Wiggle Wart rod

[Champ188]

No matter what rod you get, you'd be wise to invest in one of those $6 stick jackets. They will really help preserve your guides. We have them on every rod we own and are beyond happy with them. Not much trouble at all once you get used to them.

[Bill Babler]

Or your boat could come equipped with 32 sleeved rod holders.  Just sayin.  Price on the Falcon Cranker is $229.00  This is a top of the line rod company  Priced pretty much with the St. Croix and the Loomis.  Lifetime warranty

As a full time professional fishing guide, I have to have tools that function for a multitude of fishing situations and I love a rod with more than one application.

Falcon has been an industry leader for close to 30 yrs. now and they are not trying to get it right, they already have done that.  Their rods are designed by fishermen for fishermen.  Using the lightest, strongest components that are available.   I love the Lew's reels, but they are still in the process of scrapping rod lines and starting new lines with new materials.  They are getting closer, but have just not hammered the head of the nail completely into the wood.  I'm also wondering what the take over is going to do to their research and development.

I usually have rods on hand to try and most years I have pre-owned rods for sale, that I have only used one season.  Due to my health problems this year, all I have on hand are new rods as mine were fished less than 1/2 a season.  I still can get very good prices on rods I have in stock if your interested email me.

[Sore Thumbs]

2 hours ago, Champ188 said:

No matter what rod you get, you'd be wise to invest in one of those $6 stick jackets. They will really help preserve your guides. We have them on every rod we own and are beyond happy with them. Not much trouble at all once you get used to them.

Agree on the jackets but these guides fall of for no reason. Poor craftsmanship. The rod is the only good thing about it. 

[abkeenan]

Lots of good points made here. I think the best thing you can do is just go put your hands on some of the rods that you may be interested in at whatever price point fits your budget. The rod I mentioned before, in the Clarus, I can fish ALL DAY cranking. I picked up a 7'4" MH Quantum KVD glass composite a few months ago because Cabela's had them on clearance for $30 and I wanted a extra mid-depth (8-15ft) cranker on the cheap. Didn't TRULY need it but it was more of a late night web-browsing impulse buy. That rod flat wears my hands and wrists out after like an hour or two. The rod itself performs alright and for the $30 I paid I won't complain. It's just heavy and not very pleasurable to fish other than it loading well on the cast. But this gets back to just getting a feel for the rod before purchase. Get you one that "feels right".

[abkeenan]

Just now, Sore Thumbs said:

Agree on the jackets but these guides fall of for no reason. Poor craftsmanship. The rod is the only good thing about it. 

It's black and yellow....that's always good! MIZ!

[abkeenan]

Just now, Sore Thumbs said:

Agree on the jackets but these guides fall of for no reason. Poor craftsmanship. The rod is the only good thing about it. 

I have a Duckett Ghost like that. Craftsmanship is crap, guides misaligned like a Razorback fans teeth but gosh dang do I love the blank and action on that rod. The 7'3MH I have is the most versatile rod that I own. I can literally throw any single bait I own on that rod and be okay with it.

[Champ188]

3 minutes ago, abkeenan said:

... guides misaligned like a Razorback fans teeth ...

By gosh, you think Beardsley doesn't have any fish now? Keep talking, you knock-knee'd hillbilly.

[Champ188]

22 minutes ago, Sore Thumbs said:

Agree on the jackets but these guides fall of for no reason. Poor craftsmanship. The rod is the only good thing about it. 

I hear you can use vinyl seat repair adhesive to put those guides back on.

[abkeenan]

29 minutes ago, Champ188 said:

By gosh, you think Beardsley doesn't have any fish now? Keep talking, you knock-knee'd hillbilly.

Hahahahaha.

[cheesemaster]

I don't know what I am missing out on with a high dollar cranking rod. My first cranking rod is a H2O from Academy sports. The next 2 I bought were from Lew's in Springfield, two steps up in price for sure, with zero performance improvement.  Not sure what I will go with next - so I will keep reading this thread and do more research with the "hands" like Abkeenen suggests to do.