Phenix Rods FTX-S 71L Feather Spinning Rod Product Review

Rod Review

What the Finesse?!? Phenix's Sub 3oz Feather Series Spinning Rod

Date:	5/3/18
Tackle Type:	Rod
Manufacturer:	Phenix Rods
Reviewer:	Cal

Total Score: 8.33 - BEST VALUE AWARD!

Introduction: If there is one rod manufacturer that has proven over the last five years it's on a mission to deliver solid performing sticks at a price that won't break the bank, that manufacturer is Phenix Rods. With roughly half a dozen collections offered at right around two hundred dollars or less (Recon, Glass Cranking, Composite Cranking, M1 Bass, Maxim, M1 Swimbait), Phenix demonstrates they understand the value minded angler. At ICAST 2017, Phenix Rods demonstrated their mission all over again with the introduction of yet another series of sticks value priced at under $200. Here's our first look at their new Feather Series.

Phenix FTX-S 71L Specifications
Material	30 & 40 Ton Toray Graphite Blend w/ Phenix Nanolite Resin
Length	7'-1"
Line Wt.	4-10lb
Lure Wt.	1/8-3/8oz
Pieces	One
Guides	8+tip Essex T-Ring Carbide Inserts
Rear Handle Length	8
Power Rating	Light
Taper	Fast
Rod Weight	2.9oz
Origin	Made in China
MSRP	$149.00

Introducing Phenix Custom Rods's FTX-S 71L Feather series spinning rod.

Impressions: First up for us in Phenix's new Feather series of rods is the FTX-S 71L. This is a seven foot, one inch (7'-1") spinning rod rated as a light power and built on a blank with a fast taper.

The Feather Series name is derived from the fact each rod within the series is super light. The weight on our FTX-S 71L? - just 2.9 ounces!

Phenix likes to push the envelope on rod design and came up with this unique reel seat for the spinning rods in their new Feather sticks.

This spinning rod does not have a grip. Instead, it has a custom reel seat with an attention grabbing aesthetic and a minimalist butt end of EVA foam. The guides are Essex T-Rings with carbide inserts. Essex is an up and coming component brand that Phenix has partnered closely with to supply their guides and build a lot of their custom reel seats.

It is an eye catching design, no doubt.

Real World Tests: Excited to put the FTX-S 71L through the paces, I paired it with a new, Abu Garcia Gen 4 Revo S spinning reel spooled with 8lb Sunline Super Natural monofilament for some finesse fishing on a recent trip out with Zander.

But I was surprised to find it wasn't all that comfortable after a few casts.

Casting: On that very first cast with this stick, I noticed a very strange sound almost like a "whoosh". Curious, I quickly reeled in my cast and tried again, and there was that sound again. Distance and accuracy did not seem to be affected. Wondering if I may have been imagining it, I reeled my line in once more and asked Zander to pay attention. He heard it too! Unsure if the sound was from the reel or the rod, but pretty sure it was from the rod, I looked over the stick closely and finally noticed something that should have been obvious from the start. The FTX-S 71L's stripper guide (the first guide up from the reel seat) looked to be placed further up the blank than usual.

The rod's blank is made from a blend of 30 and 40 ton graphite bonded with Phenix's proprietary nano-resin.

I compared it to a couple other spinning rods we had in the boat and verified that this guide was about halfway between the first and second guide placements of the other sticks. So maybe the sound was the result of the line slapping the blank but the odd sensation is that when you make a cast with this rod, the sound makes it feel as if the line is being sucked off the spool and through the guides. Again, accuracy and distance are not affected. It's just a very interesting and curious affect.

More super clean design details.

Next Section: Light, but how sensitive?