Fenwick HMX Fly Rod Review: Performance & Design Analysis

A few days before the Atlantic salmon opener I purchased the latest Fenwick fly rod to hit store shelves, the HMX. The first impression given by the HMX is rather nice considering the color and finish of the rod most certainly doesn't make the HMX catch you eye when mingled amongst the competition.

 On the other hand when you look down to the floor and see that resin infused walnut reel seat insert that screams gun stock and the creatively decorated reel mounting hardware that looks anything but cheap, one quickly becomes impressed.

The fact is the flat finish of the HMX really does compliment the handle well when held horizontally instead of the rod being  vertically presented to sell  like at my local sports store where I was left  to discover the HMX on my second look through.

 The construction of the HMX series of fly rods by Fenwick is a advancement to say the least. With the eagle series having less backbone than the french Fenwick had to come up with something to keep their hardware from permanently resembling Bob before the Enzyte.

 Unlike Bob Fenwick used IM7 instead of the eagles IM6 along with a cross section carbon scrim to fix the flop and the results are far from dysfunctional.

The chromium plated stainless steel guides paired with the DPL frame guide with TiCH insert shoots line like a breeze and makes for great stripping. The Fenwick eagle rods flex for what feels like a mile when you strip a line and give you frustrating movement between strips from rod flex when that fly should be at rest. The new cross scrim cuts that movement down to a fraction to that of the old eagle series.

On the bigger rivers is where the new cross scrim used on the the HMX really struts it's stuff. I have the 8 weight designed for short and medium range casting but let me be the first to tell you that any good caster should have no problem getting big distance coupled with complete control out of the HMX. In the short range the HMX is fantastic while picking the float from the surface it's resistance is all but nullified by the advancements in the new age cross scrim materiel.

  After hooking up with a nice grilse I found out quite haste fully that this HMX is nothing like the eagle series and it's level of communication between salmon and angler makes a iphone look like a string and paper cup. A seasoned salmon angler knows when  a salmon is planning to jump but the HMX sends instant messages straight to the hand allowing me to bow to the king before his eye has left the water and that will no doubt land me more salmon.

 over all the effectiveness of the Fenwick 8 weight HMX is fantastic for the price and my only gripe is the cork handle could do to be a little thicker but I could care less when the facts are that this rod is near as good as any in the $400 to $500 range regardless of what name is stamped on it.

With a tag price of $230 at my local sport store the Fenwick HMX is by far the deal of the season and unless Fenwick brings back their life time warranty I don't see how the HMX for the price could possibly get any better...FishinDan