I owned one of these and quickly sold it. It was very top heavy and I couldn't get a heavy enough reel to balance it in order to have the feel I like. I think it is the worst of the Fenglass series with the six footer being the best.

Randy

I agree with Flytackle but have found that a 6 WF smooths out the 7 1/2 ft rod and I like it better than with a 5 wt line for which it is labeled.

Also, I agreee the 6 ft is the best of the bunch if you can afford to give away a capability to mend.

paveglass

I use the 6' Fenglass for a streamer rod, smallmouths in tiny overhung creeks - it's wonderful.

lestrout,

In the later years of Fenwick production, when they were owned by Woodstream, they produced some nice rods in non-standard (if there is such a thing) lengths. I believe the one you are talking about is called the FL-6. I have also heard of an earlier Fenwick version of a 7'8" rod for a 6 wt that MIGHT be labeled as a FF-786, but I don't know. I have seen very few rods in that length come across eBay and they draw pretty good prices. One of the guys here on the board had one that he wanted to sell--don't know if he's still around or whether he sold it or not.

paveglass

Thanks. That 6' keeps getting some good press, I'll have to keep my eyes open. I only fish small steam bass once a year or so, but if you do it regularly, how do you get by without glass? I don't think anyone makes a short graphite in a 5 wt., much less heavier.
Bob

About short graphite, I have a Fisher Sterling Combo 5/6 - it has two handles to make either a 3-pc 6'9" or a 4-pc 8'10".
The short rod is a 6-wt. streamer rocket and casts great if you keep your leader down to the rod length. It will also roll cast out past 50'. (My best accomplishment on this rod was an honest 10-lb. largemouth in a gin-clear pond. I duck-walked across the dam so this fish wouldn't see me.) It has a thin butt section and a friendly parabolic taper. If you ever see a Fisher Combo, 3/4, 4/5 or 5/6 in GT40 or Sterling, don't let it get away.
The long rod has a classic progressive taper, and is a magic wand for 60-70' accuracy. (And great fish-fighting power - dozens of Russian River rainbows and a few 12-lb. sockeyes on this.)
for Flytackle:


I recently picked up Mike's Para 6'3" 5/6 - it's also a great streamer rod, and the parabolic action shines, hinging in the handle. Casts a wide range of line weights, from 4DT to 6WF.
The Fenwick 6'er flexes in a soft arc over the rod length, and is the best of the bunch for in short and delicate (also versatile on line weights). If it has a shortcoming, it's that it doesn't roll cast well (but functions fine in close).

The 6-1/2' Loomis GL3 "3-wt" graphite that they discontinued a couple of years ago is a very good all around 4-wt. I fished it exclusively one winter in our trout tailrace with many 16-18" rainbows. The next summer, I got very surprised with a 4-lb. smallmouth and managed to land it by resting the ferrule on my forearm.

Getting by? More often, I'm fishing cane, a 6'10" Tonka Princess. It's surprisingly light compared to the rest of the Tonka line and a great 5-wt. streamer rod. Flared butt gives it backbone - I wrestled a 16" endemic spotted bass with it last month.
The other is a 6' banty from SB cane - a very fun panfish rod and as delicate in close as the Fenglass. (I sight-dawbed a 6-lb. largemouth in an overgrown oxbow one day and was delighted when it spit the fly.)