It is currently 28 Mar 2024, 19:42


1, 2  Next New Topic Add Reply
Author Message
Post 08 Oct 2017, 19:45 • #1 
Master Guide
Joined: 01/26/13
Posts: 483
Location: US-PA
About 2 years ago I bought the CGR at a price too hard to resist. Like I needed another rod, having about 30 already. But I did buy it. No matter how I try to like it, I just don't. Fished it with DT5F, WF5F, and WF6F lines. To me it has no soul, no magic for me. I think it does not compare to the vintage Fenwick 7'-6" rods. I want my son to give it a try, maybe it will work for him. How about you? Thought I'd stir the pot a little.


Top
  
Quote
Post 08 Oct 2017, 20:06 • #2 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 11/24/14
Posts: 1896
Location: US-NC
I also bought a CGR 5/6 about two years ago - was looking for a rod that I could leave at a family member's house for when I visit. Lawn cast it with several lines and didn't like how it handled any of them. I recall that the tip recovery was quite poor and the rod seemed to lack the power of other 5 wts I have or have cast. I returned it. I know the CGRs have a lot of fans and that's great, but the rod just didn't do it for me.


Top
  
Quote
Post 08 Oct 2017, 20:12 • #3 
Sport
Joined: 12/18/15
Posts: 95
Location: Annapolis, MD
I don't have the 7'6" CGR but I do have the 7' 4/5 and the 6'2" 2wt and I do enjoy them but neither has the "soul" of my FF756 (or my 7'6" 3 7/8 oz Orvis Madison, my other go-to).


Top
  
Quote
Post 08 Oct 2017, 21:03 • #4 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 02/26/14
Posts: 3578
Location: US-MN
Of the three, I only have the FF756-4. Can't imagine a better 7'6" 5/6 wt than that..... unless it is my FF75-4!


Top
  
Quote
Post 08 Oct 2017, 21:56 • #5 
Guide
Joined: 12/09/11
Posts: 164
Location: US-MN
The cabelas 7'6" 5/6 is one of the worst fly rods I have ever cast. Literally any fly rod you replaced it with would be an upgrade. I now use the lower 1/3 to hold the reel on my homemade line winder.


Top
  
Quote
Post 09 Oct 2017, 08:36 • #6 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/16/05
Posts: 2537
Location: Georgia
I think that CGR is the type of rod that can stay in the car for the odd opportunity. The FF756-4 is a much finer rod with great versatility. In particular I don't think the CGR would be much fun with small dries which is still sweet with the FF756-4.

FWIW the only CGR I really like is the 7/8 and mine's a 75th Anniversary model which might make difference (even assuming they used the same maker and specs after a few years gap).


Top
  
Quote
Post 09 Oct 2017, 09:06 • #7 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 04/06/15
Posts: 1249
Location: Central Oregon
They are fun to cast but not that good at fishing. It doesn't get out much.


Top
  
Quote
Post 09 Oct 2017, 09:26 • #8 
Master Guide
Joined: 02/24/12
Posts: 493
Location: Portland, Oregon
Gotta chime in. The CGR 6'6" 4 weight is a wonderful small stream rod. A true joy to fish. One of my favorite fly rods.....period.

Can't comment on the 5/6 weight as I've never tried one. To each his/her own!

David


Top
  
Quote
Post 09 Oct 2017, 13:33 • #9 
Sport
Joined: 09/15/17
Posts: 26
My CGR 5/6 gets used mainly for popper fishing from a kayak with a WF6F for bass. For some reason, it works very well for me in that situation and for the price point I'm perfectly happy with it filling that niche. It rarely sees any other kind of fly because I just don't find it as enjoyable, though.


Top
  
Quote
Post 09 Oct 2017, 14:15 • #10 
Guide
Joined: 02/06/16
Posts: 328
Location: US
I cant' say anything abut the CGR 5/6, but I have the CGR 4/5 and the 2wt I like them each, but I have others I like more.


Top
  
Quote
Post 09 Oct 2017, 15:36 • #11 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 07/11/14
Posts: 1784
Location: urban Colorado
to be fair to the CGR, it is readily available and on sale for less than half the price of either Fenwick, both of which are quite rare.

I don't expect an unknown designer working with a Chinese rod maker, to compare to rods made in the US and designed by Jim Green.. so have never cast a CGR ;-)


Top
  
Quote
Post 09 Oct 2017, 18:25 • #12 
Master Guide
Joined: 01/26/13
Posts: 483
Location: US-PA
Doug,

In response, I found if you look around and be patient you can find the Fenwick 7 1/2' rods at a reasonable price. I did pay what I considered a premium price about 2 years ago for an FF755, but it was in pristine condition. Like it just left the factory. $125, worth every penny. Other purchases in the past few years: $95 for an FF805, $60 for an FF706 (which I would take over the CGR any day). The CGR's are on sale now for about $70. Not that much of a difference between some of the Fenwicks I bought. My main point when I posted was I would rather have the money back that I spent for the CGR. Lots of people love them, but that rod was not for me. Never fished the other CGR's, some people rave about them. Money worth spending if they like the rod.


Top
  
Quote
Post 09 Oct 2017, 20:21 • #13 
Master Guide
Joined: 09/13/07
Posts: 630
Location: GB
I tried all the CGR's and the only one I kept is the 7' 4/5. I fish it with a Peach DT 5wt and it feels good. I have a spare that's new that i'm putting back up for sale. One is enough. Glass doesn't break.


Top
  
Quote
Post 10 Oct 2017, 17:09 • #14 
Master Guide
Joined: 07/04/15
Posts: 388
Location: Coppell, TX
I have the CGR 5/6 and like the rod. It does not cast a heavy #6 streamer but it works well and is very enjoyable fishing on lighter
flies.


Last edited by JimR on 11 Oct 2017, 19:39, edited 1 time in total.

Top
  
Quote
Post 10 Oct 2017, 18:12 • #15 
Master Guide
Joined: 01/26/13
Posts: 483
Location: US-PA
I bought it wanting to use it to fish a 5 weight line for trout. Now I am thinking in terms of using it as a streamer rod to fish for trout and smallies, chucking some relatively heavy flies. Maybe that will work for me and/or my son.


Top
  
Quote
Post 11 Oct 2017, 08:14 • #16 
Master Guide
Joined: 03/09/15
Posts: 684
Location: Arkansas
The CGR is a good rod but not a great rod - as mentioned, kinda has no soul. I’ve landed 18” Browns with it and had more fun casting vintage Fenwicks and budget glass to smaller Smallmouth and panfish74. Still unsure of selling them.


Top
  
Quote
Post 12 Oct 2017, 02:51 • #17 
Master Guide
Joined: 06/28/16
Posts: 930
Location: Northern WI
Yep. It's pretty hard to match the sweet action of the old Fenwicks. All of them I've tried I've liked very much and a handful of them I love. Not sure about the origin of the CGR blanks or the components or anything, but I have a hunch the old Fenwicks are just in a completely different class when it comes to craftsmanship and quality of components, to include blank design and the blank itself. Having had your blanks designed by royalty like Jimmy Green is what made the rods so loved then and now. Yes they were mass produced but the quality was never sub-par.


Top
  
Quote
Post 12 Oct 2017, 08:21 • #18 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 11/24/14
Posts: 1896
Location: US-NC
the outsider wrote:
I bought it wanting to use it to fish a 5 weight line for trout. Now I am thinking in terms of using it as a streamer rod to fish for trout and smallies, chucking some relatively heavy flies.

Since you already own it you might as well give it a try, but based on my test casting session with the rod I can't imagine it handling heavy flies, or the line to cast them, very well. Maybe I just received a bad rod, but it seemed underpowered to me--it felt quite overloaded with a 6 wt and it didn't even handle a true-to-weight 5 wt with a piece of yarn tied to the leader very well. Hopefully it works for you, but I'd be surprised based on my experience, albeit rather limited.


Top
  
Quote
Post 12 Oct 2017, 09:07 • #19 
Master Guide
Joined: 03/09/15
Posts: 684
Location: Arkansas
I too casts heavy flies with the CGR - mainly those with XL nickel eyes or the usual Clousers, Crazydads, etc.

Not my favorite rods but I haven’t sold them yet.Image
Image




Top
  
Quote
Post 12 Oct 2017, 09:11 • #20 
Master Guide
Joined: 03/09/15
Posts: 684
Location: Arkansas
That’s the 7’6” 5/6.

Not a bad trout rod but it doesn’t put the trout to sleep.

Image


Top
  
Quote
Post 12 Oct 2017, 11:36 • #21 
Master Guide
Joined: 03/09/15
Posts: 684
Location: Arkansas
I really like the FF75-4. Sorry if I hijacked the thread.


Top
  
Quote
Post 12 Oct 2017, 23:56 • #22 
Master Guide
Joined: 08/10/15
Posts: 385
Location: US-NJ
Well....I have the 7' 4/5, the 7'6" 5/6 and the 7'6" 7/8. I have caught a lot of fish with all of them. But the 5/6 I personally feel is the best of the bunch. I fish an SA Frequency Magnum WF5F & an Orvis Bass WF6F on it and is one of my favorite light bass & heavy nymphing rod. I have landed more 20+ trout with it than anything I own in the past few years.


Top
  
Quote
Post 13 Oct 2017, 07:24 • #23 
Master Guide
Joined: 08/10/15
Posts: 385
Location: US-NJ
Here is my review from 2016. I still fish them and none of my thoughts have really changed. I have a number of other rods as well that I fish. Some I like more, and some fish equally as well. If I had to pick the rod I seldom fish now, it would be the 4/5, but mainly because I have 4 other rods competing with time on the water. But the 5/6 is a rod that has several much higher end rods collecting dust.

https://www.ralphsflybox.com/2016/06/cabelas-cgr-glass-fly-rod-review.html


Top
  
Quote
Post 14 Oct 2017, 07:49 • #24 
Guide
Joined: 03/12/15
Posts: 269
Location: US-CT
I have to say that my Fenwick 7 1/2 foot for a 6 is one of the best rods i have ever cast.
I have a Fenwick 7 for a 5/6 that is a wonderful rod but the 7 1/2 is superior.
just a great versatile rod with a perfect medium action. The Cabelas rods are great too but IMO , nothing beats those old Fenwicks. A joy to fish.
If I could have afforded those rods when I was a young lad, I would not have bought any other.


Top
  
Quote
Post 15 Oct 2017, 12:57 • #25 
Guide
Joined: 10/11/14
Posts: 235
Location: Idaho Falls, Idaho
Just my humble opinion, I like my CGR 5/6. For the price, it's a great rod. However, I feel that it doesn't have the soul of a true glass rod. I haven't cast the fenwick but it seems to be regarded as one of the best tapers of the vintage era. With that in mind, I think it's unfair to compare a budget store brand rod to such an esteemed rod. Just my 2 cents.


Top
  
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  

1, 2  Next New Topic Add Reply



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 19 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Jump to:  
Google
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group