Cabela's SLA Reels.

[Muddog]

I would like to know what you think of them. Is it a Best of the Best or a 2-1/2 star reel on a five star scale?

[Muddog]

Well, I was going to let you in on something I discovered about the reel. No one is interested in this reel so I won't waste my time checking this post any more.

[sptitz]

I've looked at this reel a few times but never bought one. It seems like a pretty good value to me. What do you think of it?

[Quickstrike]

I know that the reel got fairly good reviews, but I haven't personally tried one. All I know from past experiences, is that you usually get what you pay for when it comes to reels.

[Muddog]

To start off, It is a real nice reel. One of the thing I have found by reading the reviews is alot of people think that the SLA (Super Large Arbor) means big reel for big fish! This is not so. The drag on the "3" size reel is the same as on the smallest "0" size reel ("0" 3-1/8"dia. "3" 4-1/8dia). The SLA is a reel that is large for it weight and an 8 weight rod and what you would use it for is the upper most limit for this reel.

Now the good part. There are alot of people out there that had this reel and were using it for Steelhead in fast moving currant, Salmon and other fish that call for a saltwater reel. Team that with poor quality control where they were put together (some did not have the shaft seated all the way into frame) and you have alot of reels being sent back. Most only used once or twice.

The bottom line is you can get one of these Reel for $80-$120 (The price of a spare spool) at the Bargain Cave at Cabela's. Remember to ask the person at the counter if that is the best they can do.

[EatSleepFish]

Are you just trying to promote something or am I missing something here?

[Muddog]

I'm saying if you like this reel. You can get it for less then $100. I don't know about you, but somthing jumped out at me and said; some of these reels were not put together right and some people are not using them right.

I picked up two of them a "0" and a "3" one locked up on me when the spool was taken off and the other one some one had tried to fix and put the drag together wrong. Both reels had the shafts in wrong so the clicker pin popped out and jamed the reel. If you want to know if a reel has this problem take off the spool and see if the drag plate (cover) has slop in it. If there is none, your good to go.

If you feel as if you are still missing somthing, oh well I tried.

( Note from Admin, edited: please read forum policy before posting again,Thank-you.)

[sodajerk]

I have two of the Cabela's SLA reels, both bought new from Cabelas' website, not from the bargain cave. I have a size 1 reel on a 3wt rod and a size 3 reel on an 8wt rod. The size 1 reel has 15-20 hours of fishing on it, and the size 3 hasn't been wet yet.

The "SLA" (Super Large Arbor) description is right on, as the arbor is huge and will hold a full fly line plus plenty of backing. The arbor is also ventilated with lots of slots on the inside so your line and backing get plenty of air to dry them out when put away wet.

It's a great looking reel and the action of it is smooth as silk. It is silent when reeling line in and only gives a faint clicking when peeling line off the reel. The only complaint I have with them is a minor one about the drag. On both of the SLA reels I have, you can adjust the drag knob (nice big knob) quite a ways without it really tightening up the drag much. Then, in the last, say, 10% of the drag adjustment's travel, you get a lot of drag tightening. I wish it had a more linear, constant, easier-to-fine-tune drag adjustment is all.

Overall, I'd buy another one, though I did purchase a Cabela's LSR reel for my 4wt rod and I like the drag on that better than the ones on my SLA reels. However, I like the action, looks, and the large, ventilated arbor of the SLA better than the LSR, so it's about a wash with those two reels.

If someone was going to give me a choice between an LSR and an SLA as a freebie, I'd probably take the SLA, as drag isn't too much of an issue on smaller weight rods fishing for spring creek-sized trout, which is what 90% of my fly fishing is about.

With all that said, my next fly reel, to replace a cheaper, much-used Cabela's Genesis reel I have on my 5wt rod, will most likely be a Ross Cimarron Large Arbor in slate gray color. 2008 will be my second season of serious fly fishing and I'm trying to check out some different brands of stuff in an effort to find myself go-to brands for any future purchases.