The Falcon rods thread

[casts_by_fly]

14 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

And so I decided on the regular Amistad. Thank you for advising me

 

Should be here in a week

great.  let me know how you get on with it.  I think you're going to like it a lot.

[SKFishing]

On 4/16/2024 at 1:12 PM, casts_by_fly said:

great.  let me know how you get on with it.  I think you're going to like it a lot.

I'm hoping to get some of your insight on a few crankbait rods I'm looking at. I'm mostly going to throw 1/4oz - 1/2oz crankbaits that dive 6'-10'. I used to have a glass rod for it but I want to go back to graphite. I'm looking at these models, do you have any experience with them?

 

Bucoo BRC-4-17 Cranker (medium/moderate)

Bucoo BRC-5-17 Trap Caster (medium heavy/mod fast)

Lowrider LFC-7M (medium/moderate)

Lowrider LFC-7MH (medium heavy/mod fast)

[rangerjockey]

I have the 4-17 in the older green blank Cara. It's great for wart's and Rk crawlers, maybe a deep little N in a pinch. I throw 1.5 Square bills on it also any more than that and it's about out of gas.

Some like the Mansfield but I'm not a fan for crankbaits. It is a good small swimbait rod however.

[casts_by_fly]

7 hours ago, SKFishing said:

I'm hoping to get some of your insight on a few crankbait rods I'm looking at. I'm mostly going to throw 1/4oz - 1/2oz crankbaits that dive 6'-10'. I used to have a glass rod for it but I want to go back to graphite. I'm looking at these models, do you have any experience with them?

 

Bucoo BRC-4-17 Cranker (medium/moderate)

Bucoo BRC-5-17 Trap Caster (medium heavy/mod fast)

Lowrider LFC-7M (medium/moderate)

Lowrider LFC-7MH (medium heavy/mod fast)

 

I have the bucoo 5-17 and have handled the 4-17.  I don't know the LFCs but they are the Lowrider equivalents of the Bucoos.  The trapcaster is my primary crankbait rod.  My primary crankbaits are DT4/6/10, OG4/6, and lipless cranks plus squarebills and some other odds and ends early season.  For those its a great rod.  I fish braid with lipless on it and 12 lb mono for other cranks. I've fished it with a Bomber square A a few times and that's the smallest/lightest crankbait in my box.  The bomber is 1/4 oz with light bronze hooks.  A DT4/OG4 is 5/16 with heavier hooks.  The bomber is right on the edge for that rod.  You can cast it and fish it, but you're not going to use it to cover a big flat with 30+ yard casts.  Its more of a going down the bank crankbait.  The DT4/OG4 have just a bit more heft to them and are fine.  I've thrown a DT16 on that rod but that's a little much.  It was more that was the rod I had with me and I needed to get down deeper.  And to be fair its a full 3/4 oz which is the top of the rating.

 

The Mansfield was light.  Definitely a full step less power compared to the trapcaster.  Like ranger jockey, its a little light for me as an all around crankbait rod and I don't carry two.  If I was fishing the little cranks more often and never went above a DT6 (or fished lipless) then I can see it being a great small crankbait rod.  But I think 3/8 would be pushing the top end and I wouldn't want it around cover.

[5by3]

Been thinking of picking up the 7’2 Cara swim jig rod for genera purpose swim jigging with a 1/4-3/8 oz in light to moderate cover. May also use it for buzzbaits.

 

good buy or better options out there?

[rangerjockey]

I'm a fan of that rod. super versatile I drag 5/16 and 3/8 jigs, spinnerbaits ,buzzbaits light chatterbaits even a walking bait rod.  I have the Cara version.

[5by3]

38 minutes ago, rangerjockey said:

I'm a fan of that rod. super versatile I drag 5/16 and 3/8 jigs, spinnerbaits ,buzzbaits light chatterbaits even a walking bait rod.  I have the Cara version.

I just went to the local tackle shop to check out the rod… walked out the door with it 😁. Does seem like it would be a good swim jig/buzzbait rod with braid, which is exactly what I was hoping for. Can’t wait to try it.

[rangerjockey]

1 hour ago, 5by3 said:

I just went to the local tackle shop to check out the rod… walked out the door with it 😁. Does seem like it would be a good swim jig/buzzbait rod with braid, which is exactly what I was hoping for. Can’t wait to try it.

I had a conversation with one of the guys at Falcon about that rod last year. He told me they have a lot of guys using that rod for squarebills. 

I've not tried it, but I can see it working,

[SKFishing]

On 4/19/2024 at 9:32 AM, casts_by_fly said:

 

I have the bucoo 5-17 and have handled the 4-17.  I don't know the LFCs but they are the Lowrider equivalents of the Bucoos. 

Thank you for writing that up, that was super helpful. I like a faster rod for lipless and this will only be for crankbaits, but like you I only want to bring one crankbait rod. It sounds like I can get away with throwing 1/4oz on the 5-17 and it can definitely handle the top end of what I throw. From what you know of the two series, do you think there's a big difference between the Bucoo 4-17 Trap Caster and the Lowrider LFC-7MH All Around? 

[GReb]

3 hours ago, rangerjockey said:

I had a conversation with one of the guys at Falcon about that rod last year. He told me they have a lot of guys using that rod for squarebills. 

I've not tried it, but I can see it working,

A lot of old school Falcon users swear the Cara swim jig rod is the best lipless rod on the market. 

[casts_by_fly]

9 hours ago, 5by3 said:

Been thinking of picking up the 7’2 Cara swim jig rod for genera purpose swim jigging with a 1/4-3/8 oz in light to moderate cover. May also use it for buzzbaits.

 

good buy or better options out there?

you’ve bought it but my opinion is the same as ranger jockey. It’s a great rod, one of my favorites. I wish falcon would change the lure rating to an actual weight rating and not how it’s listed. It’s a genuine 1/4-3/4 rod. Maybe even 1/4-1. 
 

I fish mine with 30 lb 832 braid. For me it’s swim jigs, lighter Texas rigs, the occasional finesse jig, and buzzbaits. It’s a good buzzbait rod for 3/8 and lighter. It has a quick tip for casting but gets into power quickly on a hook set. 

 

49 minutes ago, GReb said:

A lot of old school Falcon users swear the Cara swim jig rod is the best lipless rod on the market. 

if you fish mono I can see that. I tend to throw lipless on the trapcaster with braid. And braid on the swim jig is too much for lipless. It works in a pinch, but it’s it’s a lot of quick tip and no stretch in the line. 

[MyKeyBe]

3 hours ago, SKFishing said:

From what you know of the two series, do you think there's a big difference between the Bucoo 4-17 Trap Caster and the Lowrider LFC-7MH All Around? 

Not asking me but..

No experience with the Bucoo but I have the Lowrider All 'Round. Lowrider is lifetime warranty, nice cork handles, better guides, and maybe a touch more sensitive, faster, and lighter. Not really sure on those last three as I can't compare. Bucoo is a 5 year warranty and EVA grips. With 30# braid my LR really is my all round do anything/everything, only bringing one, casting rod. Not really sure if that's worth an extra $30.00 or not.

[SKFishing]

13 hours ago, MyKeyBe said:

Not asking me but..

No experience with the Bucoo but I have the Lowrider All 'Round. Lowrider is lifetime warranty, nice cork handles, better guides, and maybe a touch more sensitive, faster, and lighter. Not really sure on those last three as I can't compare. Bucoo is a 5 year warranty and EVA grips. With 30# braid my LR really is my all round do anything/everything, only bringing one, casting rod. Not really sure if that's worth an extra $30.00 or not.

Do you have the fast or mod fast version? For me, it comes down to if the Bucoo and Lowrider actions are similar between those two models and less importantly if I'd rather have cork or EVA.

[MyKeyBe]

14 minutes ago, SKFishing said:

Do you have the fast or mod fast version?

I have the mod fast. I think the actions between the Bucoo and Lowrider are going to be very similar but I don't have both to compare. I do have an older U.S. made Bucoo 6'6" MH mod and I would say the lowrider is maybe a touch faster but that's not really a great comparison. 

[LrgmouthShad]

Expert Amistad came in. Really like it. Can’t wait to get it on the water. Stressing the rod, I can tell it loads well and transitions quickly, but it completely locks up a good ways up the rod once it’s done giving. Definitely a fast action rod that doesn’t budge

[casts_by_fly]

7 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Expert Amistad came in. Really like it. Can’t wait to get it on the water. Stressing the rod, I can tell it loads well and transitions quickly, but it completely locks up a good ways up the rod once it’s done giving. Definitely a fast action rod that doesn’t budge

thats a good description. I think you’ll like it. 

[Ryan Smith]

This was an excellent write up on Falcon rods A+. The weight ratings on these rods are a little strange. I was looking for a good swim jig rod to fish 1/2oz-3/4oz Swimjigs in Florida and the “Swimjig rod” left me scratching my head with its weight rating so I decided to go with the Cara 6174 Heavy Cover Jig rod.
 

This rod was exactly what I was looking for it fishes bigger Swimjigs perfectly in hydrilla. It’s more of a medium heavy with a mod fast action. My 7’2”MHF Expride is faster and has more power than the HCJ rod. I think the 6174 is probably the most universal rod I own it’s great for Swimjigs, football jigs, pitching to light cover, chatter baits, spinner baits, Texas rig, and Carolina rig.
 

I fish it with either straight braid or add a 20lb flourocarbon shock leader and I can use it for anything. The rod is super light and sensitive with decent size guides. I know everyone fishes differently and in different cover but for me this rod can do almost anything.  I pick this rod up off the deck more than any other rod I own and I have a few Exprides, Kistlers, St. Croix’s, Trika 6X (which is also phenomenal) and custom rods. The Cara line of rods are as good as anything out there for the price. 

[casts_by_fly]

42 minutes ago, Ryan Smith said:

This was an excellent write up on Falcon rods A+. The weight ratings on these rods are a little strange. I was looking for a good swim jig rod to fish 1/2oz-3/4oz Swimjigs in Florida and the “Swimjig rod” left me scratching my head with its weight rating so I decided to go with the Cara 6174 Heavy Cover Jig rod.
 

This rod was exactly what I was looking for it fishes bigger Swimjigs perfectly in hydrilla. It’s more of a medium heavy with a mod fast action. My 7’2”MHF Expride is faster and has more power than the HCJ rod. I think the 6174 is probably the most universal rod I own it’s great for Swimjigs, football jigs, pitching to light cover, chatter baits, spinner baits, Texas rig, and Carolina rig.
 

I fish it with either straight braid or add a 20lb flourocarbon shock leader and I can use it for anything. The rod is super light and sensitive with decent size guides. I know everyone fishes differently and in different cover but for me this rod can do almost anything.  I pick this rod up off the deck more than any other rod I own and I have a few Exprides, Kistlers, St. Croix’s, Trika 6X (which is also phenomenal) and custom rods. The Cara line of rods are as good as anything out there for the price. 

glad you found it helpful. The thing to remember with falcon is that they have two powers of ‘heavy’. The heavy cover jig is a 6-power which will match a lot of companies ‘medium-heavy’. Except for the swim jig rod, use the lure rating to compare across companies when it comes to total power. 
 

tthe swim jig rod is an anomaly. It’s rated for the head weight of the swim jigs it was designed for. That means almost nothing unless you’re using a swim jig and the trailers they used. In the vertus lineup the approximate equivalent rod is rated 3/16-3/4 and I’d go with that for the swim jig. It’s not what I’d use for a 1/3 oz swim jig plus trailer. The HCJ definitely is. 

[LrgmouthShad]

On 4/21/2024 at 8:10 PM, casts_by_fly said:

thats a good description. I think you’ll like it. 

I am at this time declaring that the Expert Amistad is the best rod I have. I love that thing. 

[GReb]

1 hour ago, LrgmouthShad said:

I am at this time declaring that the Expert Amistad is the best rod I have. I love that thing. 

It’s one of the most versatile rods on the market. If you’re a guy that likes to take only a few rods it’s a must have. 

[Basswhippa]

Is the Amistad expert the same action as the lowrider and cara amistads?  Or slightly softer?

[casts_by_fly]

15 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

I am at this time declaring that the Expert Amistad is the best rod I have. I love that thing. 

 

What line are you throwing on it?

 

In the falcon lineup there are a handful of rods that just stand out and the Amistad is one.  If you fish 1/2 oz plus lures frequently its really the right rod.

 

6 hours ago, Basswhippa said:

Is the Amistad expert the same action as the lowrider and cara amistads?  Or slightly softer?

 

I had the expert and currently have the cara (replacement when I broke the expert).  The expert is slightly stiffer than the cara.  As with quite a few direct model comparisons between expert and cara, the new experts seem to have just a little more stiffness to them compared to the caras.  Its subtle but its there.  They both have about the same power in the lower half, but how you get there is different.  The Cara's tip is maybe just a touch softer and goes a little further down the blank while the expert tip is really a top 1/4 of the rod and then it largely locks up.  

 

That said, they are basically interchangable and both are excellent rods.  

 

[LrgmouthShad]

2 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

What line are you throwing on it?

 

In the falcon lineup there are a handful of rods that just stand out and the Amistad is one.  If you fish 1/2 oz plus lures frequently it’s really the right rod.

20lb sunline sniper. 1/2oz+ Texas rigs and 5/8oz+ jigs. Occasionally some lighter stuff but that’s it for the most part. What I like about it is that it is a true fast action but has a soft tip. And by soft I mean that it reacts quickly despite being able to throw 2oz at its high end of weight capabilities. 

[casts_by_fly]

2 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

20lb sunline sniper. 1/2oz+ Texas rigs and 5/8oz+ jigs. Occasionally some lighter stuff but that’s it for the most part. What I like about it is that it is a true fast action but has a soft tip. And by soft I mean that it reacts quickly despite being able to throw 2oz at its high end of weight capabilities. 

 

Yeah, I'd go with all of that.  I think you're right in the sweet spot for jigs and texas rigs.  With trailers you're in the 3/4-1 oz total bait range which is just right for pitching on that rod.  I would go as light as a 3/8 weight and a 4" beaver which is right around 1/2 TBW and it did well, but 1/2 plus the same beaver was perfect.

 

I threw up to 2.75 oz worth of A-rig and it handled it fine.  If I was throwing it all day then maybe I'd go a different rod but if its the occasional a-rig it will be fine.  I also threw a 7" keitech on it with a 3/8 weighted hook.  That's somewhere around 2.5 oz and it managed it fine.  Again, if I was throwing that size all of the time I'd go with a bigger rod but it managed.

 

It will also throw a big buzzbait well and set the hook as far away as you can cast it.

[new2BC4bass]

I should have posted this a long time ago.  Thanks very much for your post.  Very informative.  Impossible to find all that information in one spot.  I've saved it in a separate file.

 

I bought as a package deal 3 of the OG Experts.  Fell face first in the rocks with the 7' MF and broke two pieces off the tip (both about 4 inches long).  Still have the 7' MHF and 6'9" LF.  Falcon replaced the broken rod with a Cara 7' MF since the Expert was no longer in production at that time.  My cost $80 even tho I told them exactly what happened.  Totally my fault.

 

Since your OG post, I picked up an Amistad and Headturner in the Expert line (both used).  A Bucoo Trapcaster (used) arrived snapped into two pieces just above the handle.  Luckily the Headturner (also in the tube) was okay.  Neither have seen use yet.  I'm in a quandary about which reels to use.  Want to use two of my better reels since I plan on using both rods a lot whenever I go out.  Reel suggestions welcomed.