Bouncer and Crankbait Rod

[FisH_SLaYer24]

I am looking at purchasing a new baitcasting rod in the next month or so. I would like the rod to be able to fish both bottom bouncers and crankbaits. I will mainly be fishing bouncers between 1.5-2.5 oz and I will be throwing a variety of different cranks including the DT's, Rattle Baits, and maybe even some shad style baits if possible. This rod is ideally going to be used for walleyes and smallmouth bass. I am looking to spend around $100-$150, I am not partial to Brands, although I love my Shimano and St.Croix Rods. This rod will most likely be paired with a Shimano Citica Baitcasting reel.

I was thinking of either the Compre or Crucial rods from Shimano or one of the St. Croix rods as well. I love the length and feel of the longer rods, so I would like the rod to be around 7' or so. Would I be better off going with a Medium Heavy setup or a Medium power? What about the action of the rod? I would assume that for the crank baits I am going to want a Moderate-Fast action, but I am not sure how that will affect the bottom bouncing technique.

Feel free to post any rods that you have had experience with in similar techniques and that have worked best for you. Also, feel free to share any input as to specific rods that may work for these situations.

Thanks,

Chris

[Chris Haley]

Did you check my post on the high end rod thread? If you go to the site they have "wild River" line of rods at %50 off also. These rods have the 5 year warranty. $160 rod for $80, and the longer models you might be interested in. For bouncing I use a 6' 8" - 7' rod. Med. - Med. fast action.

[Fish Head]

I have 4 Shimano crucial and 3 Compre rods and I really like them. The St Croix Eyecon would also be a good choice. Either one will serve you well, and I don't think you can go wrong with either. If you're in the 1.5-2.5 range, I wouldn't go to med-heavy...but that's just me. I think you're right on with the 7 foot moderate fast.

Good luck.

[Fish Head]

I just read Chris' post in high end rods. That's a heck of a deal on some great rods!!

[Sportland_Bait]

Go with a 7' medium or medium-heavy. I prefer the med-heavy and I do exactly the same as you. Something for bass and pulling bouncers. I like that I can snap through the weeds a little easier when casting cranks. I'd think about the St Croix premier.

Jason Erlandson

[FisH_SLaYer24]

Besides the slightly better quality of graphite in the Crucial, is it worth the extra $50 to purchase the Shimano Crucial Crankbait rod versus the Shimano Compre Crankbait rod?

As far as line goes for the reel that I will be putting on the rod, would you guys recommend braid, fluoro, or mono? I know that the braid will give me extreme sensitivity, but I also know that the fluoro is a sinking line that can really help allow your crankbait to dive deeper.

Thanks again guys!

[Kyhl]

Flouro shouldn't stretch either so it will have higher sensitivity over mono too.

The problem with flouro is it has little to no memory which means it will try to unspool itself all the time as it tries to return to being straight.

Suffix 832 is a braid that sinks.

[Chris Haley]

Sensitivity doen't need to be an issue if it's for bouncers or cranks. You need to consider how the different lines affect depth. I like mono since it gives a little shock absorption with the reaction bites you get with cranks and spinners on the bouncers.

[Fish Head]

Personally I'd go with braid. Pulling bottom bouncers you have a little bit of a built in shock absorber because the line doesn't go right to your lure. There is a 45 degree bend in your line at the point of the bottom bouncer. I don't think it's an issue for casting cranks either. It could come in to play when trolling cranks directly behind the boat, but that is why you get a medium, moderate-fast rod. That's just my opinion.

[FisH_SLaYer24]

For fishing braid, do most guys tie a quick change snap when throwing crankbaits?

[Fish Head]

For fishing braid, do most guys tie a quick change snap when throwing crankbaits?

I do. Make sure there's no swivel.

[JohnMickish]

I use a quick snap when trolling and pitching cranks.

[Stick in Mud]

For fishing braid, do most guys tie a quick change snap when throwing crankbaits?

I do. In fact, I am trying to think of someone I've fished with in the last few years who has tied all his crankbaits directly to the line. I'm sure some do, but I don't know any of them.

[harvey lee]

Quick snap for me also.

I have 5'-7' and a 8' trolling rod. All medium action with a moderate tip. 2 of my trolling rods sit in rod holders and they are glass rods. No need for a spendy blank when they sit in the holder. Once the fish is on, I just grab the rod and reel so no need for the spendy blanks to feel the bite.

I do not know how well these rods would work for any other application as I have custom built the rods I need for the application.

[Nhamm]

I got a 6'6" or 6'8" Premier and love it. Did plenty of bouncing 2.5oz BB in Canada last year with it and casting all kinds of junk too. I'd rather have it perform better on the crank side of it than the trolling. If you can would go bigger than mine though, 7' would be perfect.

[FisH_SLaYer24]

I got a 6'6" or 6'8" Premier and love it. Did plenty of bouncing 2.5oz BB in Canada last year with it and casting all kinds of junk too.

Nhamm, what power and action is your Premier?

[Nhamm]

Had to go look in the garage, ooooohhh feels good to hold that rod again. Its a 6'6" Medium power fast action.

[FisH_SLaYer24]

I'll have to take a look at the Sportsshow and just feel which rod feels better in my hand, I'll be looking for a 7'-7'2" Med or Med Heavy.

[Cicada]

One thought. If you will be using a rod holder a lot with this rod, consider a foam handle. I have a cork handle that I've been using with my linecounter reel for cranks and it has chewed up the cork over the course of five years or so. I will be at he Sportsman Show in Fargo this weekend to see if I can find a replacement rod for the linecounter and use the old rod for casting.

[Chris Haley]

Maybe one of the guys lurking that builds rods could tell you how much to replace a cork handle? Good to go for another 5 years. If you bought a top end rod and the blank has a lifetime warranty, why not just pay a couple bucks to put a new handle on?

[JohnMickish]

Alot of the trolling rods have shrinkwrapped handles as the EVA foam will get eaten up by the rod holders as well. Those handles with the nice looking crosshatch patern are shrinkwrap. If you do a google search you can find a tacle/rodbuilder business out there that sells the shrinkwrap.

[amateurfishing]

whats the difference between using quick snap or swivel snaps? i read lots of ppl recommending quick snaps, even for hard water, just wondering why?

[JohnMickish]

Using a swivel snap at the lure adds weight to the nose of the lure and that can kill the action of the lure. If you need a swivel while trolling cranks either move the swivel upstream of the lure by a few feet and use just snap then, or tune your cranks so they don't spin. If they are spinning you are not catching.

[delmuts]

Many of us use a snap so changing lures is easier, but not a snap swivle( to much weight that kills action and not really needed unless your lure spins) . They also make some small ones for ice jigs and small lures. I use a snap most times when fishing crankbaits. As said. If you lure spins; add a swivle a little ways up the line.

[amateurfishing]

would a Lews Laser CBS (i think) half price at a rogers store be a good fit for said fishing style with medium heavy action?

i also need a beginners rod for said fishing style

my braided line baitcaster swivel crankbait setup turned out to be a first timeers disaster last fall think i need to go the mono/line counter combo route....