Does anyone know of a good spinning rod, 7' or longer, that is a good cranking rod for throwing lighter balsa cranks like shad raps? I know Browning makes a 7' Silaflex, but I'm wanting something a little more quality. Looking for a glass or composite rod.

Whats your budget

there is a few good crankbait spinning rods out there,  Phenix makes the X series (iirc there is 3 spinning  models in it) , good components, quality blank, $199. problem with them, is i have never seen them for sale anywhere online, and they dont have a dealer in my area, so i cant comment past what is posted on the phenix site (which doesnt load for me anymore, so i dont remember a whole lot about it)

 

fenwick has a couple HMG's that work great for cranks (i have a 7' M/MF, works very well) also good components, and while its not a super light rod, its not overly heavy and works good for small soft swimbaits on 1/8 and 1/4oz jigheads. widely available and relatively cheap, $110ish

 

my personal favorite, as i have2  and use them extensively for walleyes and smallies, the pre-2011 st croix legend tournament walleye "deep crankers" its a 7' mh/m. being a mh made me weary about buying the first one, but its a great rod, can cast lures from a #5 flicker shad, on up to a #11 clackin minnow, and anything in between. problem with these rods is that they are out of production, and in my experience are VERY hard to find. they also made a m/m version of this rod (the "shallow cranker") which is also out of production, and hard to find.

 

im sure there are other out there as well that would work well, but these are the 3 i looked at when i got my 2nd st croix (picked it up from the factory store as a B stock, it was used towards an upgrade to something else and was in terrific shape!) hope this helps

Whats your budget

 

Not much more than $100.

Berkley Lightning Rod Shock..................seriously. They have a nice parabolic action, are well within your budget, have plenty of "feel" for cranking, and you can find them at just about every Wal-Mart form coast to coast.

St. Croix Premier 7' ML is what I used for a long time to toss shad raps and other small cranks. Now it's a 6' 10" ML LTB which is a little lighter and more sensitive but the Premier was still a great rod for small cranks. 

just my take, but I think most any 7 foot medium power, fast action spinning would work. Even though they are a fast action, spinning rods seem to have a "softer" action...at least in my opinion. I throw shad raps on a 7 foot, med/fast cabelas XML rod and have no issues.

 

That said, If i was going to look at a spinning rod for cranking and WANTED a cranking specific rod, I would look at the shimano crucial line.

Powell Endurance 7'3" ML spinning, 109.00 if you get if from fish ranger.

just my take, but I think most any 7 foot medium power, fast action spinning would work. Even though they are a fast action, spinning rods seem to have a "softer" action...at least in my opinion. I throw shad raps on a 7 foot, med/fast cabelas XML rod and have no issues.

 

That said, If i was going to look at a spinning rod for cranking and WANTED a cranking specific rod, I would look at the shimano crucial line.

 

I'll agree with shootermcbob, just find a nice 7' medium power fast action spinning rod and you are set, most spinning rods in a medium power have more than enough flex for cranking.

I'll agree with shootermcbob, just find a nice 7' medium power fast action spinning rod and you are set, most spinning rods in a medium power have more than enough flex for cranking.

Great minds think alike!

Berkley Lightning Rod Shock..................seriously. They have a nice parabolic action, are well within your budget, have plenty of "feel" for cranking, and you can find them at just about every Wal-Mart form coast to coast.

X2. Got one for $40 and love it.

I think I will go with a decent ML, 7' spinning then.