I own a bmax3 pmax3 and a pflueger monarch and I enjoy them but I’m wondering if there’s a better option and I need a cranking setup. Any opinions on what’s a good combo under 100 bucks? I have a 7’2 mh Sellus with the monarch and 7’0 mh pro max and a 7’0 mh Abu Garcia vengeance.

Unless you find a good used combo or a super sale. I don't think you will find a decent setup for under a 100. I am budget minded and my rod was 99.99 and reel was 60+. These were found on ebay and online vendors at Christmas.

TW and  some others should be having a Memorial Day Sale.

My setup is a Dobyns Fury 705CB and Diawa Fuego

Check out Walmart. Currently you can order a Quantum icon pt for $58.99 and pick up a Berkley shock for $40. Gotta have patience and be ready to pull the trigger when you find deals.

I was talking to a guy awhile back who had just made the BASS state team.  He loved fishing crank baits, and had about a half dozen rods rigged with crank baits.  He said he never spent more than $20 on a crank bait rod. He claimed sharp hooks were more important when it came to crank baits.  If you used his logic, that would leave you $80 for a reel.

 

Note: I have never been able to bring myself to try the $20 rod.

36 minutes ago, Troy85 said:

He said he never spent more than $20 on a crank bait rod.

I don't know about $20, but most manufacturer's lower end rods have less or "lesser" graphite, and slower actions, which makes them well suited for cranks. Assuming the guides hold up, and the reel won't fall off, you are off to the races, or NRX....

3 hours ago, nascar2428 said:

Check out Walmart. Currently you can order a Quantum icon pt for $58.99 and pick up a Berkley shock for $40. Gotta have patience and be ready to pull the trigger when you find deals.

Walmart also carries the Lew's Xfinity Speed Spool combo for $89 It's a budget version of their baitcasting Mach combos.

How are the KastKing and Piscifun reels?

I think that there is a good chance you can get an inexpensive rod that will work ok for throwing cranks - Last winter I got a $50 Berkley Lightning Rod - 7' Med action.   Bait casting reels are another story,  I feel the story on reels is that you get what you pay for, i.e. buy a cheap reel, you get a cheap reel, cheap reels break and don't perform well over time.  Very occasionally you can get a decent reel on sale - do your research and I hope you get lucky.

 

Perhaps if you're throwing light to medium sized cranks, spinning gear might be the way to go.

 

I have no experience with the KastKing reels, so I can't say either way about that brand.

Agree the crank bait rod can found at a bargin price, the reel is very important and should be able to handle thousands of casts without any issues. Lot of wear and tear on the reel making long casts and cranking all day.

Tom

I don't know, I bought my first lightning rod about 2 months ago and bought another 1 in medium immediately. Does great in my opinion. If it weren't for having other setups (I was late to the lightning rod party obviously) I would have just used a fleet of those for all my bass fishing lol. 

I bought a Fenwick Lunker Stik for cranking purposes like it so far !

I was reading Bass Times today and noticed Acadamy is offering specific application rod-reel combos that meet the op's budget, look at what they have to offer.

Tom