Cranking Rod

[stock jockey]

I have read and watched professional bass fishermen state that a good cranking rod should be fiberglass. I went to Bass Pro and Cabelas and did not have any luck in finding fiberglass rods. I have done some research on the internet and 'parabolic' is the term thrown around. How do you know how 'parabolic' a rod is.

I for the most part have Shimano Cumara's, I also have a Shimano Crucial, Shimano Teramar.

Any imput would be helpful.

Thanks,

David

[getfished]

Maybe this will help a bit. I think a parabolic rod will bow evenly throughout it's length. Most rods bow near the tip unless subjected to high pressure and then some will distribute that down the blank to some extent. A true parabolic will begin to bow or flex and distribute that from tip to handle. It's a different animal.

[techo]

Sounds like the old Willow sticks which were great for crappie. Do they use an extra week back bone (not sure of real name) or thinner one? What would be the added benefit for bass fishing? I do like a fast tip as it seems more forgiving on my poor fishing skills, but not sure about a rod that bends all the way to the handle.

[steveearle]

Parabolic was described above, but remember their are still different powers of these rods so you have to base your purchase on the baits you'll be throwing. I fish a 7' MH (mor elike a med.) Moderate action G Loomis for most crankbiats (CBR 845). When summer rolls around, you cannot beat the St. Croix Legend Tournament "Big Cranker" for Lucky Craft D-20s, DD-22s, etc. It is a 7'10" H Moderate action rod. You need to heavier action to throw the bait a long ways, but when you set the hook, it still has a nice slow bend to keep the hooks from tearing out.

I have played withg the Cumaras a little and they seem to me to be a very fast action (only the very tip bends). I know they have the new line of rods designed for moving baits but I have not played with them.

For an inexpensive option, you may want to look at the new Skeet Reese (Wright & McGill Tessera) rods. All of the rods were designed with a composite blank and the premise of a parabolic bend for all applications. You check out the 7' M for $89.95....

All 3 rods mentioned above have a lifetime warranty...Something your SHimanos also have and I consider hugely important....My $.02.

[stock jockey]

I have broken a few and shimano is amazing with there warranty policy. Never a problem. In fact they have substituted 2 of my rods for a different model.

Thanks for the advise on the Skeet rods. I saw them but they said graphite.

Thanks,

David

[rps]

Old school answer:

Browning still makes a model called the Silaflex. Dad owned one he bought in the 60's, and I rebuilt it in the 80's. Good rods. Now days they sell for $40 and come with aluminum oxide guides. Their original advertising touted their parabolic action. This just might be what you are looking for.

[Quillback]

I have been looking at some crankin rods myself, tacklewarehouse has quite a selection and they have a search tool that you can use to see all the cranking sticks they have, they carry just about everything mentioned in the above posts and it's a good place to do some research even if you don't buy from them.

[Bill P]

I have been looking at some crankin rods myself, tacklewarehouse has quite a selection and they have a search tool that you can use to see all the cranking sticks they have, they carry just about everything mentioned in the above posts and it's a good place to do some research even if you don't buy from them.

I use a Falcon Low rider LFC 4 176. 'Medium Gulf Caster' Med action 7'6". Great for warts and 'medium' baits. It can handle the DD's,but I don't throw them too often.

[CaptainJoe]

I like and use the BPS Crankin Stick ($69, on sale for $60). It is a combined graphic and fiberglass rod. They have improved the rod this year and made it 20% lighter. I use the 7' MH Fast Tip (CS703MHT) for little crankbaits and the 7'10" MH Extra Fast Tip (CS7103MHT)for deep diving cranks. Been using these rods for 5 years and have not broke one, yet.

[steveearle]

RPS--I've tried the straight Fiberglass style rods like the Silaflex...I just could not make it work. I need SOME feel and I could not even feel a wart or trap vibrate...just was not right for me. In regards to the Falcon, I used to use a 7' Med Low Rider...Had great feel...might be a little fast if your looking for the parabolic action/bend. The Skeet rods are made up of 2 different technologies. The 7' M cranking rods is labeled as "Tri-Gressive S-Glass."