Relief When Throwing Cranks?

[jeremyt]

This time of the year is crankin time. My only problem with this is after 5-6 hours my right wrist is absolutely killing me, any advice on how to help relieve that?

Thanks

[aavery2]

This time of the year is crankin time. My only problem with this is after 5-6 hours my right wrist is absolutely killing me, any advice on how to help relieve that?

Thanks

Use a moderate action rod and a low gear ratio reel. A reel with a longer handle will help also. Don't think it gets any better than that. Those deep diving baits can still give you a good workout after several hours.

[Goose52]

X2.

Lot's of folks think the low-ratio reels are "old-fashioned" but not me. I use a 4.7 (19ipt) reel on my deep cranking rod. Sometimes, I wish I had left my old Ambassadeur 5000 in the original 3.8 ratio so I had that as an option as well (I converted it to a 4.7).

[Khong Y.]

This time of the year is crankin time. My only problem with this is after 5-6 hours my right wrist is absolutely killing me, any advice on how to help relieve that?

Thanks

First off, please describe your rod and reel. They can be a lot of help.

Base on what you say, I can only give this advice. Your rod and reel maybe too heavy. Your rod might not be balance.

[gobig]

I used to use a low speed reel. Then I heard Randy McAbee suggest a high speed reel and it made total sense. The faster the gear ratio the slower you crank and it takes less turns of the handle to get the same amount of revolutions on the spool. This = Less work!

[aavery2]

I used to use a low speed reel. Then I heard Randy McAbee suggest a high speed reel and it made total sense. The faster the gear ratio the slower you crank and it takes less turns of the handle to get the same amount of revolutions on the spool. This = Less work!

What you lose with a high speed reel is torque. I can see where if you were throwing shallow to med. diving cranks that do not offer much resistance when cranked this theory would work. However when you are throwing baits like the Norman DD22, and the SK 6XD they can really dig hard. That is where I believe a low geared reel really shows its mechanical advantage.

[gobig]

What you lose with a high speed reel is torque. I can see where if you were throwing shallow to med. diving cranks that do not offer much resistance when cranked this theory would work. However when you are throwing baits like the Norman DD22, and the SK 6XD they can really dig hard. That is where I believe a low geared reel really shows its mechanical advantage.

I throw all of my cranks on a higher speed reels now, Including the DD22. For me there were more comfort issues in having the right rod. But I continually hear the torque argument so let me expand on the reel aspect... I am not using my grandfathers reel. The reels I use are made by Shimano and have High Efficiency Gearing. These reels have an over sized main gear, pinion gear and drag washers. Giving the reel about 20% more power than a standard bait caster. Things have changed and people still seem to cling to the old school ideology that you need to use a low speed reel. I understand if its a preference, maybe you have a tendency to fish to fast so you want a slower reel, or maybe you have big hands and a round reel is a better fit. These things I get, but I disagree with the implied mechanical advantage. Maybe in the old days but not today. At a certain point how much power do you need? Its no different than needing a big rig to tow your bass boat to the lake.

[Fishes in trees]

What works for me is to remember to eat a couple of Alieves right at the start of the day, before I'm finished putting in my boat. It seems to make a difference for me, at the end of the day my hands and wrists don't hurt as much.

[tomustang]

This time of the year is crankin time. My only problem with this is after 5-6 hours my right wrist is absolutely killing me, any advice on how to help relieve that?

Thanks

Rod/reel setup?

You catching anything in that 5-6 hours?

[J Francho]

Longer rod and two handed casts. If it's pulling back too hard when you're reeling in, you're reeling in too fast.

[stratosjoe]

I'm using Gobig's grandfathers reels I use a 7' fast tip Loomis salmon rod long handle a Quantum 381 3.8 to 1 retrieve Im an old fart with serious arthritus problems I fish dt 16 and dd22 all day reel has a lng handle on it use 8# test I smoke the toads just like the younguns...

[SirSnookalot]

The more you do it the less soreness you're going to have. I fish a good 6 hours a day and a real good portion of the time I'm walking the dog or jigging bucktails, pretty good workout on the wrist and forearm. I've been doing this for so many years my body is used to it, I never get sore or tired. Don't ever try butterfly jigging, that isn't soreness that's out right pain, I'll never do that again.............lol All kidding aside, having your muscles conditioned is a big help.

A golfer who hasn't played over the winter in 4 months or more is usually a little sore the first couple of outings, but it goes away, this really isn't any different.

[3dees]

I have had carpel tunnel surgery on both wrists. I can throw cranks for about two hours before the pain gets really bad. a long handle rod butted against my side helps a lot.

[aavery2]

I throw all of my cranks on a higher speed reels now, Including the DD22. For me there were more comfort issues in having the right rod. But I continually hear the torque argument so let me expand on the reel aspect... I am not using my grandfathers reel. The reels I use are made by Shimano and have High Efficiency Gearing. These reels have an over sized main gear, pinion gear and drag washers. Giving the reel about 20% more power than a standard bait caster. Things have changed and people still seem to cling to the old school ideology that you need to use a low speed reel. I understand if its a preference, maybe you have a tendency to fish to fast so you want a slower reel, or maybe you have big hands and a round reel is a better fit. These things I get, but I disagree with the implied mechanical advantage. Maybe in the old days but not today. At a certain point how much power do you need? Its no different than needing a big rig to tow your bass boat to the lake.

I respect your thoughts on the subject, but here is something for you to consider. You say you are a Shimano guy, so why would Shimano bother to produce and Curado E5 if there were no advantage to a lower gear ratio reel. Both the E7 and E5 are built identical with HEG, SF and the whole nine yards. A 5.1:1 gear ratio will always offer a mechanical advantage over the higher 7.1:1 gear ratio reel so long as the spool dia. is the same size. It's just a simple matter of physics.

[jeremyt]

Sorry for the delay and I truly appreciate the feedback so far. I am currently using a carrot cranking sttix with a shimano Citica. I am not sure of the gear ratio on mine it is locked up in the boat at my father in laws currently. I was fishing a local river this weekend and was catching maybe 3-4 an hour circling a creek of the main river. I was using shallow cranks ( 3-5 ft depth) in a fire tiger color and by the end of the day my wrist was in a lot of pain. The two handed cast did help some but I was still grimacing. Didn't know if anyone had any tricks for this.

[islandbass]

I would invest in a reel with the handle on the other side. When your primary side gets "tired" you can switch hit.

Seriously, I'm not kidding!

[aavery2]

Sorry for the delay and I truly appreciate the feedback so far. I am currently using a carrot cranking sttix with a shimano Citica. I am not sure of the gear ratio on mine it is locked up in the boat at my father in laws currently. I was fishing a local river this weekend and was catching maybe 3-4 an hour circling a creek of the main river. I was using shallow cranks ( 3-5 ft depth) in a fire tiger color and by the end of the day my wrist was in a lot of pain. The two handed cast did help some but I was still grimacing. Didn't know if anyone had any tricks for this.

If your Citica is an E model then it is a 6.3:1 gear ratio, as this was the only option for this model outside of changing gears yourself. If shallow cranks are making your wrists hurt, don't take this the wrong way, I think I would see a doctor.

[Khong Y.]

Your rod might be too long and heavy for you. Try using a shorter and lighter rod when you are casting a lot and long hours. Something of a 6'6" and med power. The only time you should use a 7'3" and heavy is to jig/pig or frog through thick cover.

I doubt it's your Citica reel.

[J Francho]

The only time you should use a 7'3" and heavy is to jig/pig or frog through thick cover.

He's using a Carrot Stix Cranking Stick, one of the lighter rods on the market, not a jigging rod.

[Grey Wolf]

Bottom line..........see a doctor , you should not be in that much pain.

[SirSnookalot]

Bottom line..........see a doctor , you should not be in that much pain.

My first thought is what are you doing to aggravate your wrist, gripping the rod too tight, unfavorable hand position or moving your wrist around? A fairly stationary wrist should not yield extraordinary pain, but in all fairness 5-6 hours is a long time especially if fishing is not a daily pastime. If you had been jigging, I'd buy into the notion of different equipment. I'm in fishing condition, I never get tired or sore, that said, I was butterfly jigging with 6oz in 180' of water without a proper jigging rod and within minutes I was in dire pain, not my wrists but my back as this is a 2 handed technique, a mistake I'll never make again.

I would first try holding your rod differently, take more breaks, build up to 5 hours of fishing, wear a wristband, then see a doctor as Grey Wolf said. A new rod isn't going to help.

[Khong Y.]

He's using a Carrot Stix Cranking Stick, one of the lighter rods on the market, not a jigging rod.

It still doesn't matter, as light as it sound it still heavier for certain people that shouldn't be casting it 5-6hour. I'm only recommending him to switch to a shorter and lighter action rod.

My reason of doing so is because I have done that long long ago. I like the fact that longer rod gives more distance and a med/heavy rod will give the backbone to hold up a big bass but it isn't worth it when you are cranking pass 3hour. I switched back to my older shorter medium power rod and my wrist wasn't hurting anymore.

[J Francho]

OK, it's a 3.8 ounce rod. You are saying he should switch to the 6-6? Those are 3.6 oz. I doubt that 0.2 makes a difference. I see what you are saying on paper, but in real life, I don't get it.

[NoBassPro]

I have found it feels easier for me to throw hard digging cranks on heavier duty med fast to fast action rods than on lighter rods or slower action. IMO, its not the weight of the rod or the bait so much as the resistance when retrieving the bait.

[Raul]

This time of the year is crankin time. My only problem with this is after 5-6 hours my right wrist is absolutely killing me, any advice on how to help relieve that?

Thanks

Cast with both hands and don´t over work, it´s supposed to be fun, not a workout.