You can use a 6.3 but I find it will wear you out a lot quicker than a 5.4 or less.

I don’t mind retrieving 5xds, DD22s and 6xds with a 6.3, but a 5.4 makes things much easier on 8xds, 10xds, and other larger crank baits.

It depends on what you call deep cranking. Are you talking about a 6XD or a 10XD? I tend to crank fast and have a hard time slowing down so I need the gear ratio to do it for me. For an 8XD and a 10 XD I use a 5-1 gear ratio reel.

I call deep 12-20’ like I put in the post. I don’t have any idea how deep the XDs you listed go.
I didn’t put less than 12’ cuz I know my 6.3 will work fine on those cuz I’ve thrown a bunch.

Yep, and a 3.8 were considered a deep cranking reels. 😀

Remember that you will have to alter your retrieve with either ratio to get the crankbait moving at the speed it needs to get to it's max depth. Usually means cranking faster with the 5:1 or cranking slower with the 6.3:1. So decide which is easier for you. Everyone will have their own preference for what feels easier to do. I prefer to speed up with the 5:1. As mentioned earlier, play with the amount of line on the spool too as that will affect the ratio. You can mess around with the line on the spool of a 6.3:1 and get a low ratio on a long cast that increases as you get closer to the boat.

I also agree that the M action rod is going to be too light for those crankbaits. I use M for anything less than your listed depths, but for those big deep divers, MH is the minimum for me. M action on a big crankbait will wear you out. You won't believe how much until you step up to a heavier action,

reel will work but the rod has got to go .its way to short for deep cranking 7'6" or longer for deep cranks

Your combo will be fine for deep cranking. It's not ideal, but it doesn't need to be, that's what you have so make it work. If you really fall in love with deep cranking, then consider a 7'6" or longer MH power, MF parabolic action rod with a lower gear ratio high capacity reel for your next combo. You'll get longer casts and less fatigue casting and reeling with that kind of set-up, but it's not very good for much else other than lipless cranks, possibly small exposed hook swimbaits in my opinion. Until then, slow your retrieve a bit with your current combo and try to not overpower your casting; the M power rod is going to flex hard and you'll wear yourself out (potentially injure) trying to get exceptional distance on a cast.

Yeah I guess for now I’m just going to have to make It work. Majority of my cranking is shallower anyways.

My next combo I’ll get a curado 300 k and a bps longer cranking stick in MH.

For sure try what you have to see if you even throw the bigger cranks enough to make it worth it. I use the cranking sticks and recommend them, but that 7'6"" rod is a PITA to stow and carry just for a few casts a day. I'll throw a crankbait all day long, so it's worth it to me. That 7'6" MH makes those baits so much easier to use all day, but if I don't plan on spending a lot of time deep cranking that day, it will stay home and out of the way.

Now, if you have a 21 foot boat with rod lockers you can sleep in, load it up with whatever you want

I just have a little old 18-1/2 aluminum boat but my 8' Dobyns Rods fit without a problem.

Yeah, mine fit without a problem for me too. At least in my eyes. But my partner gripes about having to move them around to get to stuff. Every one has something to gripe about.

Oh okay!

Now If I want one on the bottom of mine the top ones have to come out!

It isn't perfect but I keep the ones I use most on the top so those 4 or 5 are coming out anyway.

Exactly!

Heck the abu 5000 was 4.7 lol
Got two of those gold abu 3.8 round reels when I want real slow

The lower gear ratio is easier to work with if you are cranking for quite some time.

When I didn't have a dedicated cranking rod, I didn't spend much time deep cranking. My wrists would begin to hurt. I now have 2 dedicated cranking rods, I can now crank for several hours without wearing myself out.

I think in general the gear can be correlated to diving depth, but its not always like this.

The gear I use is dictated more about the crankbait shape profile than how deep it dives.


I have made bottom contact in 18' of water pretty consistently with a 6XD and 12 lb fluorocarbon, but I don't mind using my 6.3:1 with them. If I get on a consistent bite, I will eventually tie a 6XD on my winch, just because it is so much more effortless to retrieve. Doesn't feel like you are fighting a 2 lb fish on every cast.

If I'm throwing an Academy brand deep diver, they have much more resistance in the water. I will typically throw an Academy brand that dives 15-17' on my revo winch.

So its hard to say which rod/reel for which "depth". It varies from crankbait to crankbait.


I use a 7' Ugly Stick Lite with a 6.3 for small squarebills and depths of less then 10'. Many laugh, but this is one of my favorite rods in the box. I love it for jerkbaits, small topwaters, and small cranks.
But I've thrown bigger square bills that I will only throw on my 7'6 MH, Mod action cranking rod.

I've caught some good quality fish out deep cranking. There have been several times that having that lower gear ratio has allowed me to cover water and spend more time throwing that crankbait, and put more fish in the boat.