I'm looking for some input on any casting rods at or around the $100 mark. So far, I'm torn between the Fenwick elite smallmouth and the shimano clarus. This would be another all around rod for me so a bit of backbone is needed. I mainly fish plastics <6" with a bit of top water.

I hear great things about the fenwick. 

St Croix Premier has some 2 piece models as well.

I've had a premier for a short time before I returned it. It just felt dead in my hands so I stayed away em.

Cabelas MagTouch for me. In your price range, I've had one for 5+ years. The sensitivity is good, and it's got a great tip for plastics, but flexes a little deep if I need to fish a spinnerbaits or crank with it. The blank is. Ore along the lines of a Daiwa.

I don´t know about the Fenwick but the Clarus, if it´s similar to the previous generation, is a very good rod fore the money.

I don´t know about the Fenwick but the Clarus, if it´s similar to the previous generation, is a very good rod fore the money.

I had both older versions of the clarus and compre with the full cork handles and those were amazing for the price. The new blanks they use arnt the same even though they have higher IM ratings fwiw. Not better or worse, just different imo. The lower rated weight was more accurate on the older rods than the new. At least on the compre i had. Not sure about the clarus...