Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth Or Fenwick Aetos

[NMUbassin]

Looking to pick up a new dropshot rod and I have been looking at these Fenwick rods. Does anybody have any experience with either rod?

The Elite Tech Smallmouth looks like a decent stick for $130, and the Aetos has some pretty good reviews for just a little more $.

Any input?

Thanks everybody

[lmbfisherman]

Looking to pick up a new dropshot rod and I have been looking at these Fenwick rods. Does anybody have any experience with either rod?

The Elite Tech Smallmouth looks like a decent stick for $130, and the Aetos has some pretty good reviews for just a little more $.

Any input?

Thanks everybody

Awesome rods, I own both lines.  (2 Aetos and 2 ET Smallmouth).

 

Either one you can't go wrong really. 

[NMUbassin]

Awesome rods, I own both lines.  (2 Aetos and 2 ET Smallmouth).

 

Either one you can't go wrong really.

Would you say that the Aetos is worth the extra cash? Does the Aetos feel comfortable with that much blank exposed? I noticed that the Elite Tech and the Aetos are basically polar opposites when it comes to the handles/reel seats.

[OkobojiEagle]

Compare the guides on each of those series... I don't care for guides without ceramic inserts.

 

 

oe

[WIGuide]

I've got a friend who's got a few of the smallmouth rods and he raves about them. I'm assuming you'll be getting a spinning rod for this correct? If so their reel seats are very similar if not the same as the St. Croix LTB and those are very comfortable.

[tbone1993]

The small mouth rod fills your palm. If you like that then I would get it. IMO I love my aetos spinning rod and it is worth the money. 

[NMUbassin]

Compare the guides on each of those series... I don't care for guides without ceramic inserts.

 

 

oe

To be honest, I'm not even sure of the pros/cons associated with Ceramic inserts over no inserts. Can you elaborate as to why this may be an issue.

The last thing I want to do is spend money on a rod and have it under perform.

[OkobojiEagle]

I have purchased several spinnning rods without the ceramic inserts and don't currently fish any of them... my braid-to-flouro leader knot will catch on the thin metal guides, especially the tip guide while reeling a bass in.  I use 10lb braid to 4lb, 6lb or 8lb flouro with an Alberto knot so the knot is quite small.  I replaced the tip guide on two of these rods to tips with ceramic inserts and I liked them " a little bit" better, but the knot still "ticked" the other guides while casting.  I  don't have this problem with ceramic insert guides.  The rods performed just fine when not using a leader.  Your mileage may vary...

 

 

oe

[smalljaw67]

Compare the guides on each of those series... I don't care for guides without ceramic inserts.

 

 

oe

 

The Aetos has a titanium insert and the Smallmouth series has zirconium inserts which are ceramic. These are my favorite rods now, I fell in love with the Smallmouth series and had the same reaction to the Aetos but I only own 2 casting model Aetos, no spinning but I do have the smallmouth series in both casting and spinning. You do not need to worry about performance from either, both are well above price point, I think it all comes down to spinning or casting. If I was going to get a dedicated drop shot rod, it would be spinning and it would be the Smallmouth series 6'9" ML-F, I have the same rod in the medium, extra fast and the first trip out I was catching light biters on a shaky head in 26' of water on 8# mono and had no trouble feeling bites and the reel seat is the most comfortable one I ever used on a spinning rod, there is nothing that compares to it. The casting rods I like both, the Aetos gets a slight nod because I like the fact there is more actions and I like the Fuji skeleton reel seat but I also like the smallmouth reel seats so it is a toss up. Sensitivity wise both are very sensitive, I will give the Aetos the nod there but the fact the way the reel seat is on the smallmouth rods, it lets you naturally lay most of your index finger on the blank which provides the most feel, but if you are looking at a long rod then the Aetos is what you need, if 6'9" sounds right, the Smallmouth series is the way to go.

[lmbfisherman]

The Aetos has a titanium insert and the Smallmouth series has zirconium inserts which are ceramic. These are my favorite rods now, I fell in love with the Smallmouth series and had the same reaction to the Aetos but I only own 2 casting model Aetos, no spinning but I do have the smallmouth series in both casting and spinning. You do not need to worry about performance from either, both are well above price point, I think it all comes down to spinning or casting. If I was going to get a dedicated drop shot rod, it would be spinning and it would be the Smallmouth series 6'9" ML-F, I have the same rod in the medium, extra fast and the first trip out I was catching light biters on a shaky head in 26' of water on 8# mono and had no trouble feeling bites and the reel seat is the most comfortable one I ever used on a spinning rod, there is nothing that compares to it. The casting rods I like both, the Aetos gets a slight nod because I like the fact there is more actions and I like the Fuji skeleton reel seat but I also like the smallmouth reel seats so it is a toss up. Sensitivity wise both are very sensitive, I will give the Aetos the nod there but the fact the way the reel seat is on the smallmouth rods, it lets you naturally lay most of your index finger on the blank which provides the most feel, but if you are looking at a long rod then the Aetos is what you need, if 6'9" sounds right, the Smallmouth series is the way to go.

Spot on.

[ClonesGoneFishin16]

On 4/7/2014 at 2:13 PM, lmbfisherman said:

Spot on.

I have a 6'8 MH/F Aetos that I've put 3-4 months of use on. I absolutely love the feel and sensitivity of the rod. It has truly made me a better fisherman. Anyhow, I've been having these little grooves forming in my tip guide insert. All I use is straight 15 lb P-Line Co-Poly. If these grooves don't affect performance then I could care less about them, but if they get rough and start to knick up my line or if the insert wears too thin that it breaks on a hook set I'll be ticked. What would you guys recommend doing and is this normal wear and tear on the rod? Is the insert sub par? I've used straight braid on a $50 rod before with this much use and the top insert doesn't have the same grooves.

[lmbfisherman]

Just now, ClonesGoneFishin16 said:

I have a 6'8 MH/F Aetos that I've put 3-4 months of use on. I absolutely love the feel and sensitivity of the rod. It has truly made me a better fisherman. Anyhow, I've been having these little grooves forming in my tip guide insert. All I use is straight 15 lb P-Line Co-Poly. If these grooves don't affect performance then I could care less about them, but if they get rough and start to knick up my line or if the insert wears too thin that it breaks on a hook set I'll be ticked. What would you guys recommend doing and is this normal wear and tear on the rod? Is the insert sub par? I've used straight braid on a $50 rod before with this much use and the top insert doesn't have the same grooves.

That is not normal and I use braid on my Fenwicks and don't have grooving.  I'd call Fenwick/Pure Fishing.

[OkobojiEagle]

3 hours ago, ClonesGoneFishin16 said:

I have a 6'8 MH/F Aetos that I've put 3-4 months of use on. I absolutely love the feel and sensitivity of the rod. It has truly made me a better fisherman. Anyhow, I've been having these little grooves forming in my tip guide insert. All I use is straight 15 lb P-Line Co-Poly. If these grooves don't affect performance then I could care less about them, but if they get rough and start to knick up my line or if the insert wears too thin that it breaks on a hook set I'll be ticked. What would you guys recommend doing and is this normal wear and tear on the rod? Is the insert sub par? I've used straight braid on a $50 rod before with this much use and the top insert doesn't have the same grooves.

 

I'd change the tip guide with one that has a ceramic insert.

 

oe

[ClonesGoneFishin16]

5 hours ago, OkobojiEagle said:

 

I'd change the tip guide with one that has a ceramic insert.

 

oe

I've never replaced a tip so is that something that would be better done by someone professionally? Also, would that void any possible warranties? 

[new2BC4bass]

4 minutes ago, ClonesGoneFishin16 said:

I've never replaced a tip so is that something that would be better done by someone professionally? Also, would that void any possible warranties? 

 

One of the used Hammer rods I received had the insert out of the tip.  It came off with a lighter.  Doesn't need to get very warm.  A little hot glue, a little heat from the lighter again...and it was good to go.  BTW, Hammer sent me a pack of four for free.

[Turkey sandwich]

I have an Aetos 7' MHMF Casting and it's a killer rod.  The action is surprisingly fast for a MF, and that took a little time to feel out, but it is a really great feeling stick. I also have a 4Wt Aetos fly rod that is super fast and fishes as well or better than my $450 Sage VXP.  Fenwick wasn't kidding around with this line.  I have not fished an Aetos spinning rod or anything from the Elite Tech line, but I can say that Fenwick was serious about building a line to rival anything at the just under $200 price point with the Aetos rods.  I like my Aetos a lot.  I haven't handled them in the same power and action as my St. Croix SCIII rods, but they feel nicer than my Mojo 2nd gen and almost on par with my Avid X.  

[Yudo1]

Fenwick will send you a tip guide.  It's an easy fix that you can YouTube.  Now the other guides require some professional help.

[SFL BassHunter]

I have an Aetos and I was very disappointed. I am happy that I got it on sale when they were getting rid of the previous model to stock their new one otherwise it would be an even bigger disappointment.  THe previous model is a good blank. A bit stiffer than I would have liked though. But I got used to it.

 

What I can't get used to is the trigger on the under the reel seat. It is a short little nub of a trigger. Setting the hook on fish actually hurts your fingers if you keep the trigger between any of them. I have tried holding the rod many different ways and I always end up with the same problem. It's aggravating and I got to the point where I was done with it. Bought me a Cabela's Arachnid to replace it. Love the Arachnid.

[new2BC4bass]

4 hours ago, SFL BassHunter said:

I have an Aetos and I was very disappointed. I am happy that I got it on sale when they were getting rid of the previous model to stock their new one otherwise it would be an even bigger disappointment.  THe previous model is a good blank. A bit stiffer than I would have liked though. But I got used to it.

 

What I can't get used to is the trigger on the under the reel seat. It is a short little nub of a trigger. Setting the hook on fish actually hurts your fingers if you keep the trigger between any of them. I have tried holding the rod many different ways and I always end up with the same problem. It's aggravating and I got to the point where I was done with it. Bought me a Cabela's Arachnid to replace it. Love the Arachnid.

 

This bothered me too on the first Aetos I used...a 7' MHF.  I had gotten so I didn't care for 6'6" casting rods, but smalljaw67 raved about the 6'6" MLM so I bought one on closeout.  Maybe I am getting use to that little stub because I love this rod.  Don't recall noticing a problem with the trigger.  I also picked up a 7' M-MF on closeout over the winter.  Will have to pay attention to the trigger (on all my Aetos rods) next time I am out and see if they still bother me.

[smalljaw67]

The trigger is the Fuji SK2 reel seat, and they are in the same ball park as the Fuji ACS reel seat, people either love them or hate them, no in between. I found that those with smaller hands tend to hate those reel seats because they keep 3 fingers in front of the trigger when casting, the same people love the old Fuji ECS reel seat, the very one I hate because the trigger is really long and wide and the trigger tends to push into my ring and middle finger when casting. It doesn't matter with slow moving presentations but when chucking blades all day my casting hand would be sore and swollen, both the ACS and the SK2 reel seats eliminated that for me.

[SFL BassHunter]

1 hour ago, smalljaw67 said:

The trigger is the Fuji SK2 reel seat, and they are in the same ball park as the Fuji ACS reel seat, people either love them or hate them, no in between. I found that those with smaller hands tend to hate those reel seats because they keep 3 fingers in front of the trigger when casting, the same people love the old Fuji ECS reel seat, the very one I hate because the trigger is really long and wide and the trigger tends to push into my ring and middle finger when casting. It doesn't matter with slow moving presentations but when chucking blades all day my casting hand would be sore and swollen, both the ACS and the SK2 reel seats eliminated that for me.

 

I have giant hands. But I do keep all my fingers in front of the trigger except my pinky. My pinky was bruised and in pain after a day of catching a good amount of fish. It have recovered since because I stopped using the rod.

[ClonesGoneFishin16]

On 5/17/2017 at 3:48 PM, SFL BassHunter said:

 

I have giant hands. But I do keep all my fingers in front of the trigger except my pinky. My pinky was bruised and in pain after a day of catching a good amount of fish. It have recovered since because I stopped using the rod.

I keep my index finger wrapped around the front of the reel (baitcaster), my middle finger and ring finger in front of the trigger, and then only my pinky behind the trigger.. Initially I didn't like how thin the handle on the Aetos was.. Now, I love how thin it is. I feel like I have total control over the rod. Also it's not so thin that it's flimsy by ANY means.. I love the skeletal reel seat and I have big hands. XL in all gloves, on occasion a 2XL if it's a more snug "cut of a glove"..

[timsford]

I love both rod series, but I haven't tried the newest aetos since they redesigned them. I have several of the smallmouth rods. I have a 6'3" med ex. fast spinning rod I use for smaller jerkbaits, topwaters, and for skipping docks with weightless plastics. A mh casting rod in the same length I use for bigger jerkbaits and topwaters, a 6'9" ml spinning rod I use for an all around finesse rod, but it usually has a shaky head or light Texas rig tied on. A 6'9" mh fast casting rod I use for roll casting and Target casting single hook reaction baits. And a 6'10" mh mf I use for shallow and mid cranks and lipless cranks. I love the feel and action of the smallmouth series. The powers are a touch lighter than some rods rated the same, but overall they are some of my favorites. It's a shame they discontinued them and I'm always on the lookout for any in decent shape. I also own several of the aetos rods. A 6'6" ml cranking rod perfect for light cranks. A 6'4" med casting rod I use for jerkbaits and topwaters and when I need to be super accurate casting under overhangs or docks. And a 7'2" mh that I use for Texas rigs and jigs. I'd recommend any of the fenwicks I've tried, and think they compare favorably with many rods that are more expensive. I'd definitely recommend either series.