Daiwa Tatula Glass Cranking Rod TAT-721-MHRB-G Product Review

Rod Review

The Tatula Web Continues to Grow : E-Glass Cranking Stick

Date:	3/23/16
Tackle Type:	Rod
Manufacturer:	Daiwa
Reviewer:	Cal

Total Score: 7.89 - GOOD

Introduction: Daiwa has done a very good job leveraging their Tatula brand to maximum potential. We've seen several different reel variants and have sampled one of the rods in their series by the same name. In fact, the TAT 721HFB we reviewed in January of 2014 was a lot of fun to fish and even won our Best Value Award. Daiwa recently expanded their Tatula line of rods to include cranking sticks. You know we had to try one so here now is our review of the Tatula TAT-721-MHRB-G.

Daiwa Tatula TAT-721-MHRB-G Specifications
Material	Graphite/E-Glass Composite
Length	7'-2"
Line Wt.	10-20lb
Lure Wt.	1/4-1oz
Pieces	One
Guides	8+tip, SS/Alconite by Fuji
Rear Handle Length	10 inches
Power Rating	Medium Heavy
Taper	Moderate
Rod Weight	5.3 oz
Origin	Made in China
MSRP	$149.99

Introducing Daiwa's Tatula Glass Cranking stick, the TAT721MHRB-G.

Quality/Construction: Much like the previously reviewed TAT721HFB, the TAT721MHRB-G has a clear glossy finish over an unsanded blank up until the first guide where the rest of the rod is e-glass. Its split rear grip is made of EVA foam with no visible gaps between material transitions. Epoxy work around the guides and accent threading is very good and the blank and guides are perfectly straight. This is a nicely built stick.

Quality Ratings for Daiwa Tatula TAT-721-MHRB-G
Finish (1-5)	Grip (1-5)	Epoxy (1-5)	Blank (1-2)	Guides (1-2)	Total	Possible	Rating (= Tot/Pos * 10)
5	5	4	2	2	18	19	9.47

The Tatula cranking sticks feature the same custom reel seat.

Performance: For field tests, I paired the Tatula cranking stick with a Shimano Japan 2012 Calcutta 101 - you remember, the one with the flip open sideplate. Spooled with nylon monofilament, Zander and I headed out to Clear Lake and Lake Sonoma, both in Northern California for some field tests.

It's a very comfortable design.

Casting: The TAT721MHRB-G is a composite glass stick with a moderate taper that loads very well during your backswing and releases the energy of a cast very efficiently so you can launch your baits with accuracy and distance. The stick handles so well with small and large cranks, I had to remind myself it was a composite and not full graphite. In fact, I was just as home fishing the smaller sized Megabass S-Crank with this stick as I was launching the Duo Realis G87-20A deep diver.

The sculpted butt end provides a nice hand hold for two handed casting.

Sensitivity: Another area of surprising performance with this stick is with its sensitivity. Glass is not supposed to be very sensitive, yet I've fished graphite sticks with less feel than this composite cranking rod. Daiwa did a nice job of preserving that graphite feel even though a good half to two thirds of this stick is e-glass.

This stick might be glass, but it handles like a graphite rod.

Power: When it comes to power, in hand, this rod feels like a perfect stick for medium divers - kind of an all purpose cranking stick. Out on the water, I felt no lack of control when battling largemouth bass to probably four or five pounds were the largest I could manage. The stick behaved very predictably.

Fig 1 : The chart above illustrates the deflection characteristics of our Daiwa Tatula TAT-721-MHRB-G against the averages from our 2009 Year of the Crank.

But if you take a look at the above chart, you will see that the TAT721MHRB-G (red curve) charts out even more powerful than the average of our rods for deep diving cranks. The glass and graphite composite really gives this stick a lot of hidden power reserve.

Performance Ratings for Daiwa Tatula TAT-721-MHRB-G
Pitch (1-5)	Cast (1-5)	Sensitivity (1-5)	Hook Set (1-5)	Control (1-5)	Total	Possible	Rating (= Tot/Pos * 10)
3	5	4	4	5	21	25	8.4

A look at the rod's taper - note how quickly the glass tip bends, but how straight the rod is through the first guide or two.

Features: The biggest deal with this Daiwa's masterful blend of graphite and glass that really gives you the impression you're fishing with full graphite blank. As mentioned earlier, the rod's split rear grip is made of a dense EVA foam and leads right into the custom Daiwa reel seat. Guides are Fuji Alconites with stainless steel frames and there is an open ended hook keeper on the left side of the blank just above the reel seat. The TAT721MHRB-G does not come with a rod sleeve.

Features Ratings for Daiwa Tatula TAT-721-MHRB-G
Grip (1-5)	Guides (1-5)	Reel Seat (1-5)	Hook Keeper (1-5)	Rod Sleeve (1-5)	Total	Possible	Rating (= Tot/Pos * 10)
4	4	5	4	1	18	25	7.2

This open ended hook keeper sits on the left side of the rod.

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