OK everybody -- wondering if anyone here owns any of the Falcon Coastal or Lowrider Salt rods.  They have a couple models common to each series I'm really interested in: their 6'7" ML and the 6'9" L casting rods.  if the specs can be believed, they look like they'd serve as pretty sweet finesse casting rods for bass.  But here's my dilemma:  regardless of what the title of the post implies, I'm not wondering if they can be used as finesse bass casters -- that's obvious.  I'm curious if anyone here owns either of those rods that can attest to the qualities -- lightness, sensitivity, ability to truly cast lures as light as advertised, etc.  (I titled the post as such so it wouldn't immediately get moved to the "other species" forum, where it might not get as many views).  For what it's worth, I am a pretty big fan of Falcon's rods and I like their action/tapers, which tend to be a bit different from most other rod companies.  But I don't know if their salt rods are built along the same specs.  For example, with St Croix, a medium Tidemaster handles basically like a MH Premier...you see where I'm going with this.  And nowhere within hundreds of miles of me stocks Falcon SW rods in-store for me to get a feel.  If anybody can chime in, I'd truly appreciate it.  Thanks in advance everyone!!!!

I haven't fished any Falcon rods but from handling them in the stores, I tend to think they're slower in action when compared to their bass counterparts.  I'm sure they'd work, but wouldn't be my preference for finesse bass plastics.  Would probably do very well for smaller reaction bass baits though.

I find the same true for my M and ML Tidemaster rods -- while rated fast action, being a bit more moderate than comparable bass rods.

 

I don't own any at the moment but I have had Falcon Coastal rods. Falcon is more in line with the rest of the world when it comes to action ratings than St.Croix's heavy handed mentality. Are they as light in weight or feel as many think a finesse rod should be? No I don't think so. But they are a great rod.  The Cara is much light in weight in hand and feel.

My brother has a Coatal XG 7' Medium coupled with a Shimano Citica spooled with 12# Big Game.

He left it in my boat so I put a 2/0 hook, 1/8 oz weight, & a Trick Worm on it.

I had no problem pulling 3-4 lb bass out off 12-15' of water with Hydrilla to 8'.

 

I had a Falcon XG MH redfish paired with a Sahara 3000 I used when I first started bass fishing a spinning reel. The tip on the XG's seem light but the backbone is stout. I now have it paired with a Spinfisher 3500 that balanced better and have caught several reds over 30. The light tip makes it easier to throw popping corks but I don't find it as sensitive as some of my newer bass rods. If your looking for a rod to bass fish with and some saltwater too, take a look at the Fenwick HMG's.