Fishing with crankbaits is one of the most tried-and-true methods for coaxing monster bass from their hideouts and into your boat.
Compared with other lures, crankbaits are unique in their swimming action and where they sit in the water column. If you aren’t using the right rod, it won’t be able to impart the realistic action you need to entice a bass to strike your lure.
While any moderate action bass rod can probably get the job done when you’re throwing a crankbait, there are a ton of excellent rods on the market that are purpose-built for use with crankbaits.
With so many rods to choose from, it’s more challenging than ever for anglers to know they’re selecting the best crankbait rod for the way they fish.
Thankfully, the cream always rises to the top. We’ve narrowed the broad field of crankbait rods to the best crankbait rods available now. Read on as we cover the ins and outs of the best fishing rods for crankbait lures.
Top 9 Crankbait Rods
- St. Croix Mojo Bass Glass Casting Rod
- Dobyns Fury Crankbait Rod
- G. Loomis E6X Inshore Fishing Rod
- Abu Garcia Ike Signature Power Rod
- Lew’s David Fritts Perfect Crankbait Rod
- Fenwick Elite Tech Bass Cranking
- Okuma Tournament Concept TCS C-731Ha
- SHIMANO Curado Crankbait Casting Rod
- Ugly Stik GX2 Fishing Rods
St. Croix Mojo Bass Glass Casting Rod
The Mojo line of rods from St. Croix is one of the most legendary on the market, and most serious bass anglers have at least one Mojo rod in their quiver.
If you’re going to buy a Mojo, let it be the Mojo Bass Glass casting rod, which is tailor-made for delivering realistic crankbait action.
These rods offer St. Croix’s IPC mandrel technology which produces an exceptionally uniform, strong, and sensitive blank. St. Croix makes these rods from 100% linear S-glass, and the blanks are appointed with Kigan Master Hand 3D guides, a Kigan hook minder, and a Fuji TCS reel seat.
Despite all its premium appointments, St. Croix manages to keep the price down by manufacturing the Mojo Bass Glass rods in their Fresnillo, Mexico location so that anglers can score a premium-quality rod at a fair price.
Dobyns Fury Crankbait Rod
The Fury line from Dobyns recognizes that every technique anglers rely on to catch fish benefits from a different rod style.
All told, there are 17 different Fury rods, each for different scenarios. The Fury Crankbait ride delivers legendary Dobyns quality and the characteristics discerning bass anglers need when fishing with crankbaits.
These rods offer extra-sensitive high-modulus graphite blanks with a Fuji reel seat, AA cork guides, and kevlar wrapping to provide unbeatable durability.
The Fury Crankbait rod offers a moderate-fast action, which is a hair faster than most crankbait rods, so it delivers a bit more sensitivity than other crankbait rods.
G. Loomis E6X Inshore Fishing Rod
G. Loomis is known the world over as one of the top rod manufacturers on the market, and their E6X rods represent the best opportunity for the average angler to enjoy G. Loomis’ outstanding quality without spending $300+ on a rod.
The E6X uses the same high-modulus graphite Multi-Taper blank that you’ll find in Loomis’ pricier rods. The design eliminates excess material in areas that aren’t needed, making for an exceptionally sensitive and lightweight rod.
The E6X line is extensive, with rods for several techniques. The crankbait-specific model is available in two different powers with a moderate-fast action so anglers can fish their crankbaits at the proper depth while still maintaining excellent sensitivity.
Abu Garcia Ike Signature Power Rod
Working closely with seasoned pro Mike Iaconelli, Abu Garcia’s Ike Signature Power rod delivers by every measure.
Abu spent over five years working with Mike on this rod, and the result is an exceptionally light, durable, and sensitive stick that any crankbait angler will instantly love.
Mike’s signature line includes over twenty different models, each tailored to different techniques. The Power rod delivers excellent results when crankbait fishing, yet it’s still versatile enough for other techniques.
The Ike Power rod begins with a 36-ton high-modulus graphite blank that’s appointed with stainless guides and a Fuji reel seat.
The contoured EVA split grip is exceptionally comfortable and will come in handy during long days on the lake. Mike’s signature iridescent finish further complements this excellent crankbait stick.
Lew’s David Fritts Perfect Crankbait Rod
If you’re going to take advice from anyone on how to fish a crankbait, let it be David Fritts. Fritts is one of the winningest pros on the MLF, FLW, and B.A.S.S. tour circuits, and he’s amassed almost all of his winnings while fishing crankbaits.
David tapped Lew’s Fishing to take the reigns on his signature crankbait rod, and the resulting rod is the ideal stick for crankbait anglers. Plus, it’s available at an excellent price that’s much more friendly on the wallet than many of the top crankbait rods on our list.
This rod begins with a 42-ton graphite blank with a Fuji reel seat and stainless steel guides with aluminum oxide inserts that allow the line to travel as smoothly as possible when you’re bombing monster casts.
Each rod is outfitted with a premium cork handle in either a full or split configuration, depending on the model, and a loop-style hook keeper designed for crankbaits.
Fenwick Elite Tech Bass Cranking
Fenwick is a name that needs no introduction to the angling community, and they put their decades of experience to the test when developing the new Elite Tech Crankshaft rod.
This technique-specific rod checks every box for crankbait anglers and delivers the power, castability, and performance that are critical when fishing with deep-diving lures.
This rod is unique in its construction. While other manufacturers use graphite, fiberglass, or a blend of the two to construct their blanks, the Crankshaft rod from Fenwick features a graphite bottom section with a fiberglass top section.
Constructing a rod in this manner provides the flexibility of fiberglass at the top, which offers unparalleled energy transfer when casting.
The fiberglass section is also less sensitive than graphite, which minimizes the chances of an angler setting the hook too aggressively and ripping the lure from a bass’ mouth.
This Fenwick Elite rod is available in three different models, each with fast action. Medium and medium-heavy models are available from 6’6” to 7’3”.
Okuma Tournament Concept TCS C-731Ha
The aptly named Tournament Concept rods from Okuma are loaded with features that pro anglers demand when they need to perform at the highest level.
The Tournament Concept TCS rod begins with a 30-ton carbon blank that delivers unparalleled sensitivity and strength.
Okuma outfits each blank with Fuji’s latest K-Concept guides with Faz-Light inserts, which allows braided line to travel through the guides effortlessly, so you can launch the longest casts possible without having to worry about damaging line guides.
This rod also features a C-40X carbon reel seat with a screw-down foregrip. The foregrip design eliminates contact with the reel seat threads for comfortable all-day casting.
Okuma offers thirteen different Tournament Concept rods, with this model serving as the go-to for throwing crankbaits.
SHIMANO Curado Crankbait Casting Rod
The name Curado is something many bass anglers are familiar with, as Shimano manufactures a wildly popular reel by the same name.
The brand recently released a matching rod for crankbait anglers, and it delivers Shimano’s legendary quality and reliability with a crankbait-specific profile anglers are going to go nuts for.
This rod starts with a hybrid blank constructed from high-modulus UD carbon with Nanoresin. Each blank is outfitted with Fuji Alconite guides and a Fuji rubberized reel seat. A premium cork grip finishes off this well-appointed stick.
The high fiberglass content in the rod blank delivers exceptional power transfer during casting, allowing anglers to bomb longer casts without sacrificing much sensitivity. The softer blank also helps prevent anglers from ripping the lure away from the fish on the hookset.
Ugly Stik GX2 Fishing Rods
The Ugly Stik brand is one every angler knows. Chances are, you had an Ugly Stik in your hands on your first fishing trip. These rods are well-known for delivering unbeatable durability and solid performance for a price anyone can afford.
These rods utilize Shakespeare’s UglyTech construction to produce a hybrid graphite and fiberglass blank that delivers bulletproof durability. These rods are sensitive, but not overly so, so you won’t have to worry about setting the hook too early and ripping the lure from the fish.
Ugly Stik outfits each blank with their UglyTuff one-piece guides without guide rings, so you don’t have to worry about damaging guides over time or losing out on casting distance. These rods are available in one and two-piece configurations and many different sizes, actions, and rod powers.
While there isn’t a technique-specific model for crankbaits, there are several GX2 rods that perform excellently with these deep-diving baits. Look for a medium or medium-heavy model capable of throwing lures up to ¾-ounce from 6’6” to 7’6,” and you’ll be well on your way to catching big bass with crankbaits.
Final Thoughts
Crankbaits are some of the most productive lures you can throw, and discerning anglers know that the right crankbait can make the difference between a mediocre day and your personal best.
If you’re unsure where to start, take a closer look at the Lew’s David Fritts Perfect Crankbait rod, which offers an excellent blend of value and performance.
The rods from G. Loomis and St. Croix on our list are the ideal choice for anglers searching for a premium option, and the GX2 from Ugly Stik is perfect for anglers who are just getting their start with fishing.
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