So, last night I got the opportunity to try out the Cabela's Traditional III 9' 6wt with the 5/6wt Cabela's wind river reel. The rod retails for $99.99 and the reel retails for $29.99. Very inexpensive combo, to say the least, but I must say that I was very impressed with it!
It turns out that the Cabela's Traditional III fly rod is made of a blend of 42 million and 45 million modulus graphite, giving it a higher performance than most other rods in its price range. I've tried several rods in the $100 price range, trying to discover rods that would be good for a beginner to learn on but not grow out of too quickly. Many inexpensive rods would be better suited as pool cues due to their unusable stiffness or ,on the flip side, they may better serve as car as antennas because they are just that flimsy. The Cabelas Traditional III has a forgiving moderate-fast action that is easy to load(making it a great beginner option) and it seems to be built very sturdy. It's a little heavier than some 6 weights, but not so heavy that it's a problem.
Now let's talk about the looks of this rod... Aesthetically, this thing is beautiful! It boasts a nice cork handle, although not perfect. There are some filler spots, but who's complaining about that on a rod priced at just $99.95? Not I, that's for sure. If you've got the money to spend on a R. L. Winston Boron IIIx or a beautiful Orvis Superfine, those are beautifully appointed rods that fish like magic wands with reels attached. But that's not what this article is about. If you're looking for a good rod for under $100 that will likely last a long time and be fun to learn with, the Traditional III from Cabelas is a choice that's hard to go wrong with. It's got a beautiful green blank with tasteful burgundy wraps, a wooden reel seat, and a nicer reel lock than what I've seen on some rods at three times the price. This rod is tough to beat in this price range. I can only think of a couple possible contenders, one being the Redington Classic Trout, but I'll save that for a later review. I plan to do an article on the Best Fly Rods for under $100 soon. So, stay tuned!
Now for the Wind River Reel, also a surprisingly great value. At $30, you'll be hard pressed to find such a feature-rich fly reel. It's fairly lightweight, made of cast aluminum, has a decent disc drag, and it has a large arbor. What more could you want from a a $30 reel? Once again, this reel has few equivalent peers in it's price range. The only ones that come to mind are the White River Intruder and Hobbs Creek reels from Bass Pro Shops.
Long story short, for $130, I would recommend this rod for any beginner or anyone on a budget looking for a decent fly rod that's gentle on your wallet and easy on the eyes.
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