Using a regular rod for crankbaits

[The Rooster]

I was thinking about getting a rod specifically made for crankbaits. I have a regular medium action 6' graphite rod that I already use now though for cranking and I like it pretty well. Do you see a problem with just using that instead of buying another rod for cranking??

At first when I was using it for cranking I was missing fish and someone told me that was probably my problem, having a rod that was too stiff for treble hooks. But now that I've eased off on the hookset (not swinging like Sammy Sosa anymore), and also I've sharpened all my hooks for easier penetration, I have no more problems and I stick most of the fish that hit the bait. I really don't think I need a cranking rod anymore. Anybody else just use a regular medium action graphite rod for cranking??

[Aaron]

I do for my shallow to medium cranking, which is about all the cranking I do.  When I start throwing more deep divers I will invest in a good cranking specific rod.

If it's working for you now I wouldn't mess with it.

[Hookemdown.]

I like 7ft+ rods for cranking.  I couldn't imagine throwing a DD22 on a 6' medium

[Muddy]

I use a 6'6"Med/fast Cabelas Fish Eagle II, I agree with hookem, I would have trouble trhowing anything bigger than a Rapala DT16 with it, but I don't so it is not an issue for me. The fiberglass experiment is over cause I do better than OK with this,

[Raul]

We guys down here across the border are not much fond for specialized rods, there ain 't much to choose from either from the on-line retailers and many of us older farts are used to fish with "regular" rods.

Med Fast graphite rods is what I 've been using to fish crankbaits for the better part of my bass fishing life and I don 't feel they are too stiff, if you loose fish it ain 't cuz the rod is too stiff, it 's cuz you have your drag too tight.

[Grey Wolf]

Only the rod companies want you to believe you need certain rods for differant techniques.

[detroit1]

I can't understand why anyone would have a rod shorter than 6'6". Maybe if one fished from a kayak or canoe, but that is just too short for anything else. Yes, a med. action is fine for all but the deepest divers.

[The Rooster]

I just like 6' rods because of comfort to use. No advantage to it otherwise cause I fish from a boat or the bank. Sometimes I use a 6'6" rod for any "ig" lures (T-rig, C-rig, Jig) or any open water fishing I'm doing such as down at the river on the shore throwing a spinner into the rolling water. That's about it though.

[The Next KVD]

I just use a MH 7ft St. Croix Avid.  I really don't like a shorter rod because i'm a taller guy and i feel like i don't miss as many fish on the longer rod.

[fishinfiend]

I have had great luck this year with a med/fast graphite rod.

[fathom]

personally, use a 6'6" m/f (mbr782) for most of my cranking anymore...it's a good mix between distance and accuracy.

if i want more power, i just bump it up to the mbr783.

and you're right to downsize the hookset...you don't really need to knock 'em in the head cranking with the faster actions.

[Sam]

Rooster,

Shallow or deep cranking?

My suggestions:

Large Size Crankbaits -

7 foot fiberglass or graphite medium action baitcaster rod with a long handle and a slow tip.

Baitcaster with 12 to 17 flouro pound test depending on the cover and structure you are fishing.

Smaller Size Cranktaits -

6'6" fiberglass or graphite spinning rod with a long handle and a slow tip.

8 to 12 pound flouro test depending on the cover and structure you fish.

Graphite is more sensitive and you may feel more bites.

Some guys think that a very small diameter line will allow you to cast further.  I use a line based on its test and the conditions I am fishing so I usually do not worry about its diameter.

The long handle gives you more leverage when setting the hook.

Check out your favorite tackle store or the BPS/Cabella's catalogs and look at the rods deisgned for crankbait fishing and decide if one is OK for the methods you employ or will you need two rods, one for shallow and the other for deep cranking.

And you asked such a simple question.  ;D

P.S.  If you go into crankbait fishing in details, or speak to the pros about throwing crankbaits, everyone has a different idea or philosophy. So you can actually go crazy trying to figure out which rods, line, reels, and cranks are the best and then putting your combinations together is another story.

So just throw your Bandits and others and have some fun.

[The Rooster]

I mostly asked because earlier this year I wanted to get better at catching fish on a crankbait.  Before this season I could count every fish I'd ever caught on a crankbait on one hand I think.  I mean literally 5 or less in 12 years of fishing.  Of course I didn't fish them a lot cause I had no confidence in them.   And when I did I didn't catch anything.  

So this year I took off with them.  Bought a bunch in the colors I thought would work well, and MADE myself use them.  I was surprised at how easy it was to get strikes when I fished them a lot.  But I missed more than I caught so I was told by my brother in law that I needed a special rod for that.  He uses a Shimano Compre with a Curado reel, and his is a crankbait model of rod.  He had me worried that I needed a crank rod.  

I can't really afford to run out and get a rod for every type of fishing I do, and really I'm afraid that if I got one like his, I'd not feel as much of the crankbait actions, or deflections off of structure as I would with a regular graphite rod.  So I just backed off the hookset and sharpened all my hooks to the point they are like needles and I improved my hookups by at least 200%.  I probably end up boating 8 out of 10 fish that strike my baits now.  So I think I really don't need a special crankbait rod like he uses now, at least not for the shallow and medium running baits.  Deep divers might be different but I'm about to get a 6'6" med/hvy rod for jigging anyway and thought I might make it do double duty as a deep crank rod also.  

As for that 6' rod, I just like using it cause it's so comfortable in my hand and casts like a dream.  It casts as far as I need it to anyway.  It's not capable of hitting the 100' distances I read about on here but I don't fish that far out anyway, 50' would be my average.  

Oh, one more thing.  I tried a spinning rod for cranks and got some wicked line twist so I quickly gave that up for casting reels instead.  Thanks for your suggestions though.  I think what I'll do is combine my experiences with the suggestions I get here and see where that takes me in terms of rod selection on a deep cranking rod.  Shallow cranks though, I think I've got that covered but I just wondered if anyone else used a regular rod for that also.  

[Bass XL]

I think you should be fine. I fish my shallow divers on a 6' 3" Puls-R and it works great. Sometimes I'll even throw a Wiggle Wart with it. But when it comes to throwing DD22's, my rod is 7' 6". You can cast that DD22 a mile.