Best Crank Bait Rod
 

Yesterday I missed a fish on a stick worm, and just had the feeling that a
crank bait bottom bounced through the area would pick up the fish. My son
had a medium light action rod with 8 pound CarbonPro and a fairly loose drag
rigged up with a 4-6 foot runner that I thought would be perfect. He
managed to wrap the line around three other rods in the boat on the way up
to the front to make the cast. By the time I got it all untangled the boat
was starting to drift out of position. Rather than bump the trolling motor
and risk spooking the fish I just made the cast and brought the crank bait
through the area. It worked. While it was not a big fish, it was our big
fish for the day. A 2.35 lb LM.

I had Robert get the net, because I have had way to many fish come
unbuttoned on crank baits lately. He was a little slow on the net, but I
was able to bring the fish up and over the net for him to bring it in. When
I got the fish in I noticed it was barely hooked by the rear hook in the
corner of the mouth, by loose flesh. If I had tried to swing it in the boat
I would surely have lost it.

I am amazed the fish didn't come off while fighting it, but the rod did a
really good job. While the crank bait tends to put a lot of load on the
rod, I think the rod itself saved the fish. It is not marked, but it fishes
like a medium/light power medium or medium/slow action rod. That fish made
several runs up near the boat while Robert was getting the net in position.

The casting distance was also very amazing with the eight pound line it was
spooled with. I am hesitant to fish such light line and tackle since I use
crank baits primarily in and over heavy grass beds with submerged trees.
But the fact is the rod and line did an admirable job of managing the fish
and putting it in the boat. I am seriously considering risking the tackle
in order to put more of the hooked up fish in the boat. I definitely could
feel the grass and rocks better since the rod would load up so much more
each time it came into contact. I am amazed. For feeling a strike on
plastics a fast action medium or medium heavy rod seems to detect hits
better, So I was really surprised with how well I could judge the run of the
crank bait on this much lighter tackle. That is quite an interesting
learning experience. I know I need to do some experimenting with my lighter
tackle now.

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