The "new" Fenwick Smallmouth Elite Tech 6'10" ML difference is it's now an XF versus the previous version rating of F ... Has anybody compared the two to see if there is a noticeable difference in feel / performance ? ... My primary interest is as a drop shot rod - thanks in advance !

This doesn't answer your question but I got the old one at a discounted price and really love everything about it.  Haven't held or seen a new one yet.

reelnmn : I know the qualities of the older version - I was too slow to buy before they were replaced with the new version which is the reason for my question (my mistake !)

I didn't know Fenwick was still making the Smallmouth Elite Tech rods.  Can't find them on their website.  Did you mean the Elite Tech Bass?

From what I've been told is the new ET Bass series 6'10" ML-XF is what the rod was intended for but it has a little extra backbone compared to most drop shot specific rods in order to give it more versatility. I have a 6'9" Medium power, extra fast smallmouth rod that use to get the call when I was fishing cold water with a Rapala #5 shad rap because it could cast it far but even though it had a lot of backbone it was still forgiving enough that I had no problem fighting fish, it was very close to bending in a parabolic fashion. Since Fenwick designated it as a drop shot rod I'd suspect it probably has a softer tip then the smallmouth series extra fast. Remember, fast, extra fast or even moderate fast doesn't always mean a rod is stiff or soft, it just tells you how far down the blank the rod bends.

Yes , I believe they are now called : Elite Tech Bass... Sounds about right smalljaw67 with XF rating having a bit more backbone closer to the tip for added versatility versus the previous F rated version . * Abu Garcia has a new Ike series coming out with a drop shot specific rod designed by Ike . I saw the video of Ike explaining the design and it looks interesting (TW will sell for $129) ... I will continue to hunt a drop shot specific spinning rod for a max. of $149... The search continues !