Gear test: Cabela's Vector FW fly rod

It’s no secret that fly anglers love deals—who doesn’t?

The Cabela’s Vector FW fly rod is a great deal for the emerging angler or the most versatile angler. Why? The simple value of the rod. It’s not a super high-end or an embarrassingly low end rod. It falls right in that comfortable price zone for many.

Under $200, you can get a new piece of gear and plan a trip to explore some new water without breaking the fishing budget. This 9-foot, 5-weight medium-action rod uses the new GII technology found in pricier brands, and is a sweet-treat rod. It’s light to the touch, and it looks and feels good for the price point.

The four piece coffee-colored blank has a quality cork handle and stainless steel guides. It comes with a fabric rod tube and sock to add to the overall value. It casted well in adverse conditions (low 40s, cold wind, steady drizzle and grey skies) when my casting skills were not exactly on point. Did it fix my casting errors? No, but it offered some forgiveness and made the less-than-perfect cast a more precise one.

This is one rod that I would recommend having on hand if you’re looking for quality and craftmanship at a fair price.

— Kelly Buchta

By Chris Hunt.