House brand equipment Likes and dislikes

[fish-fighting-illini]

 What series of house brands ex. Cabela's, BPS, Gander, Dick's  etc do you like & dis-like? Just rods & reels for now.

 No generic opinions just make it based on facts or someone you know well that has had good luck or bad. Make it series based so as not to trash eveything at a given store.

I know LBH posted once about a POC on a model but I'm not sure which model.

[NBR]

I have bait casting reels from nearly every manufacturer and none are any better than an old BPS reel that I bought as a spare to take to Canada probably 20 or more years ago. I broke a part on it this past summer and I'm very sure parts are not available so we will have a very sad burial before ice out here in the north. I bought a BPS Prolite finesse 2 years ago and it has become a favorite.

[Tin]

I don't mind BPS's rods and reels. But most of there lure just aggravate me. I have never had one of there cranks run right, snapped a couple of spinnerbaits, and there plastics (except tubes)  :-X

[Evan Pease]

I have bait casting reels from nearly every manufacturer and none are any better than an old BPS reel that I bought as a spare to take to Canada probably 20 or more years ago. I broke a part on it this past summer and I'm very sure parts are not available so we will have a very sad burial before ice out here in the north. I bought a BPS Prolite finesse 2 years ago and it has become a favorite.

How does your prolite do with really light baits(1/4oz and less).

[Micro]

I just came from BPS and messed around their the new Johnny Morris spinning reel.  WOW!  That thing is gorgeous and one of the smoothest reels I've ever cranked.  Very impressive.  

I happen to like BPS rods.  I include Browning among them since it's a BPS exclusive brand.   Their cheap rods are competent and their high-ends rods are very good, indeed.  

[ILfisherman]

I REALLY like BPS rods. They're better than other rods 2 or 3x their value. I own 2 of their graphite IM6 rods and the Crankin' Stick. Compared to a Falcon Cara, they are better.

The baits look crappy, so I never bought any.  

[burleytog]

Compared to a Falcon Cara, they are better.

;D ;D ;D :-? ;D ;D ;D

[OldGuyAl]

I've been very happy with my BPS rods but I'm careful to only buy them on sale because I don't prefer them to the brand names when the prices are so close.

Actually, I've been buying only used rods for a while now.  You can look on all the forums and usually find an upright guy selling a barely used rod that you can't afford to buy for full retail and get it for 30% less (or better).  

There are always guys with a lot more money than me who like to keep upgrading and buying the latest, greatest stuff.   I don't want to be like them but I want to be their "wing man".   Heck!  Who has ever brought a brand new rod home from the first outing that still looked new when you got it home?

[ILfisherman]

Compared to a Falcon Cara, they are better.

;D ;D ;D :-? ;D ;D ;D

It's true.  :

[burleytog]

If you say so... :-X

[ww2farmer]

I have never used any Cabela's house brand items so I can't testify to those. But I have a used alot of Bass Pro Shops stuff.

For reels I have had a few of the Extreme baitcasting reels, good reels when you can get them on sale for $50 or so like I did, I would never pay full price for them. I really liked the pre-2006 reels with the 6 pin brake system much much better than the 2006-current reels with the hybrid magnetic/centrifical brake system.PROS- both casted a mile, were smooth as silk even after a couple seasons of use, had smooth drags, and were pretty lite. CONS-the 2006+ models did not cast lite baits well, plastic drag star on both, the braking system on the 2006-current ones was unreliable at best. I no longer have them as I have upgraded to name brand reels (Abu, Shimano, Daiwa, etc..) that have more support behind them.

As for the BPS rods I have fished, no complaints what so ever. Even though I have upgraded to St Croix's, Fenwick's, and Kistler's, I kept one of my BPS Extreme Rods, a 7' M spinning, it is one great rod for the price. Again never paid full price for one. I have had other Extreme's, Bionic Blades, Tourny Specials, and Cranking Sticks, and liked them all. I don't know if when they are on sale if there are any better better rods for the $$.

The only BPS lures I have used much are there Lazer Eye spinner baits, they are good spinnr baits that don't coat alot, $4-$5 last I knew. I am not a big fan of there hard baits, they did offer some shallow (3-6') square billed cranks a few years ago under the Bassmaster name that sold for $8 or so that I liked, I have a few and they produce, but they don't make them anymore. There tubes are pretty decent, and they make a great 3" small beaver knockoff. I never really liked there Senko type bait, I have tried it a few times, and it seems to be just OK, they do have one of the bigger color selections if you feel the need for that.

I do not like there worm hooks, I had a pack of XPS EWG hooks that were just awful, eyes that were not closed, bent/dull points out of tha package. I will never buy those again. There XPS tube jig heads are really good, Gamakatsu hooks, and cheap, and thats good, cause I go through a ton of them dragging tubes for Smallmouth. I also like ther XPS drop shot weights, again decent product and cheap.

[Grey Wolf]

Compared to a Falcon Cara, they are better.

;D ;D ;D :-? ;D ;D ;D

It's true. :

Sezzz You.

[Tpayneful]

I own 2 BPS extreme baitcasters and I use them for crankbaits.  They work good in that application.  You do need to turn the magnetic backlash WAY up for it to work properly.  I start on 6 or 7.  I have two Rick Clunn reels and like them a little better than the extremes but it is probably only because I like the color blue better than green ;D  They seem to cast almost exactly the same.  I just got a Johnny Morris signature series baitcaster and MAN that reel is the shazizzle!  I practiced casting and pitching in the backyard and I can't get the thing to backlash!  I had 2 centrifigal brakes on and ZERO on the magnetic backlash and still didn't get a birdsest.  I am happy with my BPS reels and will keep buying them BUT only on SALE!

I have several graphite series spinning rods, a bunch of tourney special baitcast and spinning rods and have to say that they are good for the money if bought on SALE.  They appear to be heavier than comparable rods from name brand companies.  I just got a new extreme rod for Christmas but haven't had a chance to try it out yet.  

[cart7t]

I've only used BPS stuff so I can't comment any further than that.

Rods - I'm currently using Crankin sticks and love them.  I especially like the power hump handles.  I know they're not everyones cup of tea but they work well for me.  I also owned a few Extreme rods.  Very sensitive though they're a little heavier than the competition.  For the money though (buy them used or on sale) you can't beat them.  

Reels - I've used a number of BPS branded reels. I currently use a couple of Rick Clunn RCX1000 reels on my crankin rods.  Any reel I've had has been pretty darn good.  No complaints.  Again, buy them on sale for the best value.

[Branuss04]

I like the BPS house brand better than cabela's.  I own a BPS extreme 7' MH and a BPS tourney BC (not paired together)  I was suprised at how these have done to the abuse i've given them.  the rod has undergone me throwing SB's rated 2.5 times heavier than the rod guidlines and it still kicks but.  The reel is unbelievably smooth for a reel under 50 bucks.  I bought it for my dad, but am thinking about buying one myself for a trunk reel.

[PondHunter]

Last year I bought an UL rod from Gander Mountain in their Guide Series Model# GSPS-702SUL. It basically is a lighter version of a Medium Action spinning rod. Avery fast tip with some backbone as well. Not your typical buggy whip UL rod. Casts straight also, not to one side or the other that you get with some cheaper rods that dont have the guides aligned on the spine. Caught a 3lb. bass on it and loaded the whole rod but still landed him. At 7ft long it gets some distance with the light baits when casting. Dont think I will be replacing any of my St. Croix rods with them but this rod is very good.

[heathen]

I have one BPS Johhny Morris caster, and I like it a lot. Its actually one of my favorite reels. Going to be getting another this spring.

[NBR]

I bought a combo and I think the 6'6" ML rod. I cast 1/8 oz jigs with a small twister tail grub with 12# line. I plan on dropping down to 8# this year.

[dodgeguy]

i love bps rods and the johnny morris rods are as good as any out there.i have 2 rick clunn baitcasters with the hybrid centrifugal/magnetic brake.imho this is the best system made.

[hammer84]

I use Cabelas XML rods and love them.  I have no complaints about them and the warranty is excellent.

I also have a Cabelas Prodigy baitcaster and Spinning reel.  I bought them last fall so they have had limited use but so far so good.

I have one BPS rod.  It is a Woo Daves drop shot and I like it alot but I have nothing to compare it too.

[Daniel My Brother]

I really like the BPS rods. A great value and perfect for my budget.

I like the extremes, pro-qualifier, crankin' stick, even the tourney special.

I've only bought 1 Cabelas branded item, a new prodigy baitcaster that I put on my BPS Pro-Qualifier rod. They seem to get along just fine

I think the store brands, on sale, are some of the best deals going.

[nightstick911]

Last year I bought an UL rod from Gander Mountain in their Guide Series Model# GSPS-702SUL. It basically is a lighter version of a Medium Action spinning rod. Avery fast tip with some backbone as well. Not your typical buggy whip UL rod. Casts straight also, not to one side or the other that you get with some cheaper rods that dont have the guides aligned on the spine. Caught a 3lb. bass on it and loaded the whole rod but still landed him. At 7ft long it gets some distance with the light baits when casting. Dont think I will be replacing any of my St. Croix rods with them but this rod is very good.

I have to agree, I'm a big fan of gander's guide series rods. They come in just about every length and action that I need.

For me, I don't have a lot of money to put down on my fishing equipment and with these rods if you break it just take it back to the store and they'll replace it no questions asked. Rather than having to pay shipping to send it back to some company and wait to get it back.

I also wouldn't replace a high quality rod with one but for the price and warrantee they are well worth it.

[Bassnajr]

I refer back to golf alot so here goes again!

When it comes to equipment (golf or fishing) there are only so many factories that make equipment. I always do research on the net, for example, who makes rods for BPS or who makes the Quest rod sold at Dick's. you'd be surprised. I agree with LBH on most gear issues. You don't have to buy a $200.00 rod to be a good fisherman. It feels good though!!

ajr

[shootermcbob]

ok, I will bite. Who makes rods for BPS and who makes the quest rods for Dick's??? Does this place make all Bps rods, or just some of the lower end ones???

[Guest muddy]

3 pages and we are here already. I am swearing off these reccomendation threads, we all have our favorites and we all fish them with satisfaction. In the meatime I am going to get some  , because I can see these guys make these rods,no they don't, yes they do argument on the horizion. If the game stinks , this shouild be fun