Frank,

Thanks for your response. I did indeed notice your advocacy of these rods
over the many posts I read. I have a few questions:

1) Given that I am a beginner, is a slow rod appropriate? Might I end up by
preferring a faster action and should I not therefore start off with a rod
that is more "in the middle" speedwise?

2) You say that where I plan to fish should determine rod length and weight.
I think I will, as I say, probably be fishing in the Eastern Sierras.
(Everything I have read suggests that that is the best trout fishing in CA.)
I believe this encompasses both lakes and streams, so I want to make my
(first) rod as versatile as possible. My thought was for a 5 weight 8' 6"
rod. Does this make sense, or is 9' better?

3) Do you have any knowledge of the other rods I mentioned? Could you put
the Stowaway in context?

4) And, finally, the Stowaways cost $90 each. The matching rod case costs
$30. For only $5 more I can get a "kit". This would get me a rod case, which
I want, and a reel and line, which I don't. Do you have any idea whether I
could could buy the kit and return the reel and line?

TIA

Dan



"Frank Church" wrote in message
9.11...
"Dan" lose wrote in
:

Is
there currently any consensus on which are the best cheap but
serviceable travel rods? So far, I have been looking at and have read
good things about the Cabela stowaway, the Cortland CL and the ST
Croix Avid. Also, how do these stack up against the Temple Fork travel
rods which are around $139? Would anyone care to comment on any of the
above or suggest any others? The max price would have to be about $120
to $140 and that has to include a rod case. Finally, I would like to
hear what you think of my idea that I should look for an 8' 6" or
maybe 9' 5-weight rod. I plan to fish for trout. Nothing against any
other sort of fishing, but for now that's just what I have in mind.

Dan, if you read 2000+ posts you have more guts than I do to wade thru
all that stuff.(politics? bah!) Also, then you know that I and some
others rank the Cabelas Stowaway rods as a good buy and a very
serviceable rod. They are on the slow side of medium on their
castability, so you might want to take that into consideration. They also
fit into your price range. As to your rod length, and weight, that would
depend on where you plan to fish (big water? windy conditions?, small
streams, etc.) ie: for instance, if you fish from a float tube then a 9
footer would be the best choice to keep your backcast out of the
water...if you fish small streams then an 8'6" rod might be too long. So
many variables to consider. What fishing conditions, on average, are you
faced with? A five weight is a good allround rod IMO.

Frank Church
...who thinks a 5 wt is even better when surrounded by all the other wt
rods in my rod rack