Pros: Very sensitive, light weight, strong, durable.
Cons: Pricey.
The Bottom Line: This isn't just a general purpose worm and bobber rod. Rod manufacturers are designing new rods for specific techniques and uses. Lucky us.
smallmouth's Full Review: Fenwick Hmg Triggerstik Rod (7'0", Medium, 8 20 Lb...
For the past couple thousand years, mankind has seen the fishing rod evolve from a tree branch to carved bamboo, to fiberglass, to graphite, and to carbon constructed rods. While we were able to catch fish on the original tree branches, we can catch them much better and easier on today’s technologically advanced and engineered sticks. Some fishermen do not demand performance from their equipment, they are just out for a good time or a meal and any old stick or rod will do. But some fishermen rely on it and are highly competitive and they need the best gear. This is what led me to Fenwick. They have always been a company that I shied away from. Their rods were tough to find, they seemed expensive, and I was still an any old stick fisherman. Then I got into tournament fishing and competitive bass fishing. In order to compete, the playing field would have to be even and my gear would need to be top of the line. I have a couple dozen tournament rod and reel combo’s rigged up and ready to go and among them is the Fenwick HMG Triggerstick.
-------------------- Size: --------------------
This rod is as long as I like to use for my freshwater bass fishing at 7 foot long. I like the added length for leverage and power while fighting a fish. It also comes in handy when flipping or working a bait very tight to cover. Sometimes you have to reach right in there with the rod tip and pull it out or work it through the slop and the extra length comes in handy. When I say extra length, I am only talking a foot to six inches which doesn’t sound like much but it feels like a lot more on the water. My friend never uses 7 foot rods, he prefers six foot sixers, and when he picks up one mine he has a little bit of trouble with his accuracy while casting. It might take some getting used to but I find it incredibly easy to use and it feels like an extension of my arm. The advantages to having a longer rod are for leverage, power, and longer reach and the disadvantages are for storage and landing a fish. The storage part all depends how long your rod lockers are and for landing a fish, well we all know what could happen in those last six inches.
-------------------- Handle: --------------------
The handle is made of cork. I pretty much only use cork these days so I won’t have much to compare it to. Most quality rods and rod makers utilize this excellent material and it would be hard to find a quality rod without it. This particular cork handle is very comfortable. The cork is nice because it is padded, offers a no-slip grip even when wet, and is comfortable to handle for 12 straight hours, not to mention it looks good as well. This particular handle is unique for its trigger, hence the name Triggerstick. This rod is made for baitcasting reels. And the trigger is used for control and accuracy. When I am casting with my right hand, I use the trigger for my index finger. This helps to control the rod while making any type of cast, rather it be a flip, a skip, a long cast, or short cast. When I switch the rod over to my left hand for the retrieve, I use the trigger above my pinky finger for added control and power. It makes the casting and retrieving more comfortable and precise. With average to large sized hands, I find the handle to be very comfortable on these rods. As far as handle wear and tear it is wearing as cork normally does. It has a slight discoloration and could use a cleaning if I really want to and it is also slightly compressed but it still holds its tack and cushion.
-------------------- Guides: --------------------
The guides are very important to check when choosing a quality rod. Make sure they are of a name brand and are smooth and durable. One bad guide can ruin the rod and they are costly and difficult to replace individually. This rod comes with Fuji guides. Fuji is the number one name in rod guides and are utilized by many different rod manufacturers. Fenwick used the Fuji Hardloy guides on the Triggerstick. The Hardloys are Fuji’s most popular guides and are very durable. They are made from a high-grade aluminum oxide. They are very popular among tournament fishermen because of their light weight, incredibly durability, and decreased line wear. The internal insert is permanently mounted to the guides frame and I have yet to see one pop out. That can be a real pain in the neck when you get the rattle, rattle, sound and feeling and discover an insert has popped free. Out comes the super glue to get you through the rest of the day. This rod is equipped with ten guides, the largest being closest to the handle and getting smaller and closer all the way to the tip.
-------------------- What’s It Made For: --------------------
I primarily use mine for freshwater bass fishing and tournament fishing. When I fish a tournament I usually have about a dozen rods on board including those in the rod locker. Each type of lure calls for a specific rod. I like to use this rod for my crankbaits and Carolina Rig’s. At seven feet it has a nice long and slow action. Since it is medium heavy action I don’t use it for my jig fishing which I prefer a heavy action rod with a stiffer backbone. The medium action is great for crankbaits giving me the feel and sensitivity on retrieval and upon a strike. They are not so stiff that I have to worry about pulling the trebble hooks out while fighting a fish. The action gives a nice steady pull on the fish and helps to provide a longer drawn out hook set rather than a quick sharp yank. The longer hook set is excellent for Carolina Rigging and for crankbaits. Of course a rod like this isn’t made to be specific for one or two separate uses, that is just how I choose to use it. I am sure I can throw any lure in my box on this rod but I prefer to match my rods to specific lures for any and all slight advantages I can get.
The reason why I bought this rod is for it’s sensitivity and quality. My days of bargain hunting for rods are behind me. I have too much on the line during tournaments to rely on hope and luck. I have learned the hard way to use quality equipment and be safer than sorry. The tip and fore section of this rod are incredibly sensitive. I think most of the sensitivity is gained by its light weight and carbon construction. I have a large arsenal of different fishing rods and choose to use this as a cranking stick. I like the tip when using crankbaits because I can feel just about every wiggle from the bait, including any tunk from a rock or branch , and any thump from a fish.
This isn’t a jigging pole. There is plenty of backbone to this rod for horsing in a fish or moving it around a stump or log, but it is definitely not made for quick and super strong applications like a heavy action rod is. This one is a medium action rod and has a nice long and strong pull for hook sets and battles with fish. I have had no trouble pulling in 6 pound plus largemouth and 5 pound smallmouth bass with this rod. I prefer it for my crankbaits, solo blade baits, and Carolina rigs. I like to use it for longer drawn out hook sets rather than quick and strong sets. I have leaned my entire weight into it when hung up on bottom or fighting a large fish and have not had any problems with the rod. It has plenty of backbone but more of a slower and gradual bend rather than a sharp and quick relay to the hook from the reel.
This is a high quality rod with a high price tag. The best rods are soaring above the $200 range for freshwater carbon and graphite sticks. I like it for it’s sensitivity, long casting, smooth and strong pull during fights and hook sets, and its light weight. By being a lighter weight, the line and lure become easier to feel for even the slightest tap or strike. Make sure you know just what you are looking for when purchasing a rod as they make them for special purposes. You should not only narrow down the search to what species you will be targeting but also as to what types of lures you will be using. That doesn’t mean this rod is exclusive to a species and lure only, but it is made for that purpose and will give you some advantages over general purpose rods.
-------------------- Price and Availability: --------------------
These are a little harder to come by than more popular and cheaper brands such as Berkley, Quantum, or Diawa. Other than Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops, I have only seen them once in a Sporting Goods store and that was at a Dick’s Sporting Goods. The best selections can be found at the major fishing and outdoor stores and on the internet. Until I field test a rod, I like to buy them in person and feel it in the store. Once I know that I like it then I will feel more comfortable ordering them over the phone or internet. These are selling for $130. They are known for their quality and performance.
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
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