Hello Everyone,
I have a question to ask. I have the opportunity to buy a Sabre Stroker from a gentleman nearby. Should I spend my money on the Sabre, or buy something similar like an Uglystik Tiger Lite? Both rods seem to be in the same class (at least to a noob like me). The Sabre's info reads "Sabre (California) Stroker CA6570C 5 1/2 ft" and is in what looks like great shape. Any experts out there? I mean, what would any of you suggest? I like the idea of having a nice, almost vintage rod, but I hate to think that it is a total waste of cash. Thank you all for your time.
Regards,
WCFLA
If you are referring to an early model (pre-Penn) of the Sabre Stroker made by California Tackle, by all means get that one. They were made by Leon Todd before he founded Calstar. Even the later models made by Penn were decent. The Ugly sticks are great rods for the money but are still Chinese made....They can easily be replaced and do not have any real value.
I second the Sabre. They are still in demand on the West Coast.
Thanks Team,
I really appreciate the sound info and support. I am confident in deciding to buy the Sabre. I will post photos of it as soon as I can.
Regards,
WCFLA
Team,
I bought the Sabre and it is even nicer than I originally thought! I don't think that it was ever used. I will post photos of it soon. It is in my truck right now.
Regards,
WCFLA
Team,
Here are some (Crappy) photos of the Sabre that I bought.
Regards,
Dan
(http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/herperdan/IMG_2617.jpg)
(http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/herperdan/IMG_2614.jpg)
(http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/herperdan/IMG_2613.jpg)
(http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/herperdan/IMG_2607.jpg)
Here it is next to some Penn Power Sticks and an Uglystik, respectively.
(http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/herperdan/IMG_2600.jpg)
Here it is next to some trolling plugs. You can (somewhat) see my kayak in the background
(http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/herperdan/IMG_2599.jpg)
Nice rod. You should be able to tug on some good size fish with that.
Conchydong,
Brother, I want to land some lunkers and Run that Dog! with this rod. I will try to post some action photos soon when I take some leave and go to Florida. Do you think A Daiwa Sealine 50H will be a good reel for the rod? I am about to buy one from a guy here in NC.
Regards,
WCFLA
I think the sweet spot on that rod is 40-50 lb test and the Daiwa 50H might be a little light for that. I admit that I haven't personally fished that reel so others may chime in with more knowledge on it's capabilities. A beefed up Senator 4/0, 6/0, or a Baja Special might work out better IMO. If you want to go lever drag, there are a lot of other options depending on cost and brands.
I don't think that is a Sabre made by Leon Todd as is does not look like the others I have seen that are. The Sabre's he made say "California Tackle" on their lable. Here is a picture of the one I own that was made by California Tackle Co.
(http://imageshack.us/a/img62/56/marks111.jpg)
The manufacture name California Tackle Co. can just be made out (more to the bottom of the rod) right below Custom Made.
(http://imageshack.us/a/img9/8559/marks109.jpg)
I have not fished ,felt or even seen the rod you have so no other insight. I hope it works well for you and you catch many fish with it.
Edit: By the way the rod in the pic is rated 20-50 but it is more of a 15-20 lb test rod. Yours looks more beefy than mine.
SoCalAngler,
That is one nice Setup that you posted there. The top photo that I posted shows a crusty tag that I believe spells "Calstar". I do not know much about Sabres, Calstars, Penn Sabres, or whatever other combination they came in. What I would like to do is track down the lineage of this rod and maybe find an expert who can further break it down as to what's what. I think it would be cool if other forum members posted pics/info of their "Sabre Rods" so that it can clear things up. Thank you.
Regards,
WCFLA
Maybe Steve Carson, the Penn representative, will chime in. He is a walking history book on fishing tackle, especially the California stuff. Even if your rod was made by Penn it's still a good USA product.
WCFLA,
Here is a little info about California Tackle, Sabre and Calstar. It's dated as it says Calstar needs a website but they have had one for many years now.
http://www.onorods.com/calhist.htm
Team,
Not sure if this helps narrow things down.
Regards,
WCFLA
(http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/herperdan/IMG_2624.jpg)
(http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/herperdan/IMG_2625.jpg)
(http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/herperdan/IMG_2627.jpg)
(http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/herperdan/IMG_2628-1.jpg)
(http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/herperdan/IMG_2630.jpg)
The Sabre rod in your photos is the real deal. It's newer than So Cal Angler's Sabre. I wouldn't hesitate to use it for 40 lb test & might try 50 lb on it, depending on what I thought when I put a load on it. Congrats, you bought a nice old rod...
Doradoben,
Thank you so much for the info. I have been wanting to know what I have. I am looking for a Baja Special or something similar to put on it. I will post photos of it once I have it rigged and ready to go.
Regards,
Dan
Yeah, Those were sweet Sabres. I picked up several of the Sabre Californians around 1983-5, a couple of which had the STROKER designation. The orange and brown wrap and pattern are slightly different from the series you have. The one you have were made around 1974/5-1980ish, if I'm not mistaken. The rod Sea Angler has may possibly be in a true Collector Status. It's earlier than either of our series, but is not a "Chocolate" Sabre. The Chocolates were a dark brown blank that could have been made by Hershey's Chocolate Factory and made of a resin called Nypoxy made by Du pont (The boys that mass produced Napalm for use in Vietnam (And Napalm was Jellied Gasoline!))and stated, "NYPOXY by Du Pont" near the Sabre Logo and model number and specs, just forward of the handle. I notice two things about this rod. It had the earliest "Sabre" Logo on it and the blank is close to the reddish/medium brown and fiberglass mesh pattern of a SILAFLEX, or many of the KENCOR blanks of the day. The Red/Brown semi translucent blanks were almost a SILAFLEX trademark, just as the "chocolate" and later the "honey-gold" blanks were a Sabre thing. I don't even recognize the wrap that is on that rod, but it's interesting that they used that shade of blank.. Anyway, I wouldn't be afraid of using 50lb test, at least.
WCFLA,
Good score! Its definitely a Sabre rod, and good for a conservative 30/40# line. Have fun with it.
Leo
Quote from: woodeye on December 14, 2013, 02:01:52 AM
Yeah, Those were sweet Sabres. I picked up several of the Sabre Californians around 1983-5, a couple of which had the STROKER designation. The orange and brown wrap and pattern are slightly different from the series you have. The one you have were made around 1974/5-1980ish, if I'm not mistaken. The rod Sea Angler has may possibly be in a true Collector Status. It's earlier than either of our series, but is not a "Chocolate" Sabre. The Chocolates were a dark brown blank that could have been made by Hershey's Chocolate Factory and made of a resin called Nypoxy made by Du pont (The boys that mass produced Napalm for use in Vietnam (And Napalm was Jellied Gasoline!))and stated, "NYPOXY by Du Pont" near the Sabre Logo and model number and specs, just forward of the handle. I notice two things about this rod. It had the earliest "Sabre" Logo on it and the blank is close to the reddish/medium brown and fiberglass mesh pattern of a SILAFLEX, or many of the KENCOR blanks of the day. The Red/Brown semi translucent blanks were almost a SILAFLEX trademark, just as the "chocolate" and later the "honey-gold" blanks were a Sabre thing. I don't even recognize the wrap that is on that rod, but it's interesting that they used that shade of blank.. Anyway, I wouldn't be afraid of using 50lb test, at least.
Took my rod down to the Calstar factory and talked with Leon Todd, his wife Pat and their son John. Come to find out my rod is a Super Sabre since the model is in the 5000's. Here is the same rod just in different lighting and as you can see the Nypoxy lable. It also says above the Nypoxy lable, Dupont Nylon-Epoxy and below, Glass.
(http://imageshack.us/a/img585/1871/lbdz.jpg)
Edit: Oh, and by the way it is factory wrapped, I thought it may have been rewrapped.
Also, it seems to me you said something about a kayak. Personally, when I fished off a kayak, I never tried anything over 25lb test and with 25lb test I still needed a very moderate drag setting. Freakin', put 40 lb test on there and a nice tight drag and you'll get flipped for sure. Think of it this way, that rod would make a great light troller for albacore, or for yo-yoing iron.(straight up and down) A 25 or 30lb yellowtail slams your iron. If you have the drag set for 40lb test and he runs sideways, it's all over. I think the length of that rod would be awesome on a kayak. I'd load a 50 H with 25-30 MONO (forgiving stretch) and start with a medium light drag. If a big pelagic fights down, tighten up and keep him outa the rocks. Runs straight ahead, bitchin': sleigh ride city. But yellowtail and the like are wily as Hell. They are not gonna go in one direction for long.