Enigma vs Aetos

[CenCal fisher]

Both of these rods are on sale for the same price and I will be using the rod for jigs and carolina rigs. The enigma is butt ugly, but I will get free shipping if I buy the enigma which will save me $20. Is the Aetos $20 better than the enigma?  I was going to pair the rod with a Daiwa Tatula type R. Also is there another $180 rod marked down to $100 that I am missing and should consider? 

[fishnkamp]

Well obviously you are not a fan of the Enigmas all black look.  One thing the Enigma rod does offer is the MicroWave guids which many anglers have never cast. Doug Hannon, the Bass Professor, actually designed them to make the line straighten out and cast further.  I have several friends fishing custom built rods with those guides and all reports say they work well.  The Aetos are well made rods and people on here are excited because they are clearing out last years rods at a discount. You are actually getting a rod that last month sold for $179 for $95 dollars. I think you would be best off to get one directly from Fenwick at their discounted price. If you can find a local shop to put your paws on one to test I think you may be wise to handle one in person first. I did so with some of their spinning rods and I felt the mediums felt a little more like medium lite so when I was looking for a 6'8 to 7 foot medium I would have needed to go to a MH for a drop shot/ weighted senco rod.  I can not tell you if it is true in the casting rods but try to check personally if possible.

[timsford]

I'd definitely go with the aetos. I don't think Fenwicks rods are underpowered, it's just that they fish closer to ratings than a lot of manufacturers. I find the medium fishes like a medium and so on. That's just me though so if you can pick one up you may want to. The enigma rods I've held and just didn't feel nearly as good as the aetos. I've heard nearly nothing about them since they came out as far as reviews and I've seen a lot of guys selling them used that seemed excited about picking them up a few months before. The data tatula rods at 110 from Sportsmans outfitters, fenwick smallmouth rods for 78.88, Powell max 3d from sheltons clothing and the Omen green rods on clearance at tackle warehouse are all great rods that are selling around 100 right now and deeply discounted.  All are great rods I have models from each line and the aetos, tatula, and max 3d all fish above their price,  and the Omen green rods are very versatile with a true fast action if you want a do it all longer length rod I'd go with the Omen green or max 3d 684. Bottom contact I'd go with the aetos or tatula, but the 684 is plenty sensitive for that. Just not my first choice for jigs because of the shorter length.  Crankbait rods I'd look at the tatula regular action or max 3d composite rods. It all depends on what you want to use the rod for but there are great rods for 100 or so no matter what technique you want them for