Falcon Rods - Cara or Expert?

[dk2429]

I’m going to get an Amistad for my 1/4oz-3/8oz Texas rig rod. Tried a Dobyns and don’t like it.

 

My only Falcons are the Lowrider and Buccoos, which I use for moving baits. I’ve never used a Cara or an Expert

 

Do y’all have a preference on which one? I don’t mind the extra $50 for the Cara if it’s actually worth it. I’m more concerned about which one actually fishes better in the real world for what I’m going to do with it. I just want some good backbone with great sensitivity

 

Thanks!

[GReb]

Good luck finding either unless inventory has changed recently. Most Expert and Cara models have been out of stock for 6 months or longer. 
 

I have the current Expert Amistad and it’s a fantastic rod that can handle most anything well. It’s a Jack of all trades heavy stick. I have Caras in different models and they tend to be more technique specific than the Expert. Both fish well but feel much different in my hands. If you are solely using it for bottom contact I’d lean Cara. But the Expert is perfectly fine for it too
 
There’s a Falcon rod discussion thread you may want to check out. 

[dk2429]

1 hour ago, GReb said:

Good luck finding either unless inventory has changed recently. Most Expert and Cara models have been out of stock for 6 months or longer. 
 

I have the current Expert Amistad and it’s a fantastic rod that can handle most anything well. It’s a Jack of all trades heavy stick. I have Caras in different models and they tend to be more technique specific than the Expert. Both fish well but feel much different in my hands. If you are solely using it for bottom contact I’d lean Cara. But the Expert is perfectly fine for it too
 
There’s a Falcon rod discussion thread you may want to check out. 

Tackle Warehouse shows them both in stock?? I know the Falcon website has been out of stock for a long time. 
 

Is there much quality difference between the two? I have a tackle shop near me that sells Expert’s but I’ve never even touched a Cara. They have an Amistad Expert at the store but I prefer ordering rods if I can. Means no one has touched it and banged up against a wall or anything. 

[gim]

I've got a Cara.  It definitely has back bone.  I personally think it lacks sensitivity though.

 

Mine is about 10-12 years old.  Its MH action and I want to say its either 6'6" or slightly longer.

[casts_by_fly]

So start here. 
 

1/4-3/8 weight plus what plastic?  And what line are you fishing?

 

off the go, I’m going to say Cara because it’s a tough lighter in the tip. And if you really want an amistad to do a quarter ounce plus plastic then you need the lightest/tippiest one.  That said, an amistad for a Texas rig starts at 3/8 oz with a full size rage bug. If that’s the upper end of what you’re throwing then I’d say to consider the heavy cover jig instead. Much better with the under 3/8 oz weight range. 

 

 

[rangerjockey]

The cara is worth the upgrade and the Amistad is a great choice.

They are plenty sensitive and personally, I don't care for the exposed threads on the expert.

[casts_by_fly]

3 hours ago, rangerjockey said:

I don't care for the exposed threads on the expert.

 

Yeah, this is a peeve for me also.  On a bucoo SR I could understand.  But on a $200 Expert ane xtra $0.50 or less for the thread cap, even the most basic one that Fuji makes, would be a difference.

[dk2429]

9 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

So start here. 
 

1/4-3/8 weight plus what plastic?  And what line are you fishing?

 

off the go, I’m going to say Cara because it’s a tough lighter in the tip. And if you really want an amistad to do a quarter ounce plus plastic then you need the lightest/tippiest one.  That said, an amistad for a Texas rig starts at 3/8 oz with a full size rage bug. If that’s the upper end of what you’re throwing then I’d say to consider the heavy cover jig instead. Much better with the under 3/8 oz weight range. 

 

 

90% of my plastics are Zoom. 6” lizards, baby brush hogs, trick works, etc… Currently using braid but I think I wanna change it up and go to like 17lb Invizix 

 

After this thread and some more reading I think I’m settled on the Cara, now just gotta figure out if I really want an Amistad or the HCJ. 
 

The only Falcon rods near me are Lowriders and Experts. I don’t have anywhere to put a Cara in my hands. I’ve never even seen one. I do know I really like the feel of the Expert Amistad. It’s noticeably better balanced and lighter than the Lowrider. So if the Cara is even nicer than that then I’ll think I’ll be good to go.

 

Only HCJ I’ve found is the Lowrider. I can see how it would be a bit better for those lighter t rigs. It’s feels a bit slower than the Amistad

[rangerjockey]

6 minutes ago, dk2429 said:

90% of my plastics are Zoom. 6” lizards, baby brush hogs, trick works, etc… Currently using braid but I think I wanna change it up and go to like 17lb Invizix 

 

After this thread and some more reading I think I’m settled on the Cara, now just gotta figure out if I really want an Amistad or the HCJ. 
 

The only Falcon rods near me are Lowriders and Experts. I don’t have anywhere to put a Cara in my hands. I’ve never even seen one. I do know I really like the feel of the Expert Amistad. So if the Cara is even nicer than that then I’ll think I’ll be good to go 

Not to confuse you but the virtus rods are made in the old Falcon facility in Harrison Ar. As you may know Falcon moved production off shore a 4 or 5 years ago. 

Virtus rods mimic the old Falcons and to me anyway they feel like the older T7 blanks. I just sold off 3 Cara's and replaced them with the corresponding Virtus Red's. I believe the Amistad equals the Virtus Ranger. 

[casts_by_fly]

1 hour ago, dk2429 said:

90% of my plastics are Zoom. 6” lizards, baby brush hogs, trick works, etc… Currently using braid but I think I wanna change it up and go to like 17lb Invizix 

 

After this thread and some more reading I think I’m settled on the Cara, now just gotta figure out if I really want an Amistad or the HCJ. 
 

The only Falcon rods near me are Lowriders and Experts. I don’t have anywhere to put a Cara in my hands. I’ve never even seen one. I do know I really like the feel of the Expert Amistad. It’s noticeably better balanced and lighter than the Lowrider. So if the Cara is even nicer than that then I’ll think I’ll be good to go.

 

Only HCJ I’ve found is the Lowrider. I can see how it would be a bit better for those lighter t rigs. It’s feels a bit slower than the Amistad

 

I'm going to say that a 1/4oz weight with a baby brush hog isn't going to fish well on the amistad (any of them, with any lines).  That's just not enough weight to load up the tip of the rod.  I don't have any 6" trick worms, but I do have other 6" zoom worms and would say the same as for the baby brush hog.  A 6" lizzard might just have enough weight with a quarter ounce to fish okay, but you'll be working it.  

 

The HCJ is going to fish those things much better with a quarter ounce.  I fish mine with 17# elite and a zillion.  It will pitch those weights all day and cast them just fine.  The Amistad has more power higher up the rod than the HCJ, but they are about the same physical weight and swing weight.  The expert amistad is super light in the tip for swing weight which is great.  But its also stiffer in the tip than the cara.  The HCJ vs expert amistad are going to be similar in swing weight and total weight.

 

Not sure how much power you're looking for in the rod and how heavy of cover you're fishing.  However, for modest cover (medium weed and light wood) using 1/8-3/8 plus plastic I'll often fish them on my Cara swim jig rod (and 30# braid), especially the 1/8-1/4 range.  It's a 5 power (HCJ is a 6 and amistad is a 7) so its a bit lighter in butt power but the fast tip on it is great for a texas rig for me.  Things like a midi rage bug, boar hogz, 4" flipping tube all with a 1/8-1/4 oz.  Those fish great on that rod.  I still think the HCJ is the right rod for you here.

 

[jbrew73]

For those weights and lures I would recommend the Cara Heavy Cover or Swim Jig.  I had some older Falcon Amistad rods and they were good for 3/8oz and up.