Does anyone have any experence with the Cabela’s Stowaway rods? I need a compact 5wt rod and was looking at the Cabela’s 5 piece Stowaway 865-5. Has anyone heard any reviews either good or bad about them? Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks
Bill
Between us, my wife and I have have a 5 piece and a 7 piece rod. Both are nice casting rods. I’d say a medium fast action. Fit and finish is very good. We like both of ours.
I have a 5pc 6wt Stowaway. Good rod for the price.
Steve
I have a 5 piece 3 weight stowaway rod and I love it. IT is a good casting rod.
I am on my 3rd or 4th Stowaway 5pc 3wt. My only complaint is the guides could be better quality. I keep wearing them out. Excellent casting rod, great price.
Five piece 5 weight- very nice casting rod.
Chuck
I own 3 of them (3wt, 5wt and 7wt). I built them up from blanks I found on sale for $30 each! Amazing rod for the price. The fit and finish doesn’t hold up to my $600 Winston, but if I close my eyes and just go on feel I might like the Stowaway a little better!
I had a 5 pc. 3 wt. It is one of the few rods I’ve owned that I could not get in time with (and I am an accomplished caster with perfect technique ROFLMBO).
It seems every time I tried to punch the rod I would tail it. The rod was useless for me beyond 30’.
I sold it.
I’ve built several rods on the stowaway blanks.
I like them a lot. But I use higher quality guides than the rod manufacturers do. Never worn out a giude yet.
They cast well for me. I really like the 3 wt. for some of the small trout waters I fish. It does double duty in Arizona as my ‘truck’ rod, so it’s caught it’s share of bass, catfish, carp and bluegills too.
Buddy
I have a Cabelas Stowaway 7 piece rod in a 8ft 5wt. It’s a very nice rod. I bought 2 7 piece rods, one the Cabelas and the other the Orvis model, to take backpacking in Rocky Mountain National Park and fish some of the lake. They both worked out very well on the trip. I have taken the Cabelas rod fishing locally also. Nice rod. .
-wayne
My son has the 5 piece 4 wt (I believe 7’6"). It’s a really nice rod for any money and outstanding for the price. It may not be finished as well as my Scott G2 or Sage SLT, but let me say I would not be embarrassed to show it off to any trout anywhere.
I agree, it’s medium to medium fast, nice action and a smooth casting rod. No reason at all to be ashamed of this rod.
Jeff
In 2000 the free-at-flyshops magazine “Flyfish America” did a blind test of 5 wt. rods, and the Stowaway, then priced at under $100 as I recall, received a great deal of praise.
I don’t know that the mag has repeated their blind testing comparisons–if so, I’ve missed the issue containing the results. I’m guessing the advertising agencies for the $600 plus rods just MIGHT have considered pulling their ads.
The results of that 2000 test ranked the St. Croix Legend Ultra #1, so I bought one that I am still fishing and wouldn’t part with.
Thank you all for your observations of the Stowaway rods. I’ll be ordering one soon.
Thanks
Bill
I have the 8.5’, 5wt, 5pc. I was really disappointed…in my Winston 8.5’, 5wt JWF. The Stowaway cast every bit as good!
Phil
Same words from me. I am fond of mine and I have no problem endorsing the rod. (NOT a “compensated endor”.)
Ed
I have the 6 and 4 weights. I broke each one and cabelas replaced them no questions asked (I can’t blame cabelas for breaking the 6 wt – damn power windows).
The rods are great. Components are fair. The cork wears more than other rod I own, but the darn things cast great.
I have a 4wt and an 8wt in the 5pce Stowaway.
Both perform better than they should for the price.
Buy with confidence.
Cheers
DuFf
I also have a 5 pce Albright 3wt that is a nice little casting rod.
Bought one for my son for graduation from college, 8.5 /5wt. Has added a few other rods since, but the Stowaway is still his favorite rod. For the $$, a great buy!!
I bought a 5pc 9’ 6wt that year when the airlines started to give me grief for carrying my 2pc Sage on the plane and I’ve never regretted the decision. Nice rod for the money.
Regards,
Scott
I have the 7 piece 8 weight. Haven’t caught a thing on it (came close Tuesday) but cast’s well. The 5 piece 5 weight won rave reviews in the June 2000 Flyfish America magazine, though.