View Full Version : I love my Fenwick, but it shattered yesterday! Any suggestions?
This spring I purchased a Fenwick HG 6'0" ML rod for jigging with 6# Fireline. I absolutely love the rod! Here's the problem:
I just shattered my second rod (replaced the 1st one earlier this year) yesterday while fishing when the line became snagged and I attempted to free the hook.
The details: I'm 6'7" and weigh 270#. Maybe I have too much torque, but I am beginning to wonder if I need to consider something with a little more backbone. I don't want to give up the feel of this rod, but shattering rods all the time and waiting for a replacement isn't good either.
Any suggestions? Thanks!!
eyedoktr
11-20-2003, 10:11 AM
I won't comment on whether it's the rod or not but whenever I'm snagged firmly, I ALWAYS point the rod at the snag and pull. After breaking a couple of rods years ago using your (mine at the time) technique, I realized that if I didn't use the rod to free the snag, I wouldn't break the rod. I just hold the spool and pull directly. Either the lure/jig breaks free or the line breaks.
Terroreyes
11-20-2003, 10:12 AM
If the rod broke before the 6# line, I'd definitely look into a different model or brand. My cheap Bass Pro and Cabelas rods hold up to 30# superline even when freeing some nasty Detroit River snags.
If the new Lightning Rod Pro Series are as indestructible as the old ones, you might want to give them a look. $40
[br][div align="center"][br][center][br][font color="#3300CC";font face="Roman"; size="+1"][br]When I take to the water [br]there's terror in the [br] [font color="red"; size="+3"; font face="webdings"] N N
Dutchman
11-20-2003, 10:58 AM
Skis, you should check out the Walleye Angler 85 million modulas jigging rods. Best jigging stick I've ever used, and they're less expensive than some of the other high end rods. Maybe Fenwick will replace your other rod too. Just my 2 cents...
"Fishing is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope"
What company sells those? Can't say I've heard of them.
Thanks!
Toolman
11-20-2003, 12:11 PM
Skis,
I did the exact same thing with a HMG ML66 with 4/10 Fireline on a snag while fishing a spillway (there's a really good story that followed the rod-breaking incident, but I'll just say that we ended up at an establishment called "Fantasyland"). Afterwards, I wrote to Fenwick and they replaced the rod for $10 (to cover shipping) which was over and above what they needed to do. Eyedoktr is right on the $$ on freeing a snag. Hold the spool and pull straight back. You will either break the line , straighten the hook(s) or pull in the snag and all.
I really like that rod, but as Dutchman said, the BPS 85 MM rods are really good rods, too (I would compare them to an St. Croix Avid for weight, feel and balance).
Tim
An 85 million modulus rod is impossible. It would blow up in a heart beat. I'm not saying it's not a nice rod. Never tried one. It may have some high modulus in it, but it's going to be a very low percentage of the total volume of the composite. Just something to watch for. I just don't understand why they need to false advertise it to sell them. If there that good they should sell themselves, like St. Croix's do.
shadowman
11-20-2003, 01:35 PM
i have to second the berkley lighting rods, man i punish my rods always have always will and have yet to find one to match a lighting rod, also they are great jigging rods real good feel and you will know the lightest of strikes.
Toolman
11-20-2003, 01:50 PM
Fa,
St Croix rods don't sell themselves-they advertise plenty. I have several and like them but there are other rods! Just reiterated what Dutchman said. You should try a Walleye Angler 85 MM rod. Light, sensitive and lots of backbone. As far as the 85M modulous-have you counted them?;-)
Skis,
Walleye Angler rods are Bass Pro's brand. Good luck w/your Fenwick.
Tim
Thanks Tim! Just mailed the rod up to Reed's today. Guess we'll wait to hear what they say, but I think they'll send a new one.
But, I do need to buy another jigging rod for next year, so I appreciate the input for my future purchase! This was the first rod I bought specifically for jigging. Boy, there is a huge difference b/w my Fenwick and my other rods!
Ristorapper
11-20-2003, 08:16 PM
Walleye angler rods are sold via BASS PRO SHOP (BPS)
bob oh
11-21-2003, 05:59 AM
Ski, I think it is your technique - i've used several hmg rods for more than 7 years and have yet to break one. But, I never put the pressure of a snag on the rod. I think part of the breaking on snags is the thin walls of the rod - the same reason that they are so sensitive. The rods that you can really snap and crank on are thicker -- which equals less sensitivity.... Pure Fishing, Fenwick owner, is really easy to deal with so you should contact them.
Any very high quality - very sensitive rod is going to break, if you try to use the rod to free a snag.
Any time that you get snagged, the first thing you should do is to open your bail, so that you don't make it any worse.
Get over the top of the hook, and then get a dowel that you keep in the boat. A piece of an old broom stick works very well as well.
the problem with fireline is that it is very difficult to hold with your hand, and if it slips at all, it will cut your hand to the bone.
So, take the broom stick and take about 6 wraps around the fire line. Let there be plenty of slack at the tip of the rod, so that you have 0 stress on the rod.
Now, give the broom stick a good yank. Either the hook will pull free, the hook will straighten or break, or you will break the line. In any event, reel in the slack, and if necessary, put a new terminal tackle on and go back to fishing.
NEVER< NEVER< NEVER use a rod to free a snag.
Always the perfect way to shatter a rod.
Take care
REW
If you want to use the rod to free hooks then fish with solid fiberglass rods. You can tie these rods in a knot and they won't break. Of course they weigh a ton, and have very poor sensitivitity, but that is the choice.
Any very high quality - very sensitive rod is going to break, if you try to use the rod to free a snag.
Any time that you get snagged, the first thing you should do is to open your bail, so that you don't make it any worse.
Get over the top of the hook, and then get a dowel that you keep in the boat. A piece of an old broom stick works very well as well.
the problem with fireline is that it is very difficult to hold with your hand, and if it slips at all, it will cut your hand to the bone.
So, take the broom stick and take about 6 wraps around the fire line. Let there be plenty of slack at the tip of the rod, so that you have 0 stress on the rod.
Now, give the broom stick a good yank. Either the hook will pull free, the hook will straighten or break, or you will break the line. In any event, reel in the slack, and if necessary, put a new terminal tackle on and go back to fishing.
NEVER< NEVER< NEVER use a rod to free a snag.
Always the perfect way to shatter a rod.
Take care
REW
If you want to use the rod to free hooks then fish with solid fiberglass rods. You can tie these rods in a knot and they won't break. Of course they weigh a ton, and have very poor sensitivitity, but that is the choice.
Thanks for the suggestions!! I am going to find a broom handle just for this going forward! Thanks REW!
Thanks for the suggestions!! I am going to find a broom handle just for this going forward! Thanks REW!
Einstein
11-21-2003, 02:07 PM
Another thing, You only need about a foot of broom handle, you don't need the full five foot:) Also, what was stated earlier about a rod shattering when you try to free a snag is true. You do not want to use the rod for this purpose. Lastly, the higher the modulous the more sensitive and light the rod will be. These rods will have thinner side walls than the lower modulous rods. The result is rather simple... Higher modulous rods are easier to damage than the lower modulous due to the thinner walls. If you want a rod for durability get an IM6 rod. If you want a rod for sensitivity get the high modulous rod and realize that it needs to be treated more delicately.
E
Einstein
11-21-2003, 02:07 PM
Another thing, You only need about a foot of broom handle, you don't need the full five foot:) Also, what was stated earlier about a rod shattering when you try to free a snag is true. You do not want to use the rod for this purpose. Lastly, the higher the modulous the more sensitive and light the rod will be. These rods will have thinner side walls than the lower modulous rods. The result is rather simple... Higher modulous rods are easier to damage than the lower modulous due to the thinner walls. If you want a rod for durability get an IM6 rod. If you want a rod for sensitivity get the high modulous rod and realize that it needs to be treated more delicately.
E
St. Croix. :D I love my avid jigging rod so much my wife is jealous.
Eyez
St. Croix. :D I love my avid jigging rod so much my wife is jealous.
Eyez