Quick Review and Warning

[mixermarkb]

I'm sure falcon uses guides that are imported, but I'd be surprised if any blanks other than on the HD series are imported. As far as I know, the whole HD series is an import line.

[dtrs5kprs]

5 minutes ago, GNSfishing said:

I do not know the actual facts but you might check this out. I would suspect that the actual blank is manufactured overseas like most of the items we purchase. They can be assembled in the USA from imported parts. Here is a link you might want to check out.

http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/falcon-fishing-rods/broken-arrow-oklahoma-74012/falcon-fishing-rods-stcroix-fishing-rods-hh-rods-made-in-the-usa-broken-arrow-oklaho-319142

Think the guy who submitted the report might have had too much coffee. 

St Croix definitely makes some rods outside the country. I have several Triumph spinning rods which are SCII blanks, but built in Mexico (or was, might have moved since I last bought one) with slightly less expensive components. They fish just as well as the Premiers I have, and so far all the components have held up. This is since 2006-2007, so that is a pretty decent span. They are clearly marked as being made in Mexico. 

This brings up the reason I rarely order a rod online. I want to feel it, look it over for bad wraps, etc. Same reason I am increasingly building my own rods, aside from the more usual advantages.

 

[willyfish]

Anybody have an opinion on Lews casting rods? I've been looking at their speedstick series.

[mixermarkb]

I'm a big Lews reel fan, and I've not had one of their rods in my hands on the water, but from playing around with them in the store, they just don't seem to be "there" yet. They are fine, feel good, but just lack *something* when you compare them to a Loomis, Falcon, St. Croix. 

It could all be in my head, I could really be missing out. Go up to sportsmans and check them out yourself, and if you fall in love, get one. There is just something about the ones I've held that remind me of  a bass pro or abu veritas, which again are fine rods, just a half step behind the three I mention above. It's all opinion though, and what works for me may not work for you-

[big c]

Well said mixermarkb, i agree with you. My point of refrence are the Denali's I am using. I also have switched primarily to Lews BB1 pros. Thank care all.

[dtrs5kprs]

29 minutes ago, mixermarkb said:

I'm a big Lews reel fan, and I've not had one of their rods in my hands on the water, but from playing around with them in the store, they just don't seem to be "there" yet. They are fine, feel good, but just lack *something* when you compare them to a Loomis, Falcon, St. Croix. 

It could all be in my head, I could really be missing out. Go up to sportsmans and check them out yourself, and if you fall in love, get one. There is just something about the ones I've held that remind me of  a bass pro or abu veritas, which again are fine rods, just a half step behind the three I mention above. It's all opinion though, and what works for me may not work for you-

Like the BPS stuff, Lew's seems to make significant changes every year. Viewed one way, that is an effort to always get better. Viewed another, it looks like they don't have things dialed in. Compare it to something like St Croix Avids or Premiers which have hardly changed in a decade. Same for some of the Falcons.

[Bill Babler]

Made a post on the wrong blog on this topic, concerning the Falcon rods.  HD series, Costal Series and the new crappie series are made overseas.  Of course all the Fuji guides are made in Japan.  Falcon is testing each batch of  the materials prior to the manufacturing process.  At any point In the process they have the ability to terminate the entire batch.  I have fished the Coastal Series for about 10 yrs. and think they are very good.  That series is really designed for light saltwater fishing and they have rods from Redfish to a new Trout special in several lengths that was designed by guides in La that fish redfish, trout and flounder.

All of the other rods are made and fired in Harrison Arkansas using Falcons Mandrels   From the Original, LowRider, Bucco and the Cara Series as well as the Reaction the Peacock rods and the Signature Rods.  The reel seats are also American made.  The cork for the handles comes from Portugual, I believe, but the manufacturing process is also in the US. Cork grade for the Cara's and the Signature series is highest quality A+ the only non - US part on the Rods not manufactured in the US is the Fuji eyes.

I have toured the plant in Harrison with Phil Lilley, it is amazing to see all the thousands of Mandrel's and the  graphite, I believe the industry name for the material is Per-preg.  the Mandrel is wrapped with the Per-preg, and then fired at 350+ degree, I believe for at least 6 hrs.  Very interesting process.  The Current Material for all the new upper end series is a Carbon Fiber and is also known as Per-preg.  Each rod builder has his secret formula for the Per-preg, that makes the rod different.

 

 

[Rodmaker]

Quote

 

Speaking of rod building, there is a big rod building expo in Winston-Salem NC on February 20-21. It's a great show for components if your a rod builder. I will be attending this year. I have been down there twice before and highly recommend it....... check it out.......rodbuildingexpo.com.

[abkeenan]

6 hours ago, Bill Babler said:

Made a post on the wrong blog on this topic, concerning the Falcon rods.  HD series, Costal Series and the new crappie series are made overseas.  Of course all the Fuji guides are made in Japan.  Falcon is testing each batch of  the materials prior to the manufacturing process.  At any point In the process they have the ability to terminate the entire batch.  I have fished the Coastal Series for about 10 yrs. and think they are very good.  That series is really designed for light saltwater fishing and they have rods from Redfish to a new Trout special in several lengths that was designed by guides in La that fish redfish, trout and flounder.

All of the other rods are made and fired in Harrison Arkansas using Falcons Mandrels   From the Original, LowRider, Bucco and the Cara Series as well as the Reaction the Peacock rods and the Signature Rods.  The reel seats are also American made.  The cork for the handles comes from Portugual, I believe, but the manufacturing process is also in the US. Cork grade for the Cara's and the Signature series is highest quality A+ the only non - US part on the Rods not manufactured in the US is the Fuji eyes.

I have toured the plant in Harrison with Phil Lilley, it is amazing to see all the thousands of Mandrel's and the  graphite, I believe the industry name for the material is Per-preg.  the Mandrel is wrapped with the Per-preg, and then fired at 350+ degree, I believe for at least 6 hrs.  Very interesting process.  The Current Material for all the new upper end series is a Carbon Fiber and is also known as Per-preg.  Each rod builder has his secret formula for the Per-preg, that makes the rod different.

 

 

It's Prepreg. Only reason I know is that is one of the fancy selling points or features on one of my Duckett Ghost rods. No idea what it truly is or if it actually makes for a better rod but I like the way Ducketts feel in the hand.

"Prepreg" is the common term for a reinforcing fabric which has been pre-impregnated with a resin system. This resin system (typically epoxy) already includes the proper curing agent. As a result, the prepreg is ready to lay into the mold without the addition of any more resin.

[dtrs5kprs]

10 hours ago, abkeenan said:

It's Prepreg. Only reason I know is that is one of the fancy selling points or features on one of my Duckett Ghost rods. No idea what it truly is or if it actually makes for a better rod but I like the way Ducketts feel in the hand.

"Prepreg" is the common term for a reinforcing fabric which has been pre-impregnated with a resin system. This resin system (typically epoxy) already includes the proper curing agent. As a result, the prepreg is ready to lay into the mold without the addition of any more resin.

This is some good info on prepreg materials and general rod manufacturing. It's British, so translation may be needed for some.

http://www.harrisonrods.co.uk/production.htm

There was also a nice video tour of Loomis, think it was done by TW, that shows the cutting, rolling, hot mandrels, etc. Cool stuff.