For your average fisherman, a crankbait specific rod may not be needed. A baitcasting rod may work fine. But if you’re really serious about fishing, a crankbait rod can be great. Crankbait rods allow you to cast further distances, use bigger lures, get improved hooksets, and snag less when fishing with crankbait lures. They absolutely perform better with certain techniques than your standard rods. If you’re shopping for a crankbait rod, here we will take a look at some of the best options on the market.
Best Rod for Fishing Crankbaits
- SHIMANO Curado CDCC72M 7’2” Medium Crankbait Casting Rod
- Dobyns Rods 704CB Glass Champion Series Fast Glass Crankbait Rod
- Ugly Stik GX2 Casting Rod, 7′, Medium/Heavy, 1pc
- Ardent Denny Brauer Baitcasting Rod, Crankbait, Medium Action, 7 Foot 6 Inch
- Fenwick Elite Tech Bass Casting
1. SHIMANO Curado CDCC72M 7’2” Medium Crankbait Casting Rod
– Best Medium Action Crankbait Rod
Product Features
Brand Name: Shimano
Rod Length: 7’2
Power: Medium
Our number one spot goes to the Shimano Curado Crankbait Casting Rod. This is an excellent medium action rod designed for crankbaits. The rod itself is made with carbon, glass, and nanoresin which makes the rod lightweight and sensitive. The guides are designed to minimize friction to help you cast longer distances. This one is reasonably priced, but more importantly, it performs.
2. Dobyns Rods 704CB Glass Champion Series Fast Glass Crankbait Rod – Best Glass Tip Crankbait Rod
Product Features
Brand Name: Dobyns Rods
Rod Length: 7′
Power: Medium-Fast
The Dobyns Rods 704CB Glass Champion Crankbait Rod is our next choice. This medium-fast crank rod measures 7′ in length and has comfortable cork grips. The rod is strong while staying light and balanced like you want from a good fishing rod. This is one of the best glass tip crankbait rods on the market. It flings lighter baits with ease and has great sensitivity. This is how crankbaits are meant to be fished.
3. Ugly Stik GX2 Casting Rod, 7′, Medium/Heavy, 1pc
– Best Cheap Rod for Casting Crankbaits
Product Features
Brand Name: Ugly Stik
Rod Length: 5’6″ – 7’6″
Power: Medium-Medium/Heavy
If you’re shopping for a cheap option, the Ugly Stix GX2 Casting Rods are a good choice. Though not specifically designed as cranking rods, these casting rods are made from graphite and fiberglass which gives it enough power to really launch your lures. For fishing crankbaits we recommend buying a longer medium action rod. The 7′ medium rod is a good choice. The rod is balanced and sensitive and built with durability in mind. Ugly stix rods are becoming well known in the fishing world, and for good reason. This is a good blend of affordability and performance.
4. Ardent Denny Brauer Baitcasting Rod, Crankbait, Medium Action, 7 Foot 6 Inch
– Best Crankbait Rod for the Money
Product Features
Brand Name: Ardent
Rod Length: 7′ 6″
Power: Medium
Coming in at number four on the list the Ardent Denny Brauer Baitcasting Rod is an extremely well-made rod. Its medium action and measures 7’6″. The fishing rod is made from one piece of graphite which makes the rod light and balanced without sacrificing durability. It has fuji aluminum guides and split cork grip to provide comfort. The rod is powerful enough to work deep divers and lipless cranks with easy while providing a great casting distance.
5. Fenwick Elite Tech Bass Casting
– Best Crankbait Rod for Deep Diving Crankbaits
Product Features
Brand Name: Fenwick
Rod Length: 7’2″
Power: Medium – Heavy
The last spot on our list goes to the Fenwick Elite Tech Bass Casting Rod. This fight features a titanium frame that makes the rod light and durable. It’s medium action and has a TAC and cork handle for comfort and gripping power. One of the good things about having TAC on the handle is that your hands won’t slip in rainy weather. The rod itself is rated for 10-20 pound line and meant to be used with crankbaits weighing up to 1 ounce.
How To Choose a Crankbait Rod
When shopping for a rod for fishing crankbaits, there are a few things you want to consider
- Rod Power
- Length
- Material
Power
For fishing crankbait rods you generally want to use either a medium power rod or a medium-heavy power rod. Medium power rods are good for fishing general crankbaits such as shallow, medium, or deep divers. However, if you’re fishing in the grass you may want a medium-heavy power rod to help you rip the lure out of vegetation more easily.
Length
The general rule of thumb is that for fishing smaller crankbaits and shorter 6’6″ fishing rod will work better. However, for larger lures, you want upwards of 7′. If you know you will be casting medium and deep divers stick with something in the 7′ to 8′ range.
Material
The material can also be important. Some rods are made from graphite and or fiberglass. Some have glass tips. The most important factors will be the power, action, and length. However, if you know you will be casting lighter crankbait, a glass tip rod may help you cast more easily because of the flexible tip. This is something you may want to consider.
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