Abu Garcia Villain vs Fenwick Aetos

[SMITTY0045]

I’m trying to decide between these two rods. I’ve held both of the last generation models of each of these rods but I don’t know how they perform our how the newest models feel. Can anyone give some insight?

[fvogel67]

I have a first gen Villian 6'9" ML,I love it.  It's light and has great sensitivity.I use it for wacky rigs in gravel pits and throw tubes when fishing the river.

 

[new2BC4bass]

Villain 2.0 spinning rod review.  http://tackletour.com/reviewabuvillain2spin.html

Villain 2.0 casting rod review. http://tackletour.com/reviewabuvillaincasting.html

Read smalljaw67's post.  https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/155462-fenwick-aetos-or-hmg/

 

Finding reviews on the Aetos is hard.  Go to TW.  Check out the reviews left at the bottom of the page after clicking on the Aetos spinning (or casting) models.  I have 2 of the original Aetos casting models.  Some of my first casting rods were 6'6', but I soon found out that I prefer longer.  So the 6'6" rods didn't get used much.  I bought the Aetos 6'6" MLM casting rod after smalljaw67 gave me his opinion of the rod.  I absolutely love it.  Unfortunately it looks like Fenwick dropped this model with the 2nd generation model.

[GeekOutdoors]

I own 3 Aetos rods and absolutely love them. They're light and sensitive. I own 2 spinnings and one casting. Which Power/action/lenght are you looking at ?

[MIbassyaker]

I don't know anything about the Villain, but have four Aetos rods, 3 from the previous generation (2 casting, 6'4" M-XF, and 6'8" MH-F, one spinning 7'0" M-F), and one casting from the current generation (7'5" MH-F) that Fenwick sent to me in a warranty claim when I broke another of the last gen.  They are excellent and beautiful rods -- very light, with "crisp" actions, and power ratings that are right on. The new generation is even lighter.  I use the 7'5" MH-F for a mix of jigs & frogs. The tip is soft enough to launch a 1/2oz frog a mile and has plenty of power for slop-work even though it's not a heavy. And it has excellent sensitivity for bottom contact.

 

The only thing I don't like is that the handles of both generations are 1-2 inches longer than I wish they were. But that's just a matter of taste, as I prefer shorter than usual handles.

 

 

[new2BC4bass]

1 hour ago, MIbassyaker said:

I don't know anything about the Villain, but have four Aetos rods, 3 from the previous generation (2 casting, 6'4" M-XF, and 6'8" MH-F, one spinning 7'0" M-F), and one casting from the current generation (7'5" MH-F) that Fenwick sent to me in a warranty claim when I broke another of the last gen.  They are excellent and beautiful rods -- very light, with "crisp" actions, and power ratings that are right on. The new generation is even lighter.  I use the 7'5" MH-F for a mix of jigs & frogs. The tip is soft enough to launch a 1/2oz frog a mile and has plenty of power for slop-work even though it's not a heavy. And it has excellent sensitivity for bottom contact.

 

The only thing I don't like is that the handles of both generations are 1-2 inches longer than I wish they were. But that's just a matter of taste, as I prefer shorter than usual handles.

 

 

You must love the ET Smallmouth series!   

[MIbassyaker]

Just now, new2BC4bass said:

You must love the ET Smallmouth series!   

Yes, yes I do  -- I have the 6'9" MH-F and 6'10" MH-MF casters, and the handle lengths are perfect on those.

[new2BC4bass]

41 minutes ago, MIbassyaker said:

Yes, yes I do  -- I have the 6'9" MH-F and 6'10" MH-MF casters, and the handle lengths are perfect on those.

  Only thing I would change on them is a bit longer handle.  Love them otherwise.

[954gator]

@GeekFisher,  @MIbassyaker I'm interested in an Aetos spinning rod as well.   I haven't found a single shop in South Fl that carries any Fenwicks other than the eagles I've seen at Dicks/Walmart.   I really wanted to pick one up and see how they feel before buying.   I'm between the 6'6 MF & 6'9 MLXF.    Worried the 6'6 is going to be too stiff or the 6'9 too weak.    How to the ratings compare to other brands?  

[GeekOutdoors]

20 hours ago, 954gator said:

@GeekFisher,  @MIbassyaker I'm interested in an Aetos spinning rod as well.   I haven't found a single shop in South Fl that carries any Fenwicks other than the eagles I've seen at Dicks/Walmart.   I really wanted to pick one up and see how they feel before buying.   I'm between the 6'6 MF & 6'9 MLXF.    Worried the 6'6 is going to be too stiff or the 6'9 too weak.    How to the ratings compare to other brands?  

I own a 7' MF spinning and 7' MHF spinning and casting. Use the spinnings for tubes and the casting for lighter bottom bouncing lures (under 1/2) The spinnings are definitely fishing lighter than St. Croix Mojo equivalent. They are lighter and more sensitive but slightly more expensive. Cabelas in Ottawa use to Carry most Aetos line-up

[MIbassyaker]

20 hours ago, 954gator said:

@GeekFisher,  @MIbassyaker I'm interested in an Aetos spinning rod as well.   I haven't found a single shop in South Fl that carries any Fenwicks other than the eagles I've seen at Dicks/Walmart.   I really wanted to pick one up and see how they feel before buying.   I'm between the 6'6 MF & 6'9 MLXF.    Worried the 6'6 is going to be too stiff or the 6'9 too weak.    How to the ratings compare to other brands?  

 

Too stiff or weak for what, exactly? I use a 7'0" MF spinning in the previous generation as my main shakyhead/jigworm rod. I would expect the 6'6" MF to be fine for the same things, as well as senkos and flukes, while the 6'9" MLXF would be good for drop-shot, ned rigs and such.  The Aetos is not dramatically lighter or heavier in power compared to most other companies' models at the same price point. Fenwick has a reputation for their lower-end rods being a little stiff, but the Aetos isn't like that.

 

[hwright38]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I absolutely LOVE my villains. I'll never not recommend them. I haven't messed with the spinning versions yet, but the casting are my favorite rods hands down. They've become my personal standard for comparing other rods, and frankly I haven't found anything that comes close. 

The newer generation Villains are night and day compared to the older gen. Much better rods from what I've read.

[954gator]

19 hours ago, MIbassyaker said:

 

Too stiff or weak for what, exactly? I use a 7'0" MF spinning in the previous generation as my main shakyhead/jigworm rod. I would expect the 6'6" MF to be fine for the same things, as well as senkos and flukes, while the 6'9" MLXF would be good for drop-shot, ned rigs and such.  The Aetos is not dramatically lighter or heavier in power compared to most other companies' models at the same price point. Fenwick has a reputation for their lower-end rods being a little stiff, but the Aetos isn't like that.

 

Well truth is I'm one of those guys that are still using 6ft medium spinning rods a lot.   I have some old 6'6's that feel great too, but most of the new ones in stores felt pretty stiff.  I was looking for a split grip in that 6'6-6'9 range yet just about all the models in Bass Pro like the Mojo Bass felt so unbalanced.  This Aetos has it's handle a good 2.5 inches longer than most of the Awkward feeling split grips I found in stores.   The 7 fters felt better, but are just too long.   I have 7ft rods for inshore, but want to keep it a bit shorter for this one.    Basically most of the 6'6 rods felt a bit stiff.  

 

 I always felt the 6ft rods feel a bit more sensitive and just felt better in my hands (but my freshwater rods are mostly $50 beaters like lightning rods/ugly lites etc).   Besides the ponds and lakes in South FL, I also do some everglades fishing and with those smaller weak rods I have caught the surprise huge Bowfin, gar, etc.   I rarely need to cast extreme distances and most of the ponds and lakes near me are very light on cover.   I'm not on a boat most of the time and when I am I'm in the canals in the everglades.    

 

I just wanted to know as some rod manufacturer's "mediums" feel like medium lights and some "medium lights" feel like Mediums.   I think I'm just going to go with the versatility of the 6'6 MF.  I feel like based on the materials/specs that this rod is an underrated bargain for what you get (and I'm pretty dead set on it haha).   Thanks for your responses!

19 hours ago, GeekFisher said:

I own a 7' MF spinning and 7' MHF spinning and casting. Use the spinnings for tubes and the casting for lighter bottom bouncing lures (under 1/2) The spinnings are definitely fishing lighter than St. Croix Mojo equivalent. They are lighter and more sensitive but slightly more expensive. Cabelas in Ottawa use to Carry most Aetos line-up

Thank you!   I wish we had Cabela's in Fl!

[GeekOutdoors]

17 hours ago, 954gator said:

Well truth is I'm one of those guys that are still using 6ft medium spinning rods a lot.   I have some old 6'6's that feel great too, but most of the new ones in stores felt pretty stiff.  I was looking for a split grip in that 6'6-6'9 range yet just about all the models in Bass Pro like the Mojo Bass felt so unbalanced.  This Aetos has it's handle a good 2.5 inches longer than most of the Awkward feeling split grips I found in stores.   The 7 fters felt better, but are just too long.   I have 7ft rods for inshore, but want to keep it a bit shorter for this one.    Basically most of the 6'6 rods felt a bit stiff.  

 

 I always felt the 6ft rods feel a bit more sensitive and just felt better in my hands (but my freshwater rods are mostly $50 beaters like lightning rods/ugly lites etc).   Besides the ponds and lakes in South FL, I also do some everglades fishing and with those smaller weak rods I have caught the surprise huge Bowfin, gar, etc.   I rarely need to cast extreme distances and most of the ponds and lakes near me are very light on cover.   I'm not on a boat most of the time and when I am I'm in the canals in the everglades.    

 

I just wanted to know as some rod manufacturer's "mediums" feel like medium lights and some "medium lights" feel like Mediums.   I think I'm just going to go with the versatility of the 6'6 MF.  I feel like based on the materials/specs that this rod is an underrated bargain for what you get (and I'm pretty dead set on it haha).   Thanks for your responses!

Thank you!   I wish we had Cabela's in Fl!

BPS likely have them as well !

[954gator]

3 hours ago, GeekFisher said:

BPS likely have them as well !

Nope can you believe that had ZERO fenwicks?!  I asked the guy about it and he said for freshwater they are really pushing their iwn stuff...very sad.  They used ti have a much bigger selection.

I still need to try the one in Miami. Dania/Ft. Lauderdale was a no go.