I once hooked a 14" bass on the hopper and a 10" bass on the dropper with my ff756-4. I thought I was stripping in a real hog. Its a great rod. If I thought I was going to be fishing small streams for trout with either very large dries (traditional or foam, size 10+) or with nymphs and any meaningful amount of weight, it would get the nod. It would also probably be an excellent small stream streamer rod for warm water or trout. It would be the last 3 digit fenwick Id get rid of if I had to do such a horrid thing.

I've had a FF705, FF75-4, FF75, FF756-4, FF79, FF85-3, FF806, FF806-4, FF856-5, FF857, FF85. I couldn't complain about any of them. Fenwick sure nailed the travel rods, that's for sure. The ones I got rid of, I did so because I liked a similar Fenwick or another brand a bit better. Always preferred the two digit a bit more, since they are in general slower.

The ones I still have: FF705, FF75-4, FF79, FF806-4, FF856-5, and FF85. "If I could only have one rod", the FF806-4 or FF856-5 would get the nod. The one that puts the biggest smile on my face is the FF75-4 - so smooth!

These responses should seal the deal for some to give glass a crack - especially to give any and all Fenwick glass a waggle...
If you are remotely on the fence about buying your first one - just wave it around a little bit first.
Glass should be looked at if given the chance... touched and felt.

Actually, the OP solicited opinions about all the various Fenwick iterations and listed the latest FG704 as a favorite, and there have been some other comments about them. So please, feel free to discuss any favorites among those models too.

In that vein, does anyone know if there are plans to put those latest Fenglass rods back on the market, or are they also rods that will be available in the future only on the secondary market?

And I’m laughing too, since I didn’t bother to notice who all made those Fenglass comments.
I’ve used both a 4 and a 5 with the FG704, and they both work, depending on what I want to do. Not surprised a 6 is ok in close. I remember a trip I’d taken only longer 5wts, and reels spooled appropriately, but things developed that it was good idea to get some fishing in on the tight brookie water we were camped on before big rain hit. Those days I kept a 7’6” 3wt rod - but not reel - in the car, and the fish had no complaints about it being fished with a 5 wt. like your experience, not cast too far..

SuburbanFly,

The FF60 is a neat rod. I have a hard time loving short rods, but the FF60 with a down locking cap and ring seat is fun little rod. Of my short rod favorites, the FF70-4 is my "go to" brookie rod. Not too fast, but with a 4wt or 5wt line, it can fish small flies, soft hackles, hopper patterns or even small streamers. A lot of people like 3wt's, but I like the flexibility of casting small streamers or larger dries when I need to. If I'm hiking in more than a few hundred vertical feet, I like to be prepared.

I recently came to own an FF60 and mine is a 6 in my hands which I consider to be ideal. Suburban fly - dont let the modern concept that only light line rods (2-4) are acceptable for small creeks and small fish. Many vintage fenwicks excell at tasks that dont initial seem to match up with their line weights. I almost exclusively fish streams less than 10ft wide for trout, normally much smaller. I have hardly used anything but a 6 wt in a year now.

This is great! Thank you!