I am an experienced angler but just now diving into (no pun intended) the art of deep crankin. I bought a decent arsenal of series 5’s through 8xd’s. I want to get a nice med-heavy, mod Crankbait specific rod and reel! Which set up should I get! Hit me up experienced crankers!

You in a boat or yak.  The dobyns 805rm and phoenix x12/13 may work well for you.

Boat

Both the listed rods have short handles.  Don't know your preferred length.  For deep divers with a big lip putting the handle under your arm to take the strain off your wrist helps a lot.

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewphenixx13.html

http://www.tackletour.net/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=52542

Everyone has there own likes.  I planed on using a custom x13 for 10xds

Thanks man. That Dobyns 735 cr sounds nice. 

Cabelas crankshaft. 7'5 medium heavy. 

Crankshaft is a great rod for deep cranks.  I often regret getting rid of mine.  I'm have been using a 9ft. Lews David Fritts Perfect'.  It is great for launching 1 oz. plus size crank baits but I've been questioning whether I have what it takes to lob 10xd's all day.  The thing about using a 9 foot rod that i had not considered is the swing weight a 2 oz lure has at the end of such a long rod.   A lot of people say a longer rod gives the angler more leverage.   It's quite the opposite. 

 

I was using a 5:1 Shimano Calcutta reel but to risk going against popular opinion,  I think that is too slow of a retrieve at the end of a long cast.  Something in the mid 6:1 is much better imo.  Own multiple Lews Tournament MB reels and they are tough to beat.  Will likely get the 6.8 for my deep cranking rod.

 

If I had it to do over, I'd go with Cabelas Crankshaft for the rod and Tournament MB 6.8 for the reel.  It would be one sweet set up.

Any moderate 7-7'6" rod in MH should do you well.  As far as reels, I can think of two that I own...Team Daiwa TD-S 103P HSD  (5:1) and Daiwa PT33C (3.8:1)...the ultimate cranking reel!  100mm handle back in the 80s...good luck in your search and best wishes on the water!

Are you looking for a rod or rod and reel? Why is someone locking all the forum topics????

1 hour ago, Stephen B said:

Are you looking for a rod or rod and reel? Why is someone locking all the forum topics????

Yep. Both. 

Thank you everybody for the info. I will def take into consideration all the advice. 

2 hours ago, LionHeart said:

Crankshaft is a great rod for deep cranks.  I often regret getting rid of mine.  I'm have been using a 9ft. Lews David Fritts Perfect'.  It is great for launching 1 oz. plus size crank baits but I've been questioning whether I have what it takes to lob 10xd's all day.  The thing about using a 9 foot rod that i had not considered is the swing weight a 2 oz lure has at the end of such a long rod.   A lot of people say a longer rod gives the angler more leverage.   It's quite the opposite. 

 

I was using a 5:1 Shimano Calcutta reel but to risk going against popular opinion,  I think that is too slow of a retrieve at the end of a long cast.  Something in the mid 6:1 is much better imo.  Own multiple Lews Tournament MB reels and they are tough to beat.  Will likely get the 6.8 for my deep cranking rod.

 

If I had it to do over, I'd go with Cabelas Crankshaft for the rod and Tournament MB 6.8 for the reel.  It would be one sweet set up.

Does that 6:8 give enough power to get the bait down? Not to much strain? I have a 5:1 quantum energy real and I have a 6:4 quantum Tour Ed but thought that would be too fast. 

Daiwa Zillion/Tatula 5.1-6.3

 

IRG7113CC “Fred’s Crank Launcher”

Fred designed this rod for deep diving cranks but will work with mid divers and larger shallow divers. Not your usual crank rod, this rod is all graphite and is not whippy and soft like others. It’s tip is strong enough to drive in a hook set yet forgiving enough to play the fish without ripping out the hooks. It will also cast any crank bait a country mile which is needed to get the big cranks down deep.

Length:7’11″

Lure weight:3/8-1 1/2

Line weight:8-20

Power: Med. Heavy

Action:Moderate

 

Or 

 

IRG763CC-MH "Freds Crank Launch Jr."

This is the little brother of the Crank launcher. Fred designed this rod for the mid size crank baits but it is also a fantastic rod for other reaction baits. its has a mh tip that slowly transitions in to nice parabolic bend with tons of back bone power. it will send your baits out a mile and keep the fish on all the way in.

Length:7’6″

Lure weight:3/8-3/4

Line weight:8-17

Power: Med. Heavy

Action: Mod

 

The latter will be better for your mid-depth stuff. The struggle would be with your 8xd and 10xds and other magnum cranks. Maybe you need 2 set ups....?

Dobyns 805cb and irod Genesis II Fred's Crank Launcher hands down best I've used. 

14 hours ago, bwcaw said:

Yep. Both. 

Thank you everybody for the info. I will def take into consideration all the advice. 

Does that 6:8 give enough power to get the bait down? Not to much strain? I have a 5:1 quantum energy real and I have a 6:4 quantum Tour Ed but thought that would be too fast. 

The 6.8 (28 inch per turn) imo is just about right.  At the end of a long cast, a 5:1, or <26 inch per turn really seems to struggle getting the bait moving.  I find that I have to really turn the handle like crazy to getting the lure going.  

 

Just from reading here on the forum, I'd say my preference is a little on the faster side.  Something like a 6.4:1 would be possibly more ideal, but I'm hooked on the Tournament MB and it is 6.8 ratio.  This is just my preference, and it is probably different than most, but with a reel spool <1/2 full at the end of a long cast, a 5:1 feels really slow to me.

 

Again if I had it to do over, I'd get no less than 2 cranking setups.  1 for the big stuff, and 1 for everything else.  They'd both have > 26 inch per turn reels.  Give the quantum 6.4 a try and I think you'll be surprised 

 

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the Lews BB1 Pro. I love mine for cranking.

I really want the BB1 but just a little over my budget.  If I could find it on sale I absolutely check it out.

personally i love my abu garica rods for cranking. i have 2 abu garcia ike delay rods one 7'3" the other 7'10". as well as a 7'11" abu garvia veritas winch. personally i like the veritas the best a graphite rod can tell you exactly what the bottom is like. i would recommend at least a 7'6" for cranks if you are going to be trying to get to 20'

13 minutes ago, LionHeart said:

I really want the BB1 but just a little over my budget.  If I could find it on sale I absolutely check it out.

they're 125 on ebay

22 minutes ago, Scarborough817 said:

personally i love my abu garica rods for cranking. i have 2 abu garcia ike delay rods one 7'3" the other 7'10". as well as a 7'11" abu garvia veritas winch. personally i like the veritas the best a graphite rod can tell you exactly what the bottom is like. i would recommend at least a 7'6" for cranks if you are going to be trying to get to 20'

they're 125 on ebay

Thanks for the heads up! Just saw it from Sportsman's.  My trigger finger is super itchy now.  I'm pretty in love with the Tourny MB's.  Don't suppose you've used one? If so, how would you say they compare to the BB1? 

Just now, LionHeart said:

Thanks for the heads up! Just saw it from Sportsman's.  My trigger finger is super itchy now.  I'm pretty in love with the Tourny MB's.  Don't suppose you've used one? If so, how would you say they compare to the BB1? 

i have a tourney mg and love that, i would think the bb1 is a little smoother. but no i haven't used one

3 hours ago, Finnz922 said:

Daiwa Zillion/Tatula 5.1-6.3

 

IRG7113CC “Fred’s Crank Launcher”

Fred designed this rod for deep diving cranks but will work with mid divers and larger shallow divers. Not your usual crank rod, this rod is all graphite and is not whippy and soft like others. It’s tip is strong enough to drive in a hook set yet forgiving enough to play the fish without ripping out the hooks. It will also cast any crank bait a country mile which is needed to get the big cranks down deep.

Length:7’11″

Lure weight:3/8-1 1/2

Line weight:8-20

Power: Med. Heavy

Action:Moderate

 

Or 

 

IRG763CC-MH "Freds Crank Launch Jr."

This is the little brother of the Crank launcher. Fred designed this rod for the mid size crank baits but it is also a fantastic rod for other reaction baits. its has a mh tip that slowly transitions in to nice parabolic bend with tons of back bone power. it will send your baits out a mile and keep the fish on all the way in.

Length:7’6″

Lure weight:3/8-3/4

Line weight:8-17

Power: Med. Heavy

Action: Mod

 

The latter will be better for your mid-depth stuff. The struggle would be with your 8xd and 10xds and other magnum cranks. Maybe you need 2 set ups....?

So do you think that the crank launch JR would handle well up to the 6xd’s?

Has anyone used the Fenwick Elite Tech Bass (ETB72MH-MC) for series 5’s-6xd’s? I love my other elite tech rods! 

15 hours ago, Stephen B said:

Are you looking for a rod or rod and reel? Why is someone locking all the forum topics????

There's a pattern there if you haven't noticed. 

25 minutes ago, bwcaw said:

So do you think that the crank launch JR would handle well up to the 6xd’s?

Has anyone used the Fenwick Elite Tech Bass (ETB72MH-MC) for series 5’s-6xd’s? I love my other elite tech rods! 

I use it for 5XDs and 6XDs. I don't crank a ton so my experience is more limited. I bought the JR because i couldn't justify a 7'11"h CRANKBAIT rod in the boat where I live.

Quantum Tour KVD Cranking rod 7ft 10in. MH with a lews mb speed spool or lews tournament pro in 6:8:1

11 hours ago, tonka_blue said:

Quantum Tour KVD Cranking rod 7ft 10in. MH with a lews mb speed spool or lews tournament pro in 6:8:1

what he said or whatever you like. I use Quantum almost exclusively but do have powell crankin rods as well. I like a fast 7:1 reel so I can reel slow.