Rod and reel for casting Raps

[DRH1175]

What is your favorite rod and reel combo for casting raps. Raps are kinda on the light side so what do you all use to get maximum casting distance? And for Eyes I assume most like me do a direct tie even with Other toothy fish on the prowl.

[kfk]

I like to use a 6'6" rod and open faced spinning reel for casting cranks and there are many good brands out there. It all comes down to the best deal or personal choice and I don't believe there is any best brand on the market. You can spend a ton of money on a combo but it isn't necessary. Some guys like to use 7' or longer rods too for more distance and you do get a bit more distance with a longer rod. Again, it comes down to personal choice.

I never tie cranks directly to my line, either casting or trolling because it usually inhibits the action of a lure. I'll use a snap to attach my crank to the line always, but again, that's how I like to do it. It also makes changing cranks much easier. Berkley makes some snaps just made for cranks that I really like.

When using cranks in areas with northerns present, I like steel leaders called Invisa-Leaders. They don't seem to affect the cranks action or affect walleye bites and they prevent cranks from getting bitten off by northerns. I have too much money invested in cranks to loose a $5/crank(or more) every time I get bitten off.

[c0untryf1sh3r]

I use a 7' medium Ugly Stick Lite Pro, not the most fancy rod on the market but its one of the better quality lower dollar rods, and the craftsmanship is great. It has a stiff backbone for haulin fish but with a nice soft tip for really slinging those light Raps out there. You need a bigger reel to balance out the weight of the rod so I paired it with a Mitchell 300x spooled with 8lb Trilene and its about perfect, for $50 or so you cant go wrong and its a great reel. For the toothy critters some guys tie on a length of single strand wire for a leader but I just use a regular 6" leader. Not about to lose $9 on average to a northern. Just my 2 cents.

[DRH1175]

Thanks, I currently have used a bait casting set up. But never seem to get the distance I want. Raps are so light. I have always used those snaps your talking about. I should have mentioned that. I was more referring to Leaders vs not. The lake I fish has a lot of northers and Muskies. Loosing $5 raps really stinks. But I don't want to keep walleyes from biting becaused of the leader.

[Chode2235]

i have a st croix eyecon 7'0" MH medium action casting rod that I use for throwing plugs (bass, walleyes, pike... Its my go to crankbait rod).

I also really like it as a trolling and bottom bouncer rod (its called their bottom bouncer rod, but built on their crankbait blank).

[tunrevir]

For me it really depends on the conditions that I am fishing. A 6'6" medium action rod for lighter cranks and a 7-7 6" rod for windier days. Typically I'm tossing #5 and 7 shad raps or a cd 6 wallydiver and the 6 6" rod with 6-8# mono gets the job done. If I'm running heavy cranks and its windy I switch to a 7' mh rod with a baitcaster and 30# power pro to work into the wind. Most apps a 6.5 to 7 foot medium action rod will do. Whatever rod and reel you choose make sure it has enough backbone to set the hook and fel the bait swimming but not so much you can't tell if you have a weed on whe n working the bait back to you. I typically run a Shimano 2500 reel for casting longer distances. The longer rod and larger spool will allow you to launch baits a long ways under lighter wind conditions. Heavy winds call for heavier baits and that is when I'll switch to a bait caster and long rod.

Tunrevir~

[wbliceman]

Thanks, I currently have used a bait casting set up. But never seem to get the distance I want. Raps are so light. I have always used those snaps your talking about. I should have mentioned that. I was more referring to Leaders vs not. The lake I fish has a lot of northers and Muskies. Loosing $5 raps really stinks. But I don't want to keep walleyes from biting becaused of the leader.

Lee Tauchen shows how to tie a leader out of Titanium to braid for fishing cranks..

Im going to give it a try this year but as for rods 6'6" at least the length helps casting a little but It really helps with fighiting fish more.

[DRH1175]

That looks like the ticket. Wonder how it runs compared to just straight line. I suppose with the snap it should run about the same.