Looking for a specific rod

[jdw174]

In the last couple of years, I've found myself using a shallow running crank around shoreline cover to the point I seldom toss a spinnerbait any longer. I'm looking for a suggestion for a rod to use for this. Should be not much over 6', with a tip soft enough to toss 1/4-3/8oz cranks, but with sufficient backbone to muscle work a fish out of the brush if I have to. Anyone have any suggestions as to some brands/models that I can check out?  Would prefer to keep it under a C-note if such a thing exists.

[zero limit]

X2  been throwing alot of those too.

[KYntucky Warmouth]

For that application I use an e21 Carrot Gold Stix 6'10''MH.  Even though it's specs seen more towards a spinnerbait rod, this thing is great for shallow runners and jerkbaits.  The tip is "whippy" and soft but the transition to backbone is pretty quick.  I have mine paired with a Daiwa Sol and with 10lb line I can throw an Owner Cultiva Rip'n Minnow 70 (1/5oz) a good distance.  The problem with the rod is the guides suck and the tip is showing some grooving after a year with only mono/copoly lines.

[Fishes in trees]

I do lots of similar fishing.   I'll throw a DC4 or a DC8 Timber Tiger to all kinds of cover.  I generally use 17 pound line.  The rod I"m currently using for this is a Bass Pro Extreme model XTR74MT.  It is a little longer than what you're looking for (7'4") but it works good for me.  You can throw quarter ounce baits with it if you want, distance suffers a little bit.  I got mine on sale as Bass Pro for $70.

The past few years, I don't think about spinner baits for shore line cover unless it is just too weedy for the cranks to work.  JMO

[rodnreel11]

I have to agree with RW on this.  I haven't had a chance to use my Vendettas yet but they have been getting very good reviews so far.  The other rods you might consider are the Skeet Tessera rods.  Both are under your c-note price point!  I have a ML spinning rod that feels very, very good to me.  I would think you could get away with the ML-M range rod for tossing those light crankbaits around shoreline cover.

[jdw174]

I agree that the Vendetta looks good.  I have an AllStar Zell Rowland TWS that I've used for years and may just recruit it to handle this chore.  It's the one rod I own that I'd probably shed a tear over if anything happened to it as I don't think they're available any longer.  This rod had caught me a ton of fish throwing everything from topwater to small cranks to jerkbaits.  It handles them all beautifully.

[lightsout]

  After purchasing a st croix 7' M for small jigs I wasnt to pleased using it for "tip up" presentations. However I've found that it handles the bandit 200's (my absolute favorite crank to throw) perfectly, I can launch them far and accurately. I know its a fast action, but accuracey is important to me in this kinda fishing, and a slower action rod just doesnt work for me.