Cabela's Fly Rods..

[Marmot]

Have been checking out the Cabelas fly rods on the net.. I assume someone makes these for Cabelas but dont know who. Anyone ever fished with these rods.. They seem pretty nice in there high end rods and Cabelas has really nice warranty and price.. Any info or reviews would be great..

Marmot

[mitroutbum77]

The guys gets a job and first thing is to buy a new rod... ;D

Marmot
I bought the FT 7' 3wt 2pc about 5 yrs ago. Love it to death! Use it in the park quite a bit along with my 4wt. I was looking at adding another Legend Ultra to my arsenal, but I liked the action of the FT better. I did have an advantage only living about 25 minutes from the Dundee, MI store at the time. I had one of the guys rig me up about 5 different rods and test them out on the front lawn. Price wise they're easier on the pocket book with a great warranty like you get from other good rod manufacturers.

I'll have it with me next weekend if you want to try it out. I use SA's GPX on my faster rods like the FT & Legend Ultras. It seems to load better with that extra weight.

mtb

[Tentwing]

Marmot;

All of Cabelas upper end rods are made by Sage . The SL, the FT, the LST, the PT and the XST are all Sage produced. The lower end stuff I'm not certain of it's origin though

Hope this helps a little,...............Tentwing

[Marmot]

Thx for the info guys... Sage.. wow... Thats good to know !! ... Would really like to test out some of these.. Bet that 3wt is sweet mtb.. Look forward to checkin that out... New job = new toys... Why else but to pay the rent... lol

Marmot

[DarrinG]

I casted a buddies Cabelas LST rod the other day. When I picked it up to cast, I thought "Nice rod but it's a "house-brand"...cant be that good". I took it out and casted it a few times. WOW! I had a change of heart in the way I'll think about the Cabelas house-branded rods from now on. It was a 9ft 5wt. That rod casted for me as good as any rod I've used. It begged for more line on every cast.

Now I'm looking at the new Cabelas catalog at their line of rods!

[Rockyraccoon]

Over the years, I've had many clients bring their Cabelas rods out on the water. They all seem to cast very nicely.

The reels are also worth taking a look at.

[Tentwing]

Rocky;

Cabelas' high end reels ( SLA,SR,LSR,and CSR ) are produced for them by Hardy. I don't know who produces their lower end ( Prestige' Series) reels.?

Their SLA is the same as the Orvis Battenkill large Arbor which is also produced by Hardy for Orvis. Their LSR, and SR are essentially the same as the Orvis Mid arbor reel which are also produced by Hardy for Orvis.

Hope this helps ,......................Tentwing

[DarrinG]

I am still amazed at how well that LST rod casted. That rod was a cannon. I know each individual rod, even from the same model, will have it's own "feel". Makes me wonder if it was just that particular rod, or if the majority of the LST rods cast that good? Anyhow, it definately peaked my interest, enough that I'll look hard at them for my next rod purchase. I'd rather support a local fly shop with a rod purchase but sometimes a guy's gotta do what a guy's gotta do!

My buddy also had a Cabelas CSR reel on the LST rod. I must say I liked the reel too. Cabelas done their homework it seems.

[Petey]

That got me curious about Bass Pro. So I thumbed through their catalog and it looks like their White River series maybe the same as Cabela's stuff with different logo's. Their top of the line reels look to be the same construction and drag as that as Cabela's, and if that is the cast I guess that makes them the same as Orvis?

So basically what you are saying to me TW is that when we buy anything LA Battenkill and MA Battenkill reels we are paying to much?

Does Sage use the same blanks they use in their named line or do they manufacture different blanks strictly for Cabela's?

My curiousity is peaked!

[Tentwing]

Petey;

It's kinda like the difference between a GMC truck and a Chevrolet. They are both GM products, and in some cases from the same plant. The cosmetics are just a little different.

Hardy has been making reels for Orvis for a long time. What will really rent space in your head is that the Cabela's LSR 5/6 weight reel is $155( page 40 of cabela's FF catalog) and the Cortland Endurance 5/6 weight reel $89.95 ( page 37 pf the Cabela's FF catalog) are the same reel . Both are made by Hardy for each of their respective companies, and the cosmetic differences are minimal even though the price difference is over $65

The rods are Sage blanks with slightly different bells and whistles attached.

Of coarse if you guys would just fish old second hand CANE rods from E-bay, and reels from the dicountinued bins like me you wouldn't have to worry about any of this ;D ;D

[Petey]

Why am I feeling bamboozled all of a sudden...

There is that word again, bamboo.... why does it alwasy seem to creep into every conversation we have. Hmm..... ;D

Petey

[Varmit]

Ya know....Gary is right. Those old second hand rods will still catch a fish or two.

The whole Cabela/Sage thing helps ya see just how much you are paying for a name, and the last time I checked...fish caint reeed. ;D Of course neither can most of the folks in Varmint(Campbell) County.

[Rockyraccoon]

I will say this,

Often times the name brands do use better hardware and materials with their blanks. Plus they come with the guarantee. Not sure if Cabelas offers the no mistake guarantee or not.

[Tentwing]

Rocky has a point. Among those extra bells and whistles is a SOLID guarantee.

Don't get me wrong Fellas I am not anti Sage. As a matter of fact I still think they produce the best rods out there of all the graphite rods I have owned. I have used their guarantee 3 times on Cheryl's SP. (No hassles , no questions)

Another point Rocky made while the blanks themselves are the same they often use less expensive reel seats , and the guides will be plated nickel silver instead of solid nickel silver. This has NO EFFECT on how well the rod cast. Cabelas is responsible for the guarantee on these rods ( only 25 years) and Sage can afford to make the rod cheaper than Cabelas' can. This allows Cabelas' to sell a TOP quality rod cheaper than Sage , but allows both companies to make money.

Also when the time comes that the customer wants to step up to a fancier rod whether they know it or not they have already developed comfort level with rods that have a Sage-esque feel and look about them, so which rod are they most likely to buy even after multiple comparisons?

The man is trying to get inside your head so he can control you ;D...........Heck , If they could just figure out a way to control the fish they wouldn't need all this other marketing crap

Save yourselves from mind control ...........Fish Boo ........Tentwing

[appangler]

I've been doing alittle 590 rod shootout myself in the last week. I almost pulled the trigger on a Sage SLT...very nice all around action...not bad up close, but wanted at least 20' of line before it wanted to load. Casted A 590 VPS next to the SLT. Very similar feel, but wanted about 30' before it felt good...however, it had a bunch of reserve power! Not as stiff a feel all around as the XP's or even the Z-axis. I think this would be a great rod for Smallies in a 690. So whatever Cabella's rod matces the VPS blank would be a nice smallie lite-line smallies stick. After all the rods I cast in the 590 lengththe winner for me was the BIIX. The darn Winston just has the nicer inclose feel, and will load with nothing more than a 10' leader, yet reach out 80' with a good double haul. The Sages seem to have alittle more control with the long lines, but sacrifice in the short ranges that most of us fish Trout in 80% of the time. Even though the Winston has a very soft tip, it recovers very Quick and you can force the rod and still deliver a decent cast without the line piling up at the end of it. It seems to posses a nice sort of parabolic reserve power without overdriving the soft tip. Sorry guys for sidetracking this thread...just in love with this rod