I just wanted to get your inputs on what you or your clients prefer and why.


Jerkbait and Crankin' Rods - Fiberglass or Graphite and why?


Thanks,
TONY

Graphite especially on jerk baits

Also graphite for crankin.

Since it is possible to get a quality graphite blank with the same bending characteristics as fiberglass, my customers opt for the lighter more sensitive one. As do I.

Bobby Feazel

[www.shockwaverods.com]

Conventional wisdom will not open the box.

Comments LIMITED blanks for crankin rods. (All fiber glass blanks too heavy and not considered)

It is probably a matter of personal preference. Many of the earlier graphite blanks with single modulus construction may have ended up "too stiff" for some of the heavier lure weights for a cranking rod. To build a blank that met the desires of tournament crankbait fishermen the companies providing task specific bass blanks listened to the crankbait fishermen and built blanks that met their expectations. Some developed special tapers and actions required to allow fishermen to easily get the bait to the desired depth, move it through the water at a controlled speed, have enough tactile connection from the hand to the blank to determine the difference between bumping an obstruction and receiving a "bite" and most importantly to have enough flexibility in the blank to prevent ripping a hook from the fish mouth. You will see the terms multi modulus and blends used for cranking rods. Pick up any "blend (graphite/glass) or multi modulus graphite blank built for this technique and you will easily see the nature of the flex which goes into making a true cranking rod. When the blank maker fully understands the requirements and builds a special cranking blank they can be very productive. The "in house joke" at the Castaway Rods production plant is that some crankin guys want to know when they drag over a beer can and others want to know the brand!

For a listing of the Castaway XP3 crank bait blanks available contact Swamplandrods@msn.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/25/2008 08:46AM by Bill Stevens.

Bill;
Very well Stated!
I want to know the brand

It really depends on the characteristics of the graphite and glass wraps.
Many many clients prefer a glass tip, a glass blend or even a modified graphite for crank baits. So many of the pure graphite blanks simply don't have the right action to give a crankbait a good ride.

It is tough to get a straight answer from blank manufacturers but if you read between the lines, and if you do an analysis of the blank from both a size and weight standpoint - it is quite evident that many of the crank bait blanks being sold have some fiberglass in them to get the right response while fishing.

I have found this to be true - even for those manufacturers who are advertising - high modulus graphite - in their blanks. Yes, they have portions of the blank - especially the butt section - all high modulus graphite. But many of those same manufacturers have a composite or all glass tip section.

Take care
Roger

Roger

You are correct when you say: "So many of the pure graphite blanks simply don't have the right action to give a crankbait a good ride."

But, there are some that do have the right characteristics.

The ones that come to mind first are the salmon fishermens "Hot Shot" rods. Rogue, and several other manufacturers, make several powers in this type blank which I build and use successfully for all types of cranks.

I think we bass fishermen (and maybe other types) tend to stay in our box too much and sometimes miss out on a good thing just because they are not listed in the catalog under "Bass Rods."

Bobby Feazel

[www.shockwaverods.com]

Conventional wisdom will not open the box.

Like the in-house joke. But can you close your eyes and tell when your spinnerbait moves into the sun from the shade?

Bobby -

Good point about bass being in box. Skeet Reese has been quoting talking about his Rogue rods in several things I've seen.

A fish is a fish. I don't see why a redfish rod wouldn't work for bass. When I lived on the coast I caught my redfish (up to about 27") inshore on red shad culprit worms and baby 1- crankbaits, so I used bass rods, not "redfish rods". I never messed with bait. The blank just needs to compliment the style of fishing you are doing regardless of it's advertised use.

I thought Skeet Reese fishes for Lamiglas? You look at the Lamiglas rod to blank listing, you'll see many blanks originally designated for another purpose used for many different fish.

Spencer, you are indeed correct. Skeet does in fact fish with Lamiglass, will say that Rogue does make some nice stuff though.

Tom Kaufmann
GySgt USMC

Tom,
They sure do, I have a couple rods I built on their x-fast action 5 power 2 piece popping rod blanks that I really enjoy along with a few salmon steelhead rods. Have messed with some of the 8 - 10 wt fly rods also and they are a really great rod .

Maybe it was an old article that I saw quoted Skeet Reese using a Rogue. I'll find it.

It might be Skeet was speaking of the rod he fishes a "Rogue" type jerkbait, not the manufacture, Rogue. A Smithwick Rogue was one of the early jerkbaits.