I'm looking to get a new crank bait rod for the fall. I was wondering what people think about getting a graphite rod for cranks. With all the new technology and design advancements in graphite does it really make a big difference which one you get anymore? As far as good graphite rods there seems to be a lot to choose from in my price range but the only glass rods I've seen that seem any good are the lamiglass and daiwa crank rod. Any feed back will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
keep fishin'

Lamiglass

I have a Loomis crank rod which I like a lot. It is kinda pricy though but I enjoy its sensitivity like graphite and it's "give" like a glass rod. Very light, casts all day.

i agree with fongster. loomis are great rods!!! they really know how to put a rod together for a specific application. i personally dont own a crank bait stix, but my bud does and i wish i bought one. i throw a mbr843 which is a graphite rod and i lost so many fish becuz graphite rods have harder tips and as you cranks cant be ripped out of the fishes mouth if he doesnt have a good hold on the bait. the loomis crank bait series is great if your looking for a crank stick. its light (like a graphite) and you got that soft tip (which is the glass) and you got a great back bone to keep the fish on. ; ) good luck.

I like the Castaway soft touch series crank rods. They are composite and fish a lot like glass. Reasonably priced. I have another rod I use for cranking as well, the Loomis 943c. It's 7'10" so it's not good for accurate casting, but it does fish very sensitive in the tip and I like it for 1/4oz speed traps and stuff like that. Probably would be best to bring a reel to a shop that has a lot of rods and put your reel on some different rods and see what you like. For me, I don't feel like I need super super sensitive rods, because I am more of a line watcher and a line feeler than a rod watcher or rod feeler. I'm looking more for a rod that makes it so they don't spit the hook. Soft rods are good for this. Whether you get glass or composite or graphite would be more personal preference I guess.

I agree with Rob, the Castaway Soft Touch rods are a good choice.

You will soon be reading an article in an upcoming BassWest magazine with all the POSITIVES of these rods. They are called "revolver rods", 2 great builders are making them and they're becoming the new wave in fishing technology. They have so many advantages over the standard guides up rods. For cranks, my suggestion would be the RF846 rod made by either Rich Forhan (www.revolverrod.com) or Brad Tharp (www.bassrods.com). These are by far the highest level of fishing rods one can get. I can tell you that the likes of Gary Klein have been using these rods for years!!
Take a look at them. Thanks and God Bless, Nicholas

the Loomis CBR series are awesome stick's, nice short rear-grip, powerful back's w/ a very fiberglass feeling tip, all of the actions on the CBR rods are perfectly applicable for the cranks I throw from the big DD22, to the little burner baits like speed traps and stuff. if you are going to get just one rod for cranks, make sure you get something that will be versatile for an array of cranks, the CBR845 is a great versatile rod, super lightweight, w/ alot of juevos!
Dane

"Revolver Rods","new wave in fishing"

Can you say "Acid Wrap.... aka..... Spirial Wrap". Nothing new about this. Has been around for a long time.

I've tried various ones over the years but find it hard to replace my Castaway Soft Touch. Like others have said, it's one hell of a smooth action rod and at a reasonable price. It's composite-fiberglass and graphite-which gives it strength, improved sensitivity but most important is the ultra smooth action on hook up. It's the smoothest load up you will ever feel when you get hammered. That's my vote.

Thanks for all the tips guys. I was thinking about trying to get a composite and the castaway sounds really good and its right in my price range. I'd love to have a Gloomis but I'm just pretty much flat broke as far as my fishing budget right now. Tight lines to all!

Does Castaway have a web site? I couldn't find one. How much do their rods run?

www.castawayrods.com
If you are local try Turners Outdoors. They carry the Castaway rods.

I've got a "Lami' 7ft Glass Crankin' Stick, which is also very good for rip-baits.

I paid about $125.00 for it, and I love it. It is matched with my Chronarch 100.

Don't know much about Castaway, but I hear good things.

My 2-cents.

"ROD"

all of the rods metioned above are good choices. I have fished them all(except the spiral wrapped rods) I am a fan of the Loomis crankin rods as well as the Castaway rods. However, if you can round up an old Diawa fiberglass crankin rod or if you can find a David Fritts crankin rod made by Browning, you will be better off. Now I am talking for the big stuff. 10 feet and deeper. For me, nothing beats throwing a BIG crank all day on a fiberglass rod. It is much easier on the wrist and hands and you have great control and a very forgiving tip so the hooks very rarely will tear out of the fish. For the smaller cranks like Speed traps I perfer to use a graphite rod something in a med. light action.

Just another fishermans 2 cents worth

Cam