Loomis CBR843 vs. CBR845 Crankbait Rods

[Primus]

I have to date used the BPS Crankin' stick for this application and have been very satisfied to date. That said I'm thinking about upgrading my crankin rods. The 7' M BPS rod I use is rated for lures that are up to 5/8 oz, however I regular throw lures like the SK King Shad that are a little heavier with no problem, the only type of lures it doesn't handle well is a deep diver that has a lot of resistance like a Norman DD22 which I use a 7'6" MH for that application. I'm interested in the feedback from any who have used the Loomis rods on your overall expierience. Also, I'm leaning toward the CBR 843 Med rod as oppoosed to the CBR845 MH model because I'm assuming like the BPS line the Med loomis rods will allow a Baby 1 minus bait or my RC 1.5  cranks to swim with more wiggle. I'm just curiuos if it will cast a slighly heavier plug if need be. Thanks

[5bass]

The CBR843 is one of my favorite Loomis rods. I throw mid-depth cranks with it as well as some shallow runners and I feel like it's probably the best crankin' rod you can buy for those size baits. There's not much the rod won't do but I'd get the MH if you plan to throw stuff out of the recommended weight range of the 843 on a regular basis.

As you guessed, the 843 is a little light for deep divers, at least in my opinion. I use a 7'6" fiberglass rod for the deep baits.

[Bronzefly]

I'm a big fan of the CBR 845 - For me, it's perfect for baits like the Deep Little N, DT 10, RC 2.5DD, etc.  I think it's best suited to cranking the 6 to 12 foot range.  I tend to prefer a little more stout cranking rods than most though and find the 3 power Loomis crankbait rods a little whippy for my tastes.  Everyone has their own preferences and like FBL, I have friends who love the CBR 843 and 783 as well.  A DT 10 for example, feels to me like it overpowers the 843...

[bryand82487]

I fish cranks with an 843 and an 847.  I use the 843 to for cranking bandits, bombers, etc. that dive up to about 5 or 6 ft. deep.  I also use it for the Lucky Craft 100 jerk baits.  You could get away with throwing bigger baits on this rod it will just put a lot more strain on it.  I don't use the 847 a whole lot only because I don't throw big crank baits very often.  I don't think you could go wrong with the 843 or 845 but the 843 is one of my personal favorites.  I have mine paired with a daiwa sol and it is an awesome setup.

[fathom]

personal preference.

90% of my cranking can be done with the 845...in my hands, it seems to handle a wider range of weights consistently better than either the 843 or 847.

again, personal preference.

[21farms]

i have found the loomis ratings to be optimistic. i would take whatever they say and go one power up. for example, here's the description from *** for the CBR843C:

CBR843C, Line Weight: 8-14 lbs. Moderate/Fast Action. The perfect rod for medium sized cranks, even deep divers like the Fat Free Shad, and the 843 will throw the 1/2oz rattle trap a mile. Also effective for buzzbaits.

if this sounds like what you're looking for, go for the 845.

now, here's the description for the 845:

CBR845C, Line Weight: 10-20 lbs. Moderate/Fast Action. Our best selling Loomis Cranking Rod, the 845 is what you need for larger deep diving cranks with the power to move them away from deep, line cutting cover. Great for medium to large cranks.

if this sounds like what you want, then go for the 847.

i know this doesn't make sense but loomis is funny that way. i have found the same to be true for many of the different loomis rods. IMHO,  the 845 is far more versatile and the better choice.

[Primus]

I appreciate the insight guys, the BPS rod I've been using seems to throw a little heavier bait than it's rated for. I was concerned that if I threw a smaller crank like the previously mentioned Baby 1 minus as an example that the MH rod might be too stiff not letting the bait wiggle like it normally would, sounds like from what you guys have described that wouldn't be a concern. The reason I'm comparing the 843 & 845 is I typically fish with 12-16 rods on my boat and I wanted a versatile rod that can throw a wide variety of baits in terms of shallow runners & medium divers and hopefully I could handle these task with 1 rod as opposed to 2. I get the impression that the CBR845 should be the one I try.

[21farms]

primus, i doubt very much that the rod's power rating will have any effect on the crankbait's wiggle. in fact, if it did, i'd argue just the opposite: that a softer rod would absorb more of the wiggle.

when i was first shopping for a loomis crankbait rod, i posted a WTB for the 843. two people PM'd me and told me the 843 was lighter than i thought and that the 845 was the better choice. i ended getting the 845 and after having fished it for several months now and, especially comparing it to my other crankbait rods, i have to totally agree.

[K_Mac]

primus, i doubt very much that the rod's power rating will have any effect on the crankbait's wiggle. in fact, if it did, i'd argue just the opposite: that a softer rod would absorb more of the wiggle.

.

I am not an expert and don't own any Loomis rods (I think they are fantastic-just can't afford them), but I have always understood that a softer CB rod does allow for greater bait action. This quote is from the Deep Flex description on the Loomis site: "The softer flex improves the lure's action, allowing it to work its way over or around the cover the way it was designed to which is far more attractive to the fish." Just throwing it out there for discussion.  

[Triton20XSD]

I can't speak on the 845 but I do own the 843.  I throw DT10's on this rod without much problem.  Also good for 3/8-1/2 oz rattle baits & I also throw topwater (poppers & spook jrs.) with this rod.  One of my favorite.