Which Crankbait Rod?

[phjack]

OK Guys, I need your input. I want to buy a Kistler crankbait rod and need some suggestions as to which one you like in general. I'm kinda leaning toward a fiberglas/graphite combo in the 6'6-7'. I will mostly be using med-med heavy lures. 2- 15 foot . Any user input will be appreciated.

[rsburns]

I love to throw crankbaits, and hope my advice will be of some help. First of all, I would recommend using at least a 7' rod for crankbaits. The extra length will allow for the longer casts needed to work crankbaits most effectively.

From your specifications, sounds like the new Alton Jones crankbait special (MGAJCBSGGM70) will work nicely! (although I'm not sure you will be able to get down to the 15' range with a crankbait on a glass/graphite composite rod.) This rod is brand new; I haven't used one yet, but I do know Trey Kistler and have met Alton Jones, both are great guys, and fellow Christians! If both of their names are on this rod, it's gotta be good!

My favorite crankbait rod is an LTX 7' medium action rod (He2MC70) which I prefer for small wooden crankbaits down to the 3 - 5' zone. My other favorites are the LTA 7' medium action rods (He70MC) that I use for medium running baits down to about 12'. I've been using the LTA 7'6" medium-heavy rods for throwing deepdiving crankbaits for the past several years, but looking forward to the arrival of the new Argon 7'9" (AFCB79CT) "Longcaster" to get even more distance for these deepdiving crankbaits below the 15' range.

Hope this answered some of your concerns; I use several different rods (I consider them as "tools") which are capable of doing different tasks. (It's kinda like guns; the bigger the game you're after, the bigger the gun you normally need to get that job done most effectively.) Generally, for shallower applications, a "softer" rod action works very well. The deeper you want a crankbait to go the more "stiffness" (as in medium-heavy) you are going to need.

God bless, and good fishing!

Scott Burns
Kistler ProStaff

[Greg Sallee]

I can't wait to get my hands on the new 7'9" Argon. I will be using it for all my med to deep running crankbaits.

[deepcrankn]

I am also looking forward to the Argon 7'9" longcaster. I am placing my order this week so I have them by summer time when the big plug bite is on.

I would recommend going with a 7' rod for a any size crankbait you throw. I use a 7' for my small, medium and deep diving plugs. You will like the extra distance you can get and the sweeping power you will have on the long cast.

I prefer the glass/graphite combination rods for my medium or deep diving crankbaits. These rods are usually a little heavier and throwing a bigger plug is easier to handle. If you are going to be throwing a smaller plug, say one that runs 1-7 ft. I would not go with the glass combo rods.