Lews vs Falcon vs Duckett ?

[spbubba]

I have Falcon lowriders, and Jason Christie series, Dobyns Fury and Lews TP1 rods. I think you will be happy with any of the three brands. Lew's customer service was awesome. I have not dealt with the other two. I keep saying I am going to stick with one brand, but I am a confessed rod hoarder.

[Smalliebigs]

I very much enjoy my Falcon Lowriders and my Falcon Cara's.....I also enjoy my Duckett White Ice's.....the only Lews rod I have are the Custom Lite Speed Stick.

 

All four of the lines of rods I just mentioned will make your hands and mind happy while you are fishing IMO.....all a little different price points but all are fantastic

[evilcatfish]

20 hours ago, abkeenan said:

I buy all my Tatulas on Ebay. They have some sellers there that other online retailers like BPS, Tackle Warehouse, etc. can't even touch. Can get the CT's for $100 and the SV for $140. Same holds true if you likes Lew's or Shimano's reels too.

Ebay often runs promo codes in the 15-20% range as well. I've gotten a couple Tatulas for dirt cheap this way, not to mention some Dobyns rods and other things.

[Old plug]

    I do not myself see after over 70  where the higher priced rods are all that worth it. I will just continue on with my Berkley Cherrywood HD rods They see a lot of daily use and are very sensitive. There is a lot more goes into sensitivity than a rod. I can buy 3 for what you pay for a Duckett. Most rod and line breakage has nothing to do with the rod it the angler using it.

[mixermarkb]

Old Plug, I agree that prices for good gear are a little high, sometimes a lot high, and it is often an incremental improvement after a certain price. (For rods, I'd say that's around $100, give or take $20) 

Where I really see the difference in high end gear, and where you might could really benefit from one or two really nice combos, is in weight. The newer mid to high end rods are reels are soo much lighter than the older round bait casters and cheaper rods, that it really makes a significant difference in wear and tear on joints and muscles over the course of a day of casting. I can fish longer days, and more active types of baits without getting near as sore as before low profile lightweight reels and super light rods came along, and for me, that's worth it. 

Of course I also built up my gear before I was married and had kids, so while I have a real nice pile of junk, I couldn't have done it had I had a family to support before I had most of it paid for. 

[Champ188]

36 minutes ago, mixermarkb said:

Old Plug, I agree that prices for good gear are a little high, sometimes a lot high, and it is often an incremental improvement after a certain price. (For rods, I'd say that's around $100, give or take $20) 

Where I really see the difference in high end gear, and where you might could really benefit from one or two really nice combos, is in weight. The newer mid to high end rods are reels are soo much lighter than the older round bait casters and cheaper rods, that it really makes a significant difference in wear and tear on joints and muscles over the course of a day of casting. I can fish longer days, and more active types of baits without getting near as sore as before low profile lightweight reels and super light rods came along, and for me, that's worth it. 

Of course I also built up my gear before I was married and had kids, so while I have a real nice pile of junk, I couldn't have done it had I had a family to support before I had most of it paid for. 

For bottom dragging baits, you want the highest modulus graphite you can get. It’s lighter and far more sensitive than cheaper rods. That said, you can top out on technology around $250. Above that, you’re strictly paying for prestige. 

[Quillback]

7 hours ago, Champ188 said:

For bottom dragging baits, you want the highest modulus graphite you can get. It’s lighter and far more sensitive than cheaper rods. That said, you can top out on technology around $250. Above that, you’re strictly paying for prestige. 

If you're looking for bang for your buck when it comes to prestige, a jersey with the right logos garners a lot more prestige than a high end rod.  

 

[mixermarkb]

9 hours ago, Champ188 said:

That said, you can top out on technology around $250. Above that, you’re strictly paying for prestige

I have to (sort of) disagree here. There is a difference in sensitivity between my loomis NRX rods and Falcon Cara's. Is it enough of a difference to make it worth the extra $200? Jury would be out on that, but I'm selling the 7'4" Cara Mike McClelland football jig rod and keeping the two 7'3" NRX rods I have for footballs and Crigs. Same reel, same line, same bait, I've fished them side by side, and I could definitely feel more of what was going on with the NRX. I don't have any sublimated jerseys at all, though I did consider having my boat wrapped for Bernie.

[Champ188]

I can't speak to the NRX since I haven't' fished with one, so I'll retract my comment regarding them. However, I have used the Loomis GLX and personally, I didn't think there was any significant difference in them and my Caras. 

[Old plug]

Well back in the day I could tell you the size of the pea gravel I was moving my jig over and that was with Heavy ugly sticks. So I got to think a lot of feeling has to do with setup of line and lure and weight. Lot of people tell me you need it to yank those big ones out of brush piles. That is true if that works for you. I try to weight my lure for those conditions.  If  I am fishing brush piles with a jig or worm I try tp match the bait to the condition so that I do not get INTO the brush pile. I like to touch the brush lightly.  I feel if I have to go down into a big pile of brush I already have cut my chances a bunch with a big one.  Besides it does not feel like a very natural approach to me. If I think one is there I will be back sometime when he feels like coming up to grab a bite. 

I invite any of you the next tmie you go into a Walmart pick up a Cherrywood and feel how light it is bend it on the floor and drag it over cracks or something and feel how sensitive it is. Matter of fact take one of the expensive ones off the rack and try it in the other hand.  I do like a faster tip in some cases that I do not find in cherrywood rods.