Fenwick Fenglass Pack Rod

[Randy Knapp]

Okay. I bit the bullet and purchased this rod for $99.95 (they shipped it for free!). I lawn cast it today with 3 different 6wt lines and I am very satisfied. I am what I consider to be a intermediate caster with more wrist action than most. I had no problem putting out 60' of line and could do anything I wanted with 40' or less. The rod feels slightly tip heavy but not as much as their 8'6" 6wt (which I don't like) and has a medium soft action with a lot of reserve power in the butt not unlike some older bamboo rods I have had or cast (of course, this rod will no doubt be more durable and require much less care!). I could see this being a real workhorse rod for me anywhere the fish are large and strong and/or I need to cast big poppers, weighted flies, weighted flies with split shot, or my custom sinktip sections of LC13 leadcore. I am going to test it on some big Dolly Varden in the next week with some large weighted streamers and see how it compares with my longer glass rods. I even rollcast this rod on the grass 30' without effort. I will update you after a day on the river. The workmanship is as good as rods costing five times as much. It makes me want to get the 2pc 7'6" 5wt.
Randy
" When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee" Isaiah 43:2

[Nooksack Mac]

What's the length of your Fenglass, and how many sections?
I still have a Fenwick Feralite Voyageur, probably from the late 1960's or early '70's. It's 8' 6" with five sections for 6-weight lines. I bought it from the estate of a friend and fishing buddy who died much too young. Its extra ferrules make it somewhat stiffer than comprable two-piece glass rods. Although it, too, is somewhat tip-heavy, it casts to 70-80 feet easily enough, and roll-casts beautifully. Disassembled, it's the same length as a four-piece 7-foot St. Croix for 3/4 lines. I've backpacked the pair to many backcountry lakes and streams.

[Randy Knapp]

It is 7'6" for a 6wt. I had it out today and landed a dark but clear skinned jumping salmon...a silver. I had a dolly on but lost it. I was up on the Stilly. The rod did well today casting a tandem rig of two heavily weighted flies. I use to own one of those 5pc Fenwicks but sold it. I really liked it but wanted the lighter weight of a shorter rod. I guess I just like shorter glass rods. My longest rod is only 8'.

Randy


" When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee" Isaiah 43:2

[Kent Lufkin]

Funny this thread came up as I had just put together my old (ca. 1974) brown Fenwick glass 7' 6wt the other day. I tried it with a variety of 5 and 6 wt lines but it liked a DT5F best. Easily punched out 50' casts on the lawn and felt like it had more in reserve but nearby trees prohibited more distance. Nice, slow casting stroke promotes accuracy instead of distance. Gonna try it this spring on some desert trout.


"Some of the best fishing is done not in water but in print." ~ Sparse Grey Hackle

[Tim Cottage]

I also have an older Fenwick glass rod from the early 1970's. It is an 8ft 2pc 6wt. I put it away when graphite rods came out on the market. Then, a few years ago I rediscovered it when I pulled it out to teach my daughter to cast. I liked it so much that I bought my daughter a newer, used, low priced graphite so that I could keep the old Fenwick. My preference has always been for slower or mid action rods. Possibly because I spent most of my early years with glass.

TC

[Kent Lufkin]

Glad to hear I'm not the only one dusting off his old glass rods. I've just started playing with bamboo and read in Gierach's 'Fishing Bamboo' that some casting instructors start their sudents off with glass or bamboo because the slow casting stroke forces them to pay more attention to their loops than today's ultra-fast graphite rods. I started my own daughter out casting the same 6wt glass rods several years ago and she was hitting a frisbee at about 45 feet within a day or two.


"Some of the best fishing is done not in water but in print." ~ Sparse Grey Hackle