Narrowing down my next moving bait rod (Dobyns, TFO, Falcon, St. Croix)

[LootyDjibouti]

Looking for a rod for single-hook moving lures (spinnerbait, chatterbait, buzzbait, etc.). Want to stay $150-ish.  

I fish from a kayak (if that matters) on small, shallow, dirty South Jersey lakes. Lots of target casting. I'd like a rod that's relatively versatile for a variety of these, though I know full well one rod won't do each perfectly. I usually stick to 3/8oz. 

I've mostly fished braid to leader due to a lack of rods and wanting the flexibility that comes with that. But could be convinced to go straight fluoro.

I've scoured the forums for feedback/research (thanks) and here's where I stand. Seems like I can't really go wrong with any of these but curious for any last-minute thoughts or if I'm missing something.
 

• St. Croix Mojo Bass 7'0" MH/MF "Spinnerbait" Rod (MJC70MHMF)
• Dobyns Sierra 704c or 734c (I see a lot of folks recommend the 7'3" over the 7'0"...)
• TFO Tactical Bass 705-1 SB or Tactical Elite Bass 705-1 SB (MH/M's) 
• TFO Tactical Elite Bass MBR 735-1 (MH/Fast)
• Falcon Lowrider All-Round 7' MH/MF (LFC-7MH)

 

TIA y'all. 

[J Francho]

I've got a St. Croix BassX 6-10 MXF that is perfect for what you want. 

[casts_by_fly]

Falcon low rider finesse jig. My favorite blank profile in the falcon lineup. Great for 3/8 bladed baits. Perfect for what you’re asking.  The all round would be okay, but I don’t like the mid rod flex profile for bladed baits. 

[NJBasstard]

Where at in South Jersey? I'm in West Deptford. I kayak fish and have been happy with my Sierra 704c for the past couple seasons. I run straight braid or braid to flouro for those same baits in 3/8oz-1/2oz.

[ironbjorn]

4 power Sierra 

[Fishingmickey]

I've got most of the above. I use several Dobyn's Sierra series rods. I think the Sierra is a very good choice too. I think they do fish a tad lighter then they are rated.

     JFranco's recommendation is good too! I do like a shorter rod for target casting.

FM

[LootyDjibouti]

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

I've got a St. Croix BassX 6-10 MXF that is perfect for what you want. 

Nice. Interesting it's an XF. I still struggle a bit landing fish near the kayak allowing slack in the line so I was scoping mostly MF's thinking that might help a bit. 
 

54 minutes ago, NJBasstard said:

Where at in South Jersey? I'm in West Deptford. I kayak fish and have been happy with my Sierra 704c for the past couple seasons. I run straight braid or braid to flouro for those same baits in 3/8oz-1/2oz.

Sewell. I just moved up here in Jan. from Georgia. The relative lack of structure is killing me on these lakes. I haven't hit Union yet though, really need to. I've done Sunset, Alcyon, and Parvin. Let me know if you wanna get out there sometime.  

Thanks for that info also. I have a FR705 CB and a FR735C. Really love that 705CB for shallow cranking... that said I'm also am struggling to find my usual places to throw shallow cranks round here. 
 

29 minutes ago, Fishingmickey said:

I've got most of the above. I use several Dobyn's Sierra series rods. I think the Sierra is a very good choice too. I think they do fish a tad lighter then they are rated.

     JFranco's recommendation is good too! I do like a shorter rod for target casting.

FM

Appreciate the rec. I know some folks fish 7'6"+ rods with zero issues on a kayak, but not me. My kayak is 10'6" and maybe I'm just terrible at handling it, but adding in the fact I'll re-tie leaders and I prefer a 7'0". 

[Cbump]

I have the falcon and st Croix you mentioned. Both awesome. The St Croix is my Chatterbait rod and it’s perfect imo. 

[NJBasstard]

2 hours ago, LootyDjibouti said:

 

Sewell. I just moved up here in Jan. from Georgia. The relative lack of structure is killing me on these lakes. I haven't hit Union yet though, really need to. I've done Sunset, Alcyon, and Parvin. Let me know if you wanna get out there sometime.  

Thanks for that info also. I have a FR705 CB and a FR735C. Really love that 705CB for shallow cranking... that said I'm also am struggling to find my usual places to throw shallow cranks round here. 
 

 

Very shallow and almost no structure in those lakes. Union is a good lake but its a lot of water to cover and can be tough at times. You should try DOD in Pennsgrove. Deeper water (25ft>), good visibility and structure. If your comfortable in tidal water there's also some good fishing in Mantua Creek, Woodbury Creek, Rapaupo and other waters off the Delaware. If your looking for new places to try or have any questions feel free to PM me. If your interested in another Dobyns I have the Sierra 704c, Champ 704c, Champ 702sf, Kaden 715c and Fury 705cb that your welcome to try if we meet up.

 

If you end up going to Union you should stop in Blackwater Sports Center in Vineland. They carry Dobyns, St Croix, TFO and many other rods.

[ne_dan]

Last gen Bass X 6'6" MH, $80 from St. Croix.  I use it for buzbaits and ploppers.

[JMac603]

I've got a 7'3" GTS Bass from TFO in MH (precursor to the tactical bass). This is my chatter bait/spinner bait/smaller swimbait rod. Definitely a standout rod for my collection. TFO fast is more moderate fast to me but I've had very good luck with TFO. The pro series are great rods for $100 but are definitely moderate. I use their 6'6" pro series in MH for jerkbait with #10 big game and that's quickly becoming a new favorite setup for me. They can take a beating - I'm not hard on my stuff but they get bumped around sometimes and have held up well. 

 

I too fish from a kayak so 6'6" is perfect for jerkbait and the 7'3" is great for dinging moving baits OUT there.

[LootyDjibouti]

On 7/6/2022 at 7:20 AM, JMac603 said:

I've got a 7'3" GTS Bass from TFO in MH (precursor to the tactical bass). This is my chatter bait/spinner bait/smaller swimbait rod. Definitely a standout rod for my collection. TFO fast is more moderate fast to me but I've had very good luck with TFO.

Thanks for the detailed feedback, and to your point that's mostly why I listed TFO's in M and also the MBR in F listed... Those 705's are listed as Spinnerbait rods but if the TFO Fast is more of other companies MF's then I'll need to consider it. Great to hear you've enjoyed them, sounds like I wouldn't go wrong either way.  

Might give them a call.  

[LrgmouthShad]

I recommend very highly either the iRod Stone Cold Swim and Vibrating Jig Rod or a Falcon Lowrider Head Turner. I own the iRod, and the expert version of the Head Turner. The Head Turner is now my spinnerbait rod. The Stone Cold Swim and Vibrating Jig rod is excellent for an all-around moving bait rod in a little longer length. The Head Turner has been nothing but extremely impressive to me and I imagine it works quite well with other moving baits as well. 
 

I want to emphasize one thing. The Swim and Vibrating Jig rod is LIGHTS OUT with a buzzbait. 

[LootyDjibouti]

1 hour ago, LrgmouthShad said:

I recommend very highly either the iRod Stone Cold Swim and Vibrating Jig Rod or a Falcon Lowrider Head Turner. I own the iRod, and the expert version of the Head Turner. The Head Turner is now my spinnerbait rod. The Stone Cold Swim and Vibrating Jig rod is excellent for an all-around moving bait rod in a little longer length. The Head Turner has been nothing but extremely impressive to me and I imagine it works quite well with other moving baits as well. 
 

I want to emphasize one thing. The Swim and Vibrating Jig rod is LIGHTS OUT with a buzzbait. 

Thanks I’ll check those out. Not very familiar with iRod. 

 

Do falcons fish relatively light? Noticed the H power but 1/4oz - 3/4oz weight and obviously your recommendation. The Head Turner seems to get a lot of love. 
 

Interesting the Expert line includes a blurb on “delivering bladed baits” but not on the LowRider. I saw they’re different blanks.

[LrgmouthShad]

26 minutes ago, LootyDjibouti said:

Thanks I’ll check those out. Not very familiar with iRod. 

 

Do falcons fish relatively light? Noticed the H power but 1/4oz - 3/4oz weight and obviously your recommendation. The Head Turner seems to get a lot of love. 
 

Interesting the Expert line includes a blurb on “delivering bladed baits” but not on the LowRider. I saw they’re different blanks.

I have to admit I’ve never held a Lowrider but heard great things about them on here; that’s why I threw in that recommendation. 
 

But okay, your question on whether Falcons fish light. Originally I thought no but now I am going to say yes. The Heavy Head Turner I have balances very well with a 1/2oz spinner. 3/8oz is great too. It’s still got a lotta power though.
 

As far as iRods go, I own four. Killer rods. The Stone Cold rod is great with swim jigs, chatterbaits, buzzbaits, etc and I do love it with spinnerbaits also but I wanted less length for spinnerbaits and that’s why I landed on the Head Turner. As far as I can see, it is everything I want a spinnerbait rod to be. Also fun fact skips jigs like crazy.
 

 

[casts_by_fly]

14 hours ago, LootyDjibouti said:

Thanks I’ll check those out. Not very familiar with iRod. 

 

Do falcons fish relatively light? Noticed the H power but 1/4oz - 3/4oz weight and obviously your recommendation. The Head Turner seems to get a lot of love. 
 

Interesting the Expert line includes a blurb on “delivering bladed baits” but not on the LowRider. I saw they’re different blanks.

falcon rods are on the light half of their power rating usually. Consider the finesse jig and head turner. Both 6’10” and both 1/4-3/4. One is MH and one is H. The finesse jig is a light mh and the head turner is a lighter heavy. Both are great rods. I have the pitching stick in the bucoo sr and it’s basically the same as the head turner (touch heavier physically, touch less crisp- both being comparisons to the expert blank). 
 

I like the head turner with 1/2 weight baits. A 3/8 spinnerbait is a touch lighter than my preference for casting. For pitching, a 1/4 weight plus a beaver or 3/8 with any plastic is about right. A 3/8 jig is good. 

[rangerjockey]

I think some of Falcon's actions have kind of evolved over the years. The finesse jig came about because the Eakins boys were looking for a rod to fish their signature Jewell 5/16 ball head jigs on Table Rock and the Ozarks in general. In Fact, it was called the Eakins jig rod when Falcon first released it. Alot of folks including some at Falcon thought the rod was too soft but I think folks tried to do more with it than it was designed to do. It made a great squarebill rod though. 

Falcon tightened it up and it became the finesse jig rod .

The Head Turner was designed to be a short flippin rod. I always liked it to pitch jigs and worms in flooded bushes and around docks.  It's gotten popular as a moving bait rod also . I personally think it's a bit too short for a Chatterbait rod .

Anyone who likes Falcon should check out the new Virtus rods . Made in Harrison AR. in the same place the made in USA Falcons were and the models mimic many of the old Falcons.

The first 2 models I saw was the Finesse jig and Wiggle wart rods. No surprise around here

[casts_by_fly]

9 hours ago, rangerjockey said:

I think some of Falcon's actions have kind of evolved over the years. The finesse jig came about because the Eakins boys were looking for a rod to fish their signature Jewell 5/16 ball head jigs on Table Rock and the Ozarks in general. In Fact, it was called the Eakins jig rod when Falcon first released it. Alot of folks including some at Falcon thought the rod was too soft but I think folks tried to do more with it than it was designed to do. It made a great squarebill rod though. 

Falcon tightened it up and it became the finesse jig rod .

The Head Turner was designed to be a short flippin rod. I always liked it to pitch jigs and worms in flooded bushes and around docks.  It's gotten popular as a moving bait rod also . I personally think it's a bit too short for a Chatterbait rod .

Anyone who likes Falcon should check out the new Virtus rods . Made in Harrison AR. in the same place the made in USA Falcons were and the models mimic many of the old Falcons.

The first 2 models I saw was the Finesse jig and Wiggle wart rods. No surprise around here

rangerjockey,

 

im pretty well aligned to everything you’re saying on falcon rods. I’m a big falcon user and fan. I have quite a few now and most trips I just have a set of experts with me (various rods).  I can see why some would thing the finesse jig too light- if you’re used to 3/8 jigs and heavy wire then that’s not really the rod for it. You need a true lighter wire small jig on that rod. The head turner is called the pitchin stick in some of the models and that’s the right use for it for me.

 

I’ve looked at the virtus rods a few times. Their website is a bit lacking but looking at the models and descriptions it looks like an almost complete copy of the cara lineup. The only one I can’t place is the 7’10” xfh. I’m thinking it is a Rayburn with 2” taken off the butt. Have you used any of the virtus rods yourself to compare them?

 

rick

[rangerjockey]

12 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

rangerjockey,

 

im pretty well aligned to everything you’re saying on falcon rods. I’m a big falcon user and fan. I have quite a few now and most trips I just have a set of experts with me (various rods).  I can see why some would thing the finesse jig too light- if you’re used to 3/8 jigs and heavy wire then that’s not really the rod for it. You need a true lighter wire small jig on that rod. The head turner is called the pitchin stick in some of the models and that’s the right use for it for me.

 

I’ve looked at the virtus rods a few times. Their website is a bit lacking but looking at the models and descriptions it looks like an almost complete copy of the cara lineup. The only one I can’t place is the 7’10” xfh. I’m thinking it is a Rayburn with 2” taken off the butt. Have you used any of the virtus rods yourself to compare them?

 

rick

   Rick,

Yes I own the Finesse jig rod in the red Diamond series. I think it's a little more crisp than the T7 . It's a great rod. And with mono it's a nice topwater rod also , A little tight with braid.

 My guess is that Ark Rod still had the mandrels for the Cara's when they made them at their shop.

Virtus was started by a couple guys on Bull Shoals . Now Jewell is handling the distribution.  There are dealers all over the Ozarks and I see now Tackle Warehouse. They have James Watson working with them now and I'm certain he will have a couple signature rods, a spoon rod and a buzzbait rod that I know of.

 

[Boomstick]

I only have experience with the first two but either would work out fine.

If you only spend 3/8oz and want something a little bit nicer that can be a workhose and a good T-Rig and lighter jig rod, I might consider the St Croix Victory 7'1" MH/F.

[LrgmouthShad]

I want to know what @Deleted account thinks

[Deleted account]

11 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

I want to know what @Deleted account thinks

He thinks bass guys spend too much time worrying about equipment and not enough on learning how to fish...

[LrgmouthShad]

2 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

He thinks bass guys spend too much time worrying about equipment and not enough on learning how to fish...

Geez… all of us? And if we’re spending the money, shouldn’t we do the research and get recommendations? 

[Deleted account]

7 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Geez… all of us? And if we’re spending the money, shouldn’t we do the research and get recommendations? 

Ok, so the fan boys are going to say X, the keyboard commanders are going to say whatever is popular at the moment on the InterWeb, old farts are going to say the rod they bought 20 years ago, The guy who broke his rod cause he doesn't know how to fish and didn't get "satisfaction" is going to say "anything but X", etc, etc... How exactly is this reseach?...

[LrgmouthShad]

2 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

Ok, so the fan boys are going to say X, the keyboard commanders are going to say whatever is popular at the moment on the InterWeb, old farts are going to say the rod they bought 20 years ago, The guy who broke his rod cause he doesn't know how to fish and didn't get "satisfaction" is going to say "anything but X", etc, etc... How exactly is this reseach?...

Why so pessimistic? At the very least maybe somebody brings up a rod that you didn’t know about and then you do your own research on the rod thereafter. 
 

Still, I wanna know what rods you’d recommend for this. You’ve recommended gear on here before