Falcon Cara Eye Crosser

[JN94]

Who has experience with this rod? What do you like it for? Is it's lure rating accurate? A true fast action or a little slower like most Falcons? Considering it for heavier single hook moving baits

[casts_by_fly]

I’ve got one. It’s my primary frog rod from June to September with 50 braid. If you’re throwing 3/4 oz bladed baits or heavier it’s a good choice. Pitches heavy plastics at short ranges well (like a half ounce weight plus plastic around docks). Would make a good 1/2 oz buzz bait rod but I have others for that. 
 

Action wise, I’d call it fast. Not especially fast, but faster than a moderate fast. The action combined with the power make it a fairly stout rod. It’s not a generalist- you need to have a use for it. If you have a need then you’ve found the rod. 
 

 

[Texas Flood]

I don’t have the Eye Crosser, but I do have the Dragger 2. I use mine for dragging a football jig, and also big swimbaits. 
 

To be honest, I haven’t used it much fishing swimbaits but I can say the fast action is accurate because I can set the hook on a football jig at 30 feet no problem. 

[JN94]

12 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

I’ve got one. It’s my primary frog rod from June to September with 50 braid. If you’re throwing 3/4 oz bladed baits or heavier it’s a good choice. Pitches heavy plastics at short ranges well (like a half ounce weight plus plastic around docks). Would make a good 1/2 oz buzz bait rod but I have others for that. 
 

Action wise, I’d call it fast. Not especially fast, but faster than a moderate fast. The action combined with the power make it a fairly stout rod. It’s not a generalist- you need to have a use for it. If you have a need then you’ve found the rod. 
 

 

Hmm. I may keep looking. I want to experiment with more mod fast-ish actions for moving baits. I've only ever really used a fast action in the past. And honestly the power/lure rating is prob a little overkill for what I'm trying to do. A 3/8-1oz would be more in line with what I'm throwing. But looking for something around 6'10" which is why I thought the eye crosser may work 

[new2BC4bass]

13 hours ago, Texas Flood said:

I don’t have the Eye Crosser, but I do have the Dragger 2. I use mine for dragging a football jig, and also big swimbaits. 
 

To be honest, I haven’t used it much fishing swimbaits but I can say the fast action is accurate because I can set the hook on a football jig at 30 feet no problem. 

Do you need a rod for that? 

[casts_by_fly]

10 hours ago, JN94 said:

Hmm. I may keep looking. I want to experiment with more mod fast-ish actions for moving baits. I've only ever really used a fast action in the past. And honestly the power/lure rating is prob a little overkill for what I'm trying to do. A 3/8-1oz would be more in line with what I'm throwing. But looking for something around 6'10" which is why I thought the eye crosser may work 

if you’re talking 3/8-1 oz lures then a 6 power falcon is the right range. The head turner is great but I think that will be a little fast for what you’re describing. The dragger 1 in the bucoo sr line is what you’re describing.  It’s listed fast but it’s not that fast and is perfect for 1/2 oz bladed baits or thereabouts. I have the expert version and it’s a different rod in action and power. I think the Cara is more like the bucoo but I don’t have one. 

[rangerjockey]

I would suggest the Head Turner. The Cara version is a great moving bait rod as well as a Jig/worm rod.

The Virtus Titan is a bit longer and tighter but it's also a bit quicker but still a versatile rod.

[JN94]

4 hours ago, rangerjockey said:

I would suggest the Head Turner. The Cara version is a great moving bait rod as well as a Jig/worm rod.

The Virtus Titan is a bit longer and tighter but it's also a bit quicker but still a versatile rod.

You feel it can handle up to 1oz? Or close to it? They rate the Cara a MF but other lines have it as a fast I believe. Is the action different on the Cara version?

[rangerjockey]

44 minutes ago, JN94 said:

You feel it can handle up to 1oz? Or close to it? They rate the Cara a MF but other lines have it as a fast I believe. Is the action different on the Cara version?

I wouldn't throw honest 1 ounce bait on it, but I personally don't need to fish a bait that heavy.

5/8 is about is far as I would push it.

You may want to look at my favorite Falcon model the Amistad as long as you don't mind the extra length.

 

 

[casts_by_fly]

3 hours ago, JN94 said:

You feel it can handle up to 1oz? Or close to it? They rate the Cara a MF but other lines have it as a fast I believe. Is the action different on the Cara version?

 

1 oz total bait weight, yes (at least for my expert model).  A 1/2 oz chatterbait with a zako on the back is just over 7/8 oz and I do that all the time.  I've thrown a 3/4 oz spinnerbait on it but it was naked (no trailer, no trailer hook) and that's pushing it.  That's where the bigger rods come in.  The expert head turner is definitely a fast action though and not what you're describing above.

 

2 hours ago, rangerjockey said:

I wouldn't throw honest 1 ounce bait on it, but I personally don't need to fish a bait that heavy.

5/8 is about is far as I would push it.

You may want to look at my favorite Falcon model the Amistad as long as you don't mind the extra length.

 

 

 

I agree on the Amistad if you don't mind the extra length (7'3").  I would also suggest the heavy cover jig as a touch lighter and a little closer to moderate fast than the amistad but similar length (7'4").  It will absolutely fling a 1/2 oz chatterbait and zako combo.  I throw 3/8-3/4 spinnerbaits on it.  

[JN94]

6 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

 

1 oz total bait weight, yes (at least for my expert model).  A 1/2 oz chatterbait with a zako on the back is just over 7/8 oz and I do that all the time.  I've thrown a 3/4 oz spinnerbait on it but it was naked (no trailer, no trailer hook) and that's pushing it.  That's where the bigger rods come in.  The expert head turner is definitely a fast action though and not what you're describing above.

 

 

I agree on the Amistad if you don't mind the extra length (7'3").  I would also suggest the heavy cover jig as a touch lighter and a little closer to moderate fast than the amistad but similar length (7'4").  It will absolutely fling a 1/2 oz chatterbait and zako combo.  I throw 3/8-3/4 spinnerbaits on it.  

Amistad is a bit long for my taste but have heard great things about it

[casts_by_fly]

1 hour ago, JN94 said:

Amistad is a bit long for my taste but have heard great things about it

i think the Cara dragger 1 is the right answer then. 

[JN94]

9 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

i think the Cara dragger 1 is the right answer then. 

I actually had this rod not long ago and sold it haha. Kinda wish I'd held onto it now

Thinking about maybe trying a TFO Professional. They've got a 7' Mod Fast that's rated 3/8-1

[casts_by_fly]

On 4/6/2024 at 7:49 AM, JN94 said:

I actually had this rod not long ago and sold it haha. Kinda wish I'd held onto it now

Thinking about maybe trying a TFO Professional. They've got a 7' Mod Fast that's rated 3/8-1

what didn't you like about the dragger?  I have the bucoo sr version and it’s a great rod for what you’re saying. The Cara should be a lighter and crisper version. The expert version is a slower action and a good big crank bait rod or chatterbait rod for weirdos who like a moderate action for one. 

[JN94]

1 hour ago, casts_by_fly said:

what didn't you like about the dragger?  I have the bucoo sr version and it’s a great rod for what you’re saying. The Cara should be a lighter and crisper version. The expert version is a slower action and a good big crank bait rod or chatterbait rod for weirdos who like a moderate action for one. 

I just had others in that L/P/A that I preferred over it. It wasn't getting much use