Cranking rod for light crankbaits

Stick with spinning rods for shad raps up to a size 5. Your favorite rod in medium light fast action around 7’. 10# braid to an 8# mono (not Fluoro) leader. I use the same rods I’d throw drop shots on man. For #7+ shad raps and smaller flat sides just run your favorite casting rod in a medium light fast action around 7’. 8-10# straight Fluoro. My reel of choice lately is the daiwa tatula TW80. The 70 size curados are a fine choice too. The smaller spools on these reels help cast those small cranks better, and also slow the retrieve down. So a 7.1:1 TW80 tatula will actually have the same line pickup as a 6.4:1 conventional 150 size reel. Just makes the bait act a lot better. Hope this helps!