Cabela's Rod blanks question

[pathfndr2]

I am wanting to build myself a 6'6" finesse spinning rod. I was wondering how Cabela's XML blanks compare to G.Loomis and Lamiglass etc as far as physical weight and sensitivity. Im looking in the $100 area for a blank and want the most bang for my bucks. StCroix's SCIII is in that price range or a little less so I might consider it too. I want a 6'6", 2 piece, 4-10lb, fast or extra fast action (jury is out on the action so far). Any help in picking out a blank would be appreciated.

[Guest DavidGreen]

Welcome To The Forum!!!

pathfndr2,

I want a 6'6", 2 piece, 4-10lb, fast or extra fast action (jury is out on the action so far).

IMPO no comparison between the Cabela's XML blanks and the Loomis® or Lamiglas® blanks. I build exclusively on St.Croix blanks, for a travel rod that you are wanting I would recommend...

AS66MLF2 6'6" power:ML, action: FAST, pieces: 2, line: 4-10, lure: 1/8-3/8, MSRP:$69.00

Tight Wraps!  

[flechero]

pf2,

Welcome to the forum!

You don't have many choices in a blank as you describe... the 2 pc. doesn't help your selection. You have a couple more options if you are willing to go up a touch in power like to a 6-12 line rating but as it sits, the only (good) things other than the SCIII are a Loomis GL-3

S783-2-GL3 6'6" 2 MEDIUM FAST 4-10lb 1/8-3/8oz 5 .354 $107.00 (mud hole)

and an American Tackle Elite

AESP783-2 6'6" 2 pc. MED-LT FAST 6-10 LB 1/4-1/2 5 .482 1.5 $106.14

I'd rather have the SCIII, considering the prices of all... use that $38 for better components. I believe the blanks are comparable... there isn't $38 difference, no matter how you slice it.

I built a spinning finesse rod last year on an SCIII blank and I couldn't be happier...

[Grey Wolf]

WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[pathfndr2]

Thanks guys.   Looks like St Croix is the way to go.  Cabelas opened a new store in Boise, which is within driving distance of me, and thought if their blanks were worth a poop I would just drive down there and pick one up.  

  This will be the first complete rod I have built.  Rewrapped a lot of them but never have done a complete rod.  I just retired so decided building a rod would be something to do while the weather is in the single digits.  Heck of it is if I get one built then I will be wanting to go swat the water with it.  Wunner if they make ice free guides, heh.  

[flechero]

pf2,

The blank in question may be ok... I can't comment either was as I haven't seen or held it.  I guess to backtrack on my  answer above.... depending on what you are going to do with it, the Cabela's blank may actually be nice.  They may have that rod built in the store so you can see how it feels.   If you are going to use little spinners and minnow type baits, it may be great...

Oh, and you better call first, the retail locations don't usually stock any blanks!  (I also made that mistake after a 75 mile drive!)

[Lucky Craft Man]

pathfnder,

I don't know a thing about building rods, but I have 7 Cabelas XML rods that I purchased completed from the store.  I have several 1-piece and 2-piece XML rods (I use the 2-piece for travel) and they performed extremely well for me.  I also have a G Loomis IMX that I will say is lighter then the XML, but for $145 dollars cheaper, the XML is the way to go in my opinion.  

[pathfndr2]

It will be used for 1/4oz or less grubs,  weightless senkos, tubes.  Basically any plastic in 30 ft of water or less.   8lb test mono most of the time.   I fish Brownlee Reservoir on the Snake River a lot, which has near zero brush or grass in it.  

[pathfndr2]

Thanks Fletchero,  I called the Boise Cabela's store and they do not stock the rod blanks.   Guess I could go put the feel on a XML and a SCIII finished rod and make some kind of comparison that way.   Sensitivity is the hard part to determine though and that can sure change with different reel seat and guides.   The only way I know to determine the sensitivity for sure is to fish it.  

[MickD]

I have a great deal of respect for the opinion of many of the members of this forum, and they are advocating the usual brands, but I have to testify that the Cabela's XML 2 piece ML 7 foot spinning rod I just made for a gift for my daughter in law turned out to be the lightest spinning rod I ever made, even lighter than the  St Croix SCV 7 footer I made for my son earlier.  My son's rod had titanium guides, and the Cabela's had gold SIC's.  I haven't  fished with it , but it sure felt like a really nice, responsive, rod when I finished it.  

I have an 8 weight Cabela's fly rod that I made from one of their higher level blanks, fast action, and took it to Belize.  It did very well casting in the wind there, and the guide used it for a while and commented that he thought it was a great rod.

I would not dismiss the higher level Cabela's blanks.  I really doubt that they make them, and maybe some of the experts on the forum can tell us who really makes them.  Are they Loomis IMX's?

Mick

[flechero]

Thanks Fletchero, I called the Boise Cabela's store and they do not stock the rod blanks. Guess I could go put the feel on a XML and a SCIII finished rod and make some kind of comparison that way. Sensitivity is the hard part to determine though and that can sure change with different reel seat and guides. The only way I know to determine the sensitivity for sure is to fish it.

I would go feel both, it's not like you won't enjoy the trip anyway!  ....lol  You will like the action and power of one of them better, no doubt in my mind.  I've never compared 2 rods or blanks side by side and walked away a tie.  

You can see by the responses that there is mixed preferences... to me that says you really should make the drive and play with both.

I got curious so I just looked up the XML blanks... they only have a mod. in the ML 4-10.  And the price is about the same as the SCIII.  You'd have to jump to a Med to get a fast, as you specified in your first post.  I guess it's a matter of do you want a ML, fast or ML mod.  between the SCIII and the XML...  go try them both and you will for sure like one better, they will feel very different.

[pathfndr2]

Yes I have been contemplating the two blanks and I think a fast or extra fast would be better for casting the lighter weights.  I think the fast action would also give better hooksets in 25-30 ft of water than the moderate action.  Below that depth I go to  heavier weights and rod.  

[pathfndr2]

Well, I have the SCIII blank acomin. Its a 6 1/2ft 2 peice 4-10 ML fast action.  Being a 2 piece rod I am not real sure about how to determine the splne.   Guess I will just do the tip by itself then put it in the butt in different positions and see if the spine changes.  Spect the spine of the tip is the most important.  

I bought it as a kit from Cabela's and bought a set of Fuji single foot Alconite guides for it rather than using the standard "hardloy" set that comes with the kit.

Im going on my first bass fishing trip of the year on Mar 17th.  to Brownlee Reservoir(on the Snake river)  Zippity do da.   I wont have the rod done by then but still am looking forward to getting my line wet.  I suppose its going to be jerkbaits and/or deep water Carolina rigged plastics in slow mo as the water temp is only about 40 degrees.   Probably couldnt utilize this new rod anyway.    

[flechero]

pf2,

Just spine each piece by itself and then align them to coincide with your preferred spine location.  this applies to any multi-pc. blank, even the 4-5 pc. fly blanks...  enjoy the journey and feel free to ask any questions if you get stuck.

[pathfndr2]

The rod blank arrived yesterday, now the fun begins.  Just to make sure, according to the book I have by Dale Clemens, he says to have the spline on the underside for a spinning rod.  I used the hand method of determining the spine.  With the arc that is formed when the blank is bent the spine would be on the outside edge of that arc as far as I can determine from his book.   He says to put the spine on the underside of the blank for spinning rods which would place the guides on the outside of the arc that is made while hand "spining" it.  Is that correct?

Quetion 2:  What do you use to hold a small single foot guide in postion to wrap it?  The foot isnt long enough to use a piece of tape.  My thoughts were to either put 6-8 wraps directly on the guide foot to hold it in place or to go get some apporopriate size O rings.  

I was experimenting with different colors and styles of guide wraps and found that a carbon arrow shaft works wonderful for doing that.  The diameter of the one I am using is .330 and the color is exactly the same as my blank.  

I got the rear handle about halfway down the butt setction before my arms wore out from grinding on that sucker.   Im using a tapered reamer that I borrowed from my son-in-law.