Cabella's Innercast

[Huron Guy]

Has anyone tried one of these rods. They claim more sensitivty and less line friction. I find that hard to believe since the line is in constant contact with the graphite. Let me know.

the idea seems good in some ways but they are always on sale for less then half price and don't seem to be very popular, i've wondered myself if anyone has had first hand experience them.

[Bobby]

I have a Cabella's Innercast, 7' heavy action casting rod for Pike fishing. I had a Diawa 6'2" medium action Interline spinning rod as well. I like them for casting, as you never get a tangle around the tip when you are casting cranks. However, the line is in constant contact with the inside of the rod. This doesn't matter as much with a casting rod, as the line comes of a bait casting reel straight. However, it is detrimental with a spinning reel. The line comes off in large loops, which get progressively smaller as the line travels down your rod. That is why the guides on a spinning reel are large near the reel and become smaller as they near the tip. With an Innercast spinning rod, the loops of line are forced into a small hole in the rod, thereby causing a lot of friction on the line, shortening your casts. Trust me, I could hear it, it was a whistling sound as the loops of line forced their way through the little hole. I've since sold my Diawa Interline spinning rod. Also, their hard to get used to, if you can't get used to the idea of not seeing your line. Further, you have to bring the threader with you, in case you break your line of and it goes up the rod. This happens, and you will be S.O.L. if you don't have your threader! Would I buy another? Not for jigging, not a spinning model, but maybe because Cabelas has them for 1/2 price...

One last thing about my 7' heavy action casting rod: When I get a big fish on and he's stripping off line, I can hear an awful screach inside the rod - its the Berkley Whiplash sliding through the shaft.

[eye4aneye]

I had some innercast trolling rods for a while. The line seemed to stick to the inside when wet, wouldn't freespool out like you're used to. This is good or bad, depending on how you look at it. I didn't like it.

I imagine the trolling ones would be a mess when the waterfleas are present. In fact, I bet it wouldn't take long to make them useless in those conditions.

[Tom (mich)]

Never used one, but I've viewed them as a gimmick only. All that friction couldn't possibly be good. You'd have to keep the inside of those rods perfectly clean to avoid any line fray. A single grain of sand could cause havoc.

I have four rods I've used for three years now.......they work for me.
I use them for salmon on riggers.Don't fish Lake Michigan with the water fleas.Two are rigged with mono and two with "Wiplash" to mono leader.20 pound braid to 24 pound "Tectan" mono; makes a small enough knot to pass thru small opening at tip.
On windy days and at night there's no line wrap or mess at tip.Rod at ft. and med. action is a good performer.
I respool mono every couple years and never had noticed any "wear" problems.
It is N O T a rod for every occasion.

[catchNrelease]

Neat idea, not very practical. I have one I use for Pike. Try threading braided line through, on the water after you realize you left the guide line at home. They are nice in the boat storage, no eyelets to get in the way.

[Bobby]

I guess that's something else I forget to mention, too, they are fantastic for rod storage, they just whip in and out of the boat lockers. As for the sand getting in them, that's not a problem. The butt cap screws off and you spray water through the rod. Where I did have a problem was this October at Clearwater Lake near The Pas, MB, temps around freezing, trolling for lakers. Wet lines would freeze and the ice would jam at the tip when you reeled in. I had to toss the rod to the side for the rest of the trip and use my precious GLoomis jigging rod for trolling lakers!!

[Thumper]

<<and use my precious GLoomis jigging rod for trolling lakers!!>>
Woah, jeeze - I'll bet your were hoping for small fish! ;-)
-T