I'm looking for a new cranking rod, and was wondering what you guys might recommend. I haven't done very much crank bait fishing, but I'm aware that you want a medium to medium heavy rod with a moderate to moderate fast tip action.

I'm planning on working mostly smaller to medium sized cranks, but am also hoping to be able to work topwater baits with this rod as well.... so keep the size to 7' and under probably?

I'm looking at casting, not spinning rods, and have a 400 dollar budget to spend on the rod and reel... of course if there's something nice for under that 400 dollar mark I wouldn't mind it so much either..

I was looking at the Loomis cranking rods with a quantum smoke, but I've read a few negative reviews about the loomis rods.

Any advice?

You may want to start with the Bass Pro Shops Crankin Stick. Excellent rod for the money.

A medium heavy, graphite, fast action tip baitcasting rod designed for crankbaits is what you need to research.

Seven feet or a little longer may fit your style of fishing and your height.

I have the BPS Crankin Stick and a G. Loomis Crankbait rod and to tell you the truth, I like the BPS rod better.

Go figure!!!!

I have the St. Croix Avid AVC70MHM and AVC70MM, if using one rod I would go with the MH in whatever brand you choose. I think at $180.00 new the Avid is hard to beat, and comes with a life time warranty. A good crankbait rod wont make a good topwater rod. you need a little faster action. But would stay with the moderate crankbait action if throwing mainly cranks!

I would recommend for your budget, take a good look at the Lews Tournament Pro, they can be had for about $150.00 and a lot a reel for the buck. With just one, I would go with a 6.4:1 gear ratio, works for everything. decent speed and decent power, good all round gear ratio.

I have the St. Croix Avid AVC70MHM and AVC70MM, if using one rod I would go with the MH in whatever brand you choose. I think at $180.00 new the Avid is hard to beat, and comes with a life time warranty. A good crankbait rod wont make a good topwater rod. you need a little faster action. But would stay with the moderate crankbait action if throwing mainly cranks!

I would recommend for your budget, take a good look at the Lews Tournament Pro, they can be had for about $150.00 and a lot a reel for the buck. With just one, I would go with a 6.4:1 gear ratio, works for everything. decent speed and decent power, good all round gear ratio.

I was looking at both the Avid and the Legend Tournament models from St croix, as I already own a few of there rods and really love them... the legend elite not worth the extra 60 bucks?

I've looked long and hard at the Lews... currently I only have a BPS baitcaster, but its the Johnny Morris signature model, and I like it quite a lot so far. I'd be interested how a different brand would compare.. If I spent 180 on an avid and 220 on a reel that would put me right at the 400 mark, and would open up a few different reel opportunities for me as opposed to the Lews...

I've looked at equipping it with the Lews TP, Abu STX, the Shimano Curados, and the Daiwa T3... any thoughts on those compared to the lews?

all are good reels but I like the Tournament Pro, my preference, the Curado would be my second choice as long as it was the E series. I bought a new G series and sold it and bought the lews because I couldn't find a like new Curado E for less than $150.00, but got the Lews shipped for $145.00 and change. If you can find a like new Curado E for under $150.00 jump on it, they are excellent reels.

As far as rods go the Avid AVC70MHM is an excellent rod for crankbaits, the money. The Legend Elite runs around $350.00 and is worth every penny, but for the $60.00 more you are talking about, you must be refering to the Legend Tournament, which is not near the rod the Legend Elite is, and I agree I would say the Avid is more bang for the buck than the Legend Tournament. My opinion and I have had more than one of each.

I wanted to get in to cranking more and picked up the Powell Glass Crank Rod 7' Med Hvy 703 for a steal $60. Amazing, light weight, quality, great moderate fast action. But when I hit the water I realized I'm around weeds ALOT. I throw lipless cranks and chatterbaits religiously and get viscous strikes from popping/ripping them free off the tops of grasses. I use a 6'7" MH EF tip Powell Endurance which works better for the job b/c can rip free of the grass. I can NOT do the same thing with the crank rod b/c its mod action is too soft. It drags the bait thru the grass. For me the moderate action crank rods are for deep diving cranks or rocky bottom composition. What type of water & structure are you going to be fishing? I'm throwing shallow square bills in weedy areas so I don't like the typical crank rod. If ur around weeds I'd recommend a FAST action tip. With the extra fast I have to be gentle about not ripping the treble hooks out when playing a fish. But for now I'd rather be gentle reeling in a fish than not get the strike bc I can't rip free of grass. Hope this helps.

I've owned a bunch of crankbait rods over the years. I agree the crankin stick is a decent rod for the money . My favorite in the less expensive range is the Denali jw843. I throw the wiggle wart a lot here on Table rock and it's the best at it I've ever owned,. also handles the DD22 and 6xd.

As to a reel I agree ,if you can find a E5 I would go that route..

I've owned a bunch of crankbait rods over the years. I agree the crankin stick is a decent rod for the money . My favorite in the less expensive range is the Denali jw843. I throw the wiggle wart a lot here on Table rock and it's the best at it I've ever owned at it. also handles the DD22 and 6xd.

As to a reel I agree ,if you can find a E5 I would go that route..

+1 on the Denali Jadewood series. I fish the Jadewood 842 Medium cranking rod and it handles all the cranks I throw. When I got this rod, I was amazed at how small and lightweight the blank was for a $99 rod. It fishes and looks like a much more expensive rod. The Jadewood series is a very big seller for Denali.

I wanted to get in to cranking more and picked up the Powell Glass Crank Rod 7' Med Hvy 703 for a steal $60. Amazing, light weight, quality, great moderate fast action. But when I hit the water I realized I'm around weeds ALOT. I throw lipless cranks and chatterbaits religiously and get viscous strikes from popping/ripping them free off the tops of grasses. I use a 6'7" MH EF tip Powell Endurance which works better for the job b/c can rip free of the grass. I can NOT do the same thing with the crank rod b/c its mod action is too soft. It drags the bait thru the grass. For me the moderate action crank rods are for deep diving cranks or rocky bottom composition. What type of water & structure are you going to be fishing? I'm throwing shallow square bills in weedy areas so I don't like the typical crank rod. If ur around weeds I'd recommend a FAST action tip. With the extra fast I have to be gentle about not ripping the treble hooks out when playing a fish. But for now I'd rather be gentle reeling in a fish than not get the strike bc I can't rip free of grass. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the advice on this. I too often fish weedy areas, so I'm wondering if that might make sense... However I do occasionally, and will more frequently in the future have the ability to fish bottoms that are more rocky and less weedy, which is why I'm at a bit of a loss as to what's ideal for me... Maybe two rods is more realistic, a faster action rod for fishing cranks in weedier areas that could also possibly be used for other types of fishing as well, along with a more crank specific rod with a softer tip so that I could fish cranks in more open water...