Fenwick Eagle Casting Rod Review

Fenwick is one of many brands under the Pure Fishing umbrella company that handles numerous fishing products of every type at every level.

This is a benefit for Fenwick in some ways as it allows the company to take some risks it otherwise might not be able to afford without a bigger backing.

On the other hand, it can also create some confusion and difficulty further down the line, especially if anything ever goes wrong.

Still, Fenwick is noted for being a solid brand that generally provides great value for what you invest, though it’s also not necessarily the highest-end brand.

That paradigm is taken to the extreme with the Fenwick Eagle casting rod which is one of the least expensive options on the market from a generally reputable source.

However, what does the fishing pole have to sacrifice to meet that low price, and does it leave the value just as good in practical use?

Review

Construction (craftsmanship, make quality)

The blank is of all-around good quality, but it is not without its fault and where the Fenwick Eagle fishing rod makes back some of the cost for its low price.

On the positive side, you can get this fishing pole in either one or two pieces for easier portability– though the two-piece model is about twice as much.

However, the main issue with this rod’s blank is a combination of the materials and build with the former being 24T graphite.

While 24T graphite is actually pretty solid and the Fenwick formula is noted for being well-tempered, the lack of a good scrim makes it less durable than you might prefer– especially if you’re not already an experienced fisherman.

Material

While the absence of any fiberglass or multiple scrim layers decreases the blank’s durability, the Fenwick Eagle baitcasting pole’s 24T graphite composition is still one of the better all-graphite builds out there.

Granted, it’s not the most durable, but the all-graphite blank transfers vibrations like a few others.

The guides are also a bit interesting in that they use aluminum oxide for the inserts but stainless steel for the actual guides, attempting to get the best of both worlds.

The handle uses cork, though that’s neither better nor worse than what you’re liable to find out there.

Action

The Fenwick Eagle’s action is nothing special, but neither is it a point of concern.

All of the different models only come in fast actions, but that significantly increases the control and accuracy of the cast.

On top of that, a fast action rod also allows you to fish in smaller waters– though be sure to avoid smaller waters with brush.

Power

When you consider how inexpensive the Fenwick Eagle casting pole is, you would likely think that it only comes in a single power: medium.

That’s because medium power, sitting in the middle of the scale, will work for more situations, more species, and more fishermen.

However, this casting pole offers medium as well as medium-heavy power specs, giving you a bit of wiggle room.

It is worth noting that the all-graphite blank composition means this rod’s “medium” might not be quite as sturdy as other rod’s “medium” power, so don’t try to push it.

Weight

The Fenwick Eagle casting rod is easily one of the lighter rods in its class due to the all-graphite blank with only lightweight metals and cork to otherwise weigh it down.

When you consider that the handle design allows it to anchor deep without moving, this should be one of the easier rods to cast over a full day’s fishing.

Sensitivity

For any of the ways that the Fenwick Eagle baitcasting fishing pole has had to take a hit to provide the best value that it can, sensitivity ain’t one of them.

In fact, most of the features that can be tuned to increase the sensitivity of this casting pole have been tuned in that direction– incidentally if not intentionally.

For starters, the 24T graphite may still not be quite as strong as any of the poles with some degree of fiberglass but is so much more sensitive it can easily make up for it.

In fact, even components and parts that you’d normally never think of impacting a blank’s sensitivity, like the reel seat, have been tuned to increase this specific quality.

Rod Guides

The Fenwick Eagle casting fishing pole is one of the few models out there that uses multiple types of materials to accomplish different effects at various points of the cast and reel process.

While touched on earlier, this approach harnesses the strength of stainless steel with the smoothness of aluminum oxide.
This is great for the cast and reel process, though it’s not without its own potential issues that it wouldn’t face if it opted for one material or the other.

With the aluminum oxide inserts, it decreases the risk of your line tangling while casting but aren’t the strongest.

Stainless steel, on the other hand, is durable enough to handle a braided line, but will potentially catch the line during the cast.

Handle (material, shape, etc)

As mentioned prior, the Fenwick Eagle casting rod employs a handle made of cork which tends to be one of the better inexpensive materials.

It’s lightweight and absorbs water without deforming too much while also molding to the shape of your hand after fishing with it over time.

The hybrid split design follows the Type I or Type H form which lets you really sink the butt into anchor while still providing reinforced handholds.

Even better, the pistol trigger grip combined with included TAC grips provides additional traction if you want it and more control during the cast and set.

Uses (Who is this good for)

From a birds-eye perspective, the Fenwick Eagle baitcasting fishing rod works for pretty much everyone, though it will work for all of those people for different reasons.

A good example of this is for complete beginners or children who will probably prefer to use a spincasting reel that mounts on a casting rod.

On top of that, the extremely low price of the one-piece models means that if the beginner or child ultimately decides that fishing isn’t for them, there’s no major loss of investment.

However, this principle can be applied to intermediate or expert fishermen too, just with a different intent behind it.

For expert fishermen, the extremely low price combined with the reasonable build quality makes the Fenwick Eagle casting rod too good of a value to pass up.

Even if you don’t need the rod, chances are that you’ll find a reason to use it one day, and for the same cost as a family meal from a fast-food restaurant, why wouldn’t you?

Reel and Real Seat Compatibility

More often than not, the reel seat is not one of the features you really compare with other rods and instead just make sure that everything is as it should be.

With the Fenwick Eagle casting pole, even the reel seat has been tweaked so that it can eke out just a little bit more performance than its competitors.

In this instance, the Fenwick Eagle’s reel seat is as minimal as possible while still properly seating the reel to increase the overall sensitivity of the rod.

Though, it is worth noting that the vibrations felt are from the reel, so you will still need to purchase a model that transfers vibrations.

Warranty

Given how inexpensive the Fenwick Eagle baitcasting rod is, the fact that it comes with a 5-year limited manufacturer’s warranty is almost an obscene value.

Of course, you may well need to exercise the warranty if you don’t treat this fishing rod with the kind of care that it requires, though it’s still pretty solid in that department too.

Even compared to casting rods that cost upwards of three times as much as the one-piece Fenwick Eagle models, the warranty is impressive.

Customer Service

Fenwick defers to the Pure Fishing parent company’s customer service that covers all of the umbrella’s brands, so be prepared for that.

In terms of experience, the customer service representatives are more than willing to take the time to make sure that your issue is resolved satisfactorily.

Granted, because of the monstrous number of calls coming in from all of the brands it can get a bit hectic.

To expedite your call, make sure to keep track of all of the included documentation.

Conclusion

The Fenwick Eagle casting rod is an especially tricky pole to examine because it sits on the extreme end of the budget-friendly market.

That’s obviously a good thing, in and of itself, but such a low price doesn’t come for free, and waiting for the other shoe to drop can be a bit iffy.

In this instance, the biggest worry you actually have to account for is some modest fragility, but the 24T graphite is still well-manufactured and tempered.

As such, so long as you don’t try to push it, the Fenwick Eagle fishing pole should be more than durable enough to handle regular fishing.

Ultimately, the decent durability combined with the low price makes this casting pole one of the best all-around budget values on the market and more than worth a spot in everyone’s kit.

If nothing else, this is a great loaner rod or just your basic pole you don’t have to worry about and can just beat to heck.