Does anyone know who the OEM is for Cabela's brand
of rods blanks ? Any opinions ? I went to their store in Hamburg, PA
and saw their FT series of fly rods selling for $230 - and yet the
kit is $100. Worth building ? Good blanks ?

I thought I had heard that loomis was making them by contract but not the same as a loomis.

The FT blanks are fantastic -- light, sensitive, responsive, straight, and with good cosmetics. I've only built on the lower line weights (3 and 4), but they fish well at all reasonable ranges. Good dampening and above average in terms of accuracy.

I'm not sure about the backbone at higher line weights, but I'd imagine that it's fine up through a 5 weight and probably throughout the lineup.

Definitely a good deal.

Cabela's blanks are made by a number of vendors. Most of them are very good products.

If it were me, however, I'd take advantage of the greater rod building knowledge of the sponsors at this site and have one of them put together everything I'd need to build a rod.

Nothing wrong with Cabelas, but the kits don't always have exactly what you'd like to see in them and they can't really be expected to help out when you run into a snag or have a rod building question.

...........

From what I have been told the FT blanks are made by Loomis and are GL3 material. I have built several and they are very nice blanks, but I have switched to the SLi blanks which make a fantastic rod which I beleive compare to any of the $400-600. rods that are out there. I would but just the blank and pick your own components out and order from one of the board sponsors as I do. In a way Cabelas is a sponsor since they buy form many of the board sponsors ( Pac Bay, St Croix,Flex Coat, REC, Rainshadow,etc). Board readers should e-mail Cabelas customer service and advise them of this site, and maybe we will see them as a sponsor soon!!

Since we are talking about Cabela's, I'll throw in my vote for the best Cabela's fly blank series. IMHO. The PT series blanks These blanks are a classic moderate action, very sweet. The PT 7' 3 wt. I built weighs just 1.7 ounces at the local U.S. Post Office. Oh, all the other components came from Custom Tackle Supply on the left. Ralph

I know from first hand knowlege that some of Cabela's blank were from GLoomis. I also know that some of the major blank/rod builders do contract work for other companies. There is nothing wrong with that at all. Think about this for a minute!! How many tire manufactures are there. Now how many brands of tires are there out on the market.
Good Wraps Bob

I gotta agree with the others. I've built several rods from Cabela's blanks, and have been very happy with them. The SLi is my favorite, because I like fast-action rods. I, too, buy the blanks, then get components separate. The kit is a good price, but for all the good there is to be said about the blanks, the components in the kits aren't always the best, and certainly give you no options in putting together the parts you like; it's take it or leave it.

I ordered one of their 9' 4wt FT kits last Christmas... everything was fine except the blank had been crushed on the butt end and this wasn't because of UPS as the tube was in perfect shape. I sent it back to get a new one... and the new blank was also crushed on the butt end. After wasting over a month trying to get them to send a good blank I decided to give up and return everything.

The FT blanks that Cabelas advertises as very "fast" are not that fast compared to many, I consider them moderate fast at best which is not to say they are bad but but just don't think you're going to get G Loomis speed here. The PT series is much slower. Not quite wet noodle but not that far from it. If I remember right the CC system bares this out. IMHO

Can anyone tell me about the Cabelas IM7 blanks? Any good?

The Stowaway blanks are real nice, just wish they offered as many options in blanks as they do in finished rods.

Tim

The only Reason to find out who makes the blanks is knowing if a quality company is manufacturing them. Most of the time when a company makes blanks for another it is to that companies specifications as to what material to use, Inner and outer diameters, and they will most likely use a Mandrel specifically to that companies design. So in most cases the company making the blank only supplies those blanks to their customer and does not offer them them selves. So whomever is making the Cabelas blanks is most likely not offering them any where else under a different name.

Charlie