The great rod debate

I’m looking to replace a few rods this winter and am curious as to what everyones favorite crank baiting pole would be.
Falcon, Fenwick, St Croix, Ect. Any suggestions on length, material and action would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

I like my St.Croix 7′-6″ Tidemaster’s

This is a medium action rod that will handle a big walleye with ease!! great back bone in fighting a fish near the boat. The model of the rod is TC 76MF

Sooooooooo sensitive that you will feel it when you pick up the smallest weed on your lure!

This St.Croix Tidemaster get’s my vote.

Having been exposed to Bobber’s TideMasters, I’d have to agree that they’re a great trolling rod as well. But are you looking for casting or trolling or both? Either way I’ve become a HUGE fan of longer rods. There are many great manufacturers with quality products but I REALLY like the 6’9″ to 7’6″ length rod. More control, longer casting distance, better hookset in the sweep…………I can think of more but maybe it’s not the detail you want. Longer rods DEFINITELY troll better so a longer casting/crankbait model rod can multi-purpose quite well.

What applications are you most interested in and how much are you looking to spend? That will help us narrow down some suggestions for you!

For info on the St. Croix Rods just click on the site below and then click on the St. Croix Logo that appears. The Tidemaster rods that Bobber is talking about are found under the Saltwater Rods. I just checked it out and now I know what my next crankbait rods are going to be. Wasn’t sure which St. Croix rods to get but those rods sure look sweet. Thank Bobber, Bill

http://www.stcroixrods.com/

Bobber got some good tips for the walleye side. If you are looking for a crankbait rod to bass fish my 2 suggestions would be either the GC70M, or the AC73MHF.

The GC70M is a St Croix Pro Glass rod, 7’0″, medium action. It works real well for medium to shallow cranks. It also works well onlight to medium weight spinnerbaits. The only thing I don’t like is that it doesn’t have quite enough backbone for me when I try to rip it through milfoil with deep cranks. When I hit cabbage and coontail lakes it is my go to rod.

The AC73MHF is a St Croix Avid casting rod, 7’3″ that telescopes, medium heavy action with a fast tip. This is a great all around rod that covers any crankbait situation. It is also the rod I use for fishing jigs, thus more versitile. If I had only 1 rod, this would be it.

Just to let everyone know St. Croix as come out with a line of crankbait rods in the Avid series. These are medium and medium heavy moderate action rods that are the greatest feeling crankbait rods I have ever thrown. I am using the AC66MHM and the AC70MHM. I like the medium heavy moderate action rods so I can go from lipless crankbaits to the big deep divers. They have a soft incredibly sensitive tip and are alot lighter in weight than the Pro glass crankbait rods. Check them out if you are in the market for a new crankbait rod!
Chris Beeksma

Thank you everyone for your advice. I really appreciate it.

loomis has the best stick i’ve laid my hands on for crankbaits. 7’er’s give you the play you need with c-bait fish, and i would second the avid c-b rod also in a med. action