Crank Pulling Rods - Not Impressed with PSTs for Side Pulling

Hey guys looking for some help. I started pulling cranks out the side from the bow last year and had a ton of fun. To see if I liked it and because I didn’t have a transport rack, I bought black widow collapsible rods and cheap spinning reels. I went out the first day and put a hurting on some big ones and got hooked. I started buying line counters in anticipation of getting new rods this year. I also picked up two 8’ PSTs and two 10’ PSTs to see if I liked them last year. The 10s are okay but I feel the 8s are way too soft. I’m pulling picos, arkies, and bandits anywhere from 1 to 2mph.

Had an issue with some of the Shakespeare reels having the line jump into the side of housing and get jammed in the spool but that’s another issue, I’ll look at upgrading those later.

The time has come to order some cranking rods. I picked up a set of six 16’ southern crappie rods to spider rig with. I wish he made more lengths in the “T” version but he only has 14s and 16s. I’m hesitant to get more PSTs because I’m unsure if they will be too soft like the 8’ers I have. Honestly the action on the black widows are pretty good and can easily detect a bite but I’d like something a little better with a better reel seat that’s lighter to handle. I’d like to use these new rods to try pushing cranks as well ans PSTs with 2-3oz on them wouldn’t be pretty I assume.

I’ve read that 4’ difference in length is preferred and I can see where that might be nice. The PSTs come in a bunch of different length options and since I’m only looking for 6 rods I could pick up a set of 14s and 18s and be done since I have a set of 10s.

If you had to get new rods, what would you go with and would you hold the 4’ difference? 18’ rods are going to be as long as my boat but I did get a transport rack after breaking down those 16’ southern crappie rods a few times. That was money well spent and would work well for cranking too.

Looking for some advice here. Thank you!

First, welcome to the forum. The Mississippi board has tons of info to help with your education.

I trolled 300 bandits and similar baits from 1 to 1.5 or so. I used BGJP’s in 8, 10, and 12 feet and ran four rods out each side with two foot separation. They were also set at different lengths to help from tangling so much. I believe they’ll tangle no matter how much they’re apart. I’ll just speak of the rods in the forward portion of the boat, and I ran 8 up there. Also ran some 6’rods to fill in close to the boat. I like a little flex in my rods after having stiffer rods cause fish to shake loose, many tests to this. I’ve landed cats over ten pounds so I’m sure they’ll hold up and I still have the twelves. I also feel that rods and their action for a given purpose is a very personal thing. Some folks use them for different types of fishing and trolling and that changes things a little more. Southern crappie rods are nice, they are my 6’s. Simply crappie supplied me with the 9’s I now use, doing away with the 8’s and 10’s. I moved from TN to FL and no longer troll cranks or I’d still have the other rods which were all BGJP’s. I also never used any rods over twelve as I have to be smarter than what I work with. I’ve run into schools of crappie many times with lots of rods loading up, but have also run into LMB, whitebass and catfish that hit several rods at once. The rods performed admirably. This is just input. Listen to many, do some research and make your choice to suit the way you fish. I prefer to handle any rod before I buy as standards are all over the board with no common standards.

pro angler rods have enough back bone to pull cranks
i run 14 an 10 out the side an 8 footers out the back

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Originally Posted by skeetbum

First, welcome to the forum. The Mississippi board has tons of info to help with your education.

I trolled 300 bandits and similar baits from 1 to 1.5 or so. I used BGJP’s in 8, 10, and 12 feet and ran four rods out each side with two foot separation. They were also set at different lengths to help from tangling so much. I believe they’ll tangle no matter how much they’re apart. I’ll just speak of the rods in the forward portion of the boat, and I ran 8 up there. Also ran some 6’rods to fill in close to the boat. I like a little flex in my rods after having stiffer rods cause fish to shake loose, many tests to this. I’ve landed cats over ten pounds so I’m sure they’ll hold up and I still have the twelves. I also feel that rods and their action for a given purpose is a very personal thing. Some folks use them for different types of fishing and trolling and that changes things a little more. Southern crappie rods are nice, they are my 6’s. Simply crappie supplied me with the 9’s I now use, doing away with the 8’s and 10’s. I moved from TN to FL and no longer troll cranks or I’d still have the other rods which were all BGJP’s. I also never used any rods over twelve as I have to be smarter than what I work with. I’ve run into schools of crappie many times with lots of rods loading up, but have also run into LMB, whitebass and catfish that hit several rods at once. The rods performed admirably. This is just input. Listen to many, do some research and make your choice to suit the way you fish. I prefer to handle any rod before I buy as standards are all over the board with no common standards.

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I have a couple BGJP that I actually jig with and I believe they are lighter action than the PSTs that I have. They are tough as nails for sure. Thanks for the input. I do wonder if the black widows I was using were too stiff as I've had a few come off when they shouldn't have. But I also reeled in a 15lb striper on one too. That was a fun day!

I pull cranks with 2 6’ Walmart special Shakespeare rods 2 10’ Lews speed sticks 2 14’ southern crappie 143T and 2 18’ bps tight line specials. Pulling cranks can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be! Heck you could use a broomstick if you wanted. It doesn’t have to be a special rod I have used 12’ west points when I used that length in my spread they did good. I bet the cypress creek from jenko would do good too!


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Originally Posted by sinkum

pro angler rods have enough back bone to pull cranks
i run 14 an 10 out the side an 8 footers out the back

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Thanks for the suggestion. I will check that out.

Good info in this thread thanks!

look at walleye rods for trolling cranks....Diawa Wilderness, Shimano TDR and several others. Usually in the $20-50 price range.

I troll cranks the vast majority of the year and have used PSTs since 2009. I pull anything from small Bandit 200’s to PICO INTs to every size Berkeley Flicker Shad up to big Off Shore tadpole diving weights. The 8 footer is the anomaly of the line as it is a slower blank almost like a spinning rod-but it’s action is also one of my favorites. My everyday spread if I’m fishing solo off each side of my boat is an 8’, 12’, & 16’ PST off each side and a 6’ medium action Ugly Stik GX2 trigger rod fishing the water column directly under the boat. They have enough backbone for the occasional 20lb+ blue cat but a soft enough tip to finesse papermouths to the net with the hook intact.

I think you will be happier with 4’’ of rod tip separation when flatlining crankbaits with whatever rods you decide to go with. I’’ve fished in other members’’ boats with various brands of rods for trolling and while they’’re excellent rods, I don’t see the need to change up my PST rods anytime soon. I look forward to seeing which direction you take your setup.

Attachment 425195

I’ve used bm pst’s for pulling for a very long time. 8 ft 10ft 12ft and 14ft on each side. Been using the 410’s for downrods along side of motor for covering down column. They have handled everything kentucky lake, lake Barkley, and the Mississippi lakes have to offer with ease. I also use southern T model rods for pushing out front. Hope this helps.