I have an old Shimano Calcutta 200 reel with a 5-1 ratio on a Shimano Compre rod I think is about 6’6” with a medium power

 

I also have a Lews Mach Jacked combo with a 7:5-1 ratio and the rod is 7’3” med-heavy with a fast action. 
 

I’m going to get the Curado DC 150 XG. What would be a good rod choice to add to what I can do with my small quiver. Can you tell me what you suggest would be good for?  Thanks!

Maybe a glass crankbait rod? I'm by no means an expert

Shimano SLX 7' 5  Mh/Xfast for frogs and heavier stuff.

Depending on budget and what side I woke up out of bed on any give day it would probably either a St Croix PHXC74HF or a Shimano EXC72HB or a Dobyns DC 735C to pair up with that reel if it were me...

What do you want to do that your current gear isn't so good at?

Don’t know, just wanting to expand the arsenal. Maybe large swimbaits 

Well what do you want to throw that you can't?

 

I would think a heavy rod for flipping, punching, frogs and smaller swimbaits would be good or a ML/XF spinning rod for various finesse tactics

Howdy.

 

I have a limited number of rods and am working on building a little bit of variety. My primary rods are an Abu Black Max 6'6" M/M and a Lew's Hank Parker 6'10" M/F.

 

I have a Bass Pro Crankin' Stick 7'3" H/F that I use for heavy work like frogs or punching, but I also throw 1/2oz crankbaits on it, especially at the river when I'm fishing current.

 

I'm just now getting into large crankbaits after finding a 6xd, and that rod handles it like it was made for it. Opening up a whole other world for me.

 

I think my next rod will be a Crankin' Stick in ML for small shad raps and jerkbaits.

 

12 hours ago, Bazoo said:

 

 

I think my next rod will be a Crankin' Stick in ML for small shad raps and jerkbaits.

 

@Bazoo I have 3 of the previous version BPS Crankin Sticks including the 7’-0” Medium Light and if you haven’t handled one yet I would suggest doing so as it’s extremely moderate compared to my 7’-0” medium.  I’m not suggesting it’s not what you’re after but river fishing would definitely be interesting with it in my opinion. And I don’t think it’s the right rod for jerk baits either but again this is just my opinion. 

Edited September 8, 2025Sep 8 by Eric 26
Content

14 hours ago, Boondocks Hunter said:

Don’t know, just wanting to expand the arsenal. Maybe large swimbaits 

This limits your options to a 5-power heavy-action rod, to cast a 3-oz swimbait.  

This is Japanese IM6, not for everybody because of short ferruled-blade and separate rod-grip configuration, but it's a sweet moderate taper that loads deep even at its 1/2-oz low end.  

 

Regarding reel size, I have this matched with Isuzu 720, equivalent size to Ambassadeur 5000.  

14 hours ago, Boondocks Hunter said:

Don’t know, just wanting to expand the arsenal. Maybe large swimbaits 

 

I wouldn't get a 150 reel then. 200 at least.

18 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

This limits your options to a 5-power heavy-action rod, to cast a 3-oz swimbait.  

This is Japanese IM6, not for everybody because of short ferruled-blade and separate rod-grip configuration, but it's a sweet moderate taper that loads deep even at its 1/2-oz low end.  

 

Regarding reel size, I have this matched with Isuzu 720, equivalent size to Ambassadeur 5000.  

That’s an interesting rod n reel both honestly, & I really think the handle is pretty trick (rod)..I didn’t catch the length on it though. 

Your Calcutta 200 is a good swim bait reel that can also be a good crank bait reel. Suggest considering getting a rod for that Calcutta reel; Irod IRG 754F gen 3 is 7’5” frog rod 1/2-2 oz lures that is very universal for deep diving crank baits, frogs, swim baits etc.

Lews reel on the Shimano rod and new reel on the Lews rod.

Tom

2 hours ago, Eric 26 said:

@Bazoo I have 3 of the previous version BPS Crankin Sticks including the 7’-0” Medium Light and if you haven’t handled one yet I would suggest doing so as it’s extremely moderate compared to my 7’-0” medium.  I’m not suggesting it’s not what you’re after but river fishing would definitely be interesting with it in my opinion. And I don’t think it’s the right rod for jerk baits either but again this is just my opinion. 

Thanks. I have not handled one yet. I wouldn't use it in the river though.

 

I fish a lot of light crankbaits such as shad raps, but I do it with a cheap light rod. So I'm looking for a quality rod that's suitable as a replacement. The cheap rod is pretty moderate, so I am expecting the BPS rod to be about the same.
 

Quote

It’s extremely moderate compared to my 7’-0” medium

Just to confirm, that is a Crankin' Stick you're speaking of?

 

The BPS website says the 7'0" Medium is rated 1/4oz-5/8oz.

 

Their ML's are rated 1/16oz-1/2oz, so I expect it to be pretty whippy. Not sure which length I'd get. I been wanting to make a run up to BPS to check them out.

 

My current cheap light rod, I can throw a size 6 Shad Rap, barely. I throw other 1/4oz crankbaits on it a lot, but the size 6 Shad Raps are lighter than other's 1/4oz crnaks. The new rod, I'd like to be able to throw a size 5. 

 

With my Abu Black Max 6'6" M/M I can throw 1/4oz crankbaits, but they are right on the edge of what I can control.  I can't place them exactly where I want them. I can throw a size 5 Shallow Shad Rap which is rated at 3/16oz, but just barely.

 

And it may be that the Medium powered rods are more suitable to my intended application too.

@Bazoo From what you’re describing I think you’ll be pleased with the medium light rod then as I was throwing a 1/8 ounce in-line spinner on mine with my Dream Tackle reel which is essentially a Okuma Hakai, and yes it’s the previous version 7’-0” BPS Crankin Stick. Sorry about the photos not being the greatest.

Edited September 8, 2025Sep 8 by Eric 26
Lure size

6 minutes ago, Eric 26 said:

@Bazoo From what you’re describing I think you’ll be pleased with the medium light rod then as I was throwing a 1/16th ounce in-line spinner on mine with my Dream Tackle reel which is essentially a Okuma Hakai, and yes it’s the previous version 7’-0” BPS Crankin Stick. Sorry about the photos not being the greatest.

Thanks. I've not had one of the previous version Crankin' sticks. Interesting that the lure keeper is on the side. Does that ever cause any problems?

 

I didn't like the power hump on the new version when I first got it, but after using, I have grown to love it.

@Bazoo I’ve had zero issues with the hook keeper and I actually love both the med light and the medium. I also have the 7’-3” heavy but I don’t throw large lures currently. Interesting enough I received the rods from a current member on here who didn’t enjoy them and I still can’t thank him enough. Also I edited the above post as I believe the in line spinner is an 1/8th ounce lure😬 and I don’t want to steer you wrong.

7 hours ago, Eric 26 said:

@Bazoo I’ve had zero issues with the hook keeper and I actually love both the med light and the medium. I also have the 7’-3” heavy but I don’t throw large lures currently. Interesting enough I received the rods from a current member on here who didn’t enjoy them and I still can’t thank him enough. Also I edited the above post as I believe the in line spinner is an 1/8th ounce lure😬 and I don’t want to steer you wrong.

I actually received mine from a member here too! Thank you for sharing.

On 9/5/2025 at 8:41 PM, Boondocks Hunter said:

I’m going to get the Curado DC 150 XG. What would be a good rod choice to add to what I can do with my small quiver. Can you tell me what you suggest would be good for?

 

 

5 hours ago, Big Hands said:

What do you want to do that your current gear isn't so good at?

 

 

4 hours ago, Boondocks Hunter said:

Don’t know, just wanting to expand the arsenal. Maybe large swimbaits 

 

When someone says "large swimbaits", I envision something like a DEPS 250, a full size Huddleston, maybe a 10" Magdraft, stuff like that. Baits that weigh 2 oz to 8 oz or so. 

 

If so, I would question the choice of a Curado 150 DC because:

• I don't see the DC feature as being useful for throwing large swimbaits
• I would not choose any 150 sized reel for throwing large swimbaits.

I probably would NOT go with a Shimano 200 sized reel for that either. A 300 size Shimano Tranx or a Daiwa 200 or larger would be the minimum for a "large swimbait" IMHO.

 

A large swimbait is not a large swimbait is not a large swimbait. Before I would suggest a rod, I would ask you to specify three large swimbaits that you would be interested in throwing.

On 9/7/2025 at 10:50 PM, Bazoo said:

I think my next rod will be a Crankin' Stick in ML for small shad raps and jerkbaits.

 

An older model was one of the rods I used when learning to cast #5 Shad Raps.