I matched the EliteTECH ESMC69MH-F rod with a Shimano Chornarch reel and 17lbs McCoy Mean Green mono line. I used a 4” JD Lure hand poured finesse worm on a 1/4oz sinker Texas rigged. I fished in a natural grass filled lake in Northern Illinois with clear water.  Weather was hot temps in the 90’s with little to no wind. The lake has some amount of fishing pressure as well.

The Fuji guides on the EliteTECH ESMC69MH-F rod make for a smooth cast.  The Mono line goes through the guides without any catching or damage to my line.

This is a really sensitive rod. I threw a Texas rigged worm in the milfoil beds with the EliteTECH ESMC69MH-F. I could feel the most subtle of bites in the grass. The reaction time with this rod is very quick.

This medium heavy action rod has plenty power to muscle bass out of grass beds with no problem.  This is a power rod that is designed for heavy cover fishing (big lines, grass beds & bushes).

I put this rod through a 10 hour tournament practice style day & this rod held up very well. It with stood a lot of dropping on the deck, stepping on it and this elitetech held up very well.

This rod is very comfortable for me. I have small hands and with a low profile reel it is very comfortable.

After trying many different techniques, I feel that the EliteTECH ESMC69MH-F rod is a heavy cover rod!  I would specifically use it as worming or jig rod.  It is just too stiff for spinnerbaits and buzzbaits, in my opinion, but Texas or Carolina rigs are perfect.

Overall the EliteTech Smallmouth Series is a good rod; the only problem I found is the reel seat.  My Shimano reels have a narrow reel seat, like all Shimano reel. Unfortunately, the reel seat on the EliteTech is wider than my Shimano reel seat, so that means the bottom of the reel seat will not tighten up.  That’s a big problem because when I was playing fish I felt like my reel was going to pop off the reel seat because it was that loose! Otherwise it is a good worming rod on the market!