Moderate-Fast Graphite vs Glass Rod for Crankbaits

[bweave09]

I am looking for a crankbait rod that has the ability to do pretty much anything from shallow to about 15-18 feet...Does such a rod exist or will I have to buy 2 setups? Would it be better to buy a graphite rod with a slower tip or go ahead and go full glass? I am a crankbait beginner and need all the help I can get. I'm sure this comes up fairly often but the internet is so terrible in my apartment that I can't do a search on BR. Thanks everybody!

Edit: I'm a poor college student, so maybe a rod in the 100-130 dollar range?

[Raul]

For almost two and a half decades I 've fished crankbaits with a Medium power Fast action rod and they work fine, the rod is quite soft and all you have to do is to back up a little bit your drag.

BTW, I did purchase once a crankbait rod, a Kistler Mag TS crankbait series, let 's forget about certain components I didn 't like which were the reasons why I got rid of it, man what a great blank for cranks. But since I no longer have it I went back to the M/F ( I have several ).

Now if what you want is a specialized rod for cranking there are several contenders for that price, Shimano Compre & St Croix Mojo, have crankbait series rods, some glass some graphite in that price range.

[ChiCityBasser]

For almost two and a half decades I 've fished crankbaits with a Medium power Fast action rod and they work fine, the rod is quite soft and all you have to do is to back up a little bit your drag.

BTW, I did purchase once a crankbait rod, a Kistler Mag TS crankbait series, let 's forget about certain components I didn 't like which were the reasons why I got rid of it, man what a great blank for cranks. But since I no longer have it I went back to the M/F ( I have several ).

Now if what you want is a specialized rod for cranking there are several contenders for that price, Shimano Compre & St Croix Mojo, have crankbait series rods, some glass some graphite in that price range.

I have the Kistler Mag TS crankbait rod but I also have a Cabelas Prodigy PDC705-1 7' MH/MF for cranks as well. The Prodigy is now on sale for $59.99 and the Kistler rods pop up on ebay quite often. The new Kistler MGCRR70 is going for around $159 and it's the same blank as the previous year crankbait rod per Trey Kistler.

[ww2farmer]

Raul, Kistler now use's Fuji guides and reel seats on the Mag's........I didn't like them before the switch either.

OP........modern graphite crank bait rods are the only way to go IMHO. Forget glass or composites. To little sensitivity, some will say you don't need sensitivity for cranks............to them I say..........your fools. When is it EVER a bad thing to feel what your baits doing. You'll hear all the non sense soon I'm sure about ripping hooks out, fish jumping off, etc..... and no one will blame there poor technique, just there rods. :

[gatogordo]

I just bought the Cabelas Prodigy in a Mod/fast taper to use for cranking.  It  be a couple of weeks before I use it, but I have an old BPS cranking rod.  The bibg difference I see first is the weight.  The graphite is lighter.

[Raul]

Raul, Kistler now use's Fuji guides and reel seats on the Mag's........I didn't like them before the switch either.

OP........modern graphite crank bait rods are the only way to go IMHO. Forget glass or composites. To little sensitivity, some will say you don't need sensitivity for cranks............to them I say..........your fools. When is it EVER a bad thing to feel what your baits doing. You'll hear all the non sense soon I'm sure about ripping hooks out, fish jumping off, etc..... and no one will blame there poor technique, just there rods. :

I also don 't agree with the "you don't need sensitivity for cranks", in my everyday lake you do need sensitivity for cranks to manuever the cranks through the submerged timber & brush. Here 's how my lake looks like ( welcome to jungle )

[J Francho]

Depending how big the baits are, one of these two will work fine:

Avid AVC70MM

Avid ANC70MHM

If you're really in to ripping traps through weeds, or using super shallow wake baits, then I recommend something faster in action.  I use a LTBC70MF, though I am sure a similar spec Avid of Premier would suit that as well.

[Fishes in trees]

Early this year, I went to the KC Sportshow and listened to Rick Clunn explain why softer action glass or graphite/glass composite rods were the way to go for crankbaits.

Well, maybe, if you are Rick Clunn and you get to fish a couple of hundred days per year.

Me, I get to fish maybe 50 days per year, on a good year, probably less.   I appreciate and need the extra sensitivity that a graphite rod gives me.

Rick Clunn made a point several times about how the faster reaction of the graphite would pull the crank out of the fishes mouth.  OK, if you say so, I guess I'll just have to take my chances with that.

[flippin and pitchin]

For your FIRST dedicated crankin rod to meet that wide spectrum of baits, depths and cover, I would go to a medium or moderate action graphite in the 7' range. I don't see myself or anyone else as a fool for preferring a glass rod. I use graphite, glass and a composite depending on the conditions.  I fish alot of smallmouth and they are notorious for slashing at baits and my hook, land ratio improved with glass/composite rods. You might explore that option in the future and make the choice for your self. Brand is up to your discretion. 

[BigGame0892]

I found myself in a similar situation to you a few years back. A crankbait novice. So, I started with a St. Croix Premier 7 ft. medium heavy crankbait rod (PC70MHM). Pretty good little rod for $100 or so.

I then moved on to an Avid crankbait rod and then up to a G Loomis crankbait rod (CBR845).

All of these rods are graphite, and while good - none still seemed "perfect" to me.

Enter my current setup - sweetness is all I can say. A Dobyns 705CB glass crankbait rod, paired with a Shimano Curado 200E5 spooled with 12 lb. Yozuri hybrid. Just works best for me - I've caught many more fish on a crankbait then I ever did before. It handles cranks from 3/8 oz. on up and cranks that dive down to 14 ft. or so very well. And, its just a joy to fish. Its a little above your price range - but worth it. Also, if you're a member of a club, Dobyns does (or did) offer a 40 percent discount to club members. My club used our one chance offer last year. Not sure if they're still doing that or not.

[bmadd]

Not to bash on one of the all time greats with a crankbait but Rick Clunn was either trying to push the sales of a certain rod or is stuck in his old ways. Most of the graphite cranking rods today have a nice tip for casting, a nice moderate action and enough backbone to move a big fish away from cover. My first cranking rod was a Team Daiwa S series glass rod. I absolutely loved it until I got a graphite cranking rod. I've tried a few different brands of graphite rods and I haven't been disappointed yet.

As for the original question, if you are going to stick with cranks of 3/8 oz or heavier I would probably go with a 7' MH/Mod graphite rod since you are wanting a rod to throw those deep divers with as well. If you're going to try and throw something lighter then that you will encounter some problems but if you a have a spinning rod in a M or M/L power then you can fling those lighter cranks a lot farther then you could even with a M powered casting rod

[BassThumb]

What kind of cover are you fishing?  If you're fishing mainly weedcover, you may want to look into a graphite cranking stick.  That way you'll be more likely to feel your bait contacting the weeds so you can snap it free before it fouls.

[bweave09]

I don't encounter many weeds. More wood and rocks than anything. What about a Shimano Clarus...has anybody tried one of those in Medium Moderate Fast?

[piscicidal]

I have not been very happy with my 7' Medium/Moderate glass crankbait rod. It is not well suited for deep cranking or ripping traps thru grass. I basically use it to fan cast traps/shallow cranks for schooling bass in open water. It's not well suited for anything else.

I end up using my finesse rod (Avid 7' M/F) for ripping traps and my worm rod (Avid 7' MH/F) for deep cranks.

I am in the market to replace this 7' M/M glass rod, and I will almost certainly go graphite...

[Bass4Me007]

I think the Avid AVC66MHM or Avid AVC70MHM will fill the bill. Good all-around cranking rods. While St. Croix rods tend to have heavier power (Mediums fish closer to a Medium-Heavy) than typical of the ratings, this is not true with the cranking rods. For what you want, I wouldn't go down to the MM. They do normally go for $180.

[roadwarrior]

I fish shallow, medium weight crankbaits

on a graphite rod:Avid AVC70MM

For heavier lures and deeper presentations, glass:

Lamiglas SR705R

8-)

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I fish shallow, medium weight crankbaits

on a graphite rod:Avid AVC70MM

For heavier lures and deeper presentations, glass:

Lamiglas SR705R

8-)

I do something very similar, only I'm using a 7'6" blank for the deep cranker. Even though it's not graphite, I find it has a nice blend of action, sensitivity and backbone.