I have and fish both rods .
Both are great but very different..
The ff806 is quicker than the Sa but in a different way .
The ff806 is much more beefy in the Butt section . And with the ferralite ferrule’s overbuild up on the mid of the rod plays into the action difference .
The system 6rods are crispy in a very deceptive way ..that spigot ferrule !!!
Both great sticks that will do a multitude of great things upon the water .
But they really are in different ballparks
Best way I can break it down is:
The Sa system 6 rods are true 6.5wt rods and do better as a 7wt than they do as a 6
Not so well with some 8wt lines ..
So you cant underline these rods too much nor can you over line them too much.
I hate it with a 5wt..
The performance window on the System 6 rod is more narrow but arguably a bit better .
The FF806 I feel is more a true 7wt but will throw a 6wt just fine . Plenty of people throw a DT5
Just for laughs ive even used some 4wt streamer taper line that works great.
The fenwick butt section also handles an 8wt way better than the Sa system 6 rods
So the performance window for the Fenwick is much wider but won’t go 11/10ths the way the system rod does when dialed in with the Goldilocks line..
Throws absolute laser loops easier than the Fenwick.
Make no mistake both are fabulous rods but the Sa is more of a specialty rod when you need a 6.5 that will cast with precision plus distance.
The FF806 is a more general practitioner.
Does everything and anything you ask within reason .
But when inches make the difference I’m fishing my system 6.
If I’m Bass fishing though I’m grabbing the Fenwick !
Throws weight with a Belgian loop way better than the system 6.
I’ll let some of the more qualified rod gurus break down the tapers more scientifically…
Progressive vs semi para .etc..
I’m just giving you my seat of the pants description of what these rods do in the real world .
I’m just the idiot behind the cast
But I do fish vintage rods 200 plus days a year so I’ve got a few thousand casts on each rod .
Sometimes even a few fish to show for it
Get both you’ll find a deserving spot in the quiver .
I have revered spots in my Arsenal for both rods .
Scotto