Crankbait Rod For Around 50 Dollars? 2025
R_Shackleford reply :
Don't have too much to spend on gear, using a pflueger monarch baitcaster with 6 pound test braid. half oz crankbait squarebill (RC 2 copper perch to be exact) also what should the action of the rod be when fishing crankbaits?
ChrisD46 reply :
If you could save up to that $79 range more options would open up for you .
At the <$50 range I suggest the following :
1. Berkley Cherry Wood M action 7'
2. BPS Graphite Series M action 7'
You may find sales at other stores such as Academy Sports , Cabela's , Gander Mountain , etc. where you may find a 7' M action casting graphite rod.
The key is you want a 7' M moderately fast / fast action graphite IM6 rod used with a good 12lb. mono line (such as Sufix Elite) to give you a little stretch and cushion to offset a bit of the lower $$ rods action for not being quite a true crankbait designed rod .
Hope this helps ...
masterbass reply :
Have you used the 6lb braid? Why are you using such thin braid?
R_Shackleford reply :
On 6/23/2015 at 7:25 PM, masterbass said:Have you used the 6lb braid? Why are you using such thin braid?
It's spiderwire stealth and on the package for whatever it shows 20 lb then under it in small texts it says 6 lb test dia some it could be 20 lb test I'm not sure I bought it thinking it was 20 lb test.
masterbass reply :
OK, it's 20lb test which has 6lb equivalent mono diameter. You need a moderate action rod. The power you need depends on the size and depth of cranks you use. You could go with glass, composite or graphite depending on your preference.
smalljaw67 reply :
It is 20 lb test, braid is thinner than mono with a lot more strength but that isn't going to be a good line for cranks, at least without a leader. I apologize if I'm wrong but you seem fairly new to this and if that is the case, I'm sure you don't want to have to start tying leaders using fluorocarbon or mono as it just makes it a bit harder. If I were you and I was going to use a square bill crank, I'd get some Berkley Big Game 12lb and use that. As for the rod, $50 bucks won't get a lot but I think the Lightning rod shock is the right rod for you, it is made to use braid so the action is softer than a fast action rod and for crankbaits you will want a little softer action, anything moderate to moderate fast is what you look for in a cranking rod. The reel you have might not be good with the braid you got, that thin diameter on less expensive casting reels can end up getting behind the spool as the tolerances are a little more on casting reels under $100 and most lines under 10lb diameter can end up behind the spool and cause all kinds of problems, that line is more for a spinning rod set up.
robster80 reply :
powell diesel 705cb glass rod
tholmes reply :
Welcome to Bass Resource!
Your line is 20 lb. test but the same diameter as 6 lb. mono.
As far as $50 rods, check out the Abu Garia Vengence (my first choice in this price range), Berkeley Lightning rod or Bass Pro's graphite series. You'll probably want a 6'6" of 7' medium action rod for throwing crankbaits. Go to a well-stocked store and try several different rods with your reel on them and see how they feel in your hands.
Good luck!
Tom
R_Shackleford reply :
On 6/23/2015 at 7:46 PM, smalljaw67 said:It is 20 lb test, braid is thinner than mono with a lot more strength but that isn't going to be a good line for cranks, at least without a leader. I apologize if I'm wrong but you seem fairly new to this and if that is the case, I'm sure you don't want to have to start tying leaders using fluorocarbon or mono as it just makes it a bit harder. If I were you and I was going to use a square bill crank, I'd get some Berkley Big Game 12lb and use that. As for the rod, $50 bucks won't get a lot but I think the Lightning rod shock is the right rod for you, it is made to use braid so the action is softer than a fast action rod and for crankbaits you will want a little softer action, anything moderate to moderate fast is what you look for in a cranking rod. The reel you have might not be good with the braid you got, that thin diameter on less expensive casting reels can end up getting behind the spool as the tolerances are a little more on casting reels under $100 and most lines under 10lb diameter can end up behind the spool and cause all kinds of problems, that line is more for a spinning rod set up.
Not new to fishing just new to taking fishing as a hobby seriously 
WIGuide reply :
Take a look at the Berkley Amp rods. They're cheap, but it's what I had as a square bill rod for quite a while. The actions are listed as mod-fast, but it's closer to moderate than fast so they make good cranking rods.
UCPOPO reply :
Look at Academy's H2O Xpress Rods. They have a 7" Cranking rod that works great. They had them on sale last week for $40, are frequently on sale at $50 but are regularly priced at $60. Great rod at any price in my opinion. I have 3 of them and couldn't be happier.
webertime reply :
Amp and Lightning Rod Shock are great treble rods for the $
stkbassn reply :
On 6/23/2015 at 7:48 PM, robster80 said:powell diesel 705cb glass rod
X2 ..Fish Ranger, Call Cody, hooked up. I have two of these and they are great crankbait rods. $49
junyer357 reply :
X2.On 6/23/2015 at 9:06 PM, UCPOPO said:Look at Academy's H2O Xpress Rods. They have a 7" Cranking rod that works great. They had them on sale last week for $40, are frequently on sale at $50 but are regularly priced at $60. Great rod at any price in my opinion. I have 3 of them and couldn't be happier.
I have a 7ft med-mod blue ethos and its my go to crank rod now. I bought it as a "this will so for now" budget rod but have been very pleased with it that its been pushed to backburner on upgrading.
ABW reply :
On 6/23/2015 at 10:05 PM, stkbassn said:X2 ..Fish Ranger, Call Cody, hooked up. I have two of these and they are great crankbait rods. $49
I also had this powell 705cb glass. It's a nice rod.
HoosierHawgs reply :
I'd look into the F&S Tech Spec Black as well. The soft plastic model would probably do you a decent job. Or a Berkley Amp or Lightning rod Medium. Or, better yet, find a used rod. Look on Craigslist or somewhere that sells used tackle. I got a St. Croix Triumph, and BPS Extreme for $40 used.
iceintheveins reply :
Lighting rod shock for sure.
UCPOPO reply :
On 6/23/2015 at 10:05 PM, stkbassn said:X2 ..Fish Ranger, Call Cody, hooked up. I have two of these and they are great crankbait rods. $49
Does that price include shipping?
stkbassn reply :
On 6/24/2015 at 7:04 AM, UCPOPO said:Does that price include shipping?
I don't recall paying shipping but if I did it wasn't much. Their site has been down for a while so just Google them and call the number. Cody is very helpful and kind. They have a lot of the old diesels left. I have new and old and like both.
thirtysixit reply :
On 6/23/2015 at 7:13 PM, ChrisD46 said:If you could save up to that $79 range more options would open up for you .
At the <$50 range I suggest the following :
1. Berkley Cherry Wood M action 7'
2. BPS Graphite Series M action 7'
You may find sales at other stores such as Academy Sports , Cabela's , Gander Mountain , etc. where you may find a 7' M action casting graphite rod.
The key is you want a 7' M moderately fast / fast action graphite IM6 rod used with a good 12lb. mono line (such as Sufix Elite) to give you a little stretch and cushion to offset a bit of the lower $$ rods action for not being quite a true crankbait designed rod .
Hope this helps ...
^This.....
Chris at Tech reply :
BPS Crankin' Sticks go on sale for $50, or at least they did when I bought mine.
the reel ess reply :
On 6/23/2015 at 7:51 PM, tholmes said:Welcome to Bass Resource!
Your line is 20 lb. test but the same diameter as 6 lb. mono.
As far as $50 rods, check out the Abu Garia Vengence (my first choice in this price range), Berkeley Lightning rod or Bass Pro's graphite series. You'll probably want a 6'6" of 7' medium action rod for throwing crankbaits. Go to a well-stocked store and try several different rods with your reel on them and see how they feel in your hands.
Good luck!
Tom
I'm using a 6'6" M Lightning Rod. It ain't the best tool for the job, IMO. But I bought two online, sight unseen. It's not really a mod tip. I use 15# mono on it to kind of make it more moderate. It also doubles as my topwater rod. The problem with graphite is that it's usually less moderate than glass or composite. You buy a Med glass rod, you almost can't help but get a mod tip. Buy graphite and it moves toward fast.
HoosierHawgs reply :
That's a steal! Do they ever do this online? I'd buy one in a heartbeat!On 6/24/2015 at 8:16 AM, Chris at Tech said:BPS Crankin' Sticks go on sale for $50, or at least they did when I bought mine.
Catt reply :
Academy Sports & Outdoors
All Star Classic 49.99
Berkley Lighting 39.99
Berkley Cherrywood 24.99
the reel ess reply :
Check this out:
http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/h2o-xpress-ethos-7-m-freshwater-composite-crankbait-casting-rod/pid-148117?color=Blue&N=101394130+4294713062
I was in there earlier today and thought this was a pretty good feeling rod.
ww2farmer reply :
I do all of my cranking/treble hook work with Lightning Rods, and Lightning Rod Shock's
6'6" M : target casting 1.5 sized squarebills, 1/4 oz lipless baits, jerkbaits, and topwaters.
6'6" MH: target casting 2.5 sized squarebills, 1/2 oz. lipless baits, larger topwaters
7' M: ripping 1.5's and 1/4 oz lipless baits out of grass, wiggle warts, 3xd's
7'MH: ripping 2.5's and 1/2 oz lipless baits out of grass, 5xd's
7'6" H: 3/4 oz lipless baits, 6xd's
These rods are a little softer than most fast action rods, yet not noodles either, which makes them great "All purpose" rods when fished with braid ( which I do, even for cranking). For example, I have 4 of the 7' MH shocks, one with a 7.3:1 reel spooled with 50lb braid as my frog rod, one with a 6.3:1 reel spooled with 20lb braid that I fish 2.5's, 1/2 oz lipless baits, and 5xd's with, another with a 7.3:1 reel spooled with 30lb braid as a pitching/plastics/jig rod, and the last one with another 6.3:1 reel spooled with 30 lb braid as my swimjig/spinnerbait/buzzbait/chatterbait rod.
OkobojiEagle reply :
Berkley Lightning Rod or Shakespeare Ugly Stick...
oe
Bluebasser86 reply :
Academy Composite Cranker
gulfcaptain reply :
On 6/24/2015 at 2:15 PM, Bluebasser86 said:Academy Composite Cranker
X 3. Their H20 series. They have two I believe, one that is 7' and the other 7'6", And you can crank with straight braid, just make sure you back the drag off some so you don't rip hooks out.
Felix77 reply :
Check your local WalMart ... I just scored a Skeet Reese crankbait rod for $40. Thought it was a mistake but they had them all priced that way. Remembered this post and thought I would share.
UCPOPO reply :
On 6/24/2015 at 10:37 PM, gulfcaptain said:X 3. Their H20 series. They have two I believe, one that is 7' and the other 7'6", And you can crank with straight braid, just make sure you back the drag off some so you don't rip hooks out.
I believe there is only the 7' medium and a 7'10" magnum cranker in the Ethos composite models with cork grips and regular Fuji Alconite guides. I picked the only 7"10 model I've seen with cork the other day for $39. Wish they would have had more of them.
gulfcaptain reply :
My mistake, you are correct.
Kevin22 reply :
You dont need anything special for SB cranks. Just a med or medhvy, probably mh for 1/2oz, graphite rod with some bend to it. You dont want a broomstick. If you are throwing deep divers then that is different. I bet you have a rod that will work just fine. Use 14-17# mono/fluoro anf youll be fine.
kikstand454 reply :
If you have a dicks sporting goods store, pick up a field and stream inferno. It's red. It's $30.
I got one of these ( two piece) rods to take on vacation smallie fishing last year, and it worked so well ( caught plenty of fish on a t-rig....inckuding the smallie in my avatar) -that when I got home, I got one for my kayak. 7'mh/f. I put my curado200 on it and went at it. That rod has been dunked in salt, bent completely over lipling fish at the side of my yak, tons of speckled trout, sailcats, insane drag pulling spanish makeral and landed many many redfish -two over 27". It is still going strong. This is much much more abuse than a typical bass rod. It is fairly sensitive as well as I have caught many a sheepshead ( real saltwater ones....the bite feels like a mosquito farting) with this $30 rod.
Not too long ago I picked up a 7'6" heavy/fast......and it has just the right amount of action to be an AWESOME deep cranking rod. I couldn't be happier.
Great rods for the money- even though they are two piece. Check them out. I'm going to get two more 7'mh/f as my inshore kayak rods.
jitterbug127 reply :
Those inferno rods are really good. I've got two. Nit as nice as my duckett but good
kikstand454 reply :
Oh.....agreed......no doubt. I am not trying to remotely say that they're in that league. Ive got a garage full of rods that are "better" and "nicer" than the f&s inferno.
But for $30 it is a solid rod that fishes double its price. I like it better than both versions of the lightening rod, berkley amp, cherry wood and anything Shakespeare. It's more on par TO ME with the box stores' mid level rods- bps extreme for instance- at half the price.
WPCfishing reply :
I recently bought a Shock rod. I wanted a 6' MH casting rod. Berkley was one of very few who offer a 6 footer. I'm surprised how nice a rod it is. $50.00 at BP 40.00 at Walmart. I bought from BP.
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