Best Crankbait Rod – Your Guide to Making the Most Out of your Cash
There are differences between crankbait and baitcasting rods that may spell the difference between catching a good-size fish and losing it. The best crainkbait rod can reach greater distance. They also accommodate bigger and heavier lures.
In other words, baitcasting rods are effective for certain situations, but using crankbaits if you want bigger fishes is the way to go. This is important since you want a rod that can handle heavy and aggressive fish species.
Why a Specific Crankbait Rod?
You may be wondering why you need a specialized rod for crankbait fishing. The answer is to check what it would feel like for you if you went snorkelling with a mask that doesn’t fit your face. Imagine how uncomfortable, not to mention, dangerous that must be.
Although there are relatively lower risks involved in going fishing with a wrong rod than snorkelling with the wrong mask, surely it is more satisfying and lesser annoying to do an activity where the right gears are used for its exact purpose. The same is true with fishing.
Specific types of rods function with higher efficiency when they are used for the type of fishing they are designed for. Of course you can use any types of rod, but don’t expect to catch and successfully retrieve all kinds of fish with it as well.
For example, crankbaits are meant to accommodate bigger and heavier lures. They are also expected to reach greater distance than baitcasting rods.
Another special feature is that crankbaits are supposed to dive deeper. While using standard rods can be beneficial in certain instances, catching heavier and bigger fish is more likely with a crankbait rod.
More importantly, crankbaits are capable of handling more weight as they are designed to withstand at least 10 pounds of pressure. To add to this, crankbaiting also needs tip flexibility and shaft strength for improved cast and reel.
With that said, there are many products in the market today that offer high quality rods. However, there are a few than stands out from the rest. Before we look into these products, let us first understand crankbait rods so you can decide based on your special needs.
How to Choose the Best Crankbait Rod
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There are three things you want to look into when choosing the right crankbait rod for you. These are:
- Gear Ratio
- Line Recovery Rate
- Torque
These three aspects are measurable characteristics of the rod that are readily available when you are deciding which rod to buy.
Gear Ratio
Via finsntales.com
Go for rods that has about 5-6:1 ratio. This means the spool will revolve 5-6 times around the reel handle. This aspect alone narrows down your choices of rods available in the market today.
Line Recovery Rate
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Aim for crankbait rods with 19-23 inches per crank line recovery rate. This rate is quite rapid and quite handy when catching big and heavy fish. This means you will also need a torque that can go well with this rate.
Torque
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More torque makes cranking the handle a lot easier especially with higher gear ratios and line recovery rates.
Aside from these aspects, you also need to consider the variance between different brands and models of crankbait rods. When it goes down to it, there are three features to check.
- Flex
- Load
- Drag
You want your crankbait to be flexible as it helps you feel the nuances of the lake or ocean’s movement. At the same time, the rod must easily allow you to easily set a heavy load on your hook. The less effort it is to set up your hook, the better.
Finally, you also want to consider your line’s drag. It has to be as smooth as possible. One way of ensuring this is by getting rods that have quick reel ratio.
Anatomy of a Crankbait Rod
One of the most important design features that you want to look at in crankbaits is the taper or the physical dimension of the rod blank in relation to its diameter. This is the degree whereby the diameter from the narrow to the thick increases from the distal tip all the way to the butt or handle.
Although this feature is part of the physical design, its importance is to create rod action. In other words, you want to consider the taper because it determines the different specific actions and fishing applications.
The action also refers to the rod’s stiffness and flexibility. You want to identify the degree and the point to which the rod bends with the load and the amount of time it takes for it to straighten when the load is taken off.
This information reflects how a rod bends when you cast or set a hook. There are many varieties or descriptions of a rod’s action. However, what you want is a rod that bends more with slow to moderate taper since you have better chances of catching big fish with slow or medium action.
Rod Length and Distance
Another feature to look into before buying crankbaits is to check the casting distance. One way of knowing this is to consider the rod’s length. By design, longer rods have more blanks. This means it has greater energy, which is essential for longer casts.
This becomes all the more true for rods with soft or moderate action. Rods that are 7’ in length can cast a crankbait farther than the target so that it reaches its optimum depth by the time it reaches the target.
On the other hand, shorter rods have its benefits as well. These rods allow better casting accuracy compared to longer rods. In compact areas, smaller rods are useful when it comes to fighting and pulling the fish off.
The Best Way to Use Crankbait Rods
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If you are a novice angler, take note of the fact that attention to detail is highly important in crankbait fishing.
Unlike regular fishing, where you have the basic reel, hook, and bait, crankbait fishing adds extra challenge and experience by requiring you to fine-tune your rod height and angle on the water.
Aside from this, you also need to master side swinging. This technique ensures your hook is deeply set into the fish you catch. To lure the fish successfully, you need patience to pull and not snatch. This allows the fish to have enough time to grab the bait.
Finally, if you caught a fish, the key to successfully retrieving your catch is to go slow. Yanking your fish back to the boat will only result to the hook snapping out of its mouth. Instead, wind your reel when the fish is not fighting back and let it swim while keeping your line tight when it struggles.
All these tips require time and practice. Remember fishing is not all fun and games like you see in fishing shows. If the fishing is good, you will get bites with few quiet moments in between. If it’s bad, you need patience to keep casting.
Nonetheless, take these quiet moments as an opportunity to learn side swinging. With repetition, you will master the technique in no time.
The Best Crankbait Rod To Choose From
Product | Quality | Price | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
A+ | $$$$$ | ||
A+ | $ | ||
A | $$$$ | ||
A | $$ | ||
A | $$$ |
**Below, you will find more detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices and read customer reviews on Amazon.
Via Amazon.com
G. Loomis E6X is one of the most well-known series of rods for crankbait fishing. Popular for its power, this rod is medium-heavy with moderate fast action. Despite its power, however, this rod is quite sensitive as well so you can easily feel the fish’s bite when it comes.
Highly recommended for deep diving crankbait, this 7’00” offering from G. Loomis is reasonably priced. With its versatility, paying below $200 is considered a good deal.
What We Like:
- Reasonably priced
- Powerful yet sensitive
- Smooth casting and retrieval
What We Didn’t Like:
- May not be as good for top-water fishing
Via Amazon.com
Scott Martin, professional bass fisher with many tournament wins to his credit, worked with Okuma engineers to create the TCS line of rods. These rods are made to help enhance fishers’ ability across different fishing disciplines from casting to fighting and landing the ideal fish.
This makes these rods unique as they are designed for tournament fishing. The lengths range from 6’9” – 7’11” with different tapers and degrees of action. This specialized rod is beneficial for fishers who are after specific benefits from their rod.
What We Like:
- Lightweight
- Excellent casting
- High sensitivity
What We Didn’t Like:
- Designed for tournaments
- Not helpful for inexperienced anglers
Via Amazon.com
Designed by the 2009 Bass Master Skeete Reese, this medium-heavy power with fast action rod is both sensitive and robust. This makes it excellent for advanced anglers, although it is recommended for all types of fishers as well.
In terms of construction and functionality, this rod is best for lures weighing 3/8 – 1 ¼ ounces. It also features an S-curve blank construction for improved sensitivity, lifting power, and strength.
The split handle design also works for weight reduction and better balance to help with heavier catches.
What We Like:
- Weight reduction design
- Sure grip with moulded rubber handles
- Large fishing butt for durability and better performance
- Zirconium guides for improved casting distance and reduced weight
What We Didn’t Like:
- Construction materials are less traditional
Via Amazon.com
This 7’00” rod is a medium-moderate fast action rod made especially for top waters, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, and crankbaits. These rods are light, but quite strong. Its sensitivity and balance are not bad as well.
In terms of construction, this rod’s blank is constructed with high modulus graphite. The guides are zero tangle kigan with sic inserts, which is definitely useful for crankbait fishing. It also comes with aa-grade cork grips with reel seats made of fuji graphite.
What We Like:
- Light but strong
- Well balanced
- High-quality construction
What We Didn’t Like:
- Not advisable if targeting heavier fish species
- Works best with smaller crankbaits
Via Amazon.com
With medium-heavy power moderate action, this 7’00” rod has the capacity to handle 10-20 lbs. on the line. Elite Series professional angler Kevin VanDam designed this rod for average fishers, which makes it easy to handle for novice fishers.
In terms of construction, this rod is a combination of graphite and fiberglass for sensitivity and strength. This makes it ideal for crankbaits and top water fishing. It is also a fun gear for trolling or walking the dog.
What We Like:
- Throws longer distance
- Very lightweight
- Ideal for both bottom and top water fishing
What We Didn’t Like:
- Lower gear ratio
- Does not work so well for baits smaller than 3 inches
The Best Crankbait Rod
The products mentioned in this review are all worth your consideration. Each item mentioned here works better for specific applications and needs. Thus, consider your level of expertise, where you will be fishing most of the time, and your other special needs.
However, of all the rods reviewed, the product that stands out the most is the Wright and McGill Skeet Reese S-Glass Crankbait Rod. This is simply because this rod is versatile and fits all kinds of fishers.
Other than this, the rod is also reasonably priced especially when considering its quality and features. The design is quite good and it offers features that are not found in other rods in the same category.
For example, this rod offers high quality weight balance that no other rods offer.With the right blend of tip sensitivity and shaft flexibility, it is one of the smoothest rods available in the market today.
This, and more features, makes this rod highly efficient for novice or professional fishers. It is, for sure, one of the most versatile rods in the market today.
To conclude, this guide helps arm you with new techniques that you can use when you are out fishing. Whether you are new to this hobby or a seasoned angler, using the right gear will absolutely increase your enjoyment and chances of landing a good fish.
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