The Cabela's CGR fly reel is a small click-and-pawl style reel designed for use on light to mid weight fly rods (2-6 weight). After a late night purchase of an Eagle Claw Featherlight 3 weight rod for my trip to the Easter Sierras, I was suddenly in the market for a reel to go with my new bluegill and small water trout rod. Cameron from The Fiberglass Manifest recommended this reel to match the Featherlight. Given his knowledge of glass rods, fly-fishing, and his recent Field and Stream fame, I opted to go with his guidance. That choice certainly hasn't disappointed.
As a kid, I learned to cast a fly on Grandpa's Sage rod with a Pflueger Medalist reel. I fished with his gear, and was really unaware that disc drag reels even existed, partially because I grew up fishing tiny waters in Southern Utah and never caught anything that precipitated the need for a disc drag. Over time I fell into the large arbor, anodized, disc drag market, but there was always a bit of nostalgia when I picked up Grandpa's old 8 weight Cortland glass rod with a Pflueger 1495. To this day, I have three of Grandpa's Pflueger reels sitting a couple feet from his fly vise, which I also still use (despite my yearning for a rotary vise). The nostalgic feel and sound of a Pfleuger is captured in the Cabela's CGR reel, for me anyway. Part of my affinity for fly-fishing comes from the way I feel when I fish. Connected to the water, the fish, the ecosystem, and those I love. For some reason, fishing with this reel reminds me of Grandpa's favorite fly, the renegade, and his lessons on fishing with a bead head. I guess that is a partial disclaimer for my review. Fly-fishing is emotional for me, so remember that as you continue reading.
The Cabela's CGR reel I bought is for 2-4 weight lines, and will hold more than enough line and backing for any water you'd use it on. I opted to pair it with Cabela's backing and Prestige double-taper 3 weight fly line. Given the relatively short casts I'd be using this for, I though a double-taper would be appropriate. I actually really like the line I purchased, and went back to buy more, but Cabela's had sold out. At any rate, the reel comes in under 4.5 ounces and balances out my Eagle Claw Featherlight just fine.
It came in the box with a left hand retrieve, which I kept, so I have no experience switching the retrieve. The design is very simple and clean, which I like. It doesn't have an adjustable drag, which is fine for me, especially on a reel like this. The reel looks great on the rod and functions well. Some have alluded to the fact that taking in a lot of line can be a pain, but given that I'm using it for bluegills and on small trout waters I don't have this issue. I'm not making long 50 casts into pockets with this reel. It gets the line out 20-30 feet and allowed me to play fish as needed.
Given that the reel came out earlier this year, there hasn't been any real reviews on the longevity of these reels, but I do have several Cabela's fly reels, and I've only ever had one that needed to go back. I hope my good luck streak with Cabela's reels continues here. I hope to update after I have fished this reel for a year or so.
So, for $60 I don't think you'll go wrong with this reel. I love the look, the tie back to my roots in fly-fishing, and the functionality of the reel. Visit http://www.cabelas.com/product/CABELAS-CGR-REEL/2192061.uts to check out the reel. If you have one, let us know how yours have performed in the comments section below.
As a kid, I learned to cast a fly on Grandpa's Sage rod with a Pflueger Medalist reel. I fished with his gear, and was really unaware that disc drag reels even existed, partially because I grew up fishing tiny waters in Southern Utah and never caught anything that precipitated the need for a disc drag. Over time I fell into the large arbor, anodized, disc drag market, but there was always a bit of nostalgia when I picked up Grandpa's old 8 weight Cortland glass rod with a Pflueger 1495. To this day, I have three of Grandpa's Pflueger reels sitting a couple feet from his fly vise, which I also still use (despite my yearning for a rotary vise). The nostalgic feel and sound of a Pfleuger is captured in the Cabela's CGR reel, for me anyway. Part of my affinity for fly-fishing comes from the way I feel when I fish. Connected to the water, the fish, the ecosystem, and those I love. For some reason, fishing with this reel reminds me of Grandpa's favorite fly, the renegade, and his lessons on fishing with a bead head. I guess that is a partial disclaimer for my review. Fly-fishing is emotional for me, so remember that as you continue reading.
The Cabela's CGR reel I bought is for 2-4 weight lines, and will hold more than enough line and backing for any water you'd use it on. I opted to pair it with Cabela's backing and Prestige double-taper 3 weight fly line. Given the relatively short casts I'd be using this for, I though a double-taper would be appropriate. I actually really like the line I purchased, and went back to buy more, but Cabela's had sold out. At any rate, the reel comes in under 4.5 ounces and balances out my Eagle Claw Featherlight just fine.
It came in the box with a left hand retrieve, which I kept, so I have no experience switching the retrieve. The design is very simple and clean, which I like. It doesn't have an adjustable drag, which is fine for me, especially on a reel like this. The reel looks great on the rod and functions well. Some have alluded to the fact that taking in a lot of line can be a pain, but given that I'm using it for bluegills and on small trout waters I don't have this issue. I'm not making long 50 casts into pockets with this reel. It gets the line out 20-30 feet and allowed me to play fish as needed.
Given that the reel came out earlier this year, there hasn't been any real reviews on the longevity of these reels, but I do have several Cabela's fly reels, and I've only ever had one that needed to go back. I hope my good luck streak with Cabela's reels continues here. I hope to update after I have fished this reel for a year or so.
So, for $60 I don't think you'll go wrong with this reel. I love the look, the tie back to my roots in fly-fishing, and the functionality of the reel. Visit http://www.cabelas.com/product/CABELAS-CGR-REEL/2192061.uts to check out the reel. If you have one, let us know how yours have performed in the comments section below.