Deal of the Year?

Yesterday, I received yet another flyer from a sporting goods company. Apparently this economy is driving them to advertise like crazy these days, because it seems like I get one every few days or so….or maybe like the rest of us, they’re just ready for warmer weather!? This one yesterday was from Bass Pro Shops, and since we have one less than an hour from the house here I decided to give it a quick scan. I found the usual “deals” which amount to $10 off here, $20 off there and hey – these days ever little big counts right? Right.

So then, on page 23 (I think, since the pages aren’t actually numbered) there appears a Cortland Fly Line for $9.97. It says the retail value is $59, but color me skeptical. They don’t list the name of the line. Is this 444 Lazer line – or something else made especially for BPS? We’ll never know I guess. And it only comes in 5, 6, or 8 wt. ( Poor old 7 wt……..I guess the days of the 7 wt. are finally totally over….)

Anyhoot, even if it IS a special line made for BPS, if it’s a floating WF line for $9.97 that’s a dang good deal.

There’s also a stainless steel fillet knife for $1.50.

The final catch is that you can only get these prices on Thursday March 10th, and by the time you get off work and get down there they’ll probably be all out of the $10 fly line. Just a guess.

Anyway, for what it’s worth – there ya go. The Deal of the Year….or not?

Maybe this nearly 1/2 off Sage rod at Cabela’s is actually the DOTY?
*Not Shown Actual Size

Happy Friday…..a few hours early…

I’m almost never early to anything and it drives my wife crazy. So, to make up for that near-fatal flaw, here’s an early Happy Friday kinda post. After all, wouldn’t life be pretty “meh” if it wasn’t for Fridays?

Tonight I bring you a pretty ok deal from Cabela’s. While I encourage you to shop your local fly shop (if they are deserving of your business) in these tough times when you run across a good deal, take it. Like a new fast-action fly rod for $39.88. The Traditional II’s are on sale again at Cabela’s and are a good deal. It’s a $100+ retail price rod for less than 1/2 that.

Why is it not a “great” deal or a “super” deal you ask? Because I recently snagged a few when they were $25 – and also because of the review I’m about to give you below. Most of the rods are at $50 or so, but the 7’6 4 wt. is at the $39.88 price. The way Cabela’s usually works on these sale items is that once people find them and they start flying out the door, the price inches up. ( Or that’s the way it seems to work out for me…) So if you want one of these puppies, now is the time to jump on it.

 

That's right. I bought 4 of them @ $25 ea. free shipping. booyah.

THAT SAID:

I cast the 4wt. for a bit last week and although it appears to be everything a fly rod should be, it’s not. It’s called the “Traditional II” but in Cabela’s world “traditional” must mean “lumber.” It’s “fast-action” rating does not begin to describe how stiff this rod is (insert The Office Joke here if you must) for an under 8 foot 4 wt. It IS fast-action. It is also a 2 X 4 from the mid-point on down. I think you could probably get away with using a 5 wt on this rod – maybe even a 6 wt. Why you’d want a seven-foot-something 6 weight though, I’ll never know? And maybe that is what’s led to the massive price reduction on this particular model.

Is it a bad fly rod? Heavens no. It’s as light as some rods that cost twice as much (of the retail price) and it seems to be very well made. Nice wraps, guides almost perfectly straight (I mean, this thing is mass produced in China, mind you) and it’s a very good casting rod. It just feels like they forgot to consider that a 7’6 4 wt rod shouldn’t be usable for fishing AND playing 8-ball. One reviewer on Cabela’s site described the rod as “clubby.” However, for $39.88, a little clubby-ness can probably be overlooked.

I’d suggest it as a back-up or a first fly rod to anyone, but if you’re used to a Sage, Winston or even St. Croix…well…you know…

If you want to try one, the link is: http://tinyurl.com/4mawp74

AND NOW, PART Teeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeuwh….