Lews custom lite question

[Bdnoble84]

I see Lews has a Med Mod fast 7’2” rated 1/8 to 5/8. Does anyone have any experience with this rod or other medium-light and medium rods in the line. I want a soft light rod for whipping out light crankbaits a long ways. In particular shad rap/ berkley frenzy shad style baits. It is at the top of my price range also

[Brian11719]

Not 100% sure but guessing you are referring to the CLSC1? I've owned a couple (still have one) in this series and my honest thoughts are I love the grip but the rod itself feels stiff. Great I guess if I wanted to go fishing and then play pool without having to stop by my house in between the two but otherwise probably not what I'd want for a crankbait rod. Their warranty is also not all that awesome. For that price right now you could get a Dobyns Champion DC704CB on Tackle Warehouse...or a Cashion crankbait rod from Cashion's website...would strongly suggest either of those over the custom lite. I wanted to like the custom lite and the grip on them is actually awesome for me but IMO the blank is too stiff...pretty much the opposite of what I'd want for a crankbait. Also if you are looking at a shad rap and it's a lighter one you might want to consider a ML MF or ML M spinning rod instead...the shad rap 7 in particular and ones under it are very light and I wouldn't suggest trying to throw a balsa like that on a standard casting rod. If you like the handle St Croix pretty much made a spinning mojo bass rod in that range for throwing a shad rap that also might be worth looking into...if it were me all things considered that champ xp would be my choice.

[Bdnoble84]

20 minutes ago, Brian11719 said:

Not 100% sure but guessing you are referring to the CLSC1? I've owned a couple (still have one) in this series and my honest thoughts are I love the grip but the rod itself feels stiff. Great I guess if I wanted to go fishing and then play pool without having to stop by my house in between the two but otherwise probably not what I'd want for a crankbait rod. Their warranty is also not all that awesome. For that price right now you could get a Dobyns Champion DC704CB on Tackle Warehouse...or a Cashion crankbait rod from Cashion's website...would strongly suggest either of those over the custom lite. I wanted to like the custom lite and the grip on them is actually awesome for me but IMO the blank is too stiff...pretty much the opposite of what I'd want for a crankbait. Also if you are looking at a shad rap and it's a lighter one you might want to consider a ML MF or ML M spinning rod instead...the shad rap 7 in particular and ones under it are very light and I wouldn't suggest trying to throw a balsa like that on a standard casting rod. If you like the handle St Croix pretty much made a spinning mojo bass rod in that range for throwing a shad rap that also might be worth looking into...if it were me all things considered that champ xp would be my choice.

Yes, that is the one. I wondered since it has a similar rating to ml-xf rods i have owned. Not sure how great of a small crankin rod that would be considering i run down to size 8 hooks sometimes

[Brian11719]

Yeah to give you an idea I kept the CLTJRS model but that one was already labeled as extra fast and I like it for tubes and as a small texas rig worm rod. If you want something more moderate not sure I'd go with this line personally. If it helps the model for the st. croix mojo I was talking about is the JOS72MM. They actually mention throwing shad raps with this rod and if you are looking to go down to like a shad rap 4 (believe that's about the size for a #8 hook) then I'd personally suggest a spinning rod like this for throwing really light crankbaits like that. I can't really use the handles in the new mojo line since I don't hold the rod above the reel which is a shame because I really liked the old mojos and if it were me and that old one was still around that's what I'd get in this situation personally. 

 

You could also look into BFS since if you want to try casting but in my case I just prefer to use spinning gear and currently have a Poison Adrena 6'7" ML RF spinning rod that I use for this type of thing. I took a quick look and didn't see any of the mojos discounted (at least not at a shop I could recommend) but you might be able to find one on sale at some point or at least wait until a shop that carries them has a sitewide 20% off type sale. Looks like the hook up tack just announced a sale and I noticed the jordan lee rods are half off on tackle warehouse and they have a MF spinning model for $50. If you have a.....forgot how to use English's Sporting Goods nearby might be worth checking there as well since they still have some of the old Lew's TP1X models at a deep discount at the one by me and they also have a mod fast spinning rod in that line and for $40...wouldn't be my first choice but for that price I'd be willing to consider it (at least as a backup). If you do go to Dick's and they still have a poison adrena spinning rod ask them to check the price on it for you...

 

Good luck.

[Eric 26]

I’m not sure how helpful my response will be but I’m currently using 2 BPS Cranking Sticks (older split grip models) in 7’-0” medium light and a 7’-0” medium, my medium light mainly saw either a Strike King 1.0 square bill or a 1/8 ounce inline spinner while the medium I mainly had a Strike King 1.5 square bill tied on. I’m not sure how light you’re looking to cast and although I’m not a huge fan of the new grip on the BPS sticks the medium light will easily throw my inline spinner and I’m estimating here about 35-40 yards with my Dream Tackle reel which is not a bfs reel spooled with 10 pound big game monofilament which is important for me as I’m a bank fisherman who fishes retention ponds that are bowl shaped and have a strong weed line for at least the first 10 yards out. I will add the medium light has a good amount of “flex” but a decent amount of back bone for about 35-40% down the blank to really launch lighter lures. I’m also going to offer the same suggestion as @Brian11719 in looking into a BFS rod which I have zero experience with but I’m looking into picking up the Daiwa Tatula XT which is only $99.00 currently. Another lower priced option would be the 13 fishing Defy Black crank bait casting rods which remind me enough of my cranking sticks I’m hoping to pick one up myself.

[new2BC4bass]

How light?  What do you consider 'a long ways'?  I learned to cast #5 Shad Raps (3/16 oz.) on 3 rods with 2 different reels.  Two ML and one Light.  Two Carbonlites and a TD-Z 105H.  I got what I consider good distance, but wouldn't consider it a long ways.  Can that weight be cast a long ways?  I didn't try them on a spinning rod, but plan to.

 

ML rods were a Crankin' Stick and an old HMG (both 7').  Light was an OG Expert 6'9".  It's been a while, but I'm thinking I was getting around 30 yards.  Definitely would want a long rod for distance.  Never looked into it, but are there any 8' rods for these weights?  bulldog1935 should know that answer.

[WRB]

Weight of a lure is one factor but the aerodynamics of the lure must be considered. A bullet weight that weighs 3/16 oz is diffident that a potato chip that sails, ie Shad Rap. Rods cast lures reels hold line. All a reel can do is reduce the line drag reels can’t change the aerodynamics of the lure or line diameter, that is your choice.

Longer rod has the potential of increasing tip speed, doesn’t increase casting distance without changing line diameter and lure aerodynamics….weight.

The rod a moderate action medium power 7’+, .010 D line a 90’ casting with a Shad Rap is decent distance.

Tom