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Fenwick FSP 661
Post 24 Dec 2020, 12:18 • #1 
Master Guide
Joined: 03/09/15
Posts: 684
Location: Arkansas
Blanks arrived today from eBay. This will be my first spinning rod build. I’ve got a couple of books that will assist with the effort. Lovely blanks. Will share more later.

5’5” light action





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Re: Fenwick FSP 661
Post 24 Dec 2020, 13:03 • #2 
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Joined: 08/10/05
Posts: 19078
Location: downtown Bulverde, Texas
Merry Christmas - great blanks - off to an exciting adventure


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Re: Fenwick FSP 661
Post 24 Dec 2020, 15:30 • #3 
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Joined: 03/08/14
Posts: 243
Location: US-MO
Is that you Josh? Your fly rods builds have been super, can't wait to see these?


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Re: Fenwick FSP 661
Post 29 Dec 2020, 23:21 • #4 
Master Guide
Joined: 01/14/06
Posts: 720
Location: US-CA
Do you have components in mind?
I got a hold of some fenwick spinning blanks and built one up with rec recoil guides. The recoils kind of have that old look of the guides fenwick used to use and are very light and that turned out to be positive for the rods action. Expensive guides though. Just ordered cork handles with rings from proof for the last few I have. Gave up on turning handles and these are very nice and their spinning reel rings are the nicest I have found besides the older aluminum tapered ones.

Russell


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Re: Fenwick FSP 661
Post 28 Jan 2021, 09:12 • #5 
Master Guide
Joined: 03/09/15
Posts: 684
Location: Arkansas
Nylon thread. This is looking pretty swell. Can’t wait to use it. Was worried the rod would have a buggy whip action but it’s definite Light not Ultralight action. No stent - blank through handle for a nice deep bend. There is flex through the grip but I’m not gonna push it.





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Re: Fenwick FSP 661
Post 28 Jan 2021, 21:23 • #6 
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Joined: 08/10/05
Posts: 19078
Location: downtown Bulverde, Texas
choice handle - looking good


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Re: Fenwick FSP 661
Post 29 Jan 2021, 01:34 • #7 
Guide
Joined: 10/14/19
Posts: 128
Location: Tauranga, New Zealand
Hi Panfish 74. The rod is looking really nice. Is the thread Gudebrod #521 Nylon RW Medium Brown 541 A? Thanks in advance. Cheers


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Re: Fenwick FSP 661
Post 29 Jan 2021, 07:34 • #8 
Sport
Joined: 05/26/17
Posts: 74
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Looks good! I think the wraps complement the blank very well.


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Re: Fenwick FSP 661
Post 29 Jan 2021, 16:54 • #9 
Master Guide
Joined: 03/09/15
Posts: 684
Location: Arkansas
Mudfish, no the wraps aren’t Gudebrod. I have done research on wraps even for an 806 which was started last year. I tested several nylon and silk threads and ended up using Black, Brown and White ProWrap ColorFast. I mainly use silk but have used ProWrap on a couple of other rods and and am happy with the quality. I’ve seen a number of wrap colors on my Fenwicks and think the brown will do just fine.

Guys, thanks for the compliments.


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Re: Fenwick FSP 661
Post 29 Jan 2021, 19:13 • #10 
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Joined: 01/10/06
Posts: 7811
Location: Holly Springs, NC
Fenwick rods don't have consistent thread/blank colors. The first photo shows five Fenwick fly rods with different thread and paint colors. The white trim wraps vary from bright white to light yellow. All things considered, Fenwick did pretty well given different thread/paint lots and the rods have aged a few decades.

The second photo shows five brown Gudebrod threads and an FF805 fly rod. The thread on the same rod is not consistent! Also, the 'clear' finish has yellowed more on the signature wrap than the guide wrap. The threads are (L to R) regular #396, NCP #396, NCP #541, NCP #5274, and a second spool of NCP #541. This shows Gudebrod dye batches were not consistent. Unwinding an old bulk spool often shows a deeper color thread inside, again due to aging. No wonder matching new wraps to existing wraps is tough.

With a new build, the owner can pick out whatever color they like. Keep in mind, regular thread darkens when the finish is applied. Regular thread treated with color preservative looks different than unfinished thread. Even NCP thread changes after finishing (darkens slightly).


Tom



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Re: Fenwick FSP 661
Post 30 Jan 2021, 12:25 • #11 
Guide
Joined: 10/14/19
Posts: 128
Location: Tauranga, New Zealand
Thank you for the replies Panfish74 and Tom. My FF85 had for snake guides ripped off and I have been struggling to decide whether to do a rebind on all the guides or a quick repair job, I like my rods looking nice. I appreciate your comments. Cheers


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Re: Fenwick FSP 661
Post 02 Feb 2021, 10:10 • #12 
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Joined: 03/09/15
Posts: 684
Location: Arkansas
Tom, thanks.


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Re: Fenwick FSP 661
Post 03 Feb 2021, 16:27 • #13 
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Joined: 07/11/14
Posts: 1784
Location: urban Colorado
Panfish74 wrote:
Nylon thread. This is looking pretty swell. Can’t wait to use it. Was worried the rod would have a buggy whip action but it’s definite Light not Ultralight action.


excellent, looking good..
Fenwick never made a buggy whip that I know of, everything I've ever cast spin and fly has that light progressive feel to it..

I re-wrapped my FL108-9 a couple years ago and used Gudebrod 5274 Chestnut Brown. Gudebrod 541 is another candidate for the original thread. But as Tom says, there were lots of different threads over the years.



Happy to hear the Prowrap works well. They have the Prowrap Tiger thread which is the closest thing to the old jasper silk I've seen, was thinking about trying some of that..


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Re: Fenwick FSP 661
Post 26 May 2021, 09:57 • #14 
Master Guide
Joined: 03/09/15
Posts: 684
Location: Arkansas


Took out the Fenwick FSP 661 - 6 lbs test line on a Shimano Spirex. Caught some nice ones. Fun little rod. Has a bit of backbone to it.

I’ve not owned but one fly/spin - early Buccaneer model - 50’s I think? Has the signed or scripted model info. Not a fan of the fly aspect.

I tested the 661 and for whatever reason figured my FF605 would fill that slot. I don’t really spin fish much but my kids do it. I just use my fly rod. However, a few days ago, I wished to have a fly rod on my back or a fly/spin rod - OR that I had maybe put some other guides on the 661 for a fly reel.

Turns out we finally found the fish in good numbers. And this morning, I tried different lines with the FSP 661 and found that with Cortland 5/6 line, that little rod can handle a 40ish feet of distance (39 of my flip-flips as I stepped it off several times on several casts). Not bad for regular spinning guides. So, the next trip out with the Fenwick FSP 661 will be with both fly and spinning reels. No issues with casting and no line slap. Wow. Just wow.



Last edited by Panfish74 on 26 May 2021, 18:31, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Fenwick FSP 661
Post 26 May 2021, 16:27 • #15 
Piscator
Joined: 08/10/05
Posts: 19078
Location: downtown Bulverde, Texas
Excellent report and photos - thanks for adding them to your thread.


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Re: Fenwick FSP 661
Post 28 May 2021, 11:21 • #16 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 04/25/16
Posts: 1069
Location: Rocky Mountains - Colorado
Congrats on a great looking build that fits 2 tool slots for you. Thanks for the update and pics


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