feedback on the new falcon cara rods?

[Dutch]

50 minutes ago, Bill Babler said:

He got sick.  There was a lot if behinds the scene stuff here also with an affair and some embezzlement prior to his illness. "Alleged."

One thing I do know for positive is that they kept all the components, materials and technology for each manufacturer complete separate and were very proud of the trust they had with every rod builder they worked for

I figured it was him.  The last time that I saw them she did most of the talking he did show me some unbranded rods that he said were on Falcon Lowrider blanks but didn’t have much else to say.

[Toby Estes]

On 1/22/2021 at 8:29 AM, Bill Babler said:

Guys I have a couple of the new Cara's in stock. Made in USA. 

 

Just found out they are NOT made in USA

[fishinwrench]

2 hours ago, Bill Babler said:

Not true, both were made in Harrison Arkansas by Rock Creek in the same factory.  Mandrels were totally different as was the graphite composition. There were also a number of other blanks made in the same factory. 

It's my understanding that neither rod company produced their own blanks.    Their blanks came from the same place that Quantum, Shimano, Cabela Fish Eagle, Lew's and a few other companies blanks come from.   

Falcon and All Star blanks are (or WERE 10+ years ago) from an identical list of blank grades from the same supplier overseas. 

 

Are you telling me that you've been to their facility and actually observed them wrapping graphite onto mandrels ?  

 

[Dutch]

I’m sure he has.  It was in Harrison Arkansas on Rock Springs Road at Ark Rod Mfg.  I’ve been to the factory but not inside.  I’ve always gone to their retail outlet (Rock Springs Tackle) across the road.

[pjlures]

Yes. Been where he made them. I don't know exactly what brands he " rolled " and " baked" but he could and did that.  Great guy but business struggled esp when so much went to china. He could turn out a lot of great rods. 

[Bill Babler]

Yes I have. More than once. 

[abkeenan]

21 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

It's my understanding that neither rod company produced their own blanks.    Their blanks came from the same place that Quantum, Shimano, Cabela Fish Eagle, Lew's and a few other companies blanks come from.   

Falcon and All Star blanks are (or WERE 10+ years ago) from an identical list of blank grades from the same supplier overseas. 

 

Are you telling me that you've been to their facility and actually observed them wrapping graphite onto mandrels ?  

 

I don't believe this to be true. I can't say where all of those brands got their blanks but I don't think they were from the Rock Springs facility in Harrison. A lot of the American Made blanks were produced by Rock Springs which then could go on to be private labeled or whatever. Which includes Falcon and I also believe Hammer Rods. There are only a handful of companies that roll their blanks (Loomis, St. Croix, Rock Spring) in the US.

Shimano bought out Loomis a while ago and used their production facilities either here or abroad.

Not sure where Lew's gets their blanks? I'm guessing wherever Bass Pro does?

Quantum rods/reels come from the annual spring Bass Pro Rod/Reel trade-in event combined with Duckett defect and warranty rods that are ground up, glued together and repurposed as fishing products.

[dtrs5kprs]

The old All Stars were made in Houston, TX. I have what some people would call a soft spot for those. Others...rod snobs, wives, and such... might call it other names.

[Champ188]

19 hours ago, dtrs5kprs said:

The old All Stars were made in Houston, TX. I have what some people would call a soft spot for those. Others...rod snobs, wives, and such... might call it other names.

I love the old All-Stars. Owned quite a few. They were very good rods for their time. Still are, although I don't have any left. I do still have a couple of Castaways, which I always believed were All-Stars wrapped with another private label slapped on them. 

[dtrs5kprs]

3 hours ago, Champ188 said:

I love the old All-Stars. Owned quite a few. They were very good rods for their time. Still are, although I don't have any left. I do still have a couple of Castaways, which I always believed were All-Stars wrapped with another private label slapped on them. 

If Castaway wasn't the same, it was awfully close. At least in the late 90s.