the other St Croix, (as well as Diawa) casting rods I use,

The handle behind the reel seat does have a smaller diameter.

Not crazy small, but definitely on the 'thin' side.

But I happen to like it quite a bit, super comfortable for me.

I do wear 'large' size gloves, but consider my hands to be average I guess.

I'm only 5'8" and 160 lbs if that helps. 

Finally, that rod is IMO definitely a crankbait rod.

Meaning it's not something I'd fish anything else on.

It's too moderate for anything without trebles, and not really a topwater rod either. 

Good Luck

A-Jay

[Dwight Hottle]

For larger deep cranks a swimbait rod in 7.5 to 8' works really well. Like a Loomis IMX+ 1-3oz in 7.5' length. Just a thought in case you haven't considered it. 

[Rockhopper]

2 minutes ago, Dwight Hottle said:

For larger deep cranks a swimbait rod in 7.5 to 8' works really well. Like a Loomis IMX+ 1-3oz in 7.5' length. Just a thought in case you haven't considered it. 

Hmm, I actually have not considered that at all honestly.  That is a good point.  I do have an 8' Loomis GL2 I use for steelhead, but it is a faster action rod.  I was thinking along the lines of needing something moderate for the deep cranks.  I also own the 7'6" mojo mh/mf, which actually has quite a bit of backbone and I consider to be more of a m/f than mh/mf.

 

Heck, maybe I will take those two and go throw some giant cranks just to experiment before spending the coin.  I did just pick up two 6th sense cloud 9 c25's because they were only $2 a piece. It is extreme, but would give me a good idea of what the extreme end of crankin would feel like on those baits.  I am more targeting c15's and c20's.  I don't see myself ever using those giant c25's too often.  But they were too cheap to pass up.

[FishTank]

I use the G Loomis 864C IMX Pro Deep Flex for deep cranks.  It's the only rod I have used that doesn't wear my arm out when I'm throwing some big deep divers. It doesn't appear to have as much power as it does but it will launch a bait into another zip code. It also does a great job of pinning fish and getting them in the boat. 

 

I have 7'4'' St. Croix LTB Mod. and it's a great rod but the 864C Loomis does a better job for deep cranks.  

[Dwight Hottle]

The SK 10XD's are are pretty popular for deep cranking & will give you a good idea of what it takes to throw that kinda bait on a repetitive basis.  The c25's should give you a good idea as well. 

[Rockhopper]

6 minutes ago, FishTank said:

I use the G Loomis 864C IMX Pro Deep Flex for deep cranks.  It's the only rod I have used that doesn't wear my arm out when I'm throwing some big deep divers. It doesn't appear to have as much power as it does but it will launch a bait into another zip code. It also does a great job of pinning fish and getting them in the boat. 

 

I have 7'4'' St. Croix LTB Mod. and it's a great rod but the 864C Loomis does a better job for deep cranks.  

Looks like it is not made anymore?

 

https://www.gloomis.com/products/imx-deep-flex-crankbait?srsltid=AfmBOoreoyI4sWGn3M70UnpOx0ZH18e5LjY8NdtSTAtcmQ-YtgKxa_rR

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, Rockhopper said:

LTB Power Glass Cranker

IMO something like the SK 6XD is about the top end of cranking for this rod.  You can certainly fish bigger/larger,  heavier and longer billed  cranks with it, but the rod will be flexing quite a bit just on the retrieve. Which usually leaves little left for a proper hookset but will supply plenty of fatigue fighting the bait all day.

A-Jay

[FishTank]

19 minutes ago, Rockhopper said:

Looks like it is not made anymore?

 

https://www.gloomis.com/products/imx-deep-flex-crankbait?srsltid=AfmBOoreoyI4sWGn3M70UnpOx0ZH18e5LjY8NdtSTAtcmQ-YtgKxa_rR

Bummer.  Sure looks that way.

 

There are a few sites that still have it but great rod though.  I caught these two on it a couple of weeks ago with an Evergreen CR-16.

 

 

 

[Rockhopper]

How about the IMX Pro 906c cbr?

[Rockhopper]

Can confirm the rods I have are not going to work for deep cranks unless I'm just expecting too much. 

[Columbia Craw]

What do you classify as a deep crank?  Do you or will you throw baits over 1.25 ounces?   A SK 10XD is a niche’ bait for me and I just don’t go that large.  WTS, I made a move in May to an Alpha Angler Mag Rebound.  The blank is NFC S2 glass and I love it.  It’s like the old Lamiglas SR765R on steroids. 

[Rockhopper]

9 hours ago, Columbia Craw said:

What do you classify as a deep crank?  Do you or will you throw baits over 1.25 ounces?   A SK 10XD is a niche’ bait for me and I just don’t go that large.  WTS, I made a move in May to an Alpha Angler Mag Rebound.  The blank is NFC S2 glass and I love it.  It’s like the old Lamiglas SR765R on steroids. 

Anything say 15+ that pulls hard is what I would consider deep cranking. 8XD+?

 

I will check out that NFC blank.  Thanks for the tip.

 

Reading more last night, the Megabass Launcher came up in some reviews.  Anyone with experience?

[casts_by_fly]

50 minutes ago, Rockhopper said:

Anything say 15+ that pulls hard is what I would consider deep cranking. 8XD+?

 

I will check out that NFC blank.  Thanks for the tip.

 

Reading more last night, the Megabass Launcher came up in some reviews.  Anyone with experience?

 

If you're open to others, have a look at the Tennesee Ledge rod from Falcon.  Designed just for that purpose- 1 oz + 15'+ crankbaits.  Its in the expert series.

[KP Duty]

On 8/27/2024 at 3:22 PM, FishTank said:

Bummer.  Sure looks that way.

 

There are a few sites that still have it but great rod though.  I caught these two on it a couple of weeks ago with an Evergreen CR-16.

 

 

 

Daaang.  I've been procrastinating about picking up the 866 deep flex.  I better get on it...love ny 864.  

[king fisher]

I see you are from WA State.  I know it can be tough to find bass specific equipment in the Northwest.  While rods designed for steelhead and salmon do not work well for most bass fishing techniques, deep cranking is the one exception.  Lamilglass makes many high quality rods that are marketed for steelhead, that are perfect rods for deep cranking.  You probably will be able to find a great deep crank rod that you can hold before you purchase if you don't mind a two piece rod marketed for steelhead and salmon anglers.  The best deep crank rod I ever owned was a 8.5 foot salmon rod.  

[Rockhopper]

43 minutes ago, king fisher said:

I see you are from WA State.  I know it can be tough to find bass specific equipment in the Northwest.  While rods designed for steelhead and salmon do not work well for most bass fishing techniques, deep cranking is the one exception.  Lamilglass makes many high quality rods that are marketed for steelhead, that are perfect rods for deep cranking.  You probably will be able to find a great deep crank rod that you can hold before you purchase if you don't mind a two piece rod marketed for steelhead and salmon anglers.  The best deep crank rod I ever owned was a 8.5 foot salmon rod.  

That is a very good point.  I actually live right next to the Lamiglas, Loomis, and Edge factories.  I have several rods already for salmon/steelhead.  I did check already and my one 8' Loomis is a mag medium extra fast which is not going to work too well. I have a couple 9' Lamiglas sticks that would probably get the job done as they are heavier but very parabolic.  BUT they are indeed 9' rods.  Not sure that is the best for crankin'.  I will have to run up and talk to Gary and see what he makes that might work well.

[Eric 26]

@Rockhopper I’m not sure if you’ve considered looking into the Lews lineup but they make quite a few different graphite rods marketed specifically as crank bait rods. I have an older TP1 7’-3”moderate fast that is super lightweight and handles 1/2-1-3/8 ounce as listed. I don’t throw a whole lot of cranks but it’s a nice rod.

[Tackleholic]

For deep cranking, I consider the reel and line as important as the rod;  the wrong reel speed and line choice may contribute to sore arms in little time.  My deep setup is a 7'11" MH rod with a Daiwa Catalina reel 4.9 speed and 12# fluorocarbon.  I would tire in a hurry with a medium rod and 7 or 8 speed reel, using other line;   probably not get as deep either.  That's just me.

[Eric 26]

 I have a Revo -X 5 speed on my Lews rod.

[Puggz]

For larger deep cranks i'd go with a Heavy/Mod action. The LTB glass rods are awesome but I cant comment on the grip size as my hands are on the  smaller size. I recommend 3 CB rods, M/MH/H which will cover all cranks, spybaits, and I like them for chatterbaits.

 

Personally, I use an Envy Crankenstein - 7'11 Hvy/Mod. I use this for mid sized SBs and for pike as well.

 

Dobyns would be a great option and does Kistler make a HVY/MOD? That would be another worth looking at.