fishindad

I would fill one with hard baits and one with rigging for soft plastics.

Yup, bone and loon should be all you need. No need to overthink it. Just throw it where they're at and figure out if they want it with pauses or straight retrieve.

Totally agree and everyone knows Loomis rods are ridiculously overpriced because they add on to the sticker price, the cost for replacing all the broken rods that get warrantied every year. Similar to the way Ford/GM cars have legacy costs tacked on to the sticker price to pay for all the pensions and healthcare of retirees (disclaimer: just to reference a similar business model; nothing against their vehicles). There's no way an NRX is $400-$450 "better" than an ALX or Falcon Cara rod. (again just using Loomis as an example since other rod companies probably do the same). Me too. I hope they get released soon because our open water season here in Michigan doesn't last long and I would like to try one out now!

Great post. Now I do not work for Falcon but recently bought the last two American-made Head Turners thanks to someone who is "inside". Word is the owner's son doesn't/didn't want to continue assembling/building rods on American soil so all the rods have been outsourced. I agree we should not "punish" Falcon or "reward" another company that makes ALL their rod lines here in the US (are there any left?). Everyone at every income level has bought foreign products because that's our choice on how to spend our hard-earned dollars. Pretty soon the only way to go USA is to have a custom builder with NFC blanks build all your rods. With Fuji components. ?‍♂️

I saw the photo of the revamped Cara in the Bassmaster 2020 iCast article. To me, it looks and reads like it's being made overseas like the Expert. I own 8 Caras and love 'em. If they are no longer made in the US, I won't buy any more Falcons. Really blows because IMO Caras were the absolute best stick out there in the $200-$270 price range. The problem as mentioned is it is almost impossible now to find a rod company that produces every rod using US employees in a US factory. Sure, everyone here probably uses foreign-made vehicles, phones, reels, electronics. etc, etc. But I believe we should try our best to support US companies and employees whenever possible.

As some have mentioned, there's no way to 100% determine without watching you fish in person. I honestly believe it is next to impossible to snap a non-defective rod while bass fishing. Even setting on braided line with the drag locked down (see Ish Monroe frog fishing). We are talking about a fish that usually weighs less than 5-6 lbs and takes at most, 3-4 minutes to land. And that would be a spot or smallie hooked on 6 lb line. My first guess is that you boat flip fish. This is the absolute stupidest thing pros ever did, and still do! But they get their rods for free or at cost. You would not believe how many bass guys I've seen the past few years out on St Clair boat flipping every smallie they catch. I call it googan-style fishing. I would love to see the data from rod companies for broken rods sent in for warranty for, say, the past 30 years. I think there's a correlation with an increase in rods being made overseas (China) yet I am sure guys with US made Loomis and St Croix rods break their share of rods. There's also been a big increase in XF action rods. Back when I started fishing in the late 60's there was really no such beast (except Loomis SJR721, for example). Now you see almost every rod company making XF action rods. That "hinged" XF action creates more stress at defined points in the blank. Rod locker/ceiling fan/car door/etc abuse aside, most rods are broken from boat flipping or grabbing the rod too close to the top (anywhere above the foregrip) and swinging in fish (again, I see pros do that all the time too), IMO. I seriously doubt anyone could snap a non-damaged rod on a hookest or fighting a bass. Tarpon, maybe. Bass, no way.

I have not fished with either rod but I am in full agreement with manifestgtr. Tip heavy for bottom contact would bug me no matter how light the rod is. If any 7'5" rod has a balance point as shown with a 5.5 oz reel, who cares what the NRX (or any rod) by itself weighs? You're not planning to fish without a reel, right? I'd bet you would be more than pleased with that setup.

According to your original post, you want a rod longer than your present 7'6" H? I've not used it but would think the 7'9" Ish Monroe AGS frog rod would be exactly what you want. https://www.daiwa.com/us/contents/rods/tatula_elite/index.html Otherwise iRod makes a bunch of Genesis II rods longer than 7'6" that might work.

Yup, though I won't bring all with me depending what and where I decide to fish. I'm trying to simplify and focus my fishing, doing less run and gun. Also focusing more on big rivers and largies this year vs the usual Great Lakes smallies. Two Cara Head Turners (6'10" H mod fast) w 8:1 Concept A's Two Cara Swim Jig (7'2" MH fast) for moving baits with 6.3:1 Curado 100's Two Envy Finesse spinning (7'2" ML extra fast) with 2500 Daiwa's for tubes, wacky, stuff for 8 lb line Have dedicated dropshot, topwater, jerkbait, frog/punch, spinnerbait/bladed jig, and Ned rods but not in duplicate.

Right now, most often used setups are: Brown bass: tube with a 3/8th or 1/2 oz head, Falcon Cara Head Turner, 8:1 Concept A, 14lb Sniper. Green fish: 1/4th or 3/8th oz swim jig, Falcon Swim jig rod, 6:1 Curado 100, 30lb 832 or 15 lb Invisx.

I was trying to simplify my response to the OP by choosing between braid (which technically can encompass dozens of "non-nylon" hybrids), fluorcarbon line, and mono (basically "others"). Well, I don't fish waters with water chestnuts, pads or veg/grass much. I live in Michigan, *** smallmouth bass that swim in clear, rocky, zebra mussel-infested waters of the Great Lakes and connecting waterways and wouldn't trade it for needing to use 50 lb braid and flipping/punching sticks. Pretty soon will be the mayfly hatch and I'll be busting 4 and 5 lb smallies on topwater.

I love topwater too much to pick fluoro line even though I use and love Sniper (casting) and Invisx (spinning). And too many zebra mussels and gin clear water to go with braid (832). So similar to Glaucus, I'd have to pick a mono in 6lb test for spinning and 12 lb for casting. McCoy's Mean Green FTW.

I have the Cara version, which is probably similar. Yes, it does have a soft tip but plenty of power. I think you'll find that rod can do almost anything between that lure weight range. You can definitely frog with it using braid or pitch jigs and texas rigs with it using straight fluoro (that's what I use it for). You will not regret it especially at that price.

McCoy Mean Green in 15 lb test. Only mono I’ve used that’s better handling is Damyl Tectan but I don’t think it’s produced any longer.

Tom, you sometimes give good advice based on your experience fishing SoCal waters. In this instance, it is evident that you are an ALX fanboy and there's nothing wrong with that, everyone does it from time to time when they find a good product. But, if what you have written is truly what your outlook is on other anglers, you will have lost total respect. Are you saying you judge others by their avatar??? Really??? Just sad. I get that you've caught a big rainbow-fed Florida strain transplant largemouth 27 years ago, when Catsaic was at it's peak. That's the era when Dan Kadota and Bob Crupi put that place on the map. That doesn't mean you're a good angler. And, you write "anglers who haven't earned their stripes", as if you have??? How many lakes across the US have you fished? How are you at catching smallies on the Great Lakes? Spotted bass down South? Punching bass in LA? How many competitive bass tournaments have you won? Are you saying that just because you've caught a few big SoCal bass, you've "earned their stripes"??? So, all the FLW and Elite guys who haven't caught double digit bass CA haven't earned their stripes??? I hate to jump on this bashing wagon but if what you wrote is in fact how you judge other anglers (and God forbid other people) then I suggest you take a deep breath, and accept that you may be wrong. If you let 10,000 anglers fish an NRX alongside an ALX (or any similar-priced rod), 9,999 will say without a doubt the NRX is the more sensitive rod. For twice the cost it better be!

It all depends on what your reference point is since there is no standard for rod powers or actions. That said, yes, Falcons tend to fish a tad lighter in power than their rating (and St Croix's a tad heavier). The WW rod for sure fishes like a M. I throw swim jigs a lot on the 7'2" (have 2). I use fluoro on one for open water and brain on another around weeds. I think the Swim Jig rod is the most versatile rod ever. Reminds me a lot of the Loomis 843MBR action. I use it for all moving baits 1/2 oz and under as well as slack line Senko and Fat Ika fishing in light to moderate cover. But the rod I use most is the Head Turner, mostly because I love jig fishing and don't fish super thick cover as much. For that I use the Amistad.

I have the Weightless Worm and Swim Jig rods as well. Besides jigs and T rigs, I also use the Head Turner for chatterbaits and spinnerbaits. I use the Swim Jig for Keitechs, Senkos, Fat Ikas, crankbaits, lipless baits. I mostly use the WW rod as my lighter topwater rod.

X2. I've got 3 Cara Head Turners and may snag another Expert version. Awesome for pitching 1/2oz and under. Over 1/2 and I'd go Amistad.

Guys, I didn't mean to turn this into a debate. I do think we as Americans should do everything we can, at every opportunity, to support American-soil businesses. The way I see it, as long as there's American workers building Cara (or whatever brand/line of) rods, my money is going to support them. Especially going forward after this pandemic is over. I am fortunate to earn a good living and can afford (and own a couple) high end Loomis and St Croix rods but I want to support a smaller, "mom and pop" rod company like Falcon. I feel that fishing with say, NRX rods is not going to put more fish in the boat (and I've got a GLX and Legend Extreme), for me. I don't care what Christie, Hallman, or McClelland fish but I would bet they all fish both Experts and Caras. I've seen film of Christie dropshotting with a Bucoo spinning rod on Mille Lacs. They will use whatever rod gets the job done. JMHO.

No offense taken. I'll just have a difficult time replacing the Cara rods I have but I will have to try an Expert soon!

FYI, I ordered a few things from the Falcon website and they were kind enough to include their 2020 catalog. Even though it doesn't state that any of their rods are made in the US, they are going to have the Caras, including the micro guide versions (CCM) and the Mike McClelland versions (MMC)!! It states the blanks are not the same as the Expert blanks (T3 with Crossmatch) so maybe the blanks are made in the US??? I'm not connected with Falcon in any way, just a true Cara rod lover ?

There, I fixed it - this is a critical point. After you make your wraps with the braid around the leader loop, make sure to pass it through so both the main line and tag end are side-by-side and not crossed.

Straight mono, 15lb. McCoy Mean Green for poppers and props. 50lb braid for frogs.

For me, the three most enjoyable things about bass fishing are feeling the bite, then setting the hook into a big bass, and topwater fishing. I’ve been lucky to have fought big freshwater cats, carp, drum, sturgeon and steelhead and those fish pull drag and fight much more than even smallies, my favorite fish. But none of those fish make my adrenaline rush more than a big smallie or largemouth busting a topwater and getting 3 feet of air 3 or 4 times. Ive never caught one but my bet for ultimate fighting thrill goes to tarpon on a fly rod.

Hands down the most entertaining YT channels: Uncut Angling: watch their 39 Hours episodes. Multi species angling mostly in Canada. BlacktipH: saltwater fishing and incredible catches. Very professionally filmed and edited ($$$)