crankbait rods

well i have had my duckett rod long enough now to make some  observations about it and compare it to my kvd crank bait rod. first lets identify the exact rods, i started out with the kvd signature series kvdc705cb 7' rod with a kvd signature series reel with a 5.1.1 gear ratio and 10 bearings. i got it on sale 2 couple of years ago when they were switching to the new maroon models he now uses. the other rod i have to compare is the duckett micro magic crank bait rod dfmm70cc 7' crankin model with a daiwa exceler 100p reel in a 4.9.1 ratio with 9 bearings in it.  i believe the whole kvd setup came as a package and was bought on sale for 149$ the duckett was mix and match and was  89$ for the reel and 149$ for the pole itself.  i use the suffix deep cranking line on both reels. first the kvd rod and reel. first impression is that its very whippy, almost parabolic. it is an s-glass rod and its heavier and more substantial than the duckett by far. when i first got it i was unimpressed. after the first few casts i begin to appreciate  that you could really feel the lure on the end of the line. surprisingly sensitive i could really almost always tell what kind of cover i was bumping over and work the lure over limbs and rocks. even the heavier crank baits work very well on this pole. honestly for the price i am kinda pleasantly surprised in how well it works. i have caught many bass and a few tucanare on it and it has performed well, alot of give on the initial impact and it really helps in the fight. the reel also works well for the price, although i imagine a better real would make the rod perform even better. it casts fairly far with a full spool and can really load up on the back cast allowing more distance.  I'm not sure if this model is still available in the new line but i highly recommend it if it is, i think the new rods go for 149$ like the ducketts now but I'm not sure, i believe my particular model sold for 79$ at the time. the rod is worth the price. the duckett rod at first feel is amazingly light! like a carrot stix if not lighter. the  rod is a carbon blank not a fiberglass blank, so the first thing you notice is it is much stiffer. still it has a pretty fast tip on it and about a quarter of the way down it starts to get its backbone. the micro guides are awesome as well. i was shocked however to find that the sensitivity of the rod was much less than the cheaper kvd glass rod. i can hardly feel what I'm cranking over. in fact on the glass rod when a fish hits you know right away! on the duckett rod theres a second or two of "is that a fish?" i recently caught  a 7 lb catfish on it and it held its ground, although it has yet to get a tucanare( the real test) it also has several bass under its belt and had performed well although i have  more fish with it, possibly the s glass is more forgiving in the fight. the micro guides are great, they say it will add 12-15% on the casting distance. id have to agree with this, the first few casts i was like whoaaaaaaaa!! it does cast very far, and I'm sure the daiwa reel is a bit of that too. over all id recommend either rod. the glass rod and the duckett both have a place on a boat, if i was strapped for cash and could have only one, id go with the glass rod and put the daiwa reel on it. the 4.9.1 ratio is great and dosent overpower the action of the lure. rod wise  the s glass has my heart but the duckett has my interest hahahahaha