Probably all would work, but which would you consider the better rod?  Thinking of shipping a 2-3 rods to Florida for my upcoming visit with at least one being a spinning rod....maybe two...since I have casting rods there already.  I am not planning on trying the drop shot, but want to try a Ned rig, and some small finesse worms.  Never used either.  Have always fished a 10" ribbontail worm.

 

My choices are:

 

Elite Tech Jig/Worm 6'9" MF rated 1/8-5/8 oz. and 6-12 lb.

Smallmouth 6'9" M-XF rated 1/8-3/4 oz. and 6-12#

Villain 6'9" ML rated 1/8-1/2 and 6-10#

Aetos 7' MF rated 1/16-3/4 oz. and 6-14#

Fuego 6'10" M-XF rated 3/16-1/2 oz. and 6-14#

 

Thanks.

 

Smallmouth 6'-9" Elite Tech Medium Extra Fast may have been the best bass spinning rod ever made IMO.  Best handle grip too.  Too bad they don't make it any more.  Wish I had bought 10 when they were on the way out --

I'm fond of it myself. 

My vote is the Aetos, I have both those Fenwick, they rock.  I used the Aetos and fished finesse trick worms weightless with ease!

 

After talking about it, do you know how the new ones compare?  I also am in the camp, wish I bought more before they were closed out.

Aetos 7' MF rated 1/16-3/4 oz. and 6-14#

 

This is really the only one you need.

I like the blank on the Aetos... but before you buy, pick one up and hold one in your hand.  I found that my fingers, grip, etc were all on blank and threads.  Hard, small, slippery, uncomfortable.  Compare that to the Elite series where you're grabbing all cork.  If you set the hook on a smallie in current, a largemouth under a dock, or even a snag that doesn't move - you'll know what I mean in the difference in grip between these two rods.  

 

I also recommend an extra fast tip in Fenwick for anything finesse... I find the regular fast tip to lack some sensitivity.  

I am not looking to buy.  I already have all the rods mentioned, thus why I listed them rather than asking what was the best finesse rod within a certain price range.  The Aetos has not had a reel on it yet, so I will have to mount a reel and see if I have the same experience you did.

Going to Florida? Go with the most powerful spinning rod since I hear those bass grow big down there!

Florida...leave your finesse rods home!

Think spinnerbaits, chatter baits, swim jigs, punch rigs, 6" to 7" Senko's or Ochos, T-rigged big worms.

Tom

3 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

I am not looking to buy.  I already have all the rods mentioned, thus why I listed them rather than asking what was the best finesse rod within a certain price range.  The Aetos has not had a reel on it yet, so I will have to mount a reel and see if I have the same experience you did.

I fished both of them on finesse weightless plastics and I didn't find the sensitivity all that different.  Both these spinning rods are 90% with me on all trips.  Reason why I like the Aetos better, it seems it was easier to load for lighter presentations (was able to handle the lower end of the lure range.) 

1 hour ago, WRB said:

Florida...leave your finesse rods home!

Think spinnerbaits, chatter baits, swim jigs, punch rigs, 6" to 7" Senko's or Ochos, T-rigged big worms.

Tom

 

I have a MH spinning rod there that seldom gets used.  I keep a Medium and 3 MHF casting rods there, plus I picked up a used Medium crankbait rod last year before coming home.  One of the rods I want to send down is a HF casting rod.  I thought I might try a finesse rod when we are out along submerged weed lines.

 

I like to try different lures, but my brother-in-law prefers to stick to two...10" unweighted ribbontail worms and a #11 Rapala.  I did get him to invest in a few spinnerbaits after catching several bass while he got none with his tried and trues.

where are you going to be fishing? I am here in central florida and I can give you good advice. depending on location, a spinning reel can play a big role in florida. won many tournaments with a drop shot and shakey head in central florida. judging by your list of rods I would bring the 7' aetos. all but one of my spinning rods are 7 ft medium actions. cant go wrong with them.

1 hour ago, runt4561 said:

where are you going to be fishing? I am here in central florida and I can give you good advice. depending on location, a spinning reel can play a big role in florida. won many tournaments with a drop shot and shakey head in central florida. judging by your list of rods I would bring the 7' aetos. all but one of my spinning rods are 7 ft medium actions. cant go wrong with them.

 

Deland.  Any advice is appreciated.  Thanks.

Deland.... so it sounds like you will be fishing in the St Johns River. Definitely the 7 foot Aetos. the shakey head is hard to beat. the biggest issue in florida with spinning tackle is the vegetation. it makes it hard to fish a lot of the finesse baits. the shakey head is the easiest to fish around vegetation. I have never used the ned rig so I cant comment on that.

On 2/21/2017 at 11:34 PM, FryDog62 said:

Smallmouth 6'-9" Elite Tech Medium Extra Fast may have been the best bass spinning rod ever made IMO.

 

I loved mine while I had it. She broke (my fault) a few summers back and Fenwick replaced it with an Aetos. Not bad, but not the same.

9 hours ago, runt4561 said:

Deland.... so it sounds like you will be fishing in the St Johns River. Definitely the 7 foot Aetos. the shakey head is hard to beat. the biggest issue in florida with spinning tackle is the vegetation. it makes it hard to fish a lot of the finesse baits. the shakey head is the easiest to fish around vegetation. I have never used the ned rig so I cant comment on that.

 

Took a boat trip on the St. James River once, but have never fished it.  Wouldn't mind fishing it tho.   My in-law's house is on South Lake Talmadge.  We can fish 3 lakes without getting out of the boat.

On 2/21/2017 at 10:34 PM, FryDog62 said:

Smallmouth 6'-9" Elite Tech Medium Extra Fast may have been the best bass spinning rod ever made IMO.  Best handle grip too.  Too bad they don't make it any more.  Wish I had bought 10 when they were on the way out --

I second this. I really like mine.