Performance: I matched this rod up with several different reels during the course of testing including a Tour KVD and Tour Mg before finally settling on the EXO. Tests were conducted out on Clear Lake, CA and Lake Berryessa.

This stick is aptly code named Power Launcher although I would prefer a longer handle for better two handed casting comfort.

Casting: This stick is appropriately code named "Power Launcher" because it can fire our LOUS deep diving cranks like they came out of a canon. There's no denying the easy loading and smooth casting of a glass stick and when you throw some length into it like the seven foot ten inch reach of the TKVD7106MB, sometimes, it just feels unfair. The one odd thing with this rod though is the length of its rear handle. It's a little short for two handed casts. Given the rod's length a little more rear handle length to make two handed casts easier would greatly benefit this rod's handling characteristics.

Quantum is now accenting their rods with a little winding check printed with the designation of each rod's power.

Sensitivity: Of course, with the smooth buttery feel of glass comes the dead, numbing feel of the very same material. The Power Launcher lacks in sensitivity which is something everyone who favors glass for cranking understands. This blank is supposed to be a blend of fiberglass and graphite, but it fishes like an all glass stick to me.

Checking out the rod's taper.

Power: Ranking power on glass sticks has always been a bit of a mystery to me. This one, for example is rated "medium heavy" from the manufacturer but in handling the stick it feels like a heavy power. Bend that tip into the floor to check taper and it feels like a light powered rod. Throw it on the WRACK and its curve begins more medium, but quickly tapers off to light.

Unfortunately, out on the water, I wasn't able to hook into anything large enough to get a true sense of the rod's power, but the WRACK rarely lies. Given how the Power Launcher stacks up against our cranking rod averages, the rod is probably somewhere along a medium powered cranking stick able to handle quite a wide range baits really.

Next Section: Crank up some features