All of my current rods are Abu Garcia. I like most of them quite a bit, but I need something better for crankbaits, as I'm loosing too many on my current rods. I'm fishing with Veritas VRC70-5 rods. They are supposed to be a medium power with a medium-fast action, but they are more towards a medium heavy and the action feels more like a fast. I'm fishing medium deep diving crankbaits (15-17' range) most of the time, and I've had quite a few hard strikes that come up lost. I didn't have this problem when I was fishing my own fiberglass crankbait rods with these same reels and line, but this same setup with a different rod (graphite, and too heavy / fast it seems) is causing me all kinds of headaches.

I'm not a Loomis fan. Don't know why. Maybe it's the price. I don't know. Just not a fan, and I have owned them in the past - just not a crankbait rod from them.

One of my all time favorite cranking rods was the old 7' VIP from Daiwa, which went away sometime around 14 years or so ago. Man... I feel old just typing that. They weren't very expensive, and the foregrip cork always disintegrated in short order, but the power / actions were perfect. I hardly ever had a fish come unbuttoned when I was using those old fiberglass rods.

I have built my own in the past, but even finding suitable blanks these days is getting more difficult. Hardly anything in fiberglass, and there are a lot more players in the game than before, so it's confusing trying to wade though blank descriptions. Considering just buying a Lamiglass 7' blank and building my own, but I'm not sure if I'm going to like the current actions on those blanks either.

Any suggestions for a reasonably priced 7' or even 7'6" crankbait rod or rod blank to build my own (preferably glass, but I'll consider graphite) would be appreciated. I'm thinking something medium power with a moderate action in that length.

All the best,
Glenn

Power Tackle PGC173-73

I have duckett 7-11 medium cranking rod and love it,but it's not a glass rod if that's what your looking for, for the money a lot of people like the kvd cranking rod but I don't care for anything glass

Check out the Dobyn's line of crankin sticks.

A good $90 rod is a WG crank rod. Probably not the super-tuned stick but it works very well
http://www.wright-mcgill.com/skeet-reese-2/sf-s-glass-rods

There's better, but that's a real decent rod that many use.

If you like the Abu's you might consider trying the "winch" model. There is a 7' med or 7'6 MH I believe. I have the 7'6 MH and it is much more limber than the non-winch 7'3 MH and haven't had trouble losing fish, finding them is a whole other story though

Older model Shimano Crucial TC-4 for a 7ft rod choice.
Duckett 7-6 cranking rod if you want the longer one.

For deep divers I use a Duckett 7-11 and a Dobyns 805

Check out the Denali jadewood 7'6 cranking rod it's a good rod I have never had any problem loosing any fish if you want a step up from that you can get the kovert as well!

St Croix Avid, 7' Medium, Moderate. Or St Croix Rage 7' medium, moderate. The rage is more reasonably priced and really nice. I just went with the Avid for the warranty.

I took a chance on one of these, and actually like it!!! Cant go wrong for the money. I got mine on clearance from Wally World for $50.
I have that same Veritas and only use it for BIG HEAVY baits like A rigs or BIG scrounger swimbaits...its too stiff and heavy for throwing cranks in my opinion.

Falcon Cara CCM-4-17. I'm about to get one of these babies mainly for squarebills. It is the sweetest feeling rod I've ever handled

I have a Loomis 7' heavy cranking rod, it is ok but I want something better, if the cost was really not a factor what cranking rod would you want for DD 22 and such ?

Check out Powell's cranking rods

Yep. This will be my next rod I buy for cranking applications.

Dobyns are great but if on a budget Bass Pro KVD cranking rod in 7'10 is pretty hard to beat bud. I think they are 149.00