Fenwick enters the ice rod market

[NCLaker]

My favorite open water rod company, Fenwick has entered the ice fishing rod market! I heard from one of their product managers last August that they had planned to do it this season but he did not provide any details. Just came across it on their HSOforum. Hope the have these displayed at the ice show. Check it out ... I'll be adding a ML 28" to my rod arsenal for sure.

Spec's:

The new Fenwick® Elite Tech™ Ice Rods give anglers the best grip with the TAC™ (Technically Advanced Construction) handle that increases grip and durability in even the most rigid conditions. This is the first of its kind in the ice fishing market. Stainless steel frame guides with aluminum oxide inserts reduce overall weight while handling harsh conditions placed on ice fishing equipment. Another feature that is unique to the Fenwick Elite Tech Ice Rods is the Twist-lock reel seat with stainless steel hood. This eliminates any need to tape the reel to the rod, giving anglers one less worry on the ice.

[TravP]

I seen them at the TB mod GTG last weekend.

[NCLaker]

Thanks for the heads up Trav ... Being a pretty reputable (imo) rod company, you would hope they would have done plenty of homework & field testing before trying to break into a very crowded and growing ice rod market with a lot of very good options.

I was worried that the handle would be a bit beefy. They should have used a handle similar to their River Runner rods (but skinnier), not much weight to these. Typically their rods have a fast action, and load up pretty quick. I'm suprised these do not.

Also, in my opionion to be a serious contender you also need to have a good spring bobber design option and/or noodle rod. Maybe they wanted to start out simple.

[iffwalleyes]

Sweet I don't know if I like the idea of a reel seat. Always seems to make the rod to rigid where it should be the most sensitive in your hand. However I know Fenwicks are awesome so maybe they have something figured out. I have way too many Thorne Bros but I might just have to give one of these a try to see how it can do.

[Rick G]

Looks nice but I would think the metal on the reel seat would be kinda cold on the hand in the dead of winter.

[bobbymalone]

Thanks for the heads up Trav ... Being a pretty reputable (imo) rod company, you would hope they would have done plenty of homework & field testing before trying to break into a very crowded and growing ice rod market with a lot of very good options.

The market is crowded with crappy combo rods. Even if they just sawed the top couple feet off of a fenwick long rods it couldn't be much worse than what's already out there.

I'm interested, but I'd be more interested if I wasn't building my own. I am not overly impressed with SC ice rods, I like the JM rods, but I like building my own even better!

[Chode2235]

I agree, its good to see some decent products in the marketplace. For too long there have been so many crappy ice rod combos.

This is a good thing. One: better selection for us fisherman, two: ice fishing makes economic sense for manufactures so it should lead to more and more good products for us.

[iffwalleyes]

The market is crowded with crappy combo rods. Even if they just sawed the top couple feet off of a fenwick long rods it couldn't be much worse than what's already out there.

I'm interested, but I'd be more interested if I wasn't building my own. I am not overly impressed with SC ice rods, I like the JM rods, but I like building my own even better!

Agreed that is why I have over 20 Thorne Bros. There really have only been a couple really good orod companys out there the rest are junk. I don't care for St Croix only have 1 in my bag anymore. I only have a couple JM they are ok but I fished with Thorne long before JM hit the market. I've said it for years you won't find a better rod than Thorne Bros customs.

[LMITOUT]

Love me some Fenwick! Thanks for the heads-up!

[silverbulletguy]

I picked up a medium action Quantum combo pretty cheap a couple years ago that I really like. Haven't picked up a TB or JM yet. Hoping to get one this year and see what all they hype is about.