After giving my new Pinnacle DHC7-741CAMCB, 7’4’’ Medium/Moderate cranking stick a good trial and error period, I concluded that this is a GREAT rod for an enthusiast. If you are an avid crank bait thrower, or just enjoy fishing with top of the line gear, this rod is a must. From the Fuji Titanium-SIC Tangle-Free K-Guides and low profile Fuji ACS reel seat, to the esthetically pleasing appearance, this rod has it all. You can truly tell Pinnacle received valuable input from their pros in the design process of these rods.
Speaking of guides, the Fuji Titanium SIC guides are large enough to pass a leader tied with a small knot like the uni to uni, but these are not quite full sized guides. Pinnacle struck a balance right between traditional sized guides and micro guides.
As for the Fuji ACS reel seat, I am a fan. This is a key a feature I look for in rods these days. It fits my hands well, allows for easy palming and securely holds most reels in place.
The rod is light as a feather, something I have experienced with every Pinnacle rod I have tested. The main characteristics that make this rod light are the split grip, high-density EVA handles and titanium guides. I cranked everything from 3-foot crankbaits down to 18-foot crankbaits. This rod beautifully handled every crankbait I through. Although, the rod’s sweet spot are crankbaits in the 6- to 14-foot range.
I matched a Pinnacle Primmus Xi HS Hand-Tuned Casting Reel to this rod. With its 6.3:1 ratio, it does a good job for cranks in the 3- to 12-foot depths. Anything deeper than 12 feet I prefer a slower inch per turn (IPT) reel. The reel is also extremely light, weighing in at 5.9 ounces. The rod and reel weigh in at less than ¾ of a pound. This is achieved by Pinnacle using the latest reel technologies which include carbon side covers, Duralumin Alloy spool and drive gears, carbon fiber handle and X-Bone metal frame.
I spooled the reel with Seaguar Tatsu 10-pound test line. I had the reel dialed in and ready to fish in the matter of a few minutes. Once hooked up, the rod has a nice parabolic action and did not seem stressed. Although I had not experienced the carbon drag system on a fish before, I sure did when I set the hook in a log.
More and more these days, rod companies are getting away from using a foregrip, and this rod is no different. The other feature worth noting is the hook hanger. It uses an open style. The placement is behind the rear grip on the blank in between the split grip, not out front between the reel seat and the first eye.
This setup has found a home in my arsenal. Pinnacle has continued to impress me with their new offerings, and I can only imagine what they will come out with next!
