Hello,

I am looking to buy a spinning rod to dedicate to throwing small cranks (#5 and 7 Shad Raps, Bandit 100 & 200 Series Bandits, 1/8oz Speed Traps, etc...) and small topwaters. I typically throw my small cranks and topwaters on 6 foot 10 Quantum Tour Edition Shaw Grigsby Spinning rod. It is a good rod for it but it is a little to fast of an action to load up on the smaller lures.

I am looking at the Shimano Crucial Crankbait CSRC68M Spinning Rod. My question is if you have used this rod is there any benefit to this rod over a traditional medium action moderate tip rod? I have never had to chance to hold this rod.

I am not locked to this rod so suggestions are welcomed.

I use tons of smaller cranks for lake and river Bass, and I like to throw smaller ones on spinning tackle. I wouldn't get locked into the whole "you need a moderate action for crankbaits" thing - it's more about how much the rod bends than what the action is. For example, one of my favorite inexpensive rods for small cranks is rated as an extra fast action, but it's medium light in power.

It bends about a third of the way down the blank when retrieving a Bandit 200, which seems a little soft at first, but when a fish hits, as long as I don't let them take the slack out of the line, they are coming to be lipped.

I think any decent 7' fast or extra fast medium/light rod would work.

I do have to add that with that type rod I use either 4/10 original Fireline or 4/15 Stren Superbraid, and a fluoro leader. Works great.

Check out the rod's specifications as to lure weight and line test to make sure the rod will accommodate your light cranks.

Match the rod's specs with a spinning reel spooled  with mono and you should be OK.

Suggest you go to the G. Loomis web site and read what they say about their crankbait rods to get an idea of what to look for to throw light weight crankbaits. 

Crucials are nice rods, but I use a Fenwick HMG, 7'0" MMF spinning rod for bandit 100 and 200's and it works great, you may want to take a look at them.