Cabela's vs. Abu Garcia

[AusDen]

New user here. I got two rods and reel combos as gifts. Both have the same reel, a Abu Garcia Black Max, my first baitcaster. One rod has the Black Max Next Generation (6.5 ft) and the other has a Cabela's Pro Guide IM6 (6 ft). I know this is likely a tough question because it's probably rare that someone has used the same reel with both types of rods and it comes down to how I fish. I don't exactly have a preference in rods. I think I'm used to medium or medium light rods. All I fish are ponds and don't really pitch/flip.

[Turkey sandwich]

Not sure if/what you're asking, but welcome!

[Brikon]

Welcome, 

One more time please...  you kinda lost me somewhere in your post. 

[j bab]

If you're asking which one to keep, I think you should keep the Abu because it's longer.

[Jeff H]

Get to fishin'!  Use them both and have fun! 

[fishnkamp]

Again, I am like the others unsure what your question is, but let me ask you a couple What does the Black Max Next Generation (6.5 ft) say it is rated as? Is it a 8.5 ft medium action, medium heavy action etc? Does it say it is designed for 1/8 to 5/8 ounce lures or 1/4 to 3/4 or something else?  These ratings help tell you what the rod weight lures it was designed to throw well.

Same questions for the Cabelas rod. Is it rated as a medium light,medium, medium heavy or what? What are its lure ratings. Knowing these we may be able to suggest what each rod might do well. I have lots of rods some are the same size but one is more limber and thus able to work lures like crankbaits and another is much stiffer and has a quicker tip. It is much better to handle worms and creature baits, anything I crawl on the bottom.

 

[AusDen]

My sincerest apologies on not getting around to my question. I guess I spent too much time into talking about why it's a tough question and no time actually asking it. My question is: Which rod should I keep? 

The Black Max says it's a 6'" Medium. 1/4-5/8 oz. Lure. 8-15 lb line. 

The Cabela's doesn't say it's length (it's shorter) but the lure weight is exactly the same and the line weight is at 8-17 lb line.

One reason I lean toward the Black Max is because it's longer which should get me a little more distance. I fish from the bank.

[Turkey sandwich]

I'm an advocate of keeping it.  You can never have too many rods and as you spend time on the water and reading this forum, you'll find a use for it.  Even if the rods are identical in length and weight/power, the action (or where the rods bend) can drastically effect what techniques they fish best.  

[MIbassyaker]

Keep em both!  Put a topwater on one and a senko on the other. Or a crankbait on one and a texas rig on the other. Or, whatever combination you'd find most efficient to avoid spending time re-tying to switch baits. You're going to get another combo sooner or later anyway...make that one your third instead of your second...

[fishnkamp]

If keeping both is an option I would do it. Fill one with some mono backing and 30 pound braid and maybe a leader as well. This would be very good for bottom contact baits, jigs, worms, creature baits etc.  Take the other and fill that reel with either mono or a copoly line. This would work better to fish crankbaits, rattle traps, top waters etc.  Whichever rod bends further down the blank I would load it with the mono or Copoly line.

[AusDen]

You all have good points. I guess the main thing is that since they're gifts I'm having to choose one so that they get their money back. I actually only have 4 rods now, but I do know people have plenty of rods. I'll see if I can get to where I can keep both.

[dwh4784]

If you are returning one regardless, I would keep the Abu/Abu combo.

[AusDen]

I also forgot to mention that I fish a senko almost all the time.

[crypt]

abu combo keep.    and if you could keep the other one also.

[WRB]

Would be nice to exchange the 6' rod for a 7' medium 1/4-5/8 rod in the same price point or up grade and keep the reel. I would put 12# Big Game line on both reels.

Tom

 

[timsford]

If you are only keeping one I'd keep the longer rod and if you already have medium and medium light spinning tackle then I'd see if I could return it and get a mh 6'6"-7'2" (the less overhanging trees you have to deal with the longer I'd get) rod. That way you can throw heavier stuff and a wide variety of techniques since you will have several different rod powers. I like senkos too but you might be surprised what you would catch by throwing some bigger jigs, worms, single hook reaction baits and swimbaits. I even use my mh fast baitcasters for shallow cranks and lipless baits and mono. You can do this with what you have but I'd you already have medium rods a mh powered rod will let you throw stuff your current rods can't handle well

[DogBone_384]

On September 3, 2016 at 9:43 PM, Jeff H said:

Get to fishin'!  Use them both and have fun! 

X2 ... and welcome to the forum