I inherited some unused old fenwick HMG rods. They appear to be salmon/steelhead rods that came in metal tubes. I have 4 total and am interested in learning anything I can about them. Thanks for any info.

Doug

I had two HMG's, both 83c series, which are essentially IM6 8' 3" composite carbon fiber rods. Both rods were through handle design meaning that the blank went all the way to the butt of the rod in the same way as current production standards. Both rods had a few inches of the blank exposed that you could rest your trigger finger on for better feel. The older rod was a locking ring that screwed from the back to the tip. The newer rod had a course thread molded into the forward part of the handle and the entire fore-grip would screw down on the handle to capture the reel. The first rod was my preferred weapon but it scummed to a car door. The second rod was marked Legacy as well as HMG. I preferred the first rod. Good luck!

maybe i'm nitpicking, but i don't think i've ever seen a steelhead rod that was not a "blank thru handle" design. the only rods i've seen that aren't like that are the old school pistol grip rods with metal seats, and some offshore trolling sticks.

i know, a little off subject, but there's a lot of guys out there that think if a rod doesn't have an exposed blank reel seat, the blank doesn't go through the handle. not true.

i'm not much of an HMG buff, but i have heard that the techna AV steelhead rods were some of the nicest factory rods ever built. it's really too bad fenwick got bought out by pure fishing and all production was moved to china, and they really cheaped out the steelhead line.

ive got a fenwick HMG graphie GFS83C steelhed rod got it back in 1980. one of my favorite rods i own.

I have several of the FS83c and FS85c fiberglass rods that I use for bait divers. I absolutely love them. I'm always looking for a few more as they are not being manufactured anymore.

Techna AV

Well it appears that one is fenwick manufactured and three are HMG blanks wrapped by someone. The first is a GFS91C 9'. The second is a blank GSP-1085F. Both have the metal reel seats and assemblies. Those appear to be salmon styles. The two steelhead rods are HMG blanks one GSH 932 and the other is GSH921. I also have a HMG spinning rod but I don't know the model number of that one. I like the metal rod tubes that they came in.

my fenwick HMG rod is my lucky rod...love it...have one more at my house i have never put a reel on (for mooching)...im sure ill find the right reel some day....still love my fenwick over my loomis....c

A bit off subject, but.

I have some 1983 Fenglas rods, 6-1/2 footers in casting and spinning models that I still use.

I took them in a partial trade when I photographed Fenwick rod designer Jimmy Green for the Fenwick Catalog cover back then.

Last year I took them to Greg's Custom rods (sp?) in Lake Stevens and had then cut into four sections from the two they were originally so they would fit into my airline carry-on or checked baggage.

Greg fitted them with metal ferrals and they have been great for jigging and casting on my trips to B.C. and Alaska the past two summers.

I might be a couple of years off on that 1983 date, it could have been a couple years earlier.

worth good money don't let them go for anything under 100 each especially if they're in good condition

i think you got some great rods. the older fenwicks were a tough rods. took serious beatings and kept on taking fish. todays modern graphite rods are just to brittle. those hmg rods you got will be killing fish for another 50 years!

They have never been used, and I don't plan on selling them. I'd like to get a couple nice ABU's for the 9 footers. Thanks everyone for the information.

Doug

Chum Man,
Scroll 1/3 of the way down on this web page and you'll see what he is talking about on blank thru handle:
http://www.tackletour.com/reviewfenwickhmg.html

that's called an exposed blank reel seat. all modern rods are blank thru handle, some just don't have the fancy cutaway for your finger.

i prefer cork under my finger, but that's just me.