Fenwick's New Sticks

Fenwick's Elite Tech and Techna AV series of premium bass rods have caught on in a big way with tour pros and savvy amateur anglers.

Fenwick's new Elite Tech topwater model is just one of six new sticks
serious anglers can add to their arsenal.

Anglers who've already put one of these high-quality, technique-specific sticks to use will be happy to know that Fenwick has expanded both of their top rod lines with three new models in each series.

A Trio of new Technas

Fenwick has designed one new casting model and two new spinning models to fill out their flagship Techna AV series in 2009.

The casting model is a 7-foot-1-inch, heavy-powered beast of a stick. It's equipped with a fast tip, which makes it ideal for a variety of heavy-duty applications like throwing swimbaits, PowerWorms and frogs. Flippers should also feel right at home with this model in their hands.

The two new spinning models include a 7-foot, medium-heavy action and a 7-foot-6-inch medium-fast offering. Both models are fast in the tip. The 7-footer is a great all-purpose spinning rod that should shine in multiple applications. The 7 1/2-foot model would be a smart choice for anglers looking for extra casting distance or for tournament anglers in need of a setup reserved for schoolers.

> Techna extras: ultra-thin IM8 graphite rod blank wrapped with Aramid Veil™ for sensitivity and durability, Fuji Alconite ring concept guides with S-4™ stainless steel frames that are 35-percent lighter and 50-percent stronger, concept guide spacing to ensure sensitivity and maximum blank strength, Fuji reel seats with graphite nylon bodies and S-4 stainless steel hoods.

Expanded Elites

Two new casting models and a new spinning model are the new kids on the block in Fenwick's Elite Tech lineup.

An all-around 6-foot-6-inch medium-heavy Jig & Worm stick has made it's way into the family. You might label this model as the workhorse of the clan. It's got a soft tip for just the right feel on lighter baits, but plenty of beefy backbone for putting the brakes on a feisty, brush-bound largemouth.

The other casting model has already enjoyed its fair share of publicity. It's the 6-foot-2-inch medium-heavy topwater rod. BassFans might remember that Kevin Vida and Michael Bennett used this model to claim their checks at the FLW Forrest Wood Cup championship.

Vida said the new topwater rod was his performance edge in securing his 5th-place finish, and remarked that it had "the perfect combination of hook-setting power and bend."

The Shaky Stik is the newest spinning rod in the Elite Tech arsenal. It's a 7-foot-1-inch model with a medium-heavy action complimented by a fast tip.

The Shaky Stik helps anglers get their shakey heads to stand up better, providing a light tip and a stiff butt in a spinning rod so you can move the bait freely, but still have enough power to deliver a powerful hookset and wrestle the fish out of heavy cover.

> Tech specs: one-piece stamped, aero frame guides with SIC inserts for light weight and balance, graphite bell foregrip for added sensitivity and easy-to-read badging on the handle for identification

Notable

> The new Techna AV models have an MSRP of $209.95. The new Elite Tech offerings check in at $199.95.