Fenwick Fenlite Salt Fly Rod Review

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Fenwick's new Fenlite series comes with a variety of rod models for every angling scenario from small water nymphing to targeting Tarpon in Florida. The saltwater-specific rod models, deemed the 'Fenlite Salt', are designed to be bulky, high-performance rods that easily cast large flies in windy environments and have the lifting power to wrangle any fish.

The Fenlite Salt Series comes with rods from 7wt through 12wt to cater to anglers chasing small Bonefish all the way through to Giant Trevally. In this review, we cast the 8wt version of the Fenwick Fenlite Salt at typical saltwater distances including 40-feet, 60-feet, and 80-feet. The 8wt is a hefty rod with lots of muscle. Read on to find out what else we liked about the rod and where the Fenlite Salt fell short.

Outfit

Fenwick Fenlite Salt 9' 8wt Fly Rod
Lamson Liquid Fly Reel
RIO DirectCore Bonefish Fly Line
Scientific Anglers Amplitude Tropical Titan Fly Line

Fit & Finish

The componentry of the Fenlite Salt is functional but not as high-end as a rod with twice the price tag. The saltwater versions of these rods have saltwater-safe componentry including large diameter gunsmoke stripping guides, double foot gunsmoke snake guides, a woven graphite reel seat with double uplocking components, and a high modulus 3M Powerlux 1000 carbon rod blank. The rods come in a hard partitioned rod tube for easy, safe transport.

Weight

As a beefy low/mid-priced fly rod, we expected the Fenlite Salt to be on the heavy side of 8wts. Our intuitions were right... but this rod weighs even more than we expected. The Fenlite Salt 8wt has an overall weight of 4.44 ounces and a swing weight of 99.7 gm2. These weights are equivalent to some of the lighter 10wt rods on the market. We're really getting heavy here... and you can feel it the moment you pick up the rod.

Distance

This rod is an absolute cannon, as expected. This rod is a little on the heavy side but it is also insanely powerful. If you're blind casting to Stripers on the Maine coast or need a distance champion off of the front of a boat, partner this rod with SA Titan and you're off to the races. While we didn't think Titan was the most accurate line at longer distances, this rod could certainly cast the whole fly line.

RIO DirectCore Bonefish is a great line choice if you're looking for long-distance accuracy from the Fenlite Salt. This isn't a rod that you'd want to cast at long distances all day long (you may feel some fatigue), but it was designed for power and its performance at 80-feet reflected that during our casting session.

Accuracy

This rod's accuracy was another bright spot. While the rod's swing weight was apparent at all distances, we found it to be quite accurate for the angler with a quick casting stroke. The rod was quick, deliberate, and controllable at our first saltwater distance of 40-feet. That allowed us to land a fly accurately cast after cast. The Fenlite Salt definitely rewarded the heavy-handed caster at shorter distances but would be a great option for targeting large Redfish at short range with big flies in windy conditions.

The rod's accuracy remained at 60-feet. We felt that the rod performed similarly to other mid-priced saltwater rods at this distance. It's not as caster-friendly as some lighter, medium-fast/fast action rods, but if you prefer a super-fast rod that's a little heavier, the Fenlite Salt is a pleasure to cast. Again, the rod rewards a quick casting stroke but features great accuracy and heightened control. We felt a heavier line like SA Titan was necessary to load the rod at short and middle distances.

You've already heard about this rod's power at distance, but it's pretty accurate, too. We felt that the accuracy of the Fenlite Salt 8wt was better at closer distances, but the rod still provides anglers with control over a line with a longer head. If you don't care about accuracy beyond 80-feet, choose the Titan and blind cast into the surf with ease.

Flex & Feel

This isn't a rod with much feedback and feel, especially at short range. You can't really feel the rod load at 40-feet so timing can be difficult. That said, the rod flexed deeper into the blank as we pushed it back and cast it with a heavy fly line. Overlining this rod will provide the angler with more flex and more feedback than a line that's true to line weight. But that makes complete sense when considering the rod's flex profile and weight.

Warranty

Limited Lifetime Warranty

Price

$349.95

Conclusion

If you're looking for a low-priced rod with TONS of power, you've found it. This rod would be a great choice for beginner and intermediate anglers blind casting in the salt or bombing streamers at longer distances. It's also a highly accurate rod at shorter distances and could be used for large flies, windy conditions, and close Redfish encounters. It's not the most caster-friendly rod on the market but if you know you want a powerful fast action saltwater tool at a low price, this is the rod for you.

Watch Our Review

Pros

• TONS of power
• Highly accurate when cast with a quick stroke

Cons

• Really heavy
• Minimal feedback and feel

Questions?

Give us a call here at the shop at (888) 413-5211 or email us anytime at [email protected].