I am new to this forum and fairly new to bass fishing.  I am trying to figure out what would be the best rod to purchase for crankbait fishing.  I have been reading everywhere that the pros like to use fiberglass.  Almost everything I have seen in the store is graphite.  So what are people using.  Give me the best options for between $60 and $200.  Graphite or fiberglass. . . . or some combination of both or what?  I realize there are thousands of opinions on this topic but anything will help.  thanks

Welcome Aboard FishFast!!

I don't like fishing crankbaits. If I do it, it is a necessity.

So I don't use Loomis or Croix or Kistler for cranks. I use the $30 BPS Crankin Stick. It casts great and the parabolic action puts steady pressure on the fish while hooked. It isn't so heavy that I want a more expensive rod and it does what is intended.  And it is fiberglass I believe.

J

Fish Fast,

Welcome To The Forum!

The pro's do use glass, but those that are, are probably throwing deep diving cranks on them. The rods are usually 6'6" to 7' med to medhvy with mod tip actions. The graphite rods you see in the racks will be in the 6'6" to 7' med power with mod tip actions, and used for shallow to medium diving cranks. My personal rod is a 6'6" Pro E-series glass in a MedHvy power with a mod tip action. I use it for throwing my collection of old deep diving POES cranks and 1/2oz. Norman lipless cranks...

Tight Lines!!!!  

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&partNumber=58458&hvarTarget=search&cmCat=SearchResults

I have a few of the crankbait rods on the link.  I like them a lot.

I picked up a Castaway crankbait rod the other night at Academy for less than $80.  It is a graphite composite and appears to contain a fair amount of fiberglass.  Appaently glass rods are getting harder to find and many manufacturers are not listing the makup of their rods in fear that others will copy it.  I am no expert byany means.  This is my fist rod that is dedicted to crankbaits so I did not really know what I was looking for or what I liked.  This seemed to be a good option so you may want to look at it.

I use the powell 703CB.  And love it.  It cand handle the DD22's as well.

If you're digging ditches at 17', you'll want something long (7'6) and flexible (glass).

A 7' MH graphite rod w/ a mod. action is the way to go to get started.  I like the St. Croix Avid for this application.

I would recommend the Rogue 702CBB.  Fantastic crankin stick.  

Two price points I like (own two of each):

Shimano Crucial Crankbait blank (7' Med action or MH)- The blank has TX4 or something like that on it. Just make sure the label on the rod says crankbait. $139.

Powell 703, 04, or 05 CB (blue wrap)- around $170.

Both of these series are graphite, with parabolic action (rod bends fairly evenly down the blank to absorb the pressure of the fish). I am not a big fan of glass rods due to the extra weight, although I understand the Lamiglas Skeet Reese crankin rod is fairly light weight.

Make sure and pair it with a slower gear ratio reel (5:0 to 1 or 4:7 to 1). High speed reels will work the bait too fast for most crnaking applications.

A 7' MH graphite rod w/ a mod. action is the way to go to get started. I like the St. Croix Avid for this application.

I use the St. Croix Avid (AC66MHM) for all my crankbaits.

I am not a big fan of glass rods due to the extra weight,

Alright, someone shoot in if i'm wrong, but aren't the newer glass rods comparable to the regular rods now.  I know that powell's glass crankbait glass rods are under 4. http://www.powellco.com/cbrip.php

Are other brands' glass rods heavier????  Just curious

My Loomis CBR 843 and 845 are awesome rods...light and senstive for a cranking stick.  However, I took my two new carrot sticks out today for their maiden voyage, and was very impressed.  I purchased two of the 6'9" medium power/moderate action rods and they seem ideal for a wide range of cranks.  I didn't want to put them down...