ICAST 2011 : Phenix Rods Continues to Evolve

Introduction: Since their re-birth in 2008, Phenix Rods has been busy improving, redefining, and refining their product. Finding your niche in a crowded rod market is not as simple as one might think. We were fans of their early Ultra MBX rods as witnessed by our positive reviews of both their cranking and heavy powered worming rods, but in the last year or two it's been promise after promise of "something new". Well, there's no better time in the fishing industry to debut new product than at ICAST. We caught up with the Phenix crew to check out their new for 2012 lineup.

Phenix's long anticipated Bass Recon series of rods are finally ready.

Bass Recon Rods: First up in Phenix's new lineup for 2012 will be their Bass Recon line of rods featuring blanks made of Toray 36 ton graphite (T36). The goal here was to deliver a built up rod that was light, sensitive, and affordable. There will be 11 casting models and 5 spinning models, each designed with specific techniques in mind. Made with SiC guides with stainless steel frames, Fuji's new split reel seat, and EVA grips, these technique specific rods are sure to make a splash at a price ranging from $159 - $189..

Abyss Saltwater Rod Blanks Series: Continuing their theme of lighter and stronger blanks, Phenix continues to make noise not just in the freshwater market, but in saltwater as well. Leveraging the needs of saltwater anglers right in their home region, the Abyss Saltwater Rod Blanks will be built with Toray graphite and s-glass composite technology and are designed around actions desired most by "West Coast" style surface jig and live bait anglers.

Titan Popping Rod Blank Series: A successful popping rod not only needs to be a great caster, but it has to have the leverage and strength to let the angler set hook from a distance. Tuna and GTs are unforgiving in this regard. Phenix's new Titan Popping blanks are built using Toray's multi-composite material blended together with their own proprietary resin formula. All blanks in this series are built around a 2-piece design, optimal for travelling.

... Eva or the texturized rubber grip previewed earlier this year.

Titan Jigging Rod Blank Series: With jigging sticks, it's all about power - lifting power to pull stubborn amberjacks and yellowtails off and away from rocky bottoms. Built from Toray's T-18 multi-composite material, Phenix's Titan Jigging blanks deliver just that and according to Phenix, deliver the ultimate blank for today's jigging anglers.

Phenix is keeping the JDM-esque reel seat hoods.

K-2 Hybrid Blank Series (T-46): Finally, the material in which the vast majority of our readers have an interest. Phenix's T-46 blanks are finally coming to shore, but not just in a pure rod blank form. No, Phenix has decided to offer complete, built up rods from these blanks as well.

Phenix's T46 blanks are also finally ready.

What makes the T-46 blanks so sought after? 40 ton graphite is an industry benchmark for blanks of high quality. Most value oriented rods are built from graphite rated at 30 tons or less striking a balance between performance and durability. 40 ton graphite signifies a high end material and when manufacturers attempt to use anything over 40 tons they're running the risk of producing very fragile sticks that are prone to failure.

The Ultra MBX rods are still the mainstay of Phenix's freshwater bass lineup.

The latest handle revisions.