Fishing Rods

i am definitely not a pro angler, i know some things but i have a lot to learn about rod selection. how do you choose a rod for bait specific ie... for cranks 6'6",6'9",7'0",etc what length what action what power how do i choose a rod for a specific bait and how do i choose the power and action? there are so many choices i get more confused about what rod to use before i think about what bait to throw. i use a lot of baits to find fish and it seems i use a 7' med-heavy for almost everything because its a good all around rod,but i feel i missing out on a lot of bites, but it is hard to pick rod that is more bait specific. thanks for reading any info is always appreciated

Rod selection is based on technique, lure, lure weight, cover to be fished, line to be used and so on. There are many rods made to fit specific needs of anglers. For a simplistic break down of rod selection, generally speaking Power is the most important. Most medium heavy rods are great all purpose rods, depending on material used and taper of the rod which is basically the action, it can be suited better for one or more technique's.
For Cranking most anglers prefer a rod with a little less back bone and a softer tip in order for the bass to inhale the bait, that is why most crankbait rods are medium power, with a little softer action. As far as length is concerned, it is mostly based on where you plan on throwing these crankbaits, open water or in a more confined area. The longer the rod the better for long casts which in turn will also make a crankbait dive to its maxium depth. If you are casting to cover you might want a shorter 6'6" rod, a 6'9" would be the middle ground. Hope that helps, tight lines and God Bless.

Rob Bogin

With Kistler it is easy. They have designed technique specific rods. So if you want a crankbait rod look for the cranking rods from any of the product lines. For starters I would select a type of rod that matches the kid of fishing that you enjoy most, whether it is a worm, jig, top water, or crakbait. Then work from there. I hope this helps.

Cedric Peterson
Kistler field staff