Looking for a new crankbait rod to pair with a Lews in 5.4:1 gear ratio. Will be using for crankbaits generally in the 8-12' depth range, but would like a rod that is comfortable above and below that range. 

Looking in the ~$100-150 range. What is BR's opinions on these rods or do you recommend something different....

• St. Croix Mojo Bass Glass Cranking Rod 7'4" Medium
• Duckett Ghost Cranking Rod 7' Medium
• Lew's Custom Speed Stick Crank Rod 7'2" Medium

 

Opinions? Thanks

2 minutes ago, gbryant04 said:

Looking for a new crankbait rod to pair with a Lews in 5.4:1 gear ratio. Will be using for crankbaits generally in the 8-12' depth range, but would like a rod that is comfortable above and below that range. 

Looking in the ~$100-150 range. What is BR's opinions on these rods or do you recommend something different....

• St. Croix Mojo Bass Glass Cranking Rod 7'4" Medium
• Duckett Ghost Cranking Rod 7' Medium
• Lew's Custom Speed Stick Crank Rod 7'2" Medium

 

Opinions? Thanks

Go with the Lew's Custom Speed Stick.....no doubt on this one....I've been using the 7'2" Medium for the last year and it is awesome.....it's lighter than the St. Croix Mojo and the Duckett lacks the quality......I'm a crankbait nut so I really do know my crankbait rods. For the $ range you are talking, the Lews is it.

A couple models of the St. Croix Glass Mojo rod are in their Bargain Room for $89 shipped. All that's left is the 7'4" MM that you mentioned as well as the 7'8" MHM. I haven't a clue as to how the glass rods feel...but I do have graphite St. Croix cranking rods in other series and of the two, the 7'8" MHM (which I have in the Rage series - also in the Bargain room) would be the more versatile rod...

 

I like my duckett ghost cranking rod a lot. Very lightweight. Definitely made a difference in my ability to keep fish hooked no problems there.  For the depth you are looking to fish and shallower, I think the light power and action from that rod is ideal. Deeper than that and you might want to go with something  heavier.

I don't fish any of those 3 rods listed.  I fish a 7'4" MH Quantum Tour KVD Cranking rod.  Believe I purchased it new off Ebay for around $75.  Light, comfortable, nice action, and it's a composite with a moderate action.  The 2 I have balance really well with both the EXO 100 and 200 size reels.

I've been using a 7' MH/M Ethos and have been really happy with it, especially since I only paid $40 for it. 

I know it was not mentioned, but for that price I would look for a lightly used St Croix Avid 7' MHM. I love mine for those mid diving plugs. Great blank and the best customer service in the business. 

I have the 6'10" MM Mojo Glass. I fish from the bank, so I don't fish a lot of deeper cranks. I love it. But it's the only crankbait rod I have much experience with, so I can't compare it to the others. I've held the Ghost at Bass Pro 7 or 8 times and love the feel of it so much that I have been very tempted to buy one.

12 hours ago, Goose52 said:

A couple models of the St. Croix Glass Mojo rod are in their Bargain Room for $89 shipped. All that's left is the 7'4" MM that you mentioned as well as the 7'8" MHM. I haven't a clue as to how the glass rods feel...but I do have St. Croix cranking rods in other series and of the two, the 7'8" (which I have in the Rage series - also in the Bargain room) would be the more versatile rod...

I recently purchased a Mojo Bass from their bargain room for light texas rigs and I think it is a great rod for only $89. Would the 7' MH Moderate in graphite be a better choice than the glass blank?

 

 

On 1/20/2016 at 7:33 AM, gbryant04 said:

I recently purchased a Mojo Bass from their bargain room for light texas rigs and I think it is a great rod for only $89. Would the 7' MH Moderate in graphite be a better choice than the glass blank?

I really can't say. I have a whole BUNCH of cranking rods, and they're mostly all graphite, with a few composites, so I don't have any experience with glass.  

There are advocates for graphite, composite, and glass cranking rods. A lot of it is personal preference in how you want your cranking rod to feel and perform. Advocates of glass feel that the slower action of the rod provides a slight delay to better allow the fish to inhale the bait, and that slower action might also keep the fish pinned better - the advantages of those characteristics then offset whatever weight penalty the glass rod might have. Advocates of graphite might feel that the higher sensitivity of the blank allows them to better feel what's going on with the bait. Advocates of composite want a little of both worlds. These statements aren't absolutes however and there are graphite rods that are pretty slow, and glass rods that are pretty sensitive.

So many choices... 

Edited January 23, 201610 yr by Goose52

 

Although I haven't used the Mojo Bass Glass rod I've got an LTB Graphite rod in M/M and you can fish a DT 10 on it, but a MH/M would be better suited for that application. If the glass rods are the same, you might want to step up to a MH/M.

I have a Fenwick HMG 7'2" M-MF, it is a medium but it is rated for 3/8oz to 1oz, kind of strange. The rod is super versatile, I can take a KVD 1.5 and burn it through light brush and bounce it off rip rap and then tie on a DT-10 and be perfectly fine. I love it for baits down to 12' and while I have, and can use for a DT-14 in a pinch, that is better for my glass rod but anything down to 12' is fantastic.

Dobyns Fury or Kistler Mag

Cashion 7'3" MH crankbait rod is a little above your budget and well worth it. If you want a fore grip contact them direct, TW carries the off shelf model.

Tom

If those are the three you're interested in I would go with the lews. However I'm not allowed to mention my other two recommendations on this site.

1 hour ago, Fishinthefish said:

If those are the three you're interested in I would go with the lews. However I'm not allowed to mention my other two recommendations on this site.

I went and held the cranking variant last Friday not knowing it had a different reel seat than the others. Wasn't crazy about it.

I also held a Cashion for the first time and just didn't like the material used for the handles. 

After alot of researching and looking at reviews, i've realized there is a ton of different choices when it comes to crankbait specific rods. Since the lake I fish most is very deep, im beginning to lean towards a MH instead of just a medium. May even wait until the big Spring sale from BPS and pick up a M/m and MH/m Crankin' Stick to cover all the bases.

I've got the mojo bass 7'4 glass cranking rod. It's perfect for squarebills and smaller mid range cranks. But it's too light for a bigger bodied crankbait. If your gonna throw bigger cranks I wouldn't recommend it. I'm not a huge fan of the ghost and the lack of craftsmanship put into the rods. I looked at a few of the new split grip bass pro cranking sticks the other day and they seem to be a decent rod, maybe something to check into. 

On ‎1‎/‎20‎/‎2016 at 11:53 PM, gulfcaptain said:

I don't fish any of those 3 rods listed.  I fish a 7'4" MH Quantum Tour KVD Cranking rod.  Believe I purchased it new off Ebay for around $75.  Light, comfortable, nice action, and it's a composite with a moderate action.  The 2 I have balance really well with both the EXO 100 and 200 size reels.

I Really Like this stick as well - got a couple of ebay myself - that's a killer deal.  Cranks & lipless All Day.

A-Jay

10 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

I Really Like this stick as well - got a couple of ebay myself - that's a killer deal.  Cranks & lipless All Day.

A-Jay

Waiting to see how it handles the large 8.0 squarebill as well.  But it does have a geat action and it a nice lenght at 7'4".  Lends itself to either shallow or deep.

14 minutes ago, gulfcaptain said:

Waiting to see how it handles the large 8.0 squarebill as well.  But it does have a geat action and it a nice lenght at 7'4".  Lends itself to either shallow or deep.

I threw the 8.0 around a bit last season.  I like the bait but I'd say it's at the very top end of what I'd fish on that rod.  After some trial & error I settled on a 6'10" MH Graphite stick & 17lb mono.  I'm usually semi-target casting with the 8.0 so for me a slightly shorter rod works.  The fast rod & the slower line felt about right.  Only took dinks (with a good attitude) but see it has potential.

A-Jay

I'd say grab a Dobyns Fury 705cb! I have that mojo rod and I DO NOT LIKE IT. at all. Im with the group that says get a MH for those deeper baits like DT10s or 6/8XDs. I have liked every Lew's rod I have used, so my vote is for the Lew's rod.

I really like the BPS Crankin' Stick but that's just me.

I'm a big fan of the Phenix XG Glass crankbait rods!  Own two of the XG3 rods, wouldn't use anything else!