Fenwick Elite Sm Rod Question

[Teal]

Hey guys, I actually was able to put my hands on these rods today as my local tackle shop carries them now. I really liked these rods. I was looking to get a couple new rods for jerkbaits and topwaters.

Any of you guys use these rods for this?

Which rod?

What did you think?

[thehooligan]

I use the 6'3 spinning model for jerkbaits & topwater. I would think the 6'3 casting model would be great as well.

[new2BC4bass]

Last year was my first year for fishing topwater jerkbait lures.  I used the 6'9" MXF with a 1/2 oz. walk-the-dog type lure.  I liked how the rod worked the lure.  However, I will be the first to admit that I am no expert in what constitutes a good jerkbait/topwater rod.  I am a big fan of the Smallmouth rods, tho.  I haven't thrown a topwater lure on my 6'10" MF yet, but have thrown quite a few different other types of lures with it.  The handles should be the right length for jerkbaits for most people.  They definitely don't fall into the long catagory.

[Teal]

I really liked the 6'9 med with the super short handle. I'm just not familiar with how accurate they are to their tapers. Its one of those things where I'd have to fish with it. That short handle is what I really liked, it would make it good for popping or twitching

I think Ajay uses these rods, he is a jwrkbait guy so maybe he will chime in

[A-Jay]

I've been fishing a couple of the spinning rods for 2 seasons.

 

I Like them and would buy them again.

 

A-Jay

[A-Jay]

They are advertised / rated as X-fast.  In my mind they really are.

 

This makes them good jerk bait rods as well as anything else where you want a particularly fast stick.

 

I use the 6'9" mostly and the 7'4" for distance - both medium.

 

A-Jay

[Loop_Dad]

I own 69MH-F and I find their rating to be fairly accurate with power, flex and lure rating. Compare to Crucial 6'8" MH F, the balance point is way back by the handle even though the handle is much shorter.

 

I just use whatever for jerkbait and topwater and I am not sure what constitute good rods for those purposes.

 

(Do you want XF for jerkbait and MF for topwater?)

 

HTH

[Teal]

That's fine , I just read a fairly recent thread where WW2Farmer had pretty much the same question as me.

[ww2farmer]

That's fine , I just read a fairly recent thread where WW2Farmer had pretty much the same question as me.

I have 4 of them now. But I have not used them yet. I bought the 6'9 M/XF spinning, 6'9" MH/F casting, 6'10" MH-MF casting, new. And a lightly used 6'9" M/xf casting. The tapers are as I expected for the most part. I am going to use the 6'9" M/XF for jerkbaits, and topwaters, and the 6'10" MH-MF for squarebills, and lipless cranks, but it'll be late March/early April at best, and more like mid, to late April before I use them............unless I go ice fishing with them LOL.

[Teal]

Thanks dude. I was leaning toward the 69mxf casting for topwaters and jerks too! I just wanted a few opinions before I pulled the trigger on it. It seems like a really well built rod for the cost. I def enjoyed handling it in the store.

WW2, have you put a reel on it yet?

[ww2farmer]

Thanks dude. I was leaning toward the 69mxf casting for topwaters and jerks too! I just wanted a few opinions before I pulled the trigger on it. It seems like a really well built rod for the cost. I def enjoyed handling it in the store.

WW2, have you put a reel on it yet?

Two of the three have Cruado 51E's hanging off them, the third will have a Curado 201G6 that I just bought used from Hooligan when it get's here. Smalljaw67 is the guy to talk to about these rods, he helped me get off the fence and pull the trigger. Every winter I buy new stuff, but I can't remember the last time I was this excited to get out there to just play with these rods.

[Teal]

Ok thanks. Im probably gonna move reels around again and if I buy two of them, ill make sure to slide a Team Lews or a Tourney Pro on to those rods. I. Was just wondering for a weight reference.

I have mostly Powell rods with an old Cumara and a new DX sprinkled in. Powell doesn't make a topwster, jerk rod that I like and I like the Fenwick pricepoint alot more than buying a Champ just for that purpose.

I'm pretty excited.

[A-Jay]

Ok thanks. Im probably gonna move reels around again and if I buy two of them, ill make sure to slide a Team Lews or a Tourney Pro on to those rods. I. Was just wondering for a weight reference.

I have mostly Powell rods with an old Cumara and a new DX sprinkled in. Powell doesn't make a topwster, jerk rod that I like and I like the Fenwick pricepoint alot more than buying a Champ just for that purpose.

I'm pretty excited.

 

If you pull the trigger on a couple of these rods, I'll be curious to hear your review.

 

  Some find the beefier seat / handle takes some getting used to but I fell in love with it right away.

 

Also, using sensible pressure when spinning the handle down on the reel to connect it to the rod would be wise.  When using traditional reel seats I've had a habit of really torqueing that puppy down. 

I have found that is not necessary on these models nor is it advisable. 

 

Good Luck

 

A-Jay

[Teal]

If you pull the trigger on a couple of these rods, I'll be curious to hear your review.

Some find the beefier seat / handle takes some getting used to but I fell in love with it right away.

Also, using sensible pressure when spinning the handle down on the reel to connect it to the rod would be wise. When using traditional reel seats I've had a habit of really torqueing that puppy down.

I have found that is not necessary on these models nor is it advisable.

Good Luck

A-Jay

Yeah the handle felt very different from what I'm use to. All of the rods I've used before have a pretty streamlined handle. Althought it was a lot meatier than I'm used to, it felt good.

[new2BC4bass]

I've got a Curado 51E on the 6'10" MF.  Planned on using my Chronarch 101A on the 6'9 MXF, but it wouldn't tighten down so I tried a Zillion 100SHLA.  That is what I used last year, but plan on putting a bit lighter reel on it for this coming season, and putting the Zillion on a MH rod.  I didn't feel the reel was too much for the rod (and the Zillion handles the weight range of this rod just fine).  However, I have a Patriarch XT, 2 Sols, 2 Fuegos and a Purple Alphas looking for a permanent home.  I feel these rods deserve a nice reel.

 

I'd consider the Lews TP, but my 11 year old grandson has come to consider the TP his reel.    I think a $400 combo (MSRP, not my cost) is a bit much for a child, but what is a grandfather to do? 

 

 

EDIT:  I like the handle much better on the Smallmouth series than on my ***.

[smalljaw67]

I love my Fenwick rods, when the Elite Tech Smallmouth rods were released I got a 6'9" M-XF spinning rod and I could not believe how inexpensive they were and after fishing with it I was really happy, my neighbor, who happens to love St. Croix sold one of his Avids and bought tow of these after using mine. Since then I got a few more, but for jerkbaits and topwaters it really depends on what size baits you want to use on a regular basis, I know guys that only use like Pointer 78s and similar sized topwaters. I use 1/4oz to 3/4oz jerkbaits and topwaters but 95% of my jerkbaits are 3/8oz and larger and for me the 6'10" MH-MF is fantastic, it is the most versatile reaction bait rod I ever used, I have one as a dedicated jerkbait rod and one for square bills and lipless cranks as well as top waters, probably the best zara spook rod you could ever want. That said, the 6'9" M-XF casting rod has a shorter handle which is great for those who keep their arms closer to their body, and the tip is perfect with enough forgiveness that you shouldn't lose fish on the battle. The 6'3" M-MF casting rod is something you have to try, I got to fish it as my friend got one for his jerkbait setup and if you like using the pointer 78s and similar size baits then that is the rod you want, it handles the 1/2oz jerkbaits just fine but for my taste is is a little too soft but the little 1/4oz and 3/8oz baits it is a dream and light, it is barely 3 ounces, I still may end up getting this rod for DT-4's and 6's and 1/4oz cotton cordell super spots. The 6'9" MH-F casting rod too me is too stout for jerkbaits, to me that is the perfect spinnerbait rod but it has more than enough sensitivity to fish jigs and worms and it has a slightly longer handle than the medium power which is better for blades anyway. The 6'10" M-F is another I'd say you can do well with fishing a jerkbait or topwater but this one will let you sling a pointer 65 or 78 a long ways and while it is rated to 5/8oz it handles 1/2oz baits with authority but the tip is a little light, to me this is a finesse casting rod, I use my 6'9" M-XF spinning rod for shaky heads and drop shots along with light jigs but if I was going to use a casting rod it would be the 6'10" M-F casting, it has more than enough sensitivity to fish those techniques with no problems. Well that is all I have, I hope I was able to help you out some.

[new2BC4bass]

Very nice write up, Dan.  Anymore I like my rods to be at least 6'8", but that little 6'3" sounds like a nice light toy to play with. 

 

Besides I have a tuned and upgraded Sol or a Purple Alphas that would work nicely on such a rod.

[Loop_Dad]

If you pull the trigger on a couple of these rods, I'll be curious to hear your review.

 

  Some find the beefier seat / handle takes some getting used to but I fell in love with it right away.

 

Also, using sensible pressure when spinning the handle down on the reel to connect it to the rod would be wise.  When using traditional reel seats I've had a habit of really torqueing that puppy down. 

I have found that is not necessary on these models nor is it advisable. 

 

Good Luck

 

A-Jay

 

 

Is it something with these seats that is not as strong as other seats? I tighten mine down as much as I can...

 

 

I've got a Curado 51E on the 6'10" MF.  Planned on using my Chronarch 101A on the 6'9 MXF, but it wouldn't tighten down so I tried a Zillion 100SHLA.  That is what I used last year, but plan on putting a bit lighter reel on it for this coming season, and putting the Zillion on a MH rod.  I didn't feel the reel was too much for the rod (and the Zillion handles the weight range of this rod just fine).  However, I have a Patriarch XT, 2 Sols, 2 Fuegos and a Purple Alphas looking for a permanent home.  I feel these rods deserve a nice reel.

 

I'd consider the Lews TP, but my 11 year old grandson has come to consider the TP his reel.    I think a $400 combo (MSRP, not my cost) is a bit much for a child, but what is a grandfather to do? 

 

 

EDIT:  I like the handle much better on the Smallmouth series than on my ***.

 

Is this have to do with Chronarch 101A's reel foot being short or something?

[smalljaw67]

Is it something with these seats that is not as strong as other seats? I tighten mine down as much as I can...

 

 

 

Is this have to do with Chronarch 101A's reel foot being short or something?

 

The TAC material they use in the reel seat holds very well and there is a metal insert inside that is covered by the material to hide it and while it doesn't happen much, some reels with a long foot may leave a small gap when tightened all the way down but some anglers insist on continuing to turn the locking section until the gap is gone and by doing that they end up stripping the TAC material away from the metal insert.  It isn't something that happens the first time you do it, I found it is from doing it repeatedly, I'm also not sure which reels had this but I've had Daiwa reels, Abu Garcia, Quantum, Lews, and an Okuma on my rods and haven't had any problems but the rods have a lifetime warranty and if it did happen the customer service is very good to deal with.

[basshole77]

Still one of my favorite rods! I have the 6"9 M XF spinning with a Lews Gold Spin on it that I use as my Senko slinger! You cant go wrong with these but I wouldn't mind checking out the big brother Ateos.