What is the best size rod for crankbaits?

[Mike D.]

just want some opinions on whats the best size rod for crankbaits.and what speed as well. meaning fast ,xtra fast ,etc.Thanks for the input.

[Carrington]

i have 2 rods for crankbaits, a g.loomis cbr783 for crankbaits that dive 10 feet or under.  For deep divers i use a shimano compre cpc-x70MHB.

[Nine Miler]

Moderate action.  Go as long as you are comfortable with, in my opinion, longer is better.  Match the power of the rod with the weight of the bait you intend to throw on it.

[ChiCityBasser]

Right now my casting setup is a Cabelas Prodigy PDC705-1 7ft MH/MF rod paired with a Cabelas Prodigy reel. Lure weight rating is 1/4-1oz.

My spinning setup is a Daiwa D Shock 6'6" Fiberglass rod M paired with a Quantum Catalyst

[KYntucky Warmouth]

My crankbait setups are:

6'10"MH-F Carrot Stix Gold/Daiwa Sol/10-12lb floroclear

7'MH-F Lucky Craft cranking rod/Curado e5/12lb CXX

7'10"M-F Carrot Stix Gold/Sol/10-12 floroclear

Now, all my rods are labeled fast but all fish closer to a MF and the 7'10" is close to M.  Any one that has fished the golds knows that they are overrated in power and action and the Lucky Craft is a composite rod with a soft tip but plenty of power for deep divers and fighting fish.  I like a little faster action for cranks, had a g-loomis cbr843 and hated it, to whippy and noodley.  Just felt like I didn't have any control with it.  I also fished a buddies 7'MH-M Avid, liked it better but wouldn't want it for deep divers, I hear alot about the M-M Avid but wouldn't want to go less than the MH. 

[Grey Wolf]

The longer the better.

Moderate action in the 0-10 ft. depth .

Moderate/fast action for over 10 ft. depth.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

For open water, a longer rod (7'6" or better) will cast further keeping the bait in the strike zone longer. If you're throwing shallow cranks at cover, a 6'6" or 7' will be more accurate. Moderate action is best especially with braid or fluoro, a Mod/Fast will work paired with mono.

[kikstand454]

i think if youre going to have just one cranking rod... if youre only going to crank on occasion, then a 7' mh -m action rod is pretty versatile.  a rod that size and action can throw shallow and medium cranks with ease and can also launch a deep diver decently.

the advice using dual or multiple rods given above is spot on i.m.o.

then again... i dont really have a specific "shallow crank" setup really.. i throw almost all my "shallow" treble hooked lures on the same setup - 6.6 m/f and a 6.3:1 reel with 12lb yozuri.

my deeper cranking is a bit more specific, at least in my head.... but then thats because i find myself doing that much more than cranking shallow. right now i have an old abugarcia rod at 7' m/f and an old rick clunn 5.1 reel on it. its good but starting to show its age. im def. in the market for a new deep cranking rig and im thinking of going with a quantum kvd stick and a revo..... but what will probably happen is that ill go with a bps cranking stick and finding a 5.3 accurist pt. on ebay and saving myself 200 dollars!! lol.

probably catch just as many fish too.

[ChiCityBasser]

i think if youre going to have just one cranking rod... if youre only going to crank on occasion, then a 7' mh -m action rod is pretty versatile. a rod that size and action can throw shallow and medium cranks with ease and can also launch a deep diver decently.

the advice using dual or multiple rods given above is spot on i.m.o.

then again... i dont really have a specific "shallow crank" setup really.. i throw almost all my "shallow" treble hooked lures on the same setup - 6.6 m/f and a 6.3:1 reel with 12lb yozuri.

my deeper cranking is a bit more specific, at least in my head.... but then thats because i find myself doing that much more than cranking shallow. right now i have an old abugarcia rod at 7' m/f and an old rick clunn 5.1 reel on it. its good but starting to show its age. im def. in the market for a new deep cranking rig and im thinking of going with a quantum kvd stick and a revo..... but what will probably happen is that ill go with a bps cranking stick and finding a 5.3 accurist pt. on ebay and saving myself 200 dollars!! lol.

probably catch just as many fish too.

I picked up the quantum kvd stick in bps and it felt really light.

[Craiger12]

For open water, a longer rod (7'6" or better) will cast further keeping the bait in the strike zone longer. If you're throwing shallow cranks at cover, a 6'6" or 7' will be more accurate. Moderate action is best especially with braid or fluoro, a Mod/Fast will work paired with mono.

x2

[Captain Obvious]

7'10" for deep cranks

7' 3" for anything else

[J Francho]

All my cranking sticks are 7'.  I could see an advantage in a 7-10, but I just can't justify a fifth one trick pony cranking rod.

[RWSCHMITZ]

I have 3 rods for cranks

1- 7'

2- 7'3

3- 8'

Are U talking about rod action, Speed or the Reel ratio ???

my rods are a med fast action, and the 8' has a med action and the 7' rod has a reel that has a 6.3:1gear ratio, the 7'3 has a 5.3:1 and the 8" has a stump pulling 4.7:1 for deep divers.

[piscicidal]

My only comment...if you are going to use one rod for cranking, I would go 7' MH, moderate action. My crankin stick is 7' Medium/mod action. If I had to do it again...I'd have gone with the MH rod instead of M. A little better to go slightly heavy, I think...you can always add compliance to the system by going with mono line (stretch). Also, the MH is better suited for deep cranking and rippin traps through grass.

[Mike D.]

hey tons of good info.thanks to all who replied.I think I'll go with 7 foot MH with fast action.

[kikstand454]

good choice. 8-)