I have posted earlier about how much I love the FF756-4 I just got and how versatile it is, here in the Driftless. Just got back the Breckenridge area and it proved itself there too. Wind, lakes, rivers, streamers, hopper/dropper, size 20 dries, size 6 dries, nymphing - it did it all.

So now I have the Fenwick sickness and was wondering what others to add, to cover all the bases. This site is an incredible resource for all things fiberglass and doing some research, this is what I came up with.

FF70 (or FF70-4): small stream work.
FF79: because everyone needs the ultimate dry fly Fenwick
FF806: Bigger trout water and smallies.
FF85: Bass and maybe some steelhead/pike.

What do you all think? Am I missing anything, to fill the gaps? Do you think I can just stop at five?

Thanks for any suggestions!

Well, if you were going to stop at five, I'd say those are pretty good ones for what I understand Driftless fishing to entail. But it really depends on what your fishing is and the flies you throw. Good thing about vintage Fenwicks is that, despite the good reputation we've helped grow, they can still be had at pretty reasonable prices, and resale is strong. Essentially, if you wanted to see if a FF605 or FF858 floated your boat, it's a rental; you could buy it for not too much, fish it for a couple of years, and pass it along for about the same price if you didn't want to hang on to it.

Driftless, I only have two at this point but who knows? Only recently acquired.

FF805 - very well taken care of and very nice 5-6 wt. a little better with a 6 for me.
FF79 - appears new unfished, tip over butt ferrule shows no signs of being assembled although I've had it together a few times but only lawn cast so far. Handles a WF/DT5, WF/DT6 and WF7 in my hands - I will fish this rod for smallies using size 6-8 unweighted - lightly weighted streamers fairly soon. I think it will handle this just fine.

Very new to glass but I love Fenwicks so far. What Fenwick model is the quintessential 7 wt. smallie rod? Is it the FF806 you have and mention?
John

I feel the FF807 is the best 7 weight and is the rod Fenwick designer Jimmy Green liked the best.

I also thought the FF 79 was Fenwicks ultimate dry fly rig, then I got to use the FF 84 this past spring and became a true believer. It was the one I reached for most when the bugs were comming off. Both are excellent rods.

I snagged a FF807 a few weeks back - wow I see what you mean. A great feeling rod with a DT7F. Feels like it will handle an 8 weight too but have not tried that yet. Thanks all!

You might want to get backups of your favorites :-).
I like some of the FF80's as well. Depending on the FF80 you get, it might be a 6wt or 7wt.
With your original list, I think you have things covered, but as Pearow said, "you can't stop at 5."

You are definitely missing the FF755 from your list. Much different than the FF79. I find that it is the lightest and crispest of the Fiberglass Fenwicks.

Carl

I love the suggestions guys, keep them coming. For an update, I now have a FF85. Now I see what you are talking about with the "glow" blanks on the double digit Fenwicks! Beautiful! I fished a small bass lake last weekend and it worked awesome. Big poppers and streamers were cast with ease and the 3-4 lb largemouths put an nice bend in the rod. The rod hardly looks fished and had the original tube and sock for $59 on craigslist.

Though I had the FF85, no one was bidding on a FF857 on evilbay, so I put in a low bid and got it for under 20 bucks! It has been fished before for sure and no tube, but still in great shape. This rod feels great too.... maybe better than the FF85? We will see this weekend.

You guys were right! There will be no stopping at just five!

Hijack warning:

One of the reason's you're never done collecting Fenwicks is that there are so many variations and it can take some time to figure them out.
The following are some of my personal observations which might help get you jumpstarted. Take it for what it's worth (about what you paid for it).

First 2-digit vs 3-digit rods.

FF75, FF755. Similar, but different.
I've started migrating away from buying 3digit fenwicks to 2-digit Fenwicks. I like the slower action, the color and the metal tubes.
However the 3-digit models are often a touch nicer fishing tools and more predictable.
The FF857, FF858, FF856-5, .... are usually right on them money with their line ratings. A FF85 is more of a mystery.

Second, the action of rods changes over time (predictability). It is harder to predict the action of the 2-digit Fenwicks based on model number. I have found an FF85 can cast a 6-8wt or a 7-9wt. Just to make matters more confusing, I don't particularly trust the numbers that were written on the rod. Personal experience has me underlining by at least one line size. I don't know how many tapers were sold under the FF85 model number, but it's more than 2. Beside the line weight, the action slightly changes (they all are nice, but sometimes one is nicer).

Even on the 3-digit Fenwicks, there is variation, but the line weighting is more consistent. Within the same model, FF755, a K-Serial number and an S-Serial number are different. Both are 5wt's but if you cast them side by side, you can usually feel the difference. (This is all subjective, so just beware)

Third, there are the multi-piece models. These usually have a slower action due to more swing weight. I like the one's I've cast, but they cost a lot more and they are heavier. The 5 piece models seem to be a class of rod unto themselves. (FF856-5 and FF858-5).

I don't have much experience in the 9' models, but I was really surprised with the FF90 casting a 7wt beautifully.

Finally there are the Irregulars. FF535, FF79, FF84, Spinflys, and more. There are some good rods, but each is different and they are outliers on the family tree.

Driftless: your first list captures a representative of almost all the standards, represented over the eras.

FF60 or FF605 (optional)
FF70 or FF705
FF75 or FF755
FF80 or FF806 (possibly ff807)
FF85 or FF857 or FF858

This is the list that I would say represents the core of Fenwick glass. If you have a FF80, you will probably like FF85 or FF75. If you have this set, I would say you have a complete set.

You added the FF79 in and it is a good choice.
You neglected the FF75 category because you have an FF756-4. At some time you might want to pick up a two piece FF755, this is a very nice rod.

Carl

I love the suggestions and for the through analysis Carl. I am starting to see what you mean about line ratings. I don't have line higher than a 8 wt, but I think my FF85 (2 piece) would feel best with a 9 wt, it does not do well with a 7 wt. My FF857 loves the 7 wt, but the 8 wt starts to feel a bit heavy. Heading up North, as we say in Wisconsin, right now. All 3 of my Fenwicks will get a good workout this week.

I am getting the feeling that this Fenwick collecting is a little less addicting than crack cocaine : )!

The FF-75 is a great choice, get the 4 pc and it is a very versatile travel rod. It can do almost everything. When I go someplace for the first time and don't know what to expect...this is the rod I take.

I think your FF-756 covers the FF-806 need pretty well and with a 4 pc you can travel with it too.

Wow! This a blast from the past - 2014! I love it! Now I can update you all on my "Fenwick Arsenal" and thank you again for all your suggestions.

Let's see, when we left off, I had a FF756-4, FF85, and FF857. Quite quickly I sold off the FF857 on this forum. I liked the feel of the FF85 better and it had more backbone to keep the bass out of the weeds and logs. The FF857 and I just never clicked.

From there, I bought a FF806. Awesome rod. Certainly a contender for "if I could only have one rod." Tiny dries through big streamers for trout. Great smallie stick. Later, I bought a FF806-4 and sold the FF806.

I then added a FF75 and it quickly replaced the FF756-4, as my favorite Fenwick. I had to have backup for this one, and added a FF75-4, and that replaced the FF75 as my fav. Just a bit slower and sweeter for me.

Of course I had to get a FF79. That took the title (just barely) of favorite. I have been fishing the FF75-4 all this winter, the shorter length making it easier to reach up and de-ice the guides, but today, I think I will let the FF79 out to play - I miss it.

I haven't had a chance to fish it yet, but in December, I picked up a battered FF85-3 from the silent auction at our TU banquet. I have cast it in the backyard with a GPX 6wt line and it feels pretty sweet, maybe I should fish that today....

So this is list now:

FF75-4
FF75
FF756-4
FF79
FF806-4
FF85-3
FF85

Still need to add a 7 footer. I have a few modern glass rods now, but these Fenwicks still stack up well!

FWIW I think you have a fine selection right there.

Last year my son found an FF806 that a new friend of his had and didn't use hardly at all. He bought it for me as it represented a time in my life that we'd talked about often, post v.Nam etc and lots of memories. He thought I should have it and convinced me to cast it a few times before I possibly gave it back to him...

Wow, what a fine little rod it is! He said as much and figured I'd love it. This rod had barely, if ever, been used. That doesn't mean much to me as long as it's in good shape. He got it for around $100 or so, maybe a bit less.

It's going to make a wonderful LM and smallie rod come summertime! I can't believe how nicely it casts...

I think you're doing well as is but - it's fun to keep an eye out!!

Jeremy.