Kevin Van Dam Forums

ChiCityBasser - 21 December 2011 02:00 PM

Most of my rods are Cabelas brand as well MagTouch,Prodigy,XML and XMLTi with some Cabelas brand Prodigy baitcast reels as well. Majority of my reels are Quantum on both the spinning and casting side of things. I do have a Dicks Tec Spec 7’ MH Rig & Jig rod that has been a great surprise and is very sensitive when used for the specific techniques but find myself using it as a topwater rod as well and it handles that duty with no problems. One reel I have and purchased years ago off ebay is a Rainbow BM 1000 and it has been through years of service and just starting to get a little rough on the retreive. It’s a great reel for $20 I paid for it and has paid for itself many times over.

You got the good stuff from Cabelas, high dollar stuff. my most expensive from Cabelas is a Tourney Trail 7’ mh, medium fast tip baitcaster for $60 on sale. How do you like the prodigy reels? Did you go to Hoffman Estates and buy them or order online?

CincySid - 21 December 2011 03:14 PM

ChiCityBasser - 21 December 2011 02:00 PM

Most of my rods are Cabelas brand as well MagTouch,Prodigy,XML and XMLTi with some Cabelas brand Prodigy baitcast reels as well. Majority of my reels are Quantum on both the spinning and casting side of things. I do have a Dicks Tec Spec 7’ MH Rig & Jig rod that has been a great surprise and is very sensitive when used for the specific techniques but find myself using it as a topwater rod as well and it handles that duty with no problems. One reel I have and purchased years ago off ebay is a Rainbow BM 1000 and it has been through years of service and just starting to get a little rough on the retreive. It’s a great reel for $20 I paid for it and has paid for itself many times over.

You got the good stuff from Cabelas, high dollar stuff. my most expensive from Cabelas is a Tourney Trail 7’ mh, medium fast tip baitcaster for $60 on sale. How do you like the prodigy reels? Did you go to Hoffman Estates and buy them or order online?

Yeah you are right I did get the high dollar stuff but never paid the high dollar. The most expensive rod I have is the XMLTi’s of which I have 2 and $119 is the most I’ve paid for one. I have caught everything on sale either at Cabelas in Hammond or on ebay. I got one prodigy pratically new off ebay for $40 and the other for $69 from the store. The latest Xmlti is the 6’9” M/F for $119. Honestly the only reel I have paid full price for from Cabelas is a Shimano Sahara and that’s because they offered an Xml rod for half price. The rod was already on sale for $100 so it ended up costing me $50 for the rod and that was back when they did layaway. I have a couple of the baitcasting reels mounted on prodigy rods and they are great reels.

I use almost exclusively “off branded” reels, rods and lures.  I speak very highly of the XPS series hardbaits from BPS.  Their rods are also excellent.  BPS reels on the other hand are only good at best.  I would not pay Shimano curado money for a BPS reel to be honest, yet their $60 - $100 reels are very, very good.  As far as BPS reels are concerned, stay away from the high ticket items and go low-end to mid-range and you will not be disappointed for your money.  I have had excellent results from refurbished Pfluger reels such as the Asaro from Pure Fishing’s factory outlet.  I picked one up from the refurbished reel bin in store for $15.  You have to go the store, making it an Iowa thing only.