Cabela’s sure has some nice looking, high end, fly rods like their SL and LST’s. I’m wondering how they would compare with a high end, name brand version like Sage or Loomis?
Who supplies Cabela’s with the rods they put their name on?
I believe the question about who makes their rods went unanswered recently. It may be one of those closely guarded secrets.
I can tell you that I bought the 4-piece LST 7wt this past August for steelhead, and I’m extremely pleased with it. I like a fast rod, so it met my expectations there, and it’s very light weight as well. I have it fitted with 7wt Mastery line on a Cabelas CSR reel. Don’t see any need to overline it, as it performs flawlessly out of the box. I used it for a 6-hour stint and did not tire from its weight. It comes with a 25 year warranty and travel tube as well. Fine piece of gear, IMHO, so it must come from one of the better builders in the industry. I paid full price for it, but it’s well worth it.
Joe
I’ve been pondering this myself, I know a couple of people who have cabelas rods and are pleased, yet I wonder how they compare. I bought a LSR reel which is really nice, yet I don’t like the big “Cabelas” logo emblazoned on it, makes it look cheap.
Maybe but I’ll ask the question again…Who?
I do not known who makes Cabela’s fly rods, but, I do know that a Cabela’s Prestige fly reel spool will fit perfectly on an Okuma fly reel and vise versa. If you look at the pictures of each reel in the Cabela’s catalog, they look identical except different names on them.
Warren…what model Okuma?..Helios???
ducksterman,
The Okuma I have I believe they no longer make and I think it is the Sierra S5/6. The spool on it and the spool on the Cabela’s Prestige will swap out with each other and either spool will work on the other reel. Side by side, I do not think you can tell them apart.
I purchased a 5 piece 9ft 6wt travel rod combo from Cabelas a couple of years ago. I am very pleased with the rod’s fast action and quality. I use the rod on larger streams as well as in lakes and resevoirs when I am float tubing.
The rod casts very well and fishes well.The combo was also reasonably priced.
I myself am not that brand/image conscious. I want good quality and a good warranty at a reasonable price. Never when I have been fishing has anyone come up to me and asked me what type of rod I am using.
So Cabelas may not have the big brand name of a Sage, Winston, Albright etc. but this rod works for me. And yes, I can afford the higher priced named rods, however I elect to spread my money out in different ways(have more $ for more rods and other pieces of fishing gear) :lol:
I have two Cabela’s fly rods and the quality of the two couldn’t be more different. One is a Cabela’s Genesis rod that is sold as part of an into fly fishing kit. The rod is billed as a “medium-fast” action but in my experience is more medium/moderate than fast. The cosmetics of the rod aren’t nearly as nice as other companies introductory rods (cheap plastic reel seat, poor quality epoxy job, etc.), but functionally it does the job. I found that it works much better after I replaced the WF line with a DT line. The rod loads easier and is much more pleasurable to cast.
My other rod is an LST 9’ 6wt. and as I said couldn’t be more different. The rod is as Joe noted very light and very fast. I’ve found through trial and error that my casting style is better suited to a fast action rod so this rod suits me well. It has an impecible epoxy job and the woven graphite reel seat is set off nicely by the titianium hardware. I happened to find mine in the bargan cave at their Ft. Worth, TX store for 50% off even though from what I can tell it was never fished (still had the plastic on the grip when I bought it. Certainly for the money I am incredibly happy, but I probably would have bought one at full price at some point anyway. If you have a Cabela’s near your home be sure to check the bargan cave as they may have some nice rods for a reasonable price.
Brian
One advantage of buying a brand name is if you buy it used. You can almost always get your money back for it.
I’ve bought many high end rods used for half price. I fished them for awhile, and then got my money back for them. It’s a much better way to test a rod than parking lot casting at a store.
I have the LST combo in both a 9’ 5wt and the 8’3" 3wt and like them very much. They both have the CSR reels and Mastery WF lines and preform way better than I can cast. Almost 2 years ago when I was thinking about the 3wt I tried to find out who made these rods and could not, I even asked on here. At that time I asked about the Sage SLT because that was the only other 8’3" 3wt that I could find and they look very much the same, except for the single footed guides, and weighted the same, and even the letters were just switched. I have never seen or held the Sage only pictures in both Cabelas and Sage catalogs but they seemed very similar. I also have the Cabelas PT in an 8"6" 5wt and the LST is much easier to cast and fish with.
[/quote]Maybe but I’ll ask the question again…Who?[/quote]
Some of Cabela’s rods are made in Korea ie: Stowaway, Three Forks and some others. As for USA made rods it really doesn’t make much difference “who” Cabela’s rods are made to their specs.
If you knew Loomis or St. Croix actually made the rod and expected it to cast and fish like one of their models … it just wouldn’t happen.
I don’t understand, Jerry, Does the decal really affect a rod’s casting ability?
[/quote]I don’t understand, Jerry, Does the decal really affect a rod’s casting ability?[/quote]
You misread my post. The original post asking “who?” really does not matter who made the rod. If the prospective buyer likes the rod … buy it. If you buy a house brand rod you are buying a rod made to that retailers specs the manufacturer is of no consequence.
What it comes down to is that we all have our own requirements in regards to a rod and the money we can or are interested in spending.
Some folks need to be able to say they have a very expensive(and probably very good rod) while others only need a certain level of equipment to satisfy their needs.
Either way I believe both groups have valid needs and both are right.
I’m not flashy so the brand name isn’t that critical to me. When I’m in a conversation and folks are suggesting that have the $500-$1000 rods and drop a big name, I’m not embarassed to say I have a Cabelas Stowaway, a Fenwick, and a St Croix. (I also have the first rod I ever owned a a kid, an 8ft fiberglass flyrod that I got thru A&P green stamps- for those who don’t know, green stamps were given out at food stores(back in Jersey when I was a kid) depending on how much you spend. You collect enough of them and you could trade em in for various pieces of merchandise.
So for me, I love to fish, be outdoors, and am happy with the equipment that I’ve purchased. Addtionally I never had a fish that I have caught look up at me and say…“Holy moly, I was caught on a super expensive or cheap rod…I can’t wait to tell my friends…”
Overall it is fun to read about and get everyone’s thoughts and opinions on the various rods.
I bought my nephew an 8’6" 4 pc 5wt Cabela’s Traditional Combo for Christmas and I really liked the rod when I test cast it it my mother’s back yard.
Although I have lots of “high end” rods with flashier names, I wouldn’t have had a problem fishing that outfit.
BTW I own 10 Cabela’s XML spinning and casting rods and I’ve been EXTREMELY satisfied with them in the many years I’ve owned them.
I emailed Cabelas about this question and this is what I got Back
Dear Tyler,
Thank you for contacting Cabela’s with your interest in our products.
We certainly understand and appreciate your request for the manufacturer of the item mentioned. As this item is exclusively made for Cabela’s, the manufacturer has simply requested that we do not release their vendor information. Accordingly, we respectfully decline to divulge the manufacturer for this merchandise. Being extremely proud of our reputation as a service oriented company, we fully stand behind these products with our famous 100% Satisfaction Guarantee!
I hope this information is helpful. We appreciate your interest in quality Cabela’s merchandise and look forward to serving your future sporting needs.
Have a great day!
Suzanne
I guess that settles that!
Yep,thanks…
I’d like to digress a little re: what Jerry said.
It certainly seems obvious that a company may have a house brand on which they dictate the specs…e.g. I’ve been told Whirlpool makes some Kenmore things and that Sears actually demands better specs than Whirlpool has on it’s own products.
Having said that though it seems to me at least that Cabela’s not being in the rod making business may not indicate the specs…where’s their expertise?
Also if they do indicate specs wouldn’t it also be true that some companies put a rod together better than others so knowing that company would have some value?
I have seen Orvis products in which it was obvious who made them …and witness the reel discussions on this board where certain ones of Cabela’s are interchangeable with a given brand.
Again having said all that I suspect Jerry is correct…they will cast differently…but who knows? :?
Good questions. I can only address your question “where’s their expertise?” Because they are a retailer and not a manufacturer, they do as all successful business do…they buy talent! Either in the form of a captive employee(s) or by retaining consultants who fill the knowledge gap. Often, the manufacturer who is private labeling can provide specifications unique to the label, especially if the volume warrants retooling. Where there’s will, there’s a way, and you can buy knowledge in many places.
I worked for a firm many years ago that private labeled for a number of national retailers.
Joe