Which Falcon rod(s)?

[dk2429]

I got two Lowriders on clearance about a month ago (Amistad and Dragger). I was going to trade them into Falcon but decided to keep them and try them out. 
 

Well, this past Christmas I bought myself a Cara HCJ. Unfortunately, after using this rod more and more for some time now, I’ve spoiled myself to the point that the Lowriders just don’t feel that nice for bottom contact. That Cara is an unbelievable stick…. I most recently used it for 4 days straight on Caddo Lake throwing t rigs at cypress trees and I absolutely love that Cara
 

I called Falcon and they agreed to let me trade the Lowriders in at retail value for an upgrade(s) to Expert or Cara 

 

I’m thinking to trade the Amistad in for a Cara Amistad, but I don’t know if that’s even necessary since the HCJ is a pretty similar rod (at least I think it is…) I use the HCJ for Texas rigs, mainly 1/4-3/8oz and it does that perfectly. But I always hear how the Amistad is a “must have” in the Falcon lineup. If the Cara is anything similar to the Lowrider, I see that as a good 3/8oz+ jig rod, maybe a Carolina rig rod I guess. 
 

Im just curious in this situation what y’all suggest I do. What other rods in the Expert or Cara series are “must haves”? 

[rangerjockey]

The Amistad has always been my favorite Cara followed by the Head turner and swim jig rod.

I have never owned nor fished the HCJ as it's not a rod I would use in the Ozarks.

[redux]

I have 3 lowriders, a Christie, a Cara, and an old, brown 6'6" no idea the model name. All are from when they were made in the USA and are great rods. I don't use them as my main rods, but they are really good.

[casts_by_fly]

Just depends on what you want to do and what you throw. 

 

While they might be similar in specs, the Amistad and HCJ are very different rods.  First, the Amistad is a full power heavier and noticably so.  The power is much higher in the rod.  Both are heavy and fast, but the amistad is heavier and faster.  For what you described (1/4-3/8 plus plastic) the HCJ is a great rod.  I wouldn't use it to throw into heavier cover like laydowns and pads, but for fishing the edges of that or into milfoil and similar grasses its right on the money.  The Amistad is what throws into those things.  I would also say that the Amistad starts at 3/8 plus plastic for me, though a quarter works also depending on the plastic and the line you're using (I've found braid needs a little more weight while mono doesn't).

 

I love the swim jig rod for swim jigs and lighter texas rigs.  The head turner is a great rod for lots of things.  A new to me (and the lineup generally) that I think I'm going to love this year is the big bait rod (7'9" 1-5 oz).  I picked it up for 6-8" magdrafts and 5-7" hard swimbaits.  It flings a 6" magdraft into tomorrow in the yard so its going to do what I want there, but I think it would be another option for throw a half ounce plus plastic into some slop (like I do with the amistad).  I'll do a better review in the falcon rods thread after I've fished it a bit.

 

If you could only buy three rods (and multiples of those rods) to outfit an entire boat, the swim jig, head turner, and amistad wouldn't be a bad set.  If you wanted to hit the highlights of the falcon lineup you'd be there.  If there is something you do or fish that is more specific, then there are some cool rods in the lineup like the finesse jig (finesse jigs and lighter topwaters), eye crosser (frogs and 3/4 oz bladed baits), and the deep runner (6-14' crankbaits).  

 

 

[dk2429]

41 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

Just depends on what you want to do and what you throw. 

 

While they might be similar in specs, the Amistad and HCJ are very different rods.  First, the Amistad is a full power heavier and noticably so.  The power is much higher in the rod.  Both are heavy and fast, but the amistad is heavier and faster.  For what you described (1/4-3/8 plus plastic) the HCJ is a great rod.  I wouldn't use it to throw into heavier cover like laydowns and pads, but for fishing the edges of that or into milfoil and similar grasses its right on the money.  The Amistad is what throws into those things.  I would also say that the Amistad starts at 3/8 plus plastic for me, though a quarter works also depending on the plastic and the line you're using (I've found braid needs a little more weight while mono doesn't).

 

I love the swim jig rod for swim jigs and lighter texas rigs.  The head turner is a great rod for lots of things.  A new to me (and the lineup generally) that I think I'm going to love this year is the big bait rod (7'9" 1-5 oz).  I picked it up for 6-8" magdrafts and 5-7" hard swimbaits.  It flings a 6" magdraft into tomorrow in the yard so its going to do what I want there, but I think it would be another option for throw a half ounce plus plastic into some slop (like I do with the amistad).  I'll do a better review in the falcon rods thread after I've fished it a bit.

 

If you could only buy three rods (and multiples of those rods) to outfit an entire boat, the swim jig, head turner, and amistad wouldn't be a bad set.  If you wanted to hit the highlights of the falcon lineup you'd be there.  If there is something you do or fish that is more specific, then there are some cool rods in the lineup like the finesse jig (finesse jigs and lighter topwaters), eye crosser (frogs and 3/4 oz bladed baits), and the deep runner (6-14' crankbaits).  

 

 

Yeah I’ve read most of your post and was going to post this there, I just figured I’d get more traffic making a new thread. 
 

So sounds like trading the LR Amistad straight up for a Cara Amistad might be a good choice for me, because I don’t have any rods for real heavy cover work. I have a Dobyns Sierra 735 (Mag heavy/ex fast) I use for frogs, but it’s honestly a bit moderate for punching or working a plastic in heavy cover. I’m curious if you think that Cara Amistad would also make a good Carolina rig rod?  I also saw you moved from the Expert to the Cara. Do you have any experience with the LR Amistad and how it compares with the Cara? 
 

I was using the LR Amistad with 50# braid using a 3/8oz flipping jig with a beaver at Caddo Lake. It worked fine, it just doesn’t feel as a crisp as a Cara does. 
 

For the swim jig rod, you say that it’s good for swim jigs and lighter Texas rigs. How do you think it would fare would weightless stuff like wacky senkos/flukes/etc…? Is there a better choice for that? 

 

[casts_by_fly]

1 hour ago, dk2429 said:

Yeah I’ve read most of your post and was going to post this there, I just figured I’d get more traffic making a new thread. 
 

So sounds like trading the LR Amistad straight up for a Cara Amistad might be a good choice for me, because I don’t have any rods for real heavy cover work. I have a Dobyns Sierra 735 (Mag heavy/ex fast) I use for frogs, but it’s honestly a bit moderate for punching or working a plastic in heavy cover. I’m curious if you think that Cara Amistad would also make a good Carolina rig rod?  I also saw you moved from the Expert to the Cara. Do you have any experience with the LR Amistad and how it compares with the Cara? 
 

I was using the LR Amistad with 50# braid using a 3/8oz flipping jig with a beaver at Caddo Lake. It worked fine, it just doesn’t feel as a crisp as a Cara does. 
 

For the swim jig rod, you say that it’s good for swim jigs and lighter Texas rigs. How do you think it would fare would weightless stuff like wacky senkos/flukes/etc…? Is there a better choice for that? 

 

 

I've not felt the lowrider amistad.  I had the expert, broke it, and traded up to the cara with the replacement.  I've felt the Bucoo SR in the store.  I'm not much of a carolina rig guy or a jig dragger so I can't say for sure, but I know lots of guys use it for that and I've done it a couple times. In the lineup of rods that I have, its probably the best one for it.

 

When I say light texas rig stuff, I was fishing the SJ with a 1/8 plus a boarhogz which will come in around 5/16 total weight as the lightest I've thrown on it.  A weightless 5" senko is about 3/8 oz and there would be no problems with that.  A 4" fluke might be a little light.  If you are doing that on a baitcaster a bunch then the finesse jig is probably the right rod, maybe the weightless worm (which I've not fished).  I've thrown them on the 6'8" MH Cara and it works, but you're just barely loading the tip.  The FJ is a lighter tip than the MH and can go down pretty low weight with light line and a good reel (with a shallower light spool).  

[GReb]

The HCJ rod is great for lighter Carolina rigs. It’s really a niche open water bottom contact rod which is why sold mine. 
 

The Cara Head Turner is currently my favorite rod. It’s become my go to 1/8oz Texas rig rod plus really good for single hook moving baits and spooks. The Head turner and Amistad are must owns IMO. The Amistad is a beast flipping creature baits around cover. 

[dk2429]

1 hour ago, GReb said:

The HCJ rod is great for lighter Carolina rigs. It’s really a niche open water bottom contact rod which is why sold mine. 
 

The Cara Head Turner is currently my favorite rod. It’s become my go to 1/8oz Texas rig rod plus really good for single hook moving baits and spooks. The Head turner and Amistad are must owns IMO. The Amistad is a beast flipping creature baits around cover. 

I can see that with the HCJ for sure, but I’ve found it to be a sweet Texas rig rod personally. I’ve been throwing 1/4oz tungsten with a rage craw, trick worm, lizard, etc… It works great for that. I’ll definitely get the Amistad then for that heavier stuff. The Lowrider version I have is okay, just as I said, the Cara done got me spoiled me now. The sensitivity of the Cara is what really got me. I’ve never owned a bass rod over $120 until I got that thing. The Cara is just very crisp feeling and lighter. 

Interesting that you like 1/8 Texas rig on a heavy 6’10 rod. 

[casts_by_fly]

39 minutes ago, dk2429 said:

I can see that with the HCJ for sure, but I’ve found it to be a sweet Texas rig rod personally. I’ve been throwing 1/4oz tungsten with a rage craw, trick worm, lizard, etc… It works great for that. I’ll definitely get the Amistad then for that heavier stuff. The Lowrider version I have is okay, just as I said, the Cara done got me spoiled me now. The sensitivity of the Cara is what really got me. I’ve never owned a bass rod over $120 until I got that thing. The Cara is just very crisp feeling and lighter. 

Interesting that you like 1/8 Texas rig on a heavy 6’10 rod. 

 

The head turner is a 'heavy' but it's not.  Look at the lure rating to se that its rated for 1/4-3/4 and I'd say that's pretty accurate.  Other makers might label is 1/4-1.  It aligns with a MH in a St Croix power wise.  That's the difference between a 6 power heavy and a 7 power heavy.  So a 1/8 oz weight plus a modest plastic is going to put you at 3/8 or 1/2 oz total bait weight pretty quickly.  Compared to the HCJ, the head turner has about the same power in the butt, but the last 1/4 of the rod has a much faster taper and a lighter tip.  That much lighter tip will let you throw a lot of things on it.  

[dk2429]

51 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

 

The head turner is a 'heavy' but it's not.  Look at the lure rating to se that its rated for 1/4-3/4 and I'd say that's pretty accurate.  Other makers might label is 1/4-1.  It aligns with a MH in a St Croix power wise.  That's the difference between a 6 power heavy and a 7 power heavy.  So a 1/8 oz weight plus a modest plastic is going to put you at 3/8 or 1/2 oz total bait weight pretty quickly.  Compared to the HCJ, the head turner has about the same power in the butt, but the last 1/4 of the rod has a much faster taper and a lighter tip.  That much lighter tip will let you throw a lot of things on it.  

True, didn’t even think to notice that the Head Turner is a 6 power heavy like my HCJ. I was a little skeptical of it before I bought it using it for 1/4 t rigs but I was wrong. The tip on that rod is what makes it great 

[GReb]

5 hours ago, dk2429 said:

 

Interesting that you like 1/8 Texas rig on a heavy 6’10 rod. 

I actually owned the Head Turner for years before trying. Snapped my HCJ rod being an idiot trying to boat flip a 5 pounder in pads. Grabbed the Head Turner and liked it better. At the time I owned 4 Head Turners. It’s one of my favorite rods for a lot of things.