Major Pfleuger Pres XT reel failure at worst possible time

[QED]

5 hours ago, NYWayfarer said:

[stuff deleted]

Fenwick…  enough said.

 

Sad to see what has become of Fenwick.  They used to be a premium, innovative brand.  I still use some of their older HMG ultralight spinning rods and they work wonderfully.

[NYWayfarer]

4 hours ago, FrnkNsteen said:

That's sad! I like my Fenwick rods!

 

Though I can say I've got a bunch of Fenwicks, including multiple HMX, and have never had one do that. That's a new one for me.

Trust me when I say I baby my stuff. This happened just by gripping the handle before a cast. The handle basically caved in. 
 

HMX is a great looking rod. The screw down cork handle is a BAD idea. 
 

I still love my Fenwick Eagles, still a great bang for the Buck rod. I have 4 that are still in great shape.

[Mbirdsley]

11 hours ago, NYWayfarer said:

A year ago I would have argued with you over your views of Pure Fishing offerings.

 

I am not afraid to admit I have come to see your point on most of their brands. Berkley and for me Abu Garcia excluded (Still love my Revo’s, Black Max and Zata spinning reels)

 

Pflueger is a pale comparison to the past. I still have my President with the wooden handle knob. I would not go near them anymore.

 

Fenwick…

 

 
 

enough said.

 

 

 

I like all of my abu’s weather it’s my black maxx, silver max, my round reel pro rocket or my revo pro premier spinning reel that was $250 but, bought on sale for $150 from Bps 

[Yuddzy]

11 hours ago, NYWayfarer said:

A year ago I would have argued with you over your views of Pure Fishing offerings.

 

I am not afraid to admit I have come to see your point on most of their brands. Berkley and for me Abu Garcia excluded (Still love my Revo’s, Black Max and Zata spinning reels)

 

Pflueger is a pale comparison to the past. I still have my President with the wooden handle knob. I would not go near them anymore.

 

Fenwick…

 

 
 

enough said.

 

 

 

As someone who just bought a 7' MH Fenwick HMX, this whole thread made me visibly frown, and then I got to this post.

 

Noooooooooo ))):

 

At least it's under warranty for 5 years? I'm really hoping mine just lasts, I don't want to be buying a replacement for a new rod. 

[throttleplate]

8 hours ago, fin said:

So did you have to turn that little nub to get the fish in, or did you have to pull the line by hand?

 

I opened up the bail, waded to the steep shore, put rod on bank, climbed out on my knees, stood up grabbed rod, walked backward through the cattails and brush, called over to the wife, she held the rod, i went back into the water as deep as i could and with my gloved hands pulled the line while she reeled the stub to collect the line.

 

It actually was envigorating, especially bringing the fish in. Just another story to remember good and bad. Anyone have a handle for sale?

[BrianMDTX]

9 hours ago, Yuddzy said:

As someone who just bought a 7' MH Fenwick HMX, this whole thread made me visibly frown, and then I got to this post.

 

Noooooooooo ))):

 

At least it's under warranty for 5 years? I'm really hoping mine just lasts, I don't want to be buying a replacement for a new rod. 

I have a Fenwick HMX 66M-FS-2 that is my main spinning rod for wacky rigs, and a HMX 76H-FC baitcasting rod for frogging. I’ll freely admit the baitcaster doesn’t get a ton of use compared to the spinner. That gets used a lot. It’s one of my favorite rods paired with a Daiwa Fuego LT2500. 

[NYWayfarer]

19 hours ago, Yuddzy said:

As someone who just bought a 7' MH Fenwick HMX, this whole thread made me visibly frown, and then I got to this post.

 

Noooooooooo ))):

 

At least it's under warranty for 5 years? I'm really hoping mine just lasts, I don't want to be buying a replacement for a new rod. 

Call me crazy but I won’t be looking to get this replaced under the warranty. I can see the same thing happening again, the handle is that flimsy.

[Yuddzy]

41 minutes ago, NYWayfarer said:

Call me crazy but I won’t be looking to get this replaced under the warranty. I can see the same thing happening again, the handle is that flimsy.

I wonder if sealer would help hold it together? Not that you should need to do such things anyway. Best of luck with your future rods. 

 

Mine feels okay so far, time will tell I suppose. 

[Tatulatard]

On 6/26/2022 at 2:38 PM, ironbjorn said:

As an aside, Abu Garcia (Pure Fishing) knocked it out of the park with the rebranded Black Max (now the Max X) reels. 

In what way?  I was looking at them and was dumbstruck to see that they are $60 and have an 18 gram spool.  For a plastic, magnetic brake only reel that also somehow manages to weigh over 7 oz.  I wanted the STX one for a silver and orange lews rod but that one is $80.  I know Putins Price Hike made fishing reels expensive in 2021 but I can get an aluminum frame reel with maybe even a centrifugal brake for not much more than what abu wants for a max x.  Maybe I am stuck in the past but I feel like I should pay the $40 I paid for my old max 3 at my local walmart.  Even with inflation there has been tremendous advancements in cheap high performance fishing reels and prices have actually dropped if you have been lurking the chinease amazon site over the past few years   I mean, the academy mettle is $50 and it has an aluminum frame and centrifugal brake.

[ironbjorn]

4 hours ago, Tatulatard said:

In what way?  I was looking at them and was dumbstruck to see that they are $60 and have an 18 gram spool.  For a plastic, magnetic brake only reel that also somehow manages to weigh over 7 oz.  I wanted the STX one for a silver and orange lews rod but that one is $80.  I know Putins Price Hike made fishing reels expensive in 2021 but I can get an aluminum frame reel with maybe even a centrifugal brake for not much more than what abu wants for a max x.  Maybe I am stuck in the past but I feel like I should pay the $40 I paid for my old max 3 at my local walmart.  Even with inflation there has been tremendous advancements in cheap high performance fishing reels and prices have actually dropped if you have been lurking the chinease amazon site over the past few years   I mean, the academy mettle is $50 and it has an aluminum frame and centrifugal brake.

I bought a few from TW for $50 each. Left handed. Not sure if the right handed sell for more or something. I know AG lists them for $60 on their website.

 

The new Black Max (Max X) is narrower and palms better, not that it was a problem before. The spool is a little lighter and the reel casts better than ever. I put mine on a few old rods and have been pleased.

 

If you're one of those people who notices and is bothered by the weight difference that is equivalent to a sip of water, the reel will never be for you. I do not say that condescendingly. This is a huge issue for some while others literally do not notice. I'm in the others camp.

 

[Bird]

Unfortunately, I have the exact same reel, same handle.

The good news is, I've set it up for the wife to pan fish with and don't think she's strong enough to break the handle.

 

Now, must admit, have had the same thing happen on a reel while fighting fish and never gave that manufacturer a 2nd look since.

Really no need to mention that manufacturer this many years later but a legendary fisherman was sponsored by them. ?