Top Water Rod? Suggestions

[riverfish]

i have had three of the bucoo rods and they have all broke on me within six months now one rod i could see as maluse but to continously replace it with the same rod and they break too i think its the rod. if you ever get to look inside a broken one you can see the problem they are just trying to build them too fast alot of them are oval or egg shaped inside caused i think from not giving them the proper amount of time for the blank to cure and the thickness of the graphite walls are thiner or thicker all throught the blank and i think thats why the rod is also really inconsistent in feel from one rod to the next.

[Bill Babler]

They are built in Harrison Arkansas. They use the same molds, but the inconsistancy is from the materials used in the rod. They are a much lower modular of graphite and lower cost of material including eyes and handles. I'm not a manufactor, but as you say the total inconsistancy of the same rod from one to the other is quite noticable. I really don't see where it fits in the fine family of rods that Falcon is famious for.

If you want a lower price rod, simply purchase the origional and start working your way up the ladder from there. There are simply tons of fisherman that prefer the LowRider over the Cara. All three are a great representation of the Falcon Rod, without the BuCo.

[WeekendWarrior]

In my humble opinion I would think any cheap $30 - $40 1-piece rod with medium action would be fine for a topwater rod if that is all you would use it for. Save your $$ for a good bottom bouncing rod

[Bill Babler]

I cannot shoot my recurve bow anywhere near as good as my compound. I cannot shoot my 10 yr. old compound anywhere near as good as my new compound. There is so much difference in a $30.00 rod an a good rod there is not enough space here for me to explain it.

You take the cheap rod and put a spook on it using the same reel on both that and my Falcon Cara Reaction rod and you see how far and accurate you can present a spook, or for that matter a light popper or a buzz bait. You will be very quick to see the difference. You take that junk rod and present a stickbait with it and the Falcon and see what you think. See how well that cheap rod cast a stickbait and how it responses to the movement and the feel of a fish putting prussure on that bait.

I know you didn't mention a multipurpose rod but your topwater rod should also double as an excellent stickbait rod and also be able to present

-1 crankbaits. Also what kind of reel are you gona put on that 30 bucker?

I would rather have one piece of excellent equipment that serves multiple fishing functions than several pieces of junk.

Accuracy, distance, feel, bait response and the ability to take prussure off your line and reel with a fast relfex, soft midsection stout bottom rod will catch you so many fish you would never catch on a junk rod it is not even compareable.

If you are fishing targets with a topwater rod or a stickbait rod, covering as much water and cover as possible where not only accuracy but distance and feel are involved not to mention the sheer weight of the cheap rod over the better rod, it would be like me playing Kobe a game of horse. No win situation.

Just some thoughts.

[WeekendWarrior]

Well Bill, you are correct in that you get what you pay for in the fishing world, I myself have been using a cheap rod for topwater and has worked great for myself. There is no doubt that a top of the line or more expensive rod would be better, but not as imperative as with other types of fishing in my opinion. But as you said, with a higher dollar rod it would be more versatile for other applications other than just topwater.

[Flippin]

Not a pistol, and somewhat above the price range you stated, but we all tend to move up somewhat.

Falcon Cara-Reaction

Cara Jerkbait Special CCB-4 165JBS $189.99

Action M

Flex MH

Fuji Guides 9

Line Wt. 8-17#

Lure Wt. 1/4 to 1/2

Length 6'5"

Grip Split

This is my go to rod for any type of a topwater splasher, chugger, or darter. It is a great Jerkbait rod and is also a very good spoon rod. It completely snaps the head of a spook and makes it dance. You can throw it a mile as the MH Flex lets the tip load and it just catapults the spook or yellow magic.

Just abit undersized for a fin as I throw my fins on braid or 20 pound mono.

If I can use a rod for multiple baits like this one, I'm pretty happy.

How well does it throw a Pop R

[Bill Babler]

One of the features I like about these Cara Reaction Rods is that they throw a Buzzbait and a Pop-R. just about as good as can be thrown on a bait caster. I use 10# maxi to throw both. We all know how hard it is to throw that Buzzer. If he spins you are in deep Kemchi' It will throw a chugbug good as it is abit heaver. A yellow magic also throws nice. "Big Bucks"

One thing you have to remember about this stick, is that it is a two hander and only a two hander. If you don't cast with two hands, go another direction. It is built to put prussure on the tip and upper section for the long controled cast. If you are a heaver or a lobber, you can probably go a better direction. The two hand cast eliminates shoulder and rotator cuff problems and lets you use the rod to much greater advantage. You are using it instead of your arm and shoulder muscles. It allows you to cast further with much less effort.

Not only is this a great topwater stick as I have eluded to but it is also just a fantastic jerkbait rod. If they breath on it you will feel it. Another function is it is also my favorite spoon rod for spoons up to 3/4 up and down.

Falcon says 8 to 17 on the line, but for me 10-12 are by far the best preforming on this rod.

Good Luck

[ozarkgunner]

I love my cara micro guide rod. Best rod I own and I have several loomis and st croix rods.

[Bill Babler]

Well Bill, you are correct in that you get what you pay for in the fishing world, I myself have been using a cheap rod for topwater and has worked great for myself. There is no doubt that a top of the line or more expensive rod would be better, but not as imperative as with other types of fishing in my opinion. But as you said, with a higher dollar rod it would be more versatile for other applications other than just topwater.

I agree with ya on the money spent. Being a guide I have to make the most of my investments in equipment and need rods that can function in more than one type of presentation. If I had to buy a rod for every type of fishing I do I would me more rod poor than I am now. Your point is well taken and correct. Bottom fishing with either a jig, worm or any creep crawler requires lots of feel and polish and is more than a good place to make your larger investment. For that matter, it is in your had a larger percentage of the time.

Great Points.

Good Luck

[Bill Babler]

We had a thread a year or so ago about the Micro's. Seemed most either loved them or hated them. There is a learning curve with those rods reguardless of the manufactor.

There are pluses and minuses. I just love mine but use them only for certain applications and in favorable weather as the guides will freeze shut quicker than a wink, in cold weather. Back Lash City.

These things will just throw a bait a mile and for sure you need to know how to adjust your centrifical brake on your reel to avoid problems. I'm using them for cranks and spinners and have really taken to them.

Again,most of these are two handers and are built to be thrown and preform with two hand cast to get what you need out of the Stick.

Good Luck