I'm looking for a good spinning rod to throw 1/8 to 1/2 ounce crankbaits and rat-l-traps. My budget is between $150 to $200. 

I use a 6'11" Kistler spinning rod for this duty.   I got it a number of years ago.  It is rated as MH, but I think it is on the light side of MH.  It is the blue on, I think the Argon series.  I don't think they make it anymore.

I remember that I got it on a close out at the KCK Cabelas and they don't carry Kistler rods anymore.

 

For cranks up to half ounce or so, it works great.  It kind of takes the wind out of the equation - compared to trying to throw cranks into the wind with a bait casting set up.

 

For what you're looking for, lots of readily available spinning rods will work.  The 7' Berkley M action Lightning Rod, readily available at Walmart most places, isn't a bad choice.

I use a 6'11" Kistler spinning rod for this duty.   I got it a number of years ago.  It is rated as MH, but I think it is on the light side of MH.  It is the blue on, I think the Argon series.  I don't think they make it anymore.

I remember that I got it on a close out at the KCK Cabelas and they don't carry Kistler rods anymore.

 

For cranks up to half ounce or so, it works great.  It kind of takes the wind out of the equation - compared to trying to throw cranks into the wind with a bait casting set up.

 

For what you're looking for, lots of readily available spinning rods will work.  The 7' Berkley M action Lightning Rod, readily available at Walmart most places, isn't a bad choice.

 

 

Thanks for the recommendation. I'm still stuck deciding between a moderate action vs fast action. Anyone out there want to chime in?

Thanks for the recommendation. I'm still stuck deciding between a moderate action vs fast action. Anyone out there want to chime in?

A Moderate would be better for cranks.

The Falcon Bucoo BCS 4-17, Falcon calls this rod the spin cranker and my buddy loves his for the smaller RC2 series 1 crankbaits. The rod has a lure rating of 1/4oz to 1/2oz but it will throw the 1/8oz cranks without a problem and he regularly throws a Jackall Bling 55 on it with no problems. He said he can thorw 1/2oz baits with no problem and he can even use a 5/8oz bait but he has to be a little careful not to whip cast it, he said that he feels 5/8oz is about the limit of the rod but 1/2oz and under it is great.  This Falcon is made for cranking and it has a moderate action and for cranks that is what you want, the only reason fast action work with spinning rods is because most spinning rods are softer in action than their casting counterparts but anytime a crankbait is involved you typically want a moderate action and the Falcon Bucoo spin cranker is designed just for crankbaits.

I use a Denali J2 7' MM 1/8-1/2oz spinning rod for my crank baits (3/8-1/2oz is what I throw) and it works great. I've pulled between 1-7lb bass with this rod with no problems and it's pretty light.

 

For what you're looking for, lots of readily available spinning rods will work.  The 7' Berkley M action Lightning Rod, readily available at Walmart most places, isn't a bad choice.

I've got that very same rod for the same purpose. But I have kind of turned it into my Senko/wacky rod. I will still tie a treble bait on it when needed. I ad gone to Academy with the idea that I'd get one of their H2O brand cheap graphite rods. The action I wanted wasn't in stock and I knew I'd get a decent rod with the Lightning Rod. I already had 2 (Med and a MH)for BC combos. Good rods for the $$$.

The Falcon Bucoo BCS 4-17, Falcon calls this rod the spin cranker and my buddy loves his for the smaller RC2 series 1 crankbaits. The rod has a lure rating of 1/4oz to 1/2oz but it will throw the 1/8oz cranks without a problem and he regularly throws a Jackall Bling 55 on it with no problems. He said he can thorw 1/2oz baits with no problem and he can even use a 5/8oz bait but he has to be a little careful not to whip cast it, he said that he feels 5/8oz is about the limit of the rod but 1/2oz and under it is great. This Falcon is made for cranking and it has a moderate action and for cranks that is what you want, the only reason fast action work with spinning rods is because most spinning rods are softer in action than their casting counterparts but anytime a crankbait is involved you typically want a moderate action and the Falcon Bucoo spin cranker is designed just for crankbaits.

I'll second the falcon bucoo. I have two of them, great rods for the price. They will LAUNCH a small crankbait.

I just wish falcon would make some fast action spinning models in the bucoo lineup.

I'm using a 7' M Berkley Lightning Rod shock for cranks and traps under 1/4 of an ounce. For 1/4 of an ounce or heavier I just use casting gear, but straight balsa 1/4 ounce cranks like shad raps still need to be thrown on spinning gear IMO. Even a #7 shad rap doesn't throw well on casting gear.

I've got that very same rod for the same purpose. But I have kind of turned it into my Senko/wacky rod. I will still tie a treble bait on it when needed. I ad gone to Academy with the idea that I'd get one of their H2O brand cheap graphite rods. The action I wanted wasn't in stock and I knew I'd get a decent rod with the Lightning Rod. I already had 2 (Med and a MH)for BC combos. Good rods for the $$$.

I had three lightning rods and they all broke between the last two guides before the tip when landing fish, sent them to berkley and they told me all 3 were broke due to abuse or non fishing related use whatever that means.. garbage in my opinion amd would not recommend them...

I had three lightning rods and they all broke between the last two guides before the tip when landing fish, sent them to berkley and they told me all 3 were broke due to abuse or non fishing related use whatever that means.. garbage in my opinion amd would not recommend them...

Yeah, I think I commented on that fact in another thread. $40 is forty bucks you don't want down the drain.

 

I have three Lightning Rods, two of which are old and have caught some nice fish, and no problems. We all have our experiences. Mine has been good and I do recommend them.