The Falcon rods thread

[casts_by_fly]

3 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

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.   

 

 

reels are very much preference and personal feel. I fish mostly shimano reels. That said, a jdm zillion for $205 is the best deal going. It might be a little shallow capacity for the amistad if you go heavier line.  My amistad has a jdm bantam on it with 20# big game. 

[new2BC4bass]

39 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

reels are very much preference and personal feel. I fish mostly shimano reels. That said, a jdm zillion for $205 is the best deal going. It might be a little shallow capacity for the amistad if you go heavier line.  My amistad has a jdm bantam on it with 20# big game. 

Understand preference.  I'm going to assume a little heavier reel will balance better with the Amistad.  Recently bought a Zillion G, but won't be using it on that rod.  Do have a Bantam MGL which is an option.  Also considering a Chronarch 100B, older Zillion, Exsence DC, Daiwa Coastal, or even an older TD-X.

[casts_by_fly]

1 hour ago, new2BC4bass said:

Understand preference.  I'm going to assume a little heavier reel will balance better with the Amistad.  Recently bought a Zillion G, but won't be using it on that rod.  Do have a Bantam MGL which is an option.  Also considering a Chronarch 100B, older Zillion, Exsence DC, Daiwa Coastal, or even an older TD-X.

if you have those then just try them out. My bantam is a ‘22 which has an MGL spool. The rod is pretty light in tip swing weight so you might be surprised how not heavy of a reel you need. Something 6-8 oz is about right. 

[new2BC4bass]

29 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

if you have those then just try them out. My bantam is a ‘22 which has an MGL spool. The rod is pretty light in tip swing weight so you might be surprised how not heavy of a reel you need. Something 6-8 oz is about right. 

Will do.  Thanks.  Got lots in that range! 

 

[Bell0347]

Thank you so much for this thread!   I am really looking at the falcon cara eye crosser but there are no shops locally to go pick any of these rods up.  I am currently using a Virtus Jewel 6'10" worm/jig I, which to my knowledge is essentially a head turner.  Virtus was bought out recently by GSM, like so many other companies 🫤, so I am looking to add to my line up with Falcon's.   The rod I mentioned is awesome for skipping 3/8 oz jigs and pitching lighter texas rigs but I've been schooled a couple of times with bigger fish up under docks or laydowns.  I am considering the eye crosser but don't want it to be too stiff.  I am basically looking for the tip and castability of a head turner I guess but I want it to lock up quicker and be able to move the fish quicker.  I watched some of omina's rod bend tests and it seems like the cara head turner might be a little faster than my virtus.  Idk, any thoughts by you guys?   I've also had the dragger I suggested by several people but I really like the shorter rod.  I'm 5'9" and I skip underhanded a lot.  

[new2BC4bass]

Welcome my friend.    casts_by_fly will be along sometime today to answer your question. 

[rangerjockey]

11 hours ago, Bell0347 said:

Thank you so much for this thread!   I am really looking at the falcon cara eye crosser but there are no shops locally to go pick any of these rods up.  I am currently using a Virtus Jewel 6'10" worm/jig I, which to my knowledge is essentially a head turner.  Virtus was bought out recently by GSM, like so many other companies 🫤, so I am looking to add to my line up with Falcon's.   The rod I mentioned is awesome for skipping 3/8 oz jigs and pitching lighter texas rigs but I've been schooled a couple of times with bigger fish up under docks or laydowns.  I am considering the eye crosser but don't want it to be too stiff.  I am basically looking for the tip and castability of a head turner I guess but I want it to lock up quicker and be able to move the fish quicker.  I watched some of omina's rod bend tests and it seems like the cara head turner might be a little faster than my virtus.  Idk, any thoughts by you guys?   I've also had the dragger I suggested by several people but I really like the shorter rod.  I'm 5'9" and I skip underhanded a lot.  

The Virtus equivalent of the head turner is the stunner. The rod you have was originally the Eakins rod when falcon made them in the lowrider series if it is the 6ft 10 MH, it was meant to pitch 5/16 ball heads around docks here on Table rock and Bull shoals.

Over the years falcon has tightened up the action and now calls it the finesse jig as does Virtus. In my hands the Virtus feels a bit lighter and quicker than the Falcon which I personally like. But, it is not a football jig rod by any means but it's a great topwater rod with mono.

As you may know Virtus is made in the old ark rod facility in Arkansas that made Falcon and some other brands before Falcon moved production to china. Probably using the same mandrels I would guess.

I have seen some of the new models of the Virtus which are labeled Virtus/Phenix since the acquisition.

[Bell0347]

Yeah the red diamond series is the stunner, in the blue diamond series, which is what I have, they call it Worm/Jig I.  It's 6'10" H/F but it's more moderate fast in use.   I also have the finesse jig rod in the blue diamond series and it's 6'10" MH/F.   I love that rod, well both of them actually, but the finesse jig rod is a true fast action, more so than the Worm/Jig rod is anyway.  I am curious how the cara eye crosser model would compare to the stunner or worm/jig model from virtus.  On paper it looks perfect for what I want but I need enough tip to skip 1/2 oz jigs and stuff accurately with it.  I'd love to find a bend test online for all of the falcon models, that would be a great youtube video!

[casts_by_fly]

13 hours ago, Bell0347 said:

Thank you so much for this thread!   I am really looking at the falcon cara eye crosser but there are no shops locally to go pick any of these rods up.  I am currently using a Virtus Jewel 6'10" worm/jig I, which to my knowledge is essentially a head turner.  Virtus was bought out recently by GSM, like so many other companies 🫤, so I am looking to add to my line up with Falcon's.   The rod I mentioned is awesome for skipping 3/8 oz jigs and pitching lighter texas rigs but I've been schooled a couple of times with bigger fish up under docks or laydowns.  I am considering the eye crosser but don't want it to be too stiff.  I am basically looking for the tip and castability of a head turner I guess but I want it to lock up quicker and be able to move the fish quicker.  I watched some of omina's rod bend tests and it seems like the cara head turner might be a little faster than my virtus.  Idk, any thoughts by you guys?   I've also had the dragger I suggested by several people but I really like the shorter rod.  I'm 5'9" and I skip underhanded a lot.  

 

 

50 minutes ago, Bell0347 said:

Yeah the red diamond series is the stunner, in the blue diamond series, which is what I have, they call it Worm/Jig I.  It's 6'10" H/F but it's more moderate fast in use.   I also have the finesse jig rod in the blue diamond series and it's 6'10" MH/F.   I love that rod, well both of them actually, but the finesse jig rod is a true fast action, more so than the Worm/Jig rod is anyway.  I am curious how the cara eye crosser model would compare to the stunner or worm/jig model from virtus.  On paper it looks perfect for what I want but I need enough tip to skip 1/2 oz jigs and stuff accurately with it.  I'd love to find a bend test online for all of the falcon models, that would be a great youtube video!

 

 

I'm not sure the eye crosser is what you want.  It's a full step up in power from the head turner.  If you make the jump from the finesse jig to the head turner, it's at least that much again on top of the head turner.  I use it for my frog/toad rod as well as mid size soft swimbaits (6" magdraft and equivalents).  As a frog rod, I've occasionally wanted it to have a little more tip.

 

The expert head turner might be more what you want.  I don't have the cara but I do have the bucoo SR as well as the expert.  Comparatively, the expert has a pretty stiff upper third, but the tip is light enough to fling that 1/2 oz range pretty well.  A 1/2 oz jig plus trailer is probably on the upper end of what I'd normally throw on it (in jigs) but I'm also not skipping jigs most of the time and the heavy cover jig and amistad would be my next jumps up for a heavier jig.  I like it as a lighter frog rod with braid which is similar to your 'turn his head and get him out' need.  Is braid an option for you?

 

thanks

rick

 

 

 

 

[Bell0347]

Thanks for the answer, that's really the info I was looking for.  I really struggle with braid when I'm skipping docks.  It tends to hang and saw into the little cracks and catch on the splinters and nails and stuff a lot more than the fluorocarbon does.  I will probably order the expert head turner from TW to compare to what I have. 

 

I've heard the ALX skipper is a great rod as well.  If I don't like the expert I'll just send it back and try the ALX.  I haven't seen the Phenix branded Virtus rods available online yet.  I'd be interested in sticking with the American made brand but that's getting increasingly difficult to find and almost impossible to find a shop around here with decent stock to put one in your hands and try before you buy.  

 

Thanks for all the info here

[Sota]

I’m looking at the LowRider series of rods. I don’t see understand what they mean by power 4,5,6. I’m used to seeing M/F or MH/ F. 
How do the LowRider rods compare in flex to other rods? Like do the fast run true or does it run more x fast, or? 
tia 

[MyKeyBe]

56 minutes ago, Sota said:

I’m looking at the LowRider series of rods. I don’t see understand what they mean by power 4,5,6. I’m used to seeing M/F or MH/ F. 
How do the LowRider rods compare in flex to other rods? Like do the fast run true or does it run more x fast, or? 
tia 

4 is a medium, 5 is a lightish medium heavy, 6 is a light heavy, 7 is a stouter heavy. The actions run pretty true to what Falcon rates them. A mod fast is a mod fast and a fast is a fast. The Lowriders are very nice rods. Definitely one of, if not the best 130.00 rods on the market today as far as I'm concerned.

[GReb]

The Cara head turner is a better worm rod than the expert and is my 1/8 oz Texas rig rod year round. I have two expert head turners as well but they have a slower action and are designated for single hook moving baits.
 

Cara head turner is a great worm rod. If you need more beef step up to the Amistad. The heavy cover jig is also decent but more suited to dragging in open water. It’s slowly become my least used Falcon
 

ALX rods are also great. I own a few. They fish similar to Falcon in a lot of ways but the Zolo does not have the sensitivity the Cara does in my opinion. 

[MyKeyBe]

1 hour ago, Bell0347 said:

I'd be interested in sticking with the American made brand but that's getting increasingly difficult to find and almost impossible to find a shop around here with decent stock to put one in your hands and try before you buy.  

 

Thanks for all the info here

Maybe look at the Cashion Icon 7ft heavy worm and jig rod. It's a pretty stout rod with good sensitivity and 100% American made. The glue on the wraps aren't fantastic looking if that concerns you but after 2 years mine have held up fine.

 

Another option might be the Falcon Bucoo Dragger 2. Your going to lose some sensitivity vs. a Cara or Expert but it's a 7ft 7 series rod. It has a lot of backbone. I bought mine as a poor man's eye crosser. Lol I use it for frogs and it will launch a 1/2 oz. 🐸 no problem. I've also fished 1/2 oz. spinnerbaits with a trailer and it handles them just fine as well.

[casts_by_fly]

1 hour ago, Bell0347 said:

Thanks for the answer, that's really the info I was looking for.  I really struggle with braid when I'm skipping docks.  It tends to hang and saw into the little cracks and catch on the splinters and nails and stuff a lot more than the fluorocarbon does.  I will probably order the expert head turner from TW to compare to what I have. 

 

I've heard the ALX skipper is a great rod as well.  If I don't like the expert I'll just send it back and try the ALX.  I haven't seen the Phenix branded Virtus rods available online yet.  I'd be interested in sticking with the American made brand but that's getting increasingly difficult to find and almost impossible to find a shop around here with decent stock to put one in your hands and try before you buy.  

 

Thanks for all the info here

Falcon isn’t American made anymore if that was your reference. They moved the last of it a couple years ago. 

 

1 hour ago, Sota said:

I’m looking at the LowRider series of rods. I don’t see understand what they mean by power 4,5,6. I’m used to seeing M/F or MH/ F. 
How do the LowRider rods compare in flex to other rods? Like do the fast run true or does it run more x fast, or? 
tia 

 

mykeybe described it pretty well. There are a few rods that are outliers in that but it’s close. A 6 power would be a MH in a lot of brands, especially the ones that are known to run heavy. Consider that the head turner is rated 1/4-3/4 as a ‘heavy’ and that’s a normal MH range. The finesse jig is rated 1/4-3/4 also though I would dispute that. I’d rate the finesse jig a medium myself but it’s a 5 power. The swim jig is rated for an odd lure range.  Outside of that they are all pretty true to rating. 

[Sota]

13 hours ago, MyKeyBe said:

4 is a medium, 5 is a lightish medium heavy, 6 is a light heavy, 7 is a stouter heavy. The actions run pretty true to what Falcon rates them. A mod fast is a mod fast and a fast is a fast. The Lowriders are very nice rods. Definitely one of, if not the best 130.00 rods on the market today as far as I'm concerned.

Thanks for explaining that. Makes more sense now. 
 The Falcon LowRiders I am looking at the Weightless worm and All Around Fast. 
To confuse things even more. lol. For a little more money. There’s the Shimano Intenza A. The 2 I’m looking at there. A 6’10 MH XF and a 7’2 MH F. 

[rangerjockey]

2 hours ago, Sota said:

Thanks for explaining that. Makes more sense now. 
 The Falcon LowRiders I am looking at the Weightless worm and All Around Fast. 
To confuse things even more. lol. For a little more money. There’s the Shimano Intenza A. The 2 I’m looking at there. A 6’10 MH XF and a 7’2 MH F. 

The weightless worm makes a great jerkbait and floatin' worm/ fluke rod. I wouldn't use it for any kind of a T rigged bait. The tip is just too soft.  

If you stay with Falcon ,The head Turner is the one you want or if you don't mind the extra length the Amistad as was mentioned above.

You may want to check out the Phenix feather in that lowrider price range ,I have the 7ft 1 heavy, it fishes about like a MH. nice rod

[casts_by_fly]

2 hours ago, Sota said:

Thanks for explaining that. Makes more sense now. 
 The Falcon LowRiders I am looking at the Weightless worm and All Around Fast. 
To confuse things even more. lol. For a little more money. There’s the Shimano Intenza A. The 2 I’m looking at there. A 6’10 MH XF and a 7’2 MH F. 

 

Those are two rods I don't know myself.  I'm pretty sure that @BrianMDTX has the all around fast lowrider.  It's unique to that lineup and I'd love to try it myself, though I haven't found a need for it.  the head turner is my fast action equivalent for that.

 

the weightless worm is supposedly fairly light with a really light tip.  More of an open hook wacky type rather than a 3/0 texas rig weightless.

1 minute ago, rangerjockey said:

The weightless worm makes a great jerkbait and floatin' worm/ fluke rod. I wouldn't use it for any kind of a T rigged bait. The tip is just too soft.  

If you stay with Falcon ,The head Turner is the one you want or if you don't mind the extra length the Amistad as was mentioned above.

 

Looks like we were typing at the same time

[MyKeyBe]

14 hours ago, Sota said:

Thanks for explaining that. Makes more sense now. 
 The Falcon LowRiders I am looking at the Weightless worm and All Around Fast. 

Might not be much help but I have the All 'Round mod fast and it's a great rod but I use braid on it and I knew I would be when I bought it. Kind of a longer weightless worm and the braid pretty much makes up for the slower tip. It really is my all around, only bringing one, do anything rod. It's a great 3/8 spinnerbait rod. Does well with just about anything though. T rigs, rattletraps, senkos, square bills, top water... You name it, as long as the rod can handle the weight, I've probably fished it on this rod. I've even frogged with it in light cover. Worked surprisingly well.

 

If you plan on using/use nylon/fluorocarbon lines I would probably lean toward the fast rods like the all around fast or the head turner unless you fish a lot of treble hook lures. Then I would look at the mod fast rods. If you use braid the mod fast rods are really good and extremely versatile.

 

If all that didn't confuse you more, I hear those Intenzas are pretty nice. 🙂 Lol

[casts_by_fly]

12 hours ago, MyKeyBe said:

Might not be much help but I have the All 'Round mod fast and it's a great rod but I use braid on it and I knew I would be when I bought it. Kind of a longer weightless worm and the braid pretty much makes up for the slower tip. It really is my all around, only bringing one, do anything rod. It's a great 3/8 spinnerbait rod. Does well with just about anything though. T rigs, rattletraps, senkos, square bills, top water... You name it, as long as the rod can handle the weight, I've probably fished it on this rod. I've even frogged with it in light cover. Worked surprisingly well.

 

If you plan on using/use nylon/fluorocarbon lines I would probably lean toward the fast rods like the all around fast or the head turner unless you fish a lot of treble hook lures. Then I would look at the mod fast rods. If you use braid the mod fast rods are really good and extremely versatile.

 

If all that didn't confuse you more, I hear those Intenzas are pretty nice. 🙂 Lol

I have the trapcaster in the bucoo line which is the same rod. I also use it with braid for lipless. With mono I like it for crank baits but it’s a tough rod to love. Versatile yes but just okay. 

[MyKeyBe]

15 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

 Versatile yes but just okay. 

As a bank beater that never brings more than 5 rods and almost always 3 or less, I love the versatility. Is it a jack of all trades, master of none? Yeah, probably, but a 3/8 spinnerbait is just about my favourite lure and I really do like the way it handles them. It handles a lot of baits well. It's also one of the reasons I really like my Head Turner. They're both very versatile. It gives me the ability to fish a lot of baits relatively well with as few rods as possible. Different strokes for different folks.👍 

And I still like my Falcon spinning rod as well. Lol 😛 

[BrianMDTX]

I spool mono on all my baitcasters except my frog rig. I currently have 15 lb. Sunline Shooter Defier on a Daiwa Fuego on my All ‘Round Fast MHF Lowrider. It’s a great rod for Texas rigs, jigs (I only fish up to 3/8 oz. jigs before trailer) and also pretty good with a chatterbait and trailer. It’s also good with spinnerbaits. It’s a MH, but seems to be a bit less in power than my Kistler Helium MHF. I tried chatterbaits and spinnerbaits on the Helium, but prefer the Lowrider for those. 

[casts_by_fly]

18 hours ago, MyKeyBe said:

As a bank beater that never brings more than 5 rods and almost always 3 or less, I love the versatility. Is it a jack of all trades, master of none? Yeah, probably, but a 3/8 spinnerbait is just about my favourite lure and I really do like the way it handles them. It handles a lot of baits well. It's also one of the reasons I really like my Head Turner. They're both very versatile. It gives me the ability to fish a lot of baits relatively well with as few rods as possible. Different strokes for different folks.👍 

And I still like my Falcon spinning rod as well. Lol 😛 

my bankbeater grab one pond rod is actually the finesse jig. it will throw a half just fine and up to 3/4 total if i really need to.  I don’t have heavy cover in any pond I’m fishing here so the lighter rod is just fine. and I can go down to a 1/8 plus plastic pretty well.

 

 

[GReb]

If anyone wants a like new 7’4 Cara heavy cover jig rod send me a DM.  I will list it on marketplace eventually but will need to wait until after the holidays to ship because our local postage companies are doing terribly at the moment lol

[JN94]

Does anyone else own the Cara eye crosser? What are your thoughts on it and what do you use it for? Pros/cons, etc. I like sub 7' rods and there's not many out there with that lure rating. I'm not a technique specific rod guy so I like to buy rods that are more versatile (mod-fast ish action) when possible