ChiCityBasser Posted March 12, 2012 Posted March 12, 2012 Went into Cabelas over the weekend and they had the new rods in and after talking to one of the salesman that also builds custom rods I may have to try one. He said is was a very good rod and even though he builds his own it would be one of the very few rods he would buy. The rods are extremely light and felt good with a smoke spinning reel mounted. Best New Baitcasting Rod: Cabela's Platinum ZX A new 3M High Performance Resin system was used by a few other makers last year to build graphite baitcasting rods that were stronger, lighter, and outrageously expensive (some models cost as much as $500). The new-for-2012 Platinum ZX rods employ the same resin technology—at less than half the price. Notably, these aren’t private-label rods made for the Cabela’s brand by another company. Cabela’s design team did this on its own, and did it well. Our sample rods felt very light in the hand; they were smooth-actioned, with plenty of power in the midsection and butt to handle larger fish. There are seven baitcasting models (and 12 spinning) ranging in length from 6 feet 6 inches to 7 feet, rated for lures as light as 1⁄4 ounce up to 21⁄4 ounces. Most versions are one-piece, but two models are convenient two-piece styles. --JM Manufacturer: Cabela's Price: $200 Quote
Tony Monticelli Posted March 12, 2012 Posted March 12, 2012 $200 come on... i can pick it apart and i will i dont seem to find a good advtisement of warrenty, i can get a st.croix with that same tecnolagy for not that much more with a st.croix warrenty... st. croix name, and is advertised as MADE IN THE USA and its in big print... and between looking at there models you seem to have a good feel about what your getting and paying for and one of those things is a warrenty and the other might be usa. the warrentys are factored into the cost you do pay for that and when you hit 200 for a rod i think that might be worth considering.. so yea they say rods of 500 and really ok no need to look furthure.. but a deeper look for ones that get to that price, i mean yea thats what i expect 500 to be or named LOL but to look at there advertisemnt with no real i mean what is it, its what they said yea ok.. they hit a 200 price tag with it, thats $200 i mean $200... if he builds custom then for that price, there's allot you can build... i really wouldnt even think about buying it... all i do in those stores is shake rods and check out blanks... between 100 and 200 you can litteraly spank anything out of a factory so i question his ability for building rods and i only been building rods for maybe 2 years granted i built quite a few in that time but..... well like i said i can pick it away and if i went to the store i could find 3 rods cheaper paint em all hot pink and would bet that guy couldnt tell you which rod was which... Quote
Super User ww2farmer Posted March 12, 2012 Super User Posted March 12, 2012 ^^^^ Time to switch to decaf Quote
Tony Monticelli Posted March 12, 2012 Posted March 12, 2012 take the paint off it. lets see whats under that skin. Quote
21farms Posted March 12, 2012 Posted March 12, 2012 trigger, the st. croix rods that utilize the same 3M matrix resin as the platinum ZX rods (the legend extremes) range from $370-$410. the st. croix rods have a lifetime warranty whereas the platinum ZX's are only two years. however, given the price differential and the fact that the platinum ZX's feature the fuji K-frame guides, and considering that they'd undoubtedly go on sale sometime, i think the platinum ZXs are very compelling. i mean, 4.06 ounces for the 7'0" medium-heavy/fast...wow. Quote
ChiCityBasser Posted March 12, 2012 Author Posted March 12, 2012 I thought the rod was light weight and with the reel I put on it the combo was extremely light. As far as the warranty goes as I believe DVT stated" the St. Croix lifetime warranty is factored into the $370-410 price" and then paid for again when you send the rod back to be inspected and replaced. I've only broken One rod in 5-6 yrs of fishing and it was my fault as I hooked into it on a cast and slammed it into the concrete and broke about 5" off the tip. A cabelas salesman told me to bring it back in and explain and I did and they replaced with for no cost with a brand new rod. Just thought I would post a mini review and recommendation since many people here shop at Cabelas. Quote
Tony Monticelli Posted March 12, 2012 Posted March 12, 2012 http://www.stcroixrods.com/product/legend-tournament-bass same tecnolagy here 2 st.croix... between 200---300... allot at 240 i have bridge 4 sale others like cost way more than what im asking... take the paint off it....... yea they went to china, who made it i dunno they dont say caballas "manufactured them" yea ahha... its a hot dog. Quote
21farms Posted March 12, 2012 Posted March 12, 2012 trigger, thanks for the correction...i learned something new today as i wasn't previously aware of the changes to the legend tournament series Quote
ChiCityBasser Posted March 12, 2012 Author Posted March 12, 2012 I wasn't aware of the changes to the Legend Tournament series of rods either and if the St. Croix is your choice then so be it as I said we all chose based on what we like and enjoy. Quote
Tony Monticelli Posted March 12, 2012 Posted March 12, 2012 i guese my end point i cant just pick on cabellas.... there maybe 4 maybe in rod names thats you can have some trust that there something more than hype and paint... so swinging a st. croix close enofe to the price range isnt a fair fight, i mean there definatly one of the 4.. but all those names out there i mean really its paint allot of time.. they might look differant maybe even feel a lil differant gots differant guides or handle sure that might change the feel a lil... but in end some cost some good money 2, there more hot dogs than there are buns... strip em down,,, spray em all hot pink and then pick out the best rod... I wonder how many people would be wakling out with a berkly... Quote
Super User SoFlaBassAddict Posted March 12, 2012 Super User Posted March 12, 2012 strip em down,,, spray em all hot pink and then pick out the best rod... I wonder how many people would be wakling out with a berkly... Probably not as many people as you think. With the excessive wealth of knowledge out there now, anglers are becoming more and more educated as to what makes a good rod. Plus, each person will have his or her own likes and dislikes when it comes to certain rods/blanks. Quote
Super User smalljaw67 Posted March 12, 2012 Super User Posted March 12, 2012 The legend Tournament has K-series guides with ALCONITE inserts, and if you don't think that makes a difference you're wrong, and I'll tell you the difference, had St, Croix put K-series guides with SiC inserts on that rod it would retail well over $300 yet Cableas is selling one with those guides for $199.99. I will agree that St. Croix Legend series rods are a great rod but they out source and still charge a lot for an inferior product. Take a look at the Rage series, made in Mexico using cheap components selling for $150, The Platinum ZX with the same guides and reel seat of the Rage series would probably sell for $79.99 so you need to watch how you pick things apart. And for all that anyone knows, St. Croix may be making blanks for Cabelas, after all, G. Loomis was the blank provider for Cabelas for a long time up until Shiman o bought them. I give Cabelas a lot of credit because the XML and XMLTi rod series were pretty good for the price and now the fact that the same blank is being made with the 3M nano resin shows they want to make the rod better and then they proved it by putting top notch components on it. Putting top of the line components on some rods is like putting lipstick on a pig but not in this case, look at the weights of the rods, the 7' heavy powered rod comes in at 4.6oz and the others come in at barely 4oz. I think it deserves a look. Quote
Tony Monticelli Posted March 12, 2012 Posted March 12, 2012 yea like you just said, expensive tomato stakes... look at all the guides and prices yea ok how many people manufature them 2- maybe 3 if you add fly rod guides to the mix... most applications do you need more than hardloy insert guides?.... where most builders would use hardloy insert guides on that rod and save themself the money because what would be the sence in paying for more, plus if they did burn or beak you can change them all 10 times for the cost of just one of those fancy diamond rings. Quote
Super User K_Mac Posted March 12, 2012 Super User Posted March 12, 2012 ChiCity I have seen the adds for the new rods, but haven't had a chance to see or handle one yet. Thanks for the write-up. Tony Monticelli you've made your point; at least I think you have, some of what you've written is hard to decipher. You feel the Cabelas rods are inferior and cost too much, right? We get it, OK? 2 Quote
Packard Posted March 13, 2012 Posted March 13, 2012 I'm glad Cabela's is stepping up into the higher end market. Unfortunately, I don't think they can compete with the other big companies in that field. It sure sounds good from the specs though! Quote
ChiCityBasser Posted March 13, 2012 Author Posted March 13, 2012 ChiCity I have seen the adds for the new rods, but haven't had a chance to see or handle one yet. Thanks for the write-up. They have only been in the store for about a week or so and just wanted to check them out and saw the writeup in F&S after handling the rod. It's super light as someone else mentioned and a step from the XML & XMLTi of which I have a couple of both of those. Quote
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