Falcon Cara Weightless WR vs St. Croix Avid X

[Stephen Selph]

I am a huge fan of the Falcon T7 Cara casting rods. I have a Amistad and a finesse jig rod already, and I almost went out to Bass Pro using their rod trade in program to pick up the weightless worm rod for throwing weightless senkos. But then I picked up the St. Croix Avid X "I think it was the 6'8" medium rod that felt great. About an inch or two longer than the Falcon, but it felt super light and comfortable. The price tag is about the same for the two rofs, I was wondering if anyone could share some insight on these two rods, or even a better rod for this specific type of fishing. Something under $200 if possible. 

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[ksfishinguy]

The pic you have there of the avid is a spinning rod, I think, but regardless they're both very good rods. The avid is a little heavier than its rating, the falcon a little lighter. 

 

Personally, the falcons I use are only for cranking, where I feel they excel. I use st Croix, jackal, megabass, and loomis for everything else.

 

At the $200 price range, I think an avid x is hard to beat. That rod you're looking at is one of my favorites. They have great backbones and a nice taper. I find them to be a bit more durable than falcons.

 

To me, if you're looking for a jig or worm rod, I'd choose the avid x, hands down, though I like the 7' a bit more if fishing from a boat.

[Stephen Selph]

2 hours ago, ksfishinguy said:

The pic you have there of the avid is a spinning rod, I think, but regardless they're both very good rods. The avid is a little heavier than its rating, the falcon a little lighter. 

 

Personally, the falcons I use are only for cranking, where I feel they excel. I use st Croix, jackal, megabass, and loomis for everything else.

 

At the $200 price range, I think an avid x is hard to beat. That rod you're looking at is one of my favorites. They have great backbones and a nice taper. I find them to be a bit more durable than falcons.

 

To me, if you're looking for a jig or worm rod, I'd choose the avid x, hands down, though I like the 7' a bit more if fishing from a boat.

Nice catch on the spinning rod there! I fixed it! Do you think the more moderate action would work out better for my situation using the Avid X for weightless Senkos? I want something with a fairly flexible tip to really throw those Senkos out fairly far. I saw on another post on here someone said the love the weightless falcon rod, but not for weightless senkos. lol

 

[rangerjockey]

I'm a big fan of the weightless worm rod.. I throw trick worms, senkos and flukes on it.

Around here it's probably better known for being one of the best jerkbait rods on the planet.

[Airman4754]

If you can find a used Lamiglas "Senko Special" rod they are really good and will run you around $100. It took me a long long time to find the right weightless plastic rod for me. It's $100 over your budget, but I use the Lamiglas Infinity 7'2" Medium. It has a very similar 3M resin to the NRX. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

 

Just an alternative thought.

[kadas]

my guess is you are going to get a different opinion from every post. Both are great rods and have a lot of loyal followers. I like the Falcon line of rods but this is more than likely something you are going to have to  decide by handling both and making the final choice. This is like a Ford vs Chevy post. No one is wrong but no one is right. I think you will be happy either way.

[kschultz76]

The St Croix 6'8" M/XF is a great weightless senko, Jerkbait, topwater rod. I have a LBT casting version and a LE spinning. I've hauled 4.5lb fish out of submerged branches on 7lb Sniper on the spinning rod after skipping a senko back under a half down tree in high water. 

 

Despite all all the great casting rods I have if I'm honest I've landed more fish on that LE spinning rod then any other rod I've ever owned. 

[Stephen Selph]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I'm having a tough time trying to compare the weights from Falcon WWR and the St Croix 6'8" M/XF.

Also thanks for the advice on the Lamiglass Infinity, it looks amazing but some of the reviews on TW scared me off for spending that kind of money on a rod. I'm sure the issues were overblown, but it still puts me off.

Also I know Bass Pro will let you bring your own reel into the store and try it out with different rods, but do you think they would let me put line through the guides and test cast it somewhere so I can get a good feel for it? They have a pond out there and let me test out the Ascend FS12T, so maybe they would let me test out one of their rods before dropping $200 on a new rod, especially since they know me and have seen me spend a couple grand within the last couple months on gear

One thing is that the warranty is "only" 15 years compared to the lifetime with the falcon.

[junyer357]

I had a similar debate a few years back between a standard avid 6'8" m-xf and a falcon t7 for a worm rod. I went with the avid and jave not regretted it. I cant speak for how it throws weightless senkos (i prefer them on spinning gear and have a dobyns champion 683 for them), i can say the standard avid is very well balanced and sensitive. Im sure the avidx is as well im just not drinking the microeye koolaid. Tried it once on a duckett.  Gave the rod to my dad. Liked the rod overall but microeyes and me dont play well. 

[fishindad]

I also fish Falcon Caras - don't have the Amistad though I've fished with a friend's. The WW rod as mentioned excels with jerkbaits and smaller/lighter topwaters. That rod is one of the shortest rods I own so I use it for jerkbaits as it doesn't hit the side of the boat like the longer rods.

 

For weightless Senkos, flukes, etc, IMO with the advent of braided lines, a spinning rod is the way to go. I fish the Great Lakes which are typically very windy and I can't tell you how many times I've struggled throwing into the wind (backlashes). I would recommend a 7 foot M or MH spinning rod with 20lb. braid (I use PP and 832) with a leader. You'd be surprised how well this setup can pull big fish out of somewhat heavy cover. If you fish thick cover just use the finesse jig rod or even the Amistad to pitch.

[kschultz76]

No need to worry about the 15 yr warranty. You'll find any defects in the first year. 15 yrs is a long time for the service plan if you damage it accidentally. St Croix has some of the best service out there. If you're really worried about go with the original Avid instead of the Avid X, it still carries the lifetime plan. 

[Stephen Selph]

2 hours ago, kschultz76 said:

No need to worry about the 15 yr warranty. You'll find any defects in the first year. 15 yrs is a long time for the service plan if you damage it accidentally. St Croix has some of the best service out there. If you're really worried about go with the original Avid instead of the Avid X, it still carries the lifetime plan. 

What's are the major difference between the regular avid, and the avid x? Just the micro guides?

 

[kschultz76]

23 minutes ago, Stephen Selph said:

What's are the major difference between the regular avid, and the avid x? Just the micro guides?

 

Just the guides used, the guide layout, and the grips. Those things can affect weight, balance, and performance. But you can't go wrong with either rod. 

[Stephen Selph]

I ended up with the Falcon Weightless Worm Rod. I got a great deal on it by price matching to a sale TW had, the rod trade in program, and using $30 in points from BP. Got the falcon Cara for right at $110! I couldn't find the Avid X in the fast, or XF at BP, just the medium, moderate version. 

[38 Super Fan]

1 hour ago, Stephen Selph said:

I ended up with the Falcon Weightless Worm Rod. I got a great deal on it by price matching to a sale TW had, the rod trade in program, and using $30 in points from BP. Got the falcon Cara for right at $110! I couldn't find the Avid X in the fast, or XF at BP, just the medium, moderate version. 

Can't beat a Cara at that price!

[kschultz76]

9 hours ago, Stephen Selph said:

I ended up with the Falcon Weightless Worm Rod. I got a great deal on it by price matching to a sale TW had, the rod trade in program, and using $30 in points from BP. Got the falcon Cara for right at $110! I couldn't find the Avid X in the fast, or XF at BP, just the medium, moderate version. 

Glad it worked out and you got a good deal on a nice rod!  Get out there and enjoy it!