When you’re fishing for bass, it’s hard to beat the effectiveness of a crankbait lure. While you can use crankbait lures with your standard fishing rod, you’ll see much better success with a specialized rod designed specifically for crankbait fishing. The best crankbait rod ensures that you’ll have just the right amount of power when pulling in a fish without tearing the lure out of a bass’s mouth, as well as gives you the right amount of throw when casting.
In order to help you find the right crankbait rod for your style of fishing, we considered a number of different features of these rods. First, we considered the action, which is where the rod bends in the pole and affects how much pull it will exert on a fish. We also considered power, which determines the thickness of line and size of lure you can use with your rod. Finally, we looked at rod lengths and weights, since these affect how the rod will feel in your hands.
We spent tens of hours researching the best crankbait fishing rods, poring over technical specifications and customer reviews. The result is our list of the 5 best crankbait rods, highlighted in the table below with the Dobyns Fury Series Casting Rod as our Editor’s Choice. Continue reading for detailed reviews of each rod, complete with pros and cons. Our buying guide covers everything you need to know about when you need a crankbait rod and how to choose one. Finally, we sum up our three overall favorite crankbait rods on the market today.
More features: graphite blank, Kevlar wrapped guides, AA premium cork handles
This lightweight crankbait rod from Dobyn’s is our Ediror’s choice for fishing. The fast action and short seven-foot length combine to make casting extremely accurate, which is a major asset when trying to target fish that hide in a specific pool within a river. The fast action can take some getting used to, though, since it requires that fishermen do wait for the hook to be fully set before pulling up on the line – users noted that the rod can be very sensitive to small movements.
Fishermen loved that this rod can accept line down to size eight, but would have liked the ability to add line thicker than size 17 for fighting with fish in rocky terrain. In addition, the limitation of using one-ounce crankbait lures means that this rod is somewhat limited to shallow water and is not as versatile for boat fishing offshore.
That said, users were extremely happy with the weight, balance, and feel of this rod. The cork handles add a degree of comfort that EVA foam cannot match. However, users also noted that the butt of the rod handle was surprisingly short, which takes some getting used to, and that the reel seat threads are too short to fully screw on most reels. Still, users did not have any issues with reels coming detached in the middle of a catch.
This crankbait rod from Okuma was designed with tournament fishing in mind, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be used for a wider range of crankbait fishing just as well. The rod sports a moderate 7.5-foot length, which makes it somewhat easier to carry than other crankbait rods without giving up on casting distance or leverage when setting the hook. Plus, the moderate fast action is ideal for many fishermen who prefer a faster action rod within the world of crankbaits.
While this rod is rated heavy as well, it has a slightly different profile for lures and lines than the Fenwick rod. Notably, it can accept lures down to 0.25 ounces, making it a better choice for fishing in shallower waters. The minimum size 14 line was slightly heavier than some users preferred, but they did find that using a thicker line meant fewer broken lines in rocky waters.
The handle construction of the rod is designed for comfort, with a split EVA-molded grip and a finger rest that makes it easy to use with a spinning reel. Users loved the overall balance and feel of the rod, and many remarked with surprise at how light the rod is given its power for catching large bass. Users were also quite happy with Okuma’s customer service in the few cases that rods were damaged upon shipping or after only a few uses.
More features: Alconite ring, Elite Carbon blanks
This extremely lightweight and nimble crankbait rod from KastKing is designed for fishermen who want responsiveness. The rod features a fast action and 7’5” length, which together provide a high degree of sensitivity to movements in the rod and leverage for fully setting a hook in your catch. For more experienced fishermen, these qualities can lead to an extremely high bite to catch ratio.
The rod is designed for use in relatively shallow water, accepting crankbait lures as light as 3/8 ounces and lines down to 12 pounds. However, note that since it is limited to one-ounce lures, it can be difficult to use this rod effectively in deeper waters such as offshore.
However, this is also where the length of the rod can then become problematic. The long length and fast action can make casting into small spaces relatively difficult. Thus, this rod can be somewhat disheartening for beginners to use and is better suited towards experienced crankbait fishermen.
Users fell in love with the balance and feel of this rod, which is constructed from Elite Carbon blanks. The fishing rod is equipped with high-quality Fuji guides and reel seats to ensure optimal performance, including secure reel attachment and smooth line movement.
More features: premium HM40 graphite blank, stainless steel guides, Winn Dri-Tac split grip handles
The Lew’s TP1X Multi-Purpose Casting Rod is an affordable all-purpose rod with an attractive appearance and durable build quality. This is a lighter rod and yet it has a slightly thicker shaft than many other rods at this price point. The balance feels right but the thicker shaft takes some getting used to if you have smaller hands. Pairing the TP1X with a good quality reel is a great decision because this is a casting dream. The accuracy is superior to many other similarly priced rods and you can land a cast on a dime with practice.
The length of this rod is 7 feet, the eyelets are large and it provides good feedback. This rod really shines when you use buzzballs and other types of topwater baits. This rod is super accurate and tough enough to take over as your primary rod in most scenarios. If you prefer a bottom contact option the TP1X may not meet your needs. However, this is a good unisex rod for adults with a relatively low weight of only 6.08oz.
The Lew’s TP1X Multi-Purpose Casting Rod is made from premium grade HM40 graphite. The guides are constructed from stainless steel with aluminum oxide inserts. Lew’s include a graphite skeletal reel seat as an exclusive with this particular rod. The patented “No Foul” hook keeper and Dri-Tac split grip handles are fitted as standard. The rod has a gorgeous satin pearl finish and charcoal guide wraps to match the handles. This is an excellent multi-purpose rod if you like to surface cast and the build quality is excellent for the modest investment.
More features: Legend glass rod blank, Fuji K-Series tangle-free guide, Split-grip/super-grade cork handle
This crankbait rod from St. Croix Rods is an all-around favorite among users and a versatile choice for beginner and expert crankbait fishermen alike. The moderate rod action gives more bend and slows down the response of pulling up on the rod, making it perfect for fishermen who simply can’t wait to tug on the line after receiving a bite. At the same time, the extra bend combined with the long 7’4” length makes this one of the best casting crankbait rods available.
The medium-heavy power rating pairs nicely with the length and action, giving you the ability to use lines up to 20 pounds and crankbait lures up to an ounce. That means you can use this rod in just about any conditions, although users noted that it can be a struggle in shallower waters, since lures must be at least 3/8 ounces.
The rod features high-quality components for enhanced performance and durability, including Fuji K-Series tangle-free guides with Alconite Rings and Corrosion Control frames, a Fuji PSS-SD palming reel seat, a split-grip super-grade cork handle, and a Kigan hook-keeper. It also has a Flex-Coat slow-cure finish for added protection and is made in the USA, emphasizing its premium construction and attention to detail.
The only downside to this rod is that it is slightly expensive, but given its durability and versatility, many users felt that it was well worth the price premium.
Now that you’ve learned more about our five favorite crankbait rods for fishing, how do you choose between them to get the rod that’s right for your style of bass fishing? In our buying guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about when to use a crankbait rod and the features you need to consider when picking the perfect rod.
A crankbait fishing rod is specifically designed for use with crankbait lures, which are a common and effective type of lure for bass fishing. The reason you need a specialized rod with these lures, rather than any fishing rod you may already have, is that they can easily tear out of the mouth of the bass when you start reeling in.
Crankbait rods have a slower action – which means a deeper bend in the rod – compared to standard fishing rods, which helps reduce the tension on the lure when you first jerk up to hook a fish. While you can achieve the same effect with a standard rod, it is much harder to do it effectively and you’re much more likely to lose the bass you found.
In addition, the slower action of crankbait rods helps with casting crankbait lures, which are typically heavier and more elongated than typical fishing lures.
With the deeper bend in a crankbait rod, you can cast your lure further and more accurately.
While crankbait rods almost all have a slower action than a standard fiberglass fishing rod by design, there are a number of important features that differentiate crankbait rods from one another. Here, we’ll explain the features that you need to consider when choosing the best crankbait rod for you.
Crankbait rods typically range in length from seven to eight feet, although some shorter or longer rods can be found. If catching fish was your only consideration, a longer crankbait fishing rod is almost always better – a longer rod will pull more line when setting the hook in a bass, so you will theoretically have a higher percentage of successful catches when using a longer rod. Plus, having a longer rod allows you to cast your crankbait lure further out, which can be helpful when fishing from a boat or in relatively deep water.
But, longer crankbait rods do have some disadvantages. While you can cast far, casting accurately is much more difficult the longer your rod gets. Plus, long crankbait rods can be somewhat unwieldy to carry around.
The power of a rod refers to the amount of force it takes to bend the rod, and is usually measured on a scale from “ultra-light” to “extra heavy.” Crankbait rods, including all of the rods we reviewed, are typically rated medium heavy to heavy.
When choosing a rod based on power, you want to think about the types of crankbait lures that you will typically be using. Every rod will come with defined limits for the line size and lure weight that it can take – these are relatively firm limits, and you can break your rod if you exceed them. Just as important, operating within the recommended weight range for your rod will make your casting more accurate and your hook setting more successful.
If you’re not sure what lines and lures you will be using with your rod yet, it’s typically a good idea to go for a slightly heavier crankbait rod.
While crankbait rods have a slower action than standard rods, when it comes to choosing among crankbait rods most fishermen actually opt for a fast or moderate action. These rods bend closer to the tip, which increases the tension in the line much more quickly in response to movements you make with the rod.
The reason for choosing a fast-action crankbait rod is that you already have enough bend in any crankbait rod to prevent the fish from throwing out the lure or pulling before it is set in the fish. A faster action, like on the Abu Garcia and Dobyns rods, then gives you longer casts and more reactivity when starting to reel in your fish. However, if you fish in very rocky areas, a moderate-action rod like the Lew’s or Fenwick rods can help keep you from tearing your line if the fish wraps itself around a rock.
The line size and lure weight that you plan to use with your crankbait rod matter for choosing the power of your rod. Fishing lines come in a variety of sizes – smaller lines will cast further and allow the crankbait lure to sink deeper, but they aren’t as durable if a fish pulls your line through rocks.
Crankbait lures similarly come in a variety of weights, with many now exceeding two ounces. A heavier lure will allow you to fish in deeper waters, while a lighter lure is more appropriate for shallow crankbait fishing.
Crankbait fishing rods can see a lot of abuse if you tend to catch large bass that put up good fights. All of the rods that we reviewed are made with graphite or other carbon-material cores, which provide a good mix of bend and durability. When choosing a crankbait rod, be sure that the construction has any additional features that you need in a rod, that it is comfortable to hold, and that there are no reported issues with durability.
Check out this video on how to properly select a crankbait rod.
