A little help choosing a new rod?

[Stasher1]

I'm looking for a 6'6"-6'9" Med. casting rod that can handle 1/4-5/8 oz shallow cranks but has a fast enough action to handle the occasional weightless TrickWorm or 7" worm with 1/8-3/16 oz weight.

I typically fish from a kayak, so single-use combos just aren't practical.

My budget is $150-$250, and it would be helpful if BPS carried it since I have some BPS gift cards I could use to cover it.

Does such an animal exist? :-/

[roadwarrior]

Technically, you really need different rods for cranking and soft plastics,

but this will work:

http://www.reedssports.com/Product/product.taf?_function=detail&_ID=8562

The EC66MF is a great rod, especially on sale!

8-)

[Stasher1]

Technically, you really need different rods for cranking and soft plastics,

but this will work:

http://www.reedssports.com/Product/product.taf?_function=detail&_ID=8562

The EC66MF is a great rod, especially on sale!

8-)

Yes, they're beautiful rods, but a bit out of my price range at the moment.  :'( I've been eyeballing the LTBC66MF as a possibility, but I don't know if it would be too fast for cranks. It's supposedly a jerkbait rod.

I've got a Crucial spinning rod (CRS66M) that does a decent job with light plastics and cranks, but I'd like something different for my new BC rig.

[roadwarrior]

No, when you place your order the software calculates your discount

which puts the rod in your stated price range. I have the comparable

Avid (AVC66MF). The tip is soft enough to be considered an "all-

around "treble hook" rod, but I do have it dedicated as my jerkbait

rig most of the time. I also use it almost exclusively for spinnerbaits

and buzzbaits.

Although the tip is a little too soft for soft plastics, you may find it

works alright for you: not ideal, but good enough. I think it's pretty

close to what you are looking for.

8-)

[fathom]

as rw stated, it's kinda hard to mix trebles and singles together and do it well but, another good option in your price range and purposes is the mbr782.

if you leaned more toward plastics than cranks, would recommend the 783.

[Micro]

I'd recommend the Fenwick HMG GT66M 6'6" medium/fast.  Run about $120.  It is a good rod for lighter cranks, and will handle weightless plastics well, too.  

[islandbass]

Lamiglas, one of my favorite rod companies actually has a line of kayak fishing specific rods. Check them out. Good luck!

Their Competitor CC664 is a great all around rod with a medium action. Here are the specs:

Weight: 3/8 - 1 oz

Line: 8-20#

Length: 6'6"

Action: Fast

Ideal for:Senkos, Jigs, Wormin', Cranks, Rippin', Spinnerbaits,Buzzbaits, and Topwater.

I have successfully caught with ease and without issue might I add bass and trout with treble based lures as well as single hook lures.

Update: Darn. I typed all of that up and forgot about your weight range. I can tell you that it handles 1/4 oz. lures with ease and no problems at all. But 1/8 oz lures, you'll be finaggling your casts to make it work. ;D

[The_Natural]

I'd probably go with an Avid 6'9" MLXF.  

[dodgeguy]

johnny morris 6-6 mh signature series.

[Stasher1]

Lamiglas, one of my favorite rod companies actually has a line of kayak fishing specific rods. Check them out. Good luck!

I thought about that, but the only size they list is a 7'6" and BPS doesn't stock them in the store. I'd have to special order it and hope I like the feel.

johnny morris 6-6 mh signature series.

You know, the first rod to come to mind was a 6'6" JM Sig. Ser., but in M instead of MH. I've already got a 6'6" MH JM SS spinning rod that I like alot, but I wanted to try something a little different this time. They'll be going on sale again pretty soon, so it may still be an option if the price is too good to pass up.

Right now I'm seriously considering the Avid (AVC66MF) or the Legend Tournament (LTBC66MF). I'm a sucker for split-grip rods, but the LT might be overkill for a cranks. It's not like I need the extra sensitivity for a DT4...but it would be nice for plastics, I suppose.

Decisions, decisions. :-/

[Captain Chaos II]

Generally, I'd go with a Med Fast rod. I have one that I use in multi-bait scenarios when limited with my combo selection.

Edit> Just notice the BPS blurb:

BPS is rather limited on split grip rods.  They do have the Shimano Cumara which has had great user reviews....Carrot Stix + SC Legend.  Shimano Crucial also has a split g model.....

More options at Tackle Warehouse.....

Good luck.

[Muddy]

I'd recommend the Fenwick HMG GT66M 6'6" medium/fast. Run about $120. It is a good rod for lighter cranks, and will handle weightless plastics well, too.

Second that

or:

BPS extremes are on sale for 69 bucks

6'6" one in Med and one in Med Heavy would be in your budget

and higly reccomend Cabela's Fish Eagle II's

2 of those just sneak in under your budget in the same 2 actions

Good Luck

[Davo]

I really like the Kistlers, particularly their big handles/grips as well as the sensitivity of their rods.  Unfortunately, I can't afford the Kistler rods that felt the best to me.  I've been looking at Powell Rods.  They've recently LOWERED their prices on most of their rods to $139.  I am a newbie Kayak fisherman as well and I am looking at their 702CEF and 703CEF with Shimano Citica 201E reels.  I also have a Shimano Symetre 2500 that I may eventually put on a Powell Rod for finesse work.

Davo

[Stasher1]

I appreciate the help, guys. I made a mental note of models to check out and took a trip to BPS to handle as many rods as I could.

After much thought, I decided that I didn't really need another rod for light plastics so I ordered crankbait-specific rod. I've got a 7' Kistler Magnesium TS "Alton Jones Crankbait Special" on the way. It's a bit longer than I wanted, but I think I'll like it once I get used to it.

Now I just need to add another rod holder to my kayak.  

[Muddy]

Hey ; I almost forgot J.Francho and Paul Roberts are both Kayak guys, I would PM them.

[fishintroop]

Good Luck with the Kistlers.  I have 2 of the magnesium all purpose and they handle very well

[Stasher1]

Well, my rod arrived today and I have to say that so far I'm impressed. It feels much lighter than any dedicated crankbait rod I've handled and isn't quite as "whippy" either.

Short side-arm casts in the front yard using a 3/8 oz. casting plug, 12# mono, and my "new" Abu EXT-Pro were averaging about 100'. I think the combo ought to sling 1/2 oz. lipless cranks just fine with a proper cast. Now I just need to get it out on the water and see how it handles with a fish on the line.  

[Micro]

You've made your choice. (Great reel BTW! .  It is new, I don't think I ever used that one.). But I'm loving the Fenwich HMGs. For what you were looking for, the GT66M fit the bill perfectly.

Here is Tackle Tour's take. (New rods have Fuji Hardloy guides)

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewfenwickhmg.html

[Stasher1]

I'm sure they're great rods, but the one I handled in the store just didn't do it for me. It might've been the fact that it was a 7' MH instead of a 6'6" M, but it just didn't scream "buy me".

The reel is butter smooth, but I may put it on my worm rod and find a lighter reel for cranking. The weight of the EXT-Pro throws off the balance of the rod a little bit. I'm going to use it as-is for a while though. It just casts too well to take it off.