Question About New Rod?

[FishTank]

I picked up a Fenwick Elite Tech Walley spinning rod today.  I got the 7'2" ML Fast. It was such a good deal I could not pass it up.

 

 It seems to be a well constructed rod and I think will work nicely for long cast for just about any lighter softplastic or live bait.

 

My odd ball, cabin fever, question is.....  What is the difference between a walleye rod and a bass rod?  

 

I am sure it will work fine for both bass and walleye (most anything I fish for really) but I really can't tell what makes it a walleye rod.  If you compare it to, say, the St. Croix Avid ML 6' I have, I really can't tell much difference as to them being a walleye rod and a bass rod.

 

Thanks for the thoughts......

[Angry John]

Fenwick is making species rods to draw attention to there product. Large mouth crank in just fine on the small mouth series. I don't believe its a special taper.

[livetofish28]

The rod can only be used to fish for walleye otherwise the built in sensors will know and the Rod will just break. In other words nothing whatsoever it's just a name lol

Tight lines

Andrew

[Darren.]

I was curious, too - but about St. Croix rods similarly

designated. Was told the designation is pretty much

hogwash and they'd work just dandy for bass fishing.

 

Never did buy any, but hey, there ya go.

[SirSnookalot]

My main criteria in a spinning rod is having a foregrip, I prefer inshore rods for my freshwater fishing.  A further breakdown is light, ml, and medium, most lures I use can be handled on these rods.  I can and do use a med spinning rod for not only bass fishing but inshore fishing as well.  My rod decision is based on several factors, open water or heavy vegetation, fishing at waters edge or height like a sea wall or jettie, or the lure weights I plan on using.

The species on the end of the line is an irrelevant factor to me, given the option it's always going to be the lightest rod for the conditions I'm fishing.

[mjseverson24]

Its a 7'2" ML/F rod built on a nice blank made by a good company. Typically the walleye rods have slightly different balance and tapers as compared to bass rods. When walleye fishing a tip heavy rod is not a problem as typically the rod is in the downward position, also the tip of the rod is usually softer so when you are rigging and or jigging you don't rip the bait out of the fishes mouth before you set the hook. Is this the case on your new rod??? Not sure, but these are the observations I have made when comparing rods designed for bass vs walleye...(mostly st. croix rods)

 

Mitch

[HoosierHawgs]

This is a good question.. I really like the look of the 7' walleye angler rods from BPS and thought they would work good for casting crankbaits.. Like I said, good question

[FishTank]

Its a 7'2" ML/F rod built on a nice blank made by a good company. Typically the walleye rods have slightly different balance and tapers as compared to bass rods. When walleye fishing a tip heavy rod is not a problem as typically the rod is in the downward position, also the tip of the rod is usually softer so when you are rigging and or jigging you don't rip the bait out of the fishes mouth before you set the hook. Is this the case on your new rod??? Not sure, but these are the observations I have made when comparing rods designed for bass vs walleye...(mostly st. croix rods)

 

Mitch

I'm not positive yet, but the tip does seem softer. I need to fish this rod to figure out balance and taper.

[smalljaw67]

Its a 7'2" ML/F rod built on a nice blank made by a good company. Typically the walleye rods have slightly different balance and tapers as compared to bass rods. When walleye fishing a tip heavy rod is not a problem as typically the rod is in the downward position, also the tip of the rod is usually softer so when you are rigging and or jigging you don't rip the bait out of the fishes mouth before you set the hook. Is this the case on your new rod??? Not sure, but these are the observations I have made when comparing rods designed for bass vs walleye...(mostly st. croix rods)

 

Mitch

 

This^^^^ !!   I had a neighbor who recently moved, who was a St. Croix fanboy, he loved those rods and he and I fished together a bunch of times. Anyway, he had the St. Croix Eyecon rods that he used to drag tubes with, and of course I had to use it to see why it was labeled a walleye rod. Mitch is spot on, the balance is tip heavy but it is meant to be that way and the tip sections are soft, I'm not sure about the Fenwick Walleye rods but the Eyecon rods my neighbor had were all fast and extra fast actions but the tips were really soft, drop shot specific soft and that is what his other Eyecon rod was for but that is it, if you have one with the right power and action for what you want to do then it doesn't matter the label.

[Steveo-1969]

I don't know the difference between a walleye rod and a bass rod, but not all walleye rods are tip heavy.  I have a Loomis WPJR 821S GLX that is technique specific for pitching jigs and it is not tip heavy at all.  Rods for vertical jigging, rigging, bottom bouncing, etc. may be different though.  I got it specifically to catch smallmouth on light plastics and it works great!  Even catches the occasional walleye as well...

[WIGuide]

Usually if there's a walleye series of rod that line includes more offerings in the ML to M power range and will be made up of primarily spinning rods. Many will also have a slightly different taper. Most will also be found in more traditional lengths vs the longer bass rods. Individual power ratings between a company's bass line and walleye line should be pretty much the same. 

[.ghoti.]

FishTank, I have the same exact rod. I use mine mostly for drift fishing for trout. It says Walleye on the top of the rod where the trout can't see it, so it works just fine.