The Dead Sword does not have that typical, crisp feel of a highly sensitive stick when you hold it in your hand. It feels, pardon the pun, a little dead. Yet in each application I tested it, I had extremely good feel of what was going on at the end of my line right down to the vibrations of the Uoze swimmer shimmying its way through the water. I'm surprised each and every time I fish the stick.

Fig 1 : The chart above illustrates the deflection characteristics of our Gan Craft Killers KG-00 6-710EXH Dead Sword against the historical averages of similarly powered rods we've tested over the past twenty years

Power: Gan Craft's KG-00 6-710EXH Dead Sword is short and very powerful without feeling like a broom stick. It walks that same fine line as Evergreen's Super Stallion and Black Rose, Megabass's Orochi X4 Destruction, and a handful of others. These sticks all feel and fish like a classic, 7'-0" heavy powered stick ala G.Loomis's MBR844C, but when you swing for that hookset, you realize, there's a lot more "oomph" hidden within that skinny graphite shaft.

Checking out that tip and hidden power

A little time on the RoD Wrack only reinforces this impression as the KG-00 6-710EXH Dead Sword charts out with a deflection curve almost identical to that of what we'd classify as an all purpose swimbait stick - typically sticks that can handle fishing lures up to four or five ounces. Mind you, the Dead Sword is rated only to three and I didn't push to exceed that rating. I didn't have the need because the next model up, the Magnum, is rated and built for that occasion.

Detailing and craftsmanship is top notch

Design & Ergonomics: Ergonomically, the best thing Gan Craft's KG-00 6-710EXH Dead Sword has going for it is its very fishable length. At 7'-1" it is a very easy stick to pick up and sling around. However, for its length, the Dead Sword is relatively heavy and unbalanced. It is built with a split rear grip made of EVA foam that is contoured for better grip and the very small foregrip is actually a decorative reel seat locking mechanism. That component is adorned with an ornate winding check that is a signature of Gan Craft's fishing rods. Thread work is intricate and there are a lot of graphics on the rod but the manufacturer does a good job of keeping these graphics from being overblown and garish.

The KG-00 6-710EXH is as versatile as they come

Price & Applications: More bad news if you're interested in this stick. Depending on the exchange rate, retail price will set you back somewhere in the neighborhood of $650 before shipping. True JDM comes with a pretty steep penalty. However, if you're undeterred, what you will receive in return is a stick that will surprise you with its versatility and fish catching mojo. I have a difficult time actually saying the words, "this stick is sensitive," yet at every turn it proved to me that it is just that.

Conclusion: I acquired this stick in the middle of an enthusiast slump. I had grown weary of domestic offerings and slowly found myself gravitating towards an old mind set to snap me out of it - swimbait fishing. Somehow, tossing big baits and getting those intense hits with the mystery of whether or not there's a giant at the other end, is like therapy and often reignites my passion for new tackle. When that passion stirs, I usually turn to the JDM side. I haven't written up a Gan Craft stick since 2009 with the KG-00 3-68M Scarface, and while I do have a Killers-00 5.5-670EXH Ground Trick I purchased while on travel in Japan, I needed something more.

The KG-00 6-710EXH is one of three variants in the Dead Sword series, and yes, I have the other two as well

What I was really on the hunt for was a true big bait stick. Something with a more USDM spec. After some browsing and research, my target was Gan Craft's KG-00 9-760EXH Dead Sword Magnum (7'-6" long with a lure rating up to 6 ounces), but through a series of mis-clicks, I somehow ordered the wrong stick. Imagine my confusion, disappointment, and rage when the tube arrived from Japan and I found the KG-00 6-710EXH inside. I thought there was some kind of mistake, but an immediate check of my e-receipt revealed I had indeed made a costly error. Disappointed, dejected, and down a good chunk of change, I did what any true enthusiast would do, I licked my wounds and carefully went about ordering my original prize. In the meantime, I put the Dead Sword into the rotation. I figured I might as well check it out.

Gan Craft's Dead Sword snapped me out of that enthusiast slump

Boy am I glad I did. From the moment I opened the shipping tube, Gan Craft's KG-00 6-710EXH Dead Sword has been a surprise at every turn and really, one of my lucky, go to sticks through this past season. Every test and experiment I put this rod through, it answered with a fish or three. Yes, it has its downsides, notably with weight and balance, but it is not a burden to fish. In fact, for me, it has the uncanny, almost magical ability to get the fish to bite. Even though it was a mistake, the Dead Sword certainly fulfilled the purpose of snapping me out of that enthusiast slump.