How Do You Cast Small Light Crankbaits Far??

[Wammiee]

I realize for most light lures you can have a heavier jighead hook, but for crankbaits that are real small and lightweight how do you add distance to your cast on them? Maybe its just my rod is too small lightweight currently...

[Flangler]

Depending on how light, try a lighter # line. You could maybe even tie a swivel about a foot up and that will give you alittle extra weight. That will change the action of the lure though. If it floats the swivel will suspend the lure a bit.

[bilgerat]

If you are talking cranks under 2" long and under 1/4 oz in weight, you're in light to ultralight territory. My ul rod is 6' 8" and whips those types of baits very far. A soft tip helps with loading the bait.

Your choice of line plays a big part also. I use 10 lb braid (4 lb mono dia. equivalent) and a mono leader. Most will tell you braid is a no no for cranks, but I have had no trouble hooking up with this setup. I think the rod plays a bigger part than the line, but I can't prove it, it just works for me. I can get a Strike King Bitsy Pond Minnow out there pretty far and that's one of the smaller cranks out there, although it's no Yo Zuri Snap Bean. Now that's a tiny crank.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

If you are talking cranks under 2" long and under 1/4 oz in weight, you're in light to ultralight territory. My ul rod is 6' 8" and whips those types of baits very far. A soft tip helps with loading the bait.

Your choice of line plays a big part also. I use 10 lb braid (4 lb mono dia. equivalent) and a mono leader. Most will tell you braid is a no no for cranks, but I have had no trouble hooking up with this setup. I think the rod plays a bigger part than the line, but I can't prove it, it just works for me. I can get a Strike King Bitsy Pond Minnow out there pretty far and that's one of the smaller cranks out there, although it's no Yo Zuri Snap Bean. Now that's a tiny crank.

I just bought a SK Bitsy Minnow. Just for giggles I tried it with my baitcaster & 7'MF rod I get around 40'. One thing though he package may say its 1/8oz but I weighed it on 2 digital scales and its only 1/12oz. I have some crappie poles better suited for this size & spinning reels. I most likely will use my Shimano Stradic1000 and 8'MedLt Mod St Croix Avid rod that will get good distance for this lure.

Longer rod

Lighter action

lighter line

Spinning reel

[BassThumb]

I use spinning tackle for cranks and poppers that are 1/4 oz and under. A 7' medium power baitcasting cranking stick with light line like 8# CXX will do a decent job, but not as good as spinning tackle.

[Grey Wolf]

If you are talking cranks under 2" long and under 1/4 oz in weight, you're in light to ultralight territory. My ul rod is 6' 8" and whips those types of baits very far. A soft tip helps with loading the bait.

Your choice of line plays a big part also. I use 10 lb braid (4 lb mono dia. equivalent) and a mono leader. Most will tell you braid is a no no for cranks, but I have had no trouble hooking up with this setup. I think the rod plays a bigger part than the line, but I can't prove it, it just works for me. I can get a Strike King Bitsy Pond Minnow out there pretty far and that's one of the smaller cranks out there, although it's no Yo Zuri Snap Bean. Now that's a tiny crank.

X2 !!!!!!!!!!

[Goose52]

It's the combination of the rod, line, and reel. You need a rod that will load with the weight of the bait you want to use, line appropriate to rod and bait, then a reel that can handle the line.

When the weight of the crankbait gets down to about 1/4oz, I've got several light or medium-light power BC rods that I use. I've got a couple of BPS Crankin'Sticks in ML that work great in this case. I go down as low as 6lb line on the ML rods and use a bc reel that can handle the 6lb line (BPS Prolite).

Get much below 1/4 or 3/16 and I'd probably switch to spinning gear with 6lb (perhaps 4lb) line.

[mrbassky68]

Carolina rig them

[CSimon2]

I use mini cranks all the time. I have the Bass Pro Tourney Special Micro Light Mini Crankbaits that are 1 3/8" and are only 1/6 oz. I use an Abu Garcia Stamina SE 5'6" UL rod with 6lb test. I think the light line and the ultralight rod work great for the small cranks! Plus when a bass grabs them, it puts up one heck of a fight.

[Avalonjohn44]

Need to use that Roland Martin Lure Launching Rod...

[CWB]

With the wind.

[hookingem]

Buy a 50e....

[Chris]

If I want more distance on a crankbait besides doing some tinkering just add a worm sinker up your line then tie to the lure. The weight when you pull the lure shouldn't mess with the lures action much or you can change out the back hook to a heavier weighted hook which also works.

[A-Rob]

I try to find crankbaits that weigh a 1/2oz but are only 2" long.

Xcalibur makes a Square bill that is 1/2 oz but tiny profile 2" crank.

Casts a mile but looks tiny.

[Red]

I throw bandit 200's a mile with a lamiglas excel 703ml with a revo S and 10# CXX

[Bassnajr]

use spinning gear

[brophog]

Trailer them to a bigger crankbait.......can not only cast them, but get them down deeper, too.

[Bluebasser86]

I've got a 6' 8" light action spinning rod and 1000 shimano symetre that I put 6lb test on that will wing them out there a long way. It still has enough backbone to get a big fish in when they come along though. I throw some baits down to the size of the Bitsy Pond minnow with it easily. If they're lighter than that then I have a 6ft ultra light and a 750 symetre with 3.5lb test. So I guess my answer is to use spinning gear.

[pat_walker_fishing]

I read that you could wrap putters tape or suspend strips between the 1st guide and rod tip.......its suppose to help load the rod better...i havent tried it but im thinking about doing it on a rod for small jerkbaits and cranks

[BrASSmonkey]

I read that you could wrap putters tape or suspend strips between the 1st guide and rod tip.......its suppose to help load the rod better...i havent tried it but im thinking about doing it on a rod for small jerkbaits and cranks

I shudder at the thought of adding weight to the tip of any rod. With that said, i can see the idea behind adding weight to load the tip on casts. But the rest of the time, it is just dead weight on the rod tip.

[ABLE2DISABLE1]

I use a simple Micro Rod for crappie fishin,and use 4lb Braid with a leader of 8lb Floro for these guy's,and I doen't think they get any smaller than these,or do they????I caught upward's of 7lb's on this rigg,with success.I wouldn't put a weighted hook on the back of any Lure for it will stop the wiggling motion of your bait.Just add over sized Hooks to your Bait,and she'll go deeper A Heavey Hook in the Middle of your Bait will add Depth,and will Not hendor the acttion of your Lure.Your center point of your Lure,is the belly hook,Your Pivit Point,for Motion.If you stop this by adding weight to the rear,it'll run straight without acttion.

[wisconsin heat]

spinning gear..

I also read one trick where you carolina rig crankbaits. never tried it, but sounds like a good way to get a small bait down deep. I plan to crolina rig a Rapala original floater this year! O.o ... might take a while to figure out a hookset though....

[RoLo]

How Do You Cast Small Light Crankbaits Far??

With a 15lb-class Spinning Outfit, which also handles heavy cranks and 6" swimbaits (Honest engine)

Roger