Falcon Bucoo SR or New Lowrider

[Capt No Fish]

Hi guys first time writer many time reader.  I fairly new to bass fishing and in my rod collecting I have fell in love with Falcon.  I have 2 Bucoo SR's.  I recently just picked one up a third one to replace a Daiwa Arid X that started fraying my line.  I really like their lightness and sensitivity plus they seem durable.  I broke a Fury 2nd time out. However I have a chance to send this new rod I just purchased back since it is free returns and I have not used it and get one of the new Lowriders for the same price.

 

Without ever holding one of the new Lowriders (no stores around me) are they a better rod than the Bucoo SR? How about the durability, sensitivity and lightness?  Are they basically the same blank?  The cork or foam handle doesn't really matter to me.  I don't have a preference unless someone tells me the foam would outlast the cork or vise versa.  I take really good care of my gear and have most of my saltwater gear for 20 years or better. I am not looking to get into anything more expensive than this especially until I can catch more that a couple fish a year.

 

I would appreciate those with both or have held them to offer their opinions.

 

Thanks!

[RichF]

I have a Bucoo SR and am not impressed, honestly. It is very light but it's rated as a heavy, fast and feels like a medium heavy composite rod. I've held the new Lowriders and they feel leaps and bounds better. If you can get one for the same price as the Bucoo it's a no brainer! 

[GReb]

Don’t overthink it. Buy the Lowrider

[Bluebasser86]

I really like my Bucoo SR rods but if I could get one of the new Lowriders for the same price I'd be all over it.

[TimTheGearNerd]

I have the old made in USA bucoo and I pick them up occasionally off the used market and Facebook. I really like those old bucoos, new ones (SR), I haven’t tried and not really going to try there are just so many options and as you fish more you tend to buy up in price. I use my bucoo in a medium. It’s great for weightless plastics     
 

I have the lowrider cranker II.  I like it. I use it for heavier crank baits/ 1/2oz+ it’s great for heavier moving baits. The 7’6 mh is definitely a bit hefty. The cork is honestly a bit more high maintenance. The foam doesn’t really go bad on the bucoo
 

I think you might also email Falcon and get some help. They might be able to tell you if the blank is the same.
 

 

[new2BC4bass]

1 hour ago, RichF said:

I have a Bucoo SR and am not impressed, honestly. It is very light but it's rated as a heavy, fast and feels like a medium heavy composite rod. I've held the new Lowriders and they feel leaps and bounds better. If you can get one for the same price as the Bucoo it's a no brainer! 

It is pretty much known all over the Internet that Falcons fish light.  I have 3 of the older Experts, a Cara and an Original  They all have a nice parabolic bend.  Which is why my 7' M Cara was my Crankbait rod until I eventually broke down and bought a dedicated one.  All my Medium Falcons are rated 1/4-1/2 oz. which is a lighter rating than many.  I am actually coming to like rods that bend a little further down the blank such as Diawa Regulars.  Hammer rods have a very similar action.  At least the 2 I have.   I seldom fish a jig.  Yeah.  Bad me.    But I have other rods for jigs.

 

OP, like everyone else is saying...the Lowrider at the same price is a given.  Haven't used a Lowrider, but they are liked by several on here having experience with them.

[Capt No Fish]

Thanks everyone for your replies.  I am fine with that softer rod and actually kind of prefer it.  I have one Lews TP1 MH-F and to me that is like fishing with a broom handle as there is no flex in it.  I am sure many people may think I am crazy but for me that's how it seems.  Coming from salt water (mostly flounder) and fishing mostly spinning gear or even boat poles I am used to the rod doubling over while I reel in a fish.  When I reeled in a bass on my TP1 the end didn't bend and it left me feeling uneventful.  It wasn't a dink it was around 2lb which is what most of the fish around me are 2 - 4 lb. 

 

I really enjoyed reeling in the couple bass I caught on spinning gear because the pole bent and it made it feel like more of a fight.  Guess that's just me and my expectations are all wrong. The 2 I caught on my Falcon Bucoo which was a MH MF felt a little better on the fight.  And the Lowrider I am considering will be a MH MF as well in the 6'7 model.  I have the 7 ft Bucoo SR which I use for my Texas Rigs and Jigs, all at 1/2 once.

 

It sounds like a strong consensus that the Lowrider is the way to go.

[jbrew73]

I think the new low rider is quite a few steps ahead of the old bucoo line.  I’ve never used the bucoo sr.  The new low rider is a very nice rod for the money. 

[DSTN]

I have the 7' All Around Fast Low Rider. I've only held Bucoos so can't say if they fish similar but it is similarly light weight in my opinion.  The name of mine is dead on, I've liked it for virtually every application I've tried it.  Still thinking of trying a Bucoo one of these days but the Amistad Low Rider is high on my list for next rod purchase.

[Capt No Fish]

23 hours ago, Tim Hu said:

I have the old made in USA bucoo and I pick them up occasionally off the used market and Facebook. I really like those old bucoos, new ones (SR), I haven’t tried and not really going to try there are just so many options and as you fish more you tend to buy up in price. I use my bucoo in a medium. It’s great for weightless plastics     
 

I have the lowrider cranker II.  I like it. I use it for heavier crank baits/ 1/2oz+ it’s great for heavier moving baits. The 7’6 mh is definitely a bit hefty. The cork is honestly a bit more high maintenance. The foam doesn’t really go bad on the bucoo
 

I think you might also email Falcon and get some help. They might be able to tell you if the blank is the same.
 

 

Hey Tim Hu, is that medium bucoo you are using for weightless plastics the medium moderate?  I was considering that rod for the same tactic.

 

[DitchPanda]

I have several of the old Bucoo micro guide rods an they are great. From what I understand the original bucoos are better than the Sr but not as good as the lowrider. Get the low rider!

[TimTheGearNerd]

@Capt No Fish

The rod says medium fast, I would definitely argue it fishes like a med moderate. 
 

I fish the old USA bucoo, not sure about the SR and how it fishes. Check FB marketplace, I typically see them for sale in my area for 50 bucks 

[Capt No Fish]

Thanks guys for the encouragement!  I ended up sending back my Bucoo and got the 6'7 weightless worm and got the 7' MHF rod as well.  I didn't need that MHF and once the wife finds out she is going to shoot me.  Got that one hoping that the Falcon fast is a little more flexable then the Lew TP-1 MH fast because I think that feels like a heavy to me.  Probably just because I am used to parabolic rods.