Has anyone built a rod from these blanks? Cabela’s has them on sale right now for $29.99 --($49.99 regularly).
They say they are fast action. I was thinking of picking up a 7-1/2 foot, 4 weight but would like some feedback from anyone that has an opinion on them.
Thanks
Dave
I built one over the summer and just as I was ready to apply finish the top 4-inches broke off for some unknown reason. It’s been a nightmare working with Cabela’s to replace the rod. They had me send the rod on which I had installed the reel seat, a custom cork handle and all of the guides were wrapped, back to them. I included a note to have them send back the guides, tip-top, hook-keeper, etc. if they weren’t going to just replace the tip section. They sent back the blank, a new reel seat and a pre-made cork grip (not inletted for the reel seat hood) and that was it. Because I was building this for myself I had used the TicH components which are kind of pricey. When I called Cabela’s they said the original rod and all of it’s hardware had been thrown in the trash and all they would replace was what they had sent me - grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. I’m now in the process of tracking down the receipt for the components from Hook and Hackle in order to get reimbursed by Cabela’s for the cork rings and the guide-set. It’s been a real hassle and the worst customer service I’ve ever dealt with from Cabela’s.
Now, to answer your question. My buddy, Buzz built a nice 8wt on this blank and it turned out very nice and now he fishes it almost exclusively because for an 8wt it is as light as a feather and a pleasure to cast all day. And, yes, it is a fast rod, cannon is more like it. I’d be fishing mine now if it wasn’t for the hassle I’m experiencing. I purchased the 5wt blank and I’m still hoping to get it built sometime this winter.
Good luck,
Kelly.
Dave,
I built one of the very blanks you are contemplating. It came out very nice. While the CCS confirmed a 4w rod, it seems to want a bit more to me after stopping traffic so I could cast in the street in front of the house. Actually, that makes sense since I did build it for a stream rod and will not be casting all that far with it. It handled nicely in close, but not so much at any kind of distance for me.
Thanks for the quick replies fellas. Dang Kelly, you had a he** of a hassle with them. Can’t believe they just trashed the components, especially after you specifically requested they be returned.
Dave
Hey, Dave, live and learn. I only build for friends and family so I don’t do a real volume, but I’ve never had a poor experience with Cabela’s in the past and this one kind of shocked me. Wish I knew who to complain to where it would do some real good. Oh well…
I still thinks this is a great blank and the metallic green finish is really attractive on the finished rod. I don’t think you could go wrong, I’m sure my problem was operator error, but who knows.
Good luck on your purchase.
kelly.
I have not built any of their fly rods on this blank but I have built the spinning, casting rods. Fact of the matter I am building three of them for my own steelhead boat for my friends that do not fly fish but want to chase the steelhead. If their steelhead casting rods are any indication of the quality of blank on a fly rod then buy one as soon as you can. I use there light rod blank casting and got a 34 inch steelhead and the rod handled him just fine.
kglissmeyer I am not surprized in the least at what is happening to you. Since the store came into Boise I have had nothing but problems. 5 years ago I was a huge cabella’s fan. Now we the conversation went like this with the store manager:“Tell me why I should ever step foot in a cabela’s store again and I will” manager: “uh uh uh” Me:“thats what I thought” I wish I knew of any one person you could talk to to get reimbursed faster but I don’t. Good Luck with that though.
I have not built any rods on the cabelas traditional II blank, but I do happen to own a 9’ 5wt tradtional II rod that was purchased off the shelf from my local cabelas. I would say the Fast action rating is fairly accurate, and I can certainly carry quite a bit of line with the rod. Most of my fishing is either panfish flies 2-6 feet under an indicator or throwing 1/0-3/0 puglisi style minnows for bass. Throwing the indicator I can get approx 75 feet of the fly line out the tip, and slightly more with the streamers. The rod shoots very tight loops even into the wind( it’s always windy here), and the largest fish I have landed on it so far was a 4lb largemouth, which it handled with aplomb. I hope this helps…
Fish
I haven’t built on a lot of blanks, but I’ve built 2 Tradition II rods and I really like them.
Bruce
PS. I’ve always had good luck dealing with Cabelas. Hopefully, my luck will continue.
I didn’t build it, but iv’e been fishing one for the past six months on moving water. I love the rod. I wouldn’t consider the action stiff or fast, but would rate it about 7 on the ten scale.
This little rod will walk the walk and talk the talk. 10 ft. to 50 ft. it’s and excellent performer and if you want to put the pressure on it you can throw the whole line in the parking lot without it becoming a noodle.
I bought a handful of the Trad II’s when they were on sale and I’m more than satisfied with every one of them. My only regret is not buying more back-ups for my back-ups.
You made a good choice. Go for it!
For what its worth, I have the 7’6" 4 weight, it isn’t fast. Its a smoother type medium action. Really similar to the St Croix Avid of the same length and weight. I’d build it for the 30 bucks on the blank. Its a nice rod
I bought one, 8wt, 4pieces. I’ll tell you how is it in a month. Yes, were on sale until dec 31th.
Yea, I went to order it yesterday and darn if they didn’t take it off sale. Last year they had the finished rods on sale for half price. Maybe they will go back on in a while.
Dave