First Time In Cabelas

[Nachako]

There's a good chance it will be my last. Walk in with a pocket full of cash and left with the same amount.

What a waste of time. Name brand stuff over priced. Selection minimal . Wholesale sports hang on guys they won't last.

That's my opinion and not yours.

[fishinglibin]

I too am not crazy about the place. Did nothing for me. Prefer BPS and WS, for big box. All in all prefer the smaller fly shops.

[David]

I feel the same. Cabelas isn't anything to write home about. I've visited the store many times and each time have left with a bad experience. Cabelas pricing is much better than BPS but their business practices are very questionable. If it wasn't for the close proximity to my home I'd never go.

[SanJuanWorm]

I like it.

[northfork]

Honestly a letdown... Ever since Edmonton got one and now two and now Calgary, the appeal is gone. Support your local fly shop.

[Birddog]

Their flyfishing selection is awful. Walmart has a better selection.

[Crowsnest]

agree with what most have said, expensive. I also think the way they bar-code their flies is ridiculous. Havta put a bar-code on every darn fly. no wonder the files are expensive when you gotta pay somebody to bar-code them all. Just silly.

[northfork]

agree with what most have said, expensive. I also think the way they bar-code their flies is ridiculous. Havta put a bar-code on every darn fly. no wonder the files are expensive when you gotta pay somebody to bar-code them all. Just silly.

 

Could you imagine having that guys job??

[PeteZahut]

Doesn't Bass Pro do the same with their flies? It has been a few years since I bought from there but that what I remember.

[Bear]

When Russell's closed that was the end of in-expensive flies in Calgary. If a BB outdoors store has what you want great, more often they don't have what you want. Its my belief they want you to do more on-line shopping. Also their marketing seems to be out of touch...last Christmas I picked up an Airflo Bass taper fly line from the Calgary location out of the bargin room. Here in the east there is a Canadian chain called Sail, they recently ditched all their Spey stuff claiming no one used it. I said to the clerk," You haven't been out fishing great lakes steelhead in the last 15 years have you?"

[Fishslayer74]

I agree. I was in there not to long ago and felt the same. I always support the local fly shops instead of the big box stores.

[KrookedOne]

 

Doesn't Bass Pro do the same with their flies? It has been a few years since I bought from there but that what I remember.

Yes and now Wholesale Sports too.

[Smitty]

Problem is fivefold when you live in Edmonton and your local fly shops...aren't local. I tend to support Calgary flyshops when I'm down that way. That said, every store has it's ups and downs. For instance, in Edmonton;

1) Fishin Hole; (I am a former employee) very friendly, easy to deal with, especially Brian at the new west end store. Decent enough selection, but I don't like the brands of reels they carry, but the issue that drives me nuts s their 2 tier system of flies. You can buy the cheap flies that are cheaply made, or buy premium flies and pay a premium price. I might as well order online. But good overall. Excellent sale every year in August; best way to buy high end fly rods, by far.

 

2) Cabelas; I agree with the comments above; Norm is a good guy to deal with, but overall, the fly shop is treated like an afterthought by management. They do carry some fly tying materials not carried by anyone else though (for Edmonton remember). But what I hate most - and I HATE this - is the completely segregated operations between US and Canada. Incredibly discriminatory. Go on the US website, see a smoking good deal on an item (even factoring exchange) and will they deliver to Canada for an in-store pick-up? NOPE! All Canadian orders handled internally through Winnipeg. Sucks. Oh, and does the Canadian Cabelas website ever offer the same smoking deals? NOPE! So, I go to Cabelas, but I spend very little in the fly shop. Only as a last resort. I will give one positive kudos; I buy virtually all my SImms clothing at Cabelas; when they offer a good deal on clothing, its a good deal. It's the only store I know where I can buy Simms clothing at 40% off (otherwise, I'd never buy Simms).

3) Wholesale Sports; used to quite like wholesale; they were close to where I live, probably the best fly tying variety, some decent flies. Unfortunately, - this may only be the southside store - they've gone some sort of metamorphic existential crisis, as in "should we even have a fly shop". Huge staff turnover, difficult to find fly fishing specialist staff, and for about 2 years, they decided not to stock their fly bins; they were 80+% empty. The ultimate deal breaker; no flies???? That's the daily draw for fly fishers that purchase! What a doorknob decision by mgmt. Also, their advertising just blows. I never know when a sale is on, unless I physically go to the store. One kudos is that they constantly have a clearance shelf; picked up some top brand name fly lines for 40% off. Gotta hunt for them though.

Anyways, having no dedicated fly shop in Edmonton blows, but it's been like that for decades, ever since Denny's closed their doors. I know of one fellow toying with the idea, and is currently running a virtual store through Facebook, but that's it. And I get that, I totally understand; between the 3 box stores and the fact that there's no Bow river, pretty tough to make a go of a fly shop in Edmonton. You'd be relying on a fairly small, concentrated group of hard core fly guys to make a go of it.

 

Anyways, the Cabelas topic got me going, lol. Cheers.

 

Mike 'Smitty'

[jgib01]

Our only shop in Lethbridge, Wholesale, has recently undergone some changes too. They have been poor for fly selection for some time now, but still quite good for fly tying stuff and accessories. They used to have a separate display case for fly fishing reels/vices, but have downsized and now have all their fly stuff next to other cabinets of fishing supplies. Seems like they have downsized all their fly stuff slightly, but for the most part looks more like they have moved and reorganized the fly fishing section to a place that is more easy to serve by one person manning both the regular fishing and fly fishing sections.

 

That all said, I don't mind Cabela's, or Bass Pro, as I enjoy looking at lots of outdoor stuff. Don't expect I'll ever buy much there in terms of rods/reels (I have one cheapo rod from Cabelas USA, one from Bass Pro, one reel from Wholesale, and one reel from the Fishin Hole... others bought either at fly shops or privately). Generally, I like spreading my somewhat limited cash around. I was just in a fly shop in San Diego last week, and think this was the first time ever that I have entered said type of establishment and left without buying a thing... not because it wasn't a cool little store... if ever in San Diego check out Strouds. Maybe I've just finally got enough stuff

[aaa]

I was in the Calgary Cabela's a couple months ago, asking a fly shop area guy about a few items, one of which was their exclusive Cabela's C.G.R. fibreglass fly rods. I had heard they had them there. He checked the C.G.R. Sku numbers I gave him, which I got right off the Cabela's website and none came up in his system.

 

After he checked a few more places, and the Sku's came back Cabela's USA only. After conferring with a co-worker, this apparently is quite common, the Canadian stores only stock a fraction of the fly gear the USA counterparts do. The guys I was talking to there were hoping this would change over time...meanwhile, they are hamstrung on what they can order and actually stock.

[Mudflap]

Stop at TC Outfitters in Red deer for materials. Check out Central Alberta Fly Tying Club for details. Excellent selection.

[TheBrownWhisperer]

When Russell's closed that was the end of in-expensive flies in Calgary. If a BB outdoors store has what you want great, more often they don't have what you want. Its my belief they want you to do more on-line shopping. Also their marketing seems to be out of touch...last Christmas I picked up an Airflo Bass taper fly line from the Calgary location out of the bargin room. Here in the east there is a Canadian chain called Sail, they recently ditched all their Spey stuff claiming no one used it. I said to the clerk," You haven't been out fishing great lakes steelhead in the last 15 years have you?"

 

Thank god they got out of selling Spey rods. I picked up a Hardy zenith 8 weight Spey rod for $700 from their web site just before Christmas

[Chadillac]

Maybe I've just finally got enough stuff

Well...your either a liar or in denial:)

[northfork]

Problem is fivefold when you live in Edmonton and your local fly shops...aren't local. I tend to support Calgary flyshops when I'm down that way. That said, every store has it's ups and downs. For instance, in Edmonton;

 

1) Fishin Hole; (I am a former employee) very friendly, easy to deal with, especially Brian at the new west end store. Decent enough selection, but I don't like the brands of reels they carry, but the issue that drives me nuts s their 2 tier system of flies. You can buy the cheap flies that are cheaply made, or buy premium flies and pay a premium price. I might as well order online. But good overall. Excellent sale every year in August; best way to buy high end fly rods, by far.

 

2) Cabelas; I agree with the comments above; Norm is a good guy to deal with, but overall, the fly shop is treated like an afterthought by management. They do carry some fly tying materials not carried by anyone else though (for Edmonton remember). But what I hate most - and I HATE this - is the completely segregated operations between US and Canada. Incredibly discriminatory. Go on the US website, see a smoking good deal on an item (even factoring exchange) and will they deliver to Canada for an in-store pick-up? NOPE! All Canadian orders handled internally through Winnipeg. Sucks. Oh, and does the Canadian Cabelas website ever offer the same smoking deals? NOPE! So, I go to Cabelas, but I spend very little in the fly shop. Only as a last resort. I will give one positive kudos; I buy virtually all my SImms clothing at Cabelas; when they offer a good deal on clothing, its a good deal. It's the only store I know where I can buy Simms clothing at 40% off (otherwise, I'd never buy Simms).

 

3) Wholesale Sports; used to quite like wholesale; they were close to where I live, probably the best fly tying variety, some decent flies. Unfortunately, - this may only be the southside store - they've gone some sort of metamorphic existential crisis, as in "should we even have a fly shop". Huge staff turnover, difficult to find fly fishing specialist staff, and for about 2 years, they decided not to stock their fly bins; they were 80+% empty. The ultimate deal breaker; no flies???? That's the daily draw for fly fishers that purchase! What a doorknob decision by mgmt. Also, their advertising just blows. I never know when a sale is on, unless I physically go to the store. One kudos is that they constantly have a clearance shelf; picked up some top brand name fly lines for 40% off. Gotta hunt for them though.

 

Anyways, having no dedicated fly shop in Edmonton blows, but it's been like that for decades, ever since Denny's closed their doors. I know of one fellow toying with the idea, and is currently running a virtual store through Facebook, but that's it. And I get that, I totally understand; between the 3 box stores and the fact that there's no Bow river, pretty tough to make a go of a fly shop in Edmonton. You'd be relying on a fairly small, concentrated group of hard core fly guys to make a go of it.

 

Anyways, the Cabelas topic got me going, lol. Cheers.

 

Mike 'Smitty'

 

I can relate Mike, at least you've got a couple options in a pinch. Whenever I'm in Calgary for business or pleasure I stop in... We don't have much locally here. Two shops with a mediocre selection and medicore prices.

[northfork]

Stop at TC Outfitters in Red deer for materials. Check out Central Alberta Fly Tying Club for details. Excellent selection.

Is this the new one down in Riverside?

[bigalcal]

Good store for camping gear and apparel....fly fishing is a disappointment.

[BurningChrome]

Good store for camping gear and apparel....

As long as you really like Mossy Oak and Realtree camo

[yonderin]

Anybody else heard that Bass Pro bought Cabelas?

[jgib01]

Anybody else heard that Bass Pro bought Cabelas?

This has been in the works for months. Not sure it is a done deal yet... last I heard they were in the works with financing to make the bid.

[bigalcal]

I bought most of my Cabelas stuff back when our dollar was good and I bought online. I got some great deals thru their "Bargain Cave"...I must admit that the Canada Cabela's has been a disappointment in comparison. I've never been to a major US Cabelas...only the "outpost" store in Kallispell. MT which was disappointing too.