My readers have a long history with the Fenwick Eagle. I often come across this rod while testing out various rods in different categories and oh boy it always performs well. This Fenwick Eagle Spinning Rod Review has just strengthened my belief in this rod.
So, what’s the deal with Fenwick, why are they so important? The Fenwick HMG was the original graphite rod. They were the pioneers of graphite rods when manufacturers were using boron or composite fiberglass.
Their popular spinning rods the Fenwick GT has an upgraded design and are now rebranded as the Fenwick Eagle. Fenwick understands your passion for fishing.
My Verdict On The Fenwick Eagle Fishing Rod
The Fenwick Eagle Spinning Rod is a damn good rod overall. You definitely cannot go wrong with these and they certainly won’t fail you.
Fenwick has an experience of 18 years of manufacturing with this fishing tackle, and these Eagles testify to that.
And if you are somewhat experienced, you have the option of a casting rod too in the Fenwick Eagle series.
Being an upgraded and rebranded version of the Fenwick GT rods, these classical looking treats are here to stay.
However, if you still want something better, I have provided you with some amazing alternatives in the comparison table.
Competitors Of The Fenwick Eagle Rods
| PRODUCT | OVERALL SCORE | BOTTOM LINE | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
Fenwick Eagle | 90 | Royal looks, impressive performance within your budget. | Check Out On Amazon |
| COMPETING OPTIONS | |||
Cadence CR5 | n/a | How about immense value at unbelievable price? | Check Out On Amazon |
KastKing Perigee II | n/a | Stunning features with a twin-tip technology. | Check Out On Amazon |
Ugly Stik Elite | n/a | Increased percentage of graphite to the extent of 35%. Read my Ugly Stik Elite review. | Check Out On Amazon |
Ugly Stik GX2 | n/a | A sensitive and an extremely durable buy at a low cost. Read my Ugly Stik GX2 review. | Check Out On Amazon |
Detailed Analysis Of The Fenwick Eagle Range
Their popular spinning rods the Fenwick GT has an upgraded design and are now rebranded as the Fenwick Eagle. Fenwick understands your passion for fishing.
Fenwick rods have been tested time and again by the market and they have always proven their worth.
With over 60 years of experience, knowledge, and testing, they have produced lightweight and comfortable designs.
Our blank is the primary piece of equipment that we use for fishing. With its time-tested features, there are numerous reasons why these rods are the preferred choice of a lot of anglers.
With all the formal introductions out of the way, it’s now time to dive into the juicy and meaty part of the article that you have been waiting for.
Through this Fenwick Eagle Spinning Rod Review, I have tried to explain to you in the best possible way what are its key features and how does it perform according to parameters.
1. Fenwick Eagle Spinning Rod
Overall Score: 90
Advantages
- Burled cork handle with chip resistance
- Corrosion-resistance
- Rod blank sensitivity
Disadvantages
- A few eye and rod snapping issues
2. Fenwick Eagle Spinning Rod Key Features
Comfort
Handle: The Fenwick Eagle Spinning Rods have a burled cork handle.
Not only, it looks and feels like traditional cork but it ends up being more chip-resistant and durable than the majority of the spinning rods you know about.
Cork handles sustain a lingering warmth in cold weather when you compare them to their EVA counterparts.
In simple words, you would find them more comfortable to hold and warm even on freezing days.
With reduced damping capability, the cork handles, in comparison to the foam ones, spread vibrations better, and are much more sensitive.
Certain fishing techniques and situations demand sensitivity and here cork options are our best bet.
They not only enhance the feel but also respond better. Furthermore, the butt-end of the rod has a nice taper to it and you have a nice logo at the butt-section.
One drawback with the cork grip is that it’s less durable compared to the EVA foam. Also, it can be a pain to keep them clean. However, Fenwick Eagle has a high quality cork grip.
Interchangeability: Irrespective of whether you are left-handed or right-handed, you would find the Fenwick Eagle easy to use just like most spinning rods.
These rods have no problems pairing up with reels having interchangeable handles and thus accommodate every angler.
Rod Weight: The rods are fairly lightweight and thus allow you to fish for long hours without tiring your arms, wrist, fingers.
A lot of rods having similar durability as the Fenwick Eagle, use heavy materials for strength and thus leave you feeling fatigued after a few casts.
Aesthetics: These rods have a pleasing, classic olive-bronzed and timeless look. This trait makes them look like some of those high-end expensive rods in the market.
Durability
Modern Engineering: Fenwicks Eagle spinning rod stay true to their classical-heritage looks.
But, this doesn’t mean that they are all about appearance and other important attributes have not been taken care of.
Due to modern engineering techniques being incorporated, they will remain with you for a long time while serving you well.
Rod Guides: The Fenwick Eagle comes with stainless steel guides that have chromium-plated SS304 inserts. Now, these weigh half of what the aluminum-oxide guides weigh.
A question might pop-up in your mind that doesn’t it affect the rod strength? Let us get this straight, no! But it does increase the rod efficiency manifold.
Now it all depends on your choice but still, some anglers still have doubts due to the above reason.
Rod Blank: Stainless steel components have certainly made this rod durable and long-lasting, especially in comparison to the previous version i.e. the GT rods.
Still, the breaking of rod tips in earlier models had been embarrassing to the glorious Eagle series from Fenwick. However, I’m yet to encounter a problem in the updated models.
Functioning
Ergonomic Design: The Fenwick Eagle rod seems to be pretty useful when we try to go after current breaks. Here we often need the bait to be dropped into the water directly.
You’re presented with a nice and balanced reel seat. It features a stubbier kind of a twist lock. Also, the longer handle actually increase the balance point.
You can fit a lot of different sized reels from different manufacturers.These spinning rods are so well balanced and do not fail to offer some great casting too.
From the largest to smallest model, you’re looking at some decent fish catching here.
Superb Casting & Rod Action: How often do you see an ultralight model of considerable length? Almost never! But with the Fenwick Eagle, you can cast very light lures.
Oh, I forgot to mention that those lures can be cast at long distances! It’s a win-win situation. These rods are thoroughly suited for trout, bass, walleyes, and salmons.
The best thing I liked about the Fenwick Eagle was that even the medium action rods, performed like fast-action ones of other companies.
In general, the eagle rods are pretty fast adhering to the tradition of a versatile Fenwick tip rod.
Line Handling & Sensitivity: The chromium-plated (SS304) guides that I mentioned about earlier are perfectly capable of handling tough braided lines.
Such a phenomenon is a rare occurrence even in other popular choices. Your fishing experience would be enhanced exponentially because Fenwick Eagle rod’s tip is very soft and sensitive.
It can identify even the slightest movement.
Rod Guides Paradox: A lot of people will tell you that stainless steel guides are not good because of bad heat dispersion. The thicker the guide, the more heat dispersion we are going to get.
But these are thin. So what does it mean? It means that they are going to cast well overall. Stainless steel guides hold up to braid.
Maintenance & Repair Cost
Warranty: Fenwick is committed to the angler. Their “get your Fenwick fishing” program aims to get you back on the water faster. They want you to get back to fishing as soon as possible.
Not only they have a fast-track return process but they are offering a 5-year warranty on the Eagle series.
Corrosion-resistance: Stainless-steel inserts and guide frames attribute to corrosion resistance and durability of the rod. Not to mention they still manage to keep the rod lightweight.
So what’s the good news? You can use it in saltwater too!
Longevity: Both the rod and its guides show longevity, in fact, more than those average aluminum guides.
The earlier models had a lot of problems related to guides and snapping of tips, etc. which did feel annoying when my prized catch swam away never to return back.
But all those problems were addressed pretty quickly by Fenwick after I followed their process. They are a customer friendly team.
Price
Affordable: Fenwick gives us a good rod for the money. They have been an innovator in making a lot of good stuff for not a lot of money.
Though Fenwick is not as preferred in front of its more luxurious competitors G.Loomis or St. Croix, still they give us some of the best mid-budget fishing rods.
The Fenwick Eagle Spinning rod has a high-build quality and that too at prices which should fit comfortably in your budget.
There is a reason this company is still going strong and exists among other giants. The Fenwick Eagle or Fenwick rods, in general, are a great buy for both new and skilled anglers.
Anglers Have Had an Awesome Time With the Fenwick Eagle
As I had mentioned earlier too, it is difficult to go wrong with these rods. When you need a trusted partner for your fishing trips, the Fenwick Eagle Spinning Rod wouldn’t fail you.
Several readers whom I contacted during the research phase of this review had nothing except pleasurable experiences with this rod.