Store Brands

[Cy]

Everyone,

I am interested in knowing what you all think about store branded gear and equipment?  By store brands I mean Bass Pro, Cabela's, Gander Mountain and other stores.  I want to know what your general impression is of their stuff?  Mainly I'm talking about fishing gear.

Personally I like Cabela's hunting stuff, but I haven't used a lot of their fishing gear.  I have a Bass Pro rod and reel and I like both of them and have had good luck with them.  My rain suit is a Gander Mountain, good too.  I tend to think there are some good deals on good gear out there with store brands, but I also think there is a lot of junk out there.  In general I think you get what you pay for no matter what brand you buy.  Not that you have to buy top end or spend a small fortune on your stuff, but a $50 bait caster is going to perform like a $50 bait caster.

Let me know what you all think.

Cy

[dashaver63]

I've used Cabela's Tournament ZX reels and love them. I just got the high speed (7.0:1) reel and can't wait to use it. Also I wear their DRY-PLUS rain wear and they serve their purpose. The bibs are insulated and I just got a new pair for 119.00.

[motocross269]

I like XPS Flouro...
BPS Extreme spinning rods have good action, but the cork handles feel huge to me..I like the casting rods though..Actually all of the BPS Spinning rod handles feel Large (in diameter to me)..I prefer shimano, Loomis, Fenwick spinning rods...It is too bad, because like I said I like the action..
I have a Rick Clunn Reel...I like that..I also Like the RC 1.5 crankbaits..
I think the XPS Gammie Tube jigs are awesome..I have a box full of different brands of tube jigs and I thought theirs performed the best IMHO..

[1javelin]

Have a Rick Clunn reel and ProLite Finesse and have had good success with both.  Bought some Cabela's and Bass Pro baits a few years ago and hated them; didn't perform well at all.  Used the XPS Floro line a little this past year and thought it was pretty wiry in feeling.  Still prefer the Seaguar there.  I do need some new rain gear though, so this could get interesting.

1Jav

[Lightningboy]

I think you need to look close at each item.  A lot of guys I know have owned both Cabelas & BP gear; some were winners, others not so hot.  Things I've had experience with:

BP spinning reel (1997)- pitiful.

BP tornado SB- No thanks.

BP crankin' stick- Awesome.  Best bang for your buck out there.  I roll my own, no way I could make one that good for that cheap.

BP fluorocarbon- Pretty good, one of the few fluoros I like.

Cabelas Guidewear- The flagship of rain gear.  It costs a bundle, but you're gonna have it forever.  I have an original In-fisherman model that's 15 years old.  Saving for a new one, I've worn this one to death.

Cabelas Windstopper sweater- Incredible warmth.  Absolutely windproof.  Another one I'm gonna wear out.

I hesitate on store brand reels.  I worry about parts availability 3 years down the road, as they swap designs pretty quick.

[Bloomer]

Love Bass Pro rods, Hate the reels. Bought three, all went to junk within a month and fell apart.  Will never buy a Bps reel again. Great rods though. Love my cabelas rods, never tried thier reels. Just bought my first Gander Mountain rods and reels when the Summit Place loc went under. Cant wait for open water to try em out.

[blakstr1]

obviously the first advantage with the BPS is EXTRA BPS POINTS!!  seriously though that is a perk, i have always liked their rods, and alot of the lures ar good too.  Practically all my clothes are either BPS or Gander Mtn, good prices and good fit.  I would highly recommend the Gander Mtn. Rods, for a good rod at a good price.  They have a great return policy as well and typical with most every Gander Mtn store, they are smaller and more personal.  Don't be afraid of the store brand merchandise as a whole, seems like some really good deals available. 

[rustydog]

I was told by store manager that XPS flour. was made by Seaguar but it seemed stiffer to me. If that is correct it must all be in my mind, such as it is. Some good some bad. Just like rest of fishing, personal preference.

[MBell]

You get what you pay for, but there are some good deals out there.  I also use BPS flouro.  I've heard that there are only two factories in the world that produce 100% flourocarbon one is in germany and the other is in japan but who really knows.  You also have to consider resale value if you have a lot of equipment that changes frequently.  I can sell my st. croix's and lommis for about 80% of retail, I can't give away most of my bps rods. 
-Matt 

[fowlmouth]

I bought 2 cabelas tournament zx hi speed  reels last year, both will now not engage the spool. They did both cast well and seemed nice, but not sufficient for heavy tournament use.

[Durand Dan]

I had a Cabelas salesman tell me he wouldn't buy the reels because the company won't tell them who makes them. I had a Rick Clunn Baitcaster from BP and the line always seemed to ride up on the side of the reel creating a skip. I do like their rods though

[Langer]

If your trying to give those BPS rods away I'll take them Matt.

[Revtro]

It seems hit and miss.  I've had some good stuff and some not so good. 

The BPS Extreme rods have held up well, but every Bionic Blade I've bought has either broken or had to have the guides re-wrapped within 2 years. 

A couple of years though I bought a cheap Fish Eagle II rod from Cabela's.  It was a cheap rod, but I fell in love with it.  So I ended up buying a bunch and have never had one break or had to be re-wrapped.  The trigger rods have really good action, but of course aren't as lightweight as more expensive rods.  Would I buy the expensive rods?  Yeah, if I had the money, I'd much rather fish with lighter weight rods, but the Cabela's rods are great for my budget and worth the $$.  I have a couple of Cabela's Fish Eagle II spinning rods and I don't really like them because the bottom guide is too small IMO.  Good action and whatnot, but I can't deal with the small gudes.

Love my Pro Qualifier rain gear.  Best stuff I've ever owned.  The only time I get wet is when I pee my pants reeling in a 6 pounder on 8lb test. 

I can't say I've had great success with many store branded baits.  Most store brand soft stick baits seem too light.  Most store brand hard jerkbaits seem not to dive deep enough and don't have as much side to side action as the more expensive stuff.  I pretty much stick with Lucky Craft.  BTW- If you want to try an amazing stick bait, check out the Exodus line.  I bought some last year at Fishon's recommendation and they rocked.  They were light, but there was something about the action that drove the fish wild. 

I think the XPS floro is great.  But this year, I'm gonna try P-Line because I really liked the Evolution line last season.  The XPS hooks aren't bad either, though I tend to stick with UltraPoint. 

BPS tubes are good because they offer a lot of the same colors as the more expensive stuff and basically a tube is a tube unless maybe you need laminates or specialty stuff.  However, I mainly use the Xtreme Bass Tackle tubes because they come in colors that other tubes do not and they really work.  I can't say enough about them for clear water especially.  GO GET YOU SOME!

I haven't had a lot of experience with store branded reels except for one baitcaster and one spinning reel.  The Baitcaster is a BPS reel, but made by Pflueger.  It's a great reel.  Can't say enough about the Pflueger baitcasters.  I have nearly a dozen of them.  The spinning reel is a Cabela's made by Diawa.  It's been one of the most problem free reels I've owned.  I have spent a lot of money on another brand of reel (won't mention which) and they have all had issues.  I'm about to start spending some bucks on Diawa reels because of how good the one I have has been.   It's a Cabela's store branded reel so be sure to take a good look at the box.  Just because it's a store brand, doesn't mean it's not made by a good company.  And look at the spool of the reel if it's a spinning reel.  Often the manufacturer is printed on the spool (in very fine print) of store branded stuff. 

That's the best advice I think.  Find out who makes the store brand stuff.  You might be really surprised.  Sometimes you end up with a really good deal.  The BPS baitcaster I have is a Pflueger.  The Pflueger branded reel was $100.  I got the BPS branded reel for $50.  Same reel.  Look for those deals.

[SethV]

  The only time I get wet is when I pee my pants reeling in a 6 pounder on 8lb test. 

I think I remember that up on the Walpole last year.....       

[Cy]

Tom,

I feel the same way about store brands made by good companies.  From what I have seen the majority of private label rods and reels are made by Shakespeare or one of it's companies, IE: Pflueger.  I know the Gander rods are Shakespeare and I think a lot of the BPS stuff is as well. 

I think Cabela's partnership with Daiwa on it's Prodigy line is really good.  I may have to own one, I just wish Daiwa would build more reels with the 7.1:1 gear.

The general opinion so far is that some store brand stuff is good and some is not good.  I guess that is what I thought everyone would say.  The one thing I always try and keep in mind is, a lot of the stuff that the big store sell is aimed at the novice.  A novice, regardless of industry, shops more on price then function and quality. 

In short, store brands are like the "Bud Light" of fishing gear.  If you don't know any better you buy it. 

Cy

[Revtro]

I think I remember that up on the Walpole last year.....       

Dude, I thought you were gonna keep that between us!  I'm so embarrassed.  Can anyone say "Depends"? 

[dashaver63]

Speaking of "store brand baits", I too like BPS tubes. They are one of only a few that make the black/gold flake tubes that I like to flip with for largies. Cabelas has an Aquaglow series of baits that I really like. I like the 4" glow sticks, they are skinny like the slim senko, plus the split tail grub is their version of the Beaver bait and I've caught tons of fish on them. They have a glow tube out this year that I'll probably try. I've tried the BPS stick baits but I don't like how hard and stiff they are.

[fiker]

I have a Cabelas Fish Eagle II Baitcasting rod, in MH and it's ok, but not as sensitive as I'd like.
I have the same thing in a 6' spinning reel, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.  It's light, fast, accurate, and I can cast a mile with it.

I have a Johnny Morris baitcaster, and it's ok.  I don't fish tourneys like some of you guys, but I do fish often.  When I was cleaning reels this winter though, I thought the Curados came apart and went back together much better.  They also have better drags IMO.

I liked the BPS fluoro, and I didn't think much of the P line Halo, nor the Evolution.  Both were sensitive enough, but they just got way to twisted on my reels.  And yes, I know about closing my bail first, etc.
I'll try the Seaquar this year, and see what happens.

The cheaper BPS crank baits aren't worth the money.  I bought a Sammy imitation last year, and spent more time that it was worth tuning the bait to run right. 

[thedude]

i have about 6 bps extreme baitcasters. they are all 4-5+ years old and see use about 3-4 days a week during bass season. I buy them up used for 25$ a reel all the time. I like the extreme rods and i have a crankin stick that is probalby 12years old that i use the crap out of too.

as far as clothes go... redhead isn't my favorite brand.... hunting clothes i'll but cabela's brand (waders, gortex, windblocker sweater). Won't buy anything "techH20" from Gander.. that was the biggest rip off ever.

[Waterfoul]

Well, I've only been wearing my TechH2O rain gear for one season and so far I like it... so there you go on that I guess!

I like Gander Rods.  Great rods for the money.

Their Tournament Series spinning reels are Pflueger President reels with a Gander name on it.  Best $49 spinning reel on the market.  I have 5-6 of them at last count.  I like my Guide Series neoprene waders too.

As for BPS crank baits... not all that impressed.  I do like my BPS crankinstick though... great crank bait rod.  I have a Rick Clun baitcasting reel on it that is average at best... it's not 100% antireverse and it doesn't fit my palm really well.  I do like the BPS Extreme baitcaster I have though.  Great reel for the money.  I have a BPS Pro Qualifier spinning reel with the new "mag spool" that I'm anxious to try as soon as the ice goes away.