I am looking for a rod that will cover cranking shallow like square bills, as well as down to about 10 foot. I have been told that medium moderate will do the job, but I have also seen people use medium heavy fast or medium heavy moderate. I thought a MH moderate would be more for deep diving, which I really do not do because I fish from the bank. and MH fast is a jig/ Texas rig rod to me. So I am just looking for some opinions and just information in general, because I am new to the cranking thing. I am however very excited! Thank you very much.  

How about a medium fast. Shallow braid - medium moderate. Shallow nylon - medium fast. Just my train of thought. I also prefer graphite till I get deeper than 10 feet, then I like a composite rod. 

I do my shallow and lipless cranking with a 7' MH/fast action rod on braid (with a fluoro leader if I am around hard cover). I can't stand moderate cranking rods, especially around grass.

I would consider what size cranks you will be using mostly. If it were smaller square bills like Bandit 100's, I would be looking for medium/moderate. Heavier rods will not load up very well with lighter cranks hindering longer cast. I personally use medium rods with moderate action for all cranks except what I call giant cranks (8XD, 10XD, etc.). These are heavier crankbaits with bigger hooks. I feel like I need a rod with more backbone to help drive the hooks of the giant crankbaits and I've noticed that fish don't throw the bigger hooks near as much either.

2 hours ago, ww2farmer said:

I do my shallow and lipless cranking with a 7' MH/fast action rod on braid (with a fluoro leader if I am around hard cover). I can't stand moderate cranking rods, especially around grass.

 

I do the same, but just straight fluoro. 

I use MH rods too. Most of my cranking is shallow and around/thru cover. I need power to rip weeds, rigidity in the blank for sensitivity and strike detection, and for hook sets, which I often do with cranks being fished like jigs -wormed through cover.

I have a dobyns 704cb glass for shallow and medium cranks 12 lb fluoro It casts the lighter baits much better. However in cover or deeper I will use my tatula 6'10" mh/f with 15lb big game. 

Depends oh what size baits but. I like the mh rods helps me out when I have to pull a fish and the hydrilla it got stuck in.

Cover plays a roll but I build a med/ mod-fast for traps and shallow cranks. 

Last year I relied on a Rick Clunn Sglass squarebill rod which is a 6' 8" Heavy action MH power rod. I tossed the SK KVD 100 SB and their new shallow SB with it all summer and really liked it. 

Being glass it is a bit heavier, but I found it comfortable to use during the day.