Checked out crankbait rods today at BPS

[keithdog]

Well I wasn't able to check out everything I wanted to but got to check out several different ones. All the rods I'm looking at are 7 foot crankbait specific rods. The ones I was most impressed with were the red KVD Tour Crankbait rod, St Croix Premier Glass Crankbait, the Skeet Reese Crankbait rod, and the Shimano Compre rod. The Compre unfortunately was not the exact version I wanted to see, and they didn't even have the Crucial crankbait rod which was the one I also really wanted to see.

The St Croix was actually more impressive than I expected. Good action and feel, but 2 less eyes than the Skeet Reese rod. The Skeet Reese rod really felt good, although it felt a bit too noodleish so to speak for a large deep diving crankbait which is what I plan to use this rod for. But it also felt like it had the guts to take a heavy load. Just not too sure about the VERY flexible action with a large crank. It was much more flexable than the other MH action rods I looked at. The KVD Tour rod no doubt would be a very good choice. I thought it looked like a broom stick at first. Looks huge and fat! But that must be due to it's color of bright red. When I held it side by side to the St Croix Premier glass rod, and the Skeet Resse rod, the 3 rods were very close in actual size, though very different in action. Unfortunately they didn't have any Falcon rods in the house, which is just as well as I don't want to spend $200.00 on a rod, although I'd love to have the one Reb told me about.

The Shimano Compre had a much narower blank that I expected. Not that that is a bad thing. I just wish they had the 7' MH version there to check out. I was not at all impressed with the Mojo rods from St Croix as far as a crankin rod goes. I really wanted to look at an American Rodsmith too, but they didnt have any. UGH!!! One rod I looked at which I was suprised with was the BPS Carbonlite rod. Although not identified as a crankbait rod persay, the 7' MH-fast action model felt suprisingly good. Note..I don't mind the power hump as I know others do. Although the rod is a fast action rod, it had what felt more like a MF action tip to it. Anyways, my search is still on, and I got to play while it rained outside. Bought myself a new Redhead hat, a Strike King #4 crankbait and a KVD 1/4oz. bluegill pattern swim jig. Now it's time to get that steak cookin!