Labels Shmabels - Phenix's 7'-4" Glass Cranking Rod

Total Score: 7.8 - GOOD

Introduction: In today's bass fishing marketplace, the glass cranking rod is an endangered species. More common is the tech hybrid, part glass, part graphite cranking stick, and of course there are the all graphite cranking rods built with moderate tapers. Anglers want the sensitivity graphite blanks afford and with today's technology, rod engineers can design a blank that behave similarly to glass in terms of taper.

Do you enjoy glass cranking sticks?

The key word here is similar. The only way to match the buttery smooth feel of glass in a cranking stick is to use glass (or more precisely, fiberglass). Hence the emergence of all these hybrid blanks for moving baits. But why does it have to be so complicated? The reason many anglers moved away from glass sticks not only has to do with sensitivity, but in the past, glass rods were typically heavier and more cumbersome to use. Why not use those engineering hats then, and devise fiberglass material that's lighter and more enjoyable to fish?

If so, the XG1 Glass series from Phenix is worth a look.

Know what? It's out there and we've written about a couple rods built with the latest in fiberglass technology. Today, we take a look at another. Here's our take on Phenix's interpretation with their XG740 glass cranking stick.

Impressions: Phenix's XG1 cranking series is interesting. There are 3 sticks in all, but all three sticks have the exact same line and lure weight ratings. The only thing distinguishing them from one another are their lengths. Available in seven foot (7'-0"), seven foot four inch (7'-4"), and seven foot nine inch (7'-9") lengths, these sticks are also made with either red or blue blanks.

This is the 7'-4" model within the XG1 line.

Our test model was the 7'-4" model which on their website is referred to as the XG2-Glass (the 7' model is referred to as the XG1-Glass and the 7'-9" model is referred to as the XG3-Glass), but at the exposed blank portion of the rod's split rear grip, Phenix stamps the rod with XG740. Further up on the blank where all the stick's specifications are provided, the rod is again referred to as the XG2-Glass. For the purposes of this review, we'll refer to the rod mostly as the XG740.

Matched with a Revo Winch and ready for some real world tests.

The first thing you notice about the XG740 when you hold it in your hand and shake that tip around is how flexible that tip really is. It's been a little while since I've handled an all glass stick with as flexible a tip as the XG740. I was anxious to get it out on the water to see how it performed.

Casting is fun with this flexible stick.