Fenwick Aetos 6'3" M Or Mh For Skipping?

[raoka]

I recently upgraded to a 6'3" M aetos for skipping docks and other low hanging stuff. When I received it, I worried that it did not have enough backbone to get fish out of possible cover. I am able to return this and change to a MH, but then I worry it will be too stiff and won't have enough give when a fish surges on lighter line. I am not able to handle the MH in hand, so I am turning to you guys for input and possible experiences with any of this. I keep reading what others do and it seems pretty split...hopefully I can gain some insight here.

 

Thanks again.

[smalljaw67]

You are using a spinning rod, what baits are you throwing? You have me confused as you worry you won't get fish out of cover with the medium and you also worry the MH will be too stiff and won't flex for runs on light line? So you're skipping docks and fishing cover with a spinning rod with light line? Is that correct? If is going to be hard to help if you don't give the lure weights or at least what you are throwing on what kind of line and what strength. If I was going to do that with a spinning set up, I'd use the Aetos 6'8" MH-XF or the 6'7" MH-F, the extra fast makes for easy skipping with a spinning rod however it may be overpowering with a medium heavy depending on what you're throwing so the 6'7" MH-F would be an easy substitute, either way you need a longer rod.

[raoka]

Sure I will clarify. I will mainly be using weightless senkos possibly 1/8oz shakyheads. I figure I will be using 8lb yozuri hybrid or a braid to 10lb fluro leader. Lets say I use the 8lb hybrid, I just want enough backbone to be able to move the fish, but then not worry when the fish surges at the boat to have enough give in the rod(coupled with my drag). Hope that helps.

[Shanes7614]

Stick with the medium if your going to continue using the same line. If upgrading your line to heavier braid then beef up your rod as well.

[smalljaw67]

Weightless Senko worms, 5"? 8ln hybrid ok, if you are using large enough braid for a 10lb fluoro leader then you need a MH rod.  I have no problem with a medium power spinning rod but I use it like a spinning rod and that is for finesse techniques and Senko's but I'm not in heavy cover, sparse cover with 8lb line. The rod you got will work but you aren't going to rip the fish away from cover but it will have enough backbone to work a good size fish.

[raoka]

thanks for the insight guys

[kschultz76]

Fwiw as a comparison I often skip and pitch more finesse presentations such as weightless 5" senkos to docks, under and around trees, overhangs, some gnarly places. Not ever into heavy weeds or grass though. My rig for this is a 6'8" St Croix Legend Xtreme Spinning M/XF rated 3/16-5/8 oz. with a Stradic CI4+ spooled with 7lb Sniper Super FC or recently 8lb Tatsu. I've pulled 3-4lb fish out from some ugly snaggy branches and trees, but it's done with gentle pressure, drag set properly, good boat control, and occasionally if I get hung just keep steady pressure until I get the boat in there to pull the fish out. It can be done and is a fun productive way for me to fish, but requires caution and some practice. It's actually one of the more productive techniques I fish. The tip of that rod is perfect for getting a high speed low trajectory skip over the water under cover.

[raoka]

that is basically what i had in mind...i just know that st croix rods are rated a little stiffer...the fenwick medium just seems so whippy that maybe the mh would serve a more controlled skip?

[kschultz76]

Several factors at play including length, taper/action, stiffness and type of graphite used. The St Croix graphite blends are even different between the Legend Xtreme and LTB or Avid. Without holding that Fenwick side by side and testing it against the St Croix hard to really say. But just bc it's different doesn't mean it won't skip for you. For me the key is tip speed with a fast tip and stiff back bone that responds well to the snapping motion of my wrist. However I can skip with other spinning rods including my Avid 66 M/F and LTB 66 ML/F but they aren't the rods I normally choose for this type of fishing.