ICAST 2011 | Quantum Delivers with EXO Reels, Rods
Posted by Jason Sealock on Wed, Jul 13, 2011 @ 12:24 PM
Quantum Fishing has been keeping their new reels and rods so secret that the didn't even have them in the New Product Showcase preview last night. So my curosity was peaked and that's where I headed first.
This morning we got our first look at the new Quantum EXO reels and rods. The reels are beautiful looking and feature all aluminum frames and sides that have noticeable areas cut and designed to lighten the weight. The reels come in at 5.9 ounces but feel very solid and smooth in your hand. And we love the all aluminum feel as compared to composite side plates some use to reduce weight.
"These reels are unbelievably smooth," said Gerald Swindle at the show this morning. "They're so light, and when you combine them with this EXO rod, you've got one sick dock skipper with this 6-foot, 10-inch bad boy right here."
Bob Bagby is said to have taken the prototypes out in the parking lot and ran them over with his truck to prove his proof of concept on their durability. They didn't make a light reel at the expense of longevity. It was funny to see several other reel companies trying to get in the booth to look at the new reels.
The EXO Rods are built with EX4 construction to provide lighter, thinner actions and most actions on the rods weigh less than 4 ounces. Not to mention they look pretty sick too.
The baitcaster reels are going to run $249 and the spinning reels are going to run $199. The rods will also be $199.
Also in the new lineup for Quantum was the new Smoke Spinning reel. The reel is feather light at 7.5 ounces for a spinning reel. It's very smooth, great anti-reverse and just feels sold in your hands. They used longer strands of C4LF Carbon Fiber to make the rotors more durable. The reels come in 25 and 30 sizes and retail for $159.
Al Lindner released a new line of Angling Edge rods. There are 20 rod actions in the line with HSX64 blanks. "These rods are designed for just walleye," Lindner said. "They are designed to be used with any type of fishing that likes 4, 6 and 8 pound line. They're great for walleye, smallmouth and other species. We built them in several different actions and lengths so the angler could pick them up and then decide for themself which ones fit the way they fish certain techniques."
Finally the new Tour KVD Cranking Classic is a 5.3:1 gear ratio reel that is built on the Smoke's lightweight aluminum frame and with the styling and control VanDam demands in his cranking reel. The 150-sized reel will retail for $299.
