The Lowrider 7’0” Medium “Moderate-Fast” is an interesting rod to me.
 

Question - that rod is rated for 1/4-1/2 oz lures. I have a very small Texas rig that with 1/64 oz sinker, plastic and lure weighs exactly 1/4 oz total. How well will this rod load and cast something that light?
 

I’ve found most traditional Medium-Fast rods can’t quite do it. Will the Lowrider being Moderate-Fast be up for the task? 
 

Thx! 

30 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

The Lowrider 7’0” Medium “Moderate-Fast” is an interesting rod to me.
 

Question - that rod is rated for 1/4-1/2 oz lures. I have a very small Texas rig that with 1/64 oz sinker, plastic and lure weighs exactly 1/4 oz total. How well will this rod load and cast something that light?
 

I’ve found most traditional Medium-Fast rods can’t quite do it. Will the Lowrider being Moderate-Fast be up for the task? 
 

Thx! 

that rod is a crankbait rod. I wouldn’t throw a Texas rigged anything on it.  I handled one in store and found that it was even too light for me for small crankbaits. 
 

For what you’re describing, get the Cara bfs 7’2”. Check my review of it here (maybe another thread) but it has a lighter tip than the ml phenix but more butt and faster action. A true 1/4 total bait weight is no problem. 

2 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

that rod is a crankbait rod. I wouldn’t throw a Texas rigged anything on it.  I handled one in store and found that it was even too light for me for small crankbaits. 
 

For what you’re describing, get the Cara bfs 7’2”. Check my review of it here (maybe another thread) but it has a lighter tip than the ml phenix but more butt and faster action. A true 1/4 total bait weight is no problem. 

The Cara BFS is very similar to my Cashion Icon BFS rods which is just a touch light. I think I need something to cast the lighter lures, but have more backbone than a traditional BFS rod.  Somewhere between an ML and a Medium…

 

Or maybe I commit the unthinkable with a Medium-Fast casting rod and a BFS reel 😮

2 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

The Cara BFS is very similar to my Cashion Icon BFS rods which is just a touch light. I think I need something to cast the lighter lures, but have more backbone than a traditional BFS rod.  Somewhere between an ML and a Medium…

 

Or maybe I commit the unthinkable with a Medium-Fast casting rod and a BFS reel 😮

 

I don’t know your icon or just quite how much backbone you’re talking about but the Cara BFS has quite a bit of backbone down low up to the middle of the rod.  It has a lighter tip than any medium I’ve felt aside from one which was my dad’s old all star from the 90’s (and I have downstairs).  The tip will throw a true 1/8 oz with my aldebaran and I can even go down to 3/32 and still throw it 20 yards.  I haven’t tested the bottom end for casting range, but it feels like 3/8-7/16 is definitely no problem. It’s rated 5/8 and that’s probably right but I haven’t tried it.  It has almost as much backbone as my 7’2” MH swim jig rod but a lighter tip.  I haven’t been out enough to fish it properly but I’m confident that an eighth ounce plus any plastic I want is going to fish pretty alright on it.  I think an eighth plus 4” senko is going to be right.

I've got two rods to add to the mix now that I have fished them for the start of a season.  Both will get more play when my elbow gets right and I can use a baitcaster again, but for now I can put them in here.  I wish I could add them to the original post, but that's non-editable so we'll add them here.

 

Cara BFS (7'2", ML/MF)- Coming in at a 3-power is the Cara BFS.  They launched two rods this winter in the Cara BFS series.  I'm not fishing true BFS light, but I wanted something in a casting rod that I could throw a true 1/8 oz total bait weight comfortably and more usually fish a 1/16 head plus a finesse TRD or a 4" senko on the back and have enough backbone to drive the hook through a texas rig with a hidden hookpoint.  I have the phenix feather M and it is a solid choice, but I wanted a little lighter tip and a little more backbone down low.  That's exactly what the Cara BFS is.  The tip is lighter than the phenix.  It is rated 1/16-5/16 which would imply a lighter rating than the phenix by a mile.  However, I am pretty confident that this rod is the Cara ML spinning blank made into a BFS casting rod.  The original specs from the youtube video they released was 1/8-5/8.  It was on the blank in the closeup and in the comments from falcon themselves.  That matches the Cara spinning rod in every spec (length, rating, lure rating, etc).  Then between the launch video and the first production, I think they said to themselves, "BFS should be lighter.  The BFS crowd will think 1/8-5/8 is too heavy.  Cut down the rating".  So they did on paper.  Is it accurate?  Fairly.  I put an aldebaran on mine.  I can cast a true 1/16 oz total bait weight just fine in the yard (overhead casting, 25 yards).  It won't do a nice sidearm flick or roll cast, but I'm also not fishing that light.  When you make it 1/8 oz TBW then there are no limitations.  I started with 10lb 832, but I've recently switched to 8 lb supernatural mono.  I don't know if that is a permanent swap, but the 832 just felt light in physical weight and wispy.  I didn't like how the wind would blow around the line like thread and 8 lb mono is much better in that regard.  The last trip out that I used it, that combo felt awesome.  I was pitching a mini craw (1/16 oz ned head and zman TRD crawz) to bedded smallies.  TBW around 1/4 oz and it felt like a mini version of my swim jig rod (if you put 3/8 oz on that rod).  I will totally be doing more of this with neds, finesse jigs, and other tiny baits pitching to cover (cover that 8 lb mono can handle well enough). I would say the rod is a 5/8 oz rating from a backbone perspective and could handle a 3/8 jig and small trailer, but not if you are using heavier wire.  Light wire 1/8 oz swim jig?  Definitely going to do that.  Sniper jig?  for sure.  There is also a 6'11" rated the same the rest of the way across the board.  I suspect it is the same blank with 3" cut off the butt to make it shorter.  I'd love to get my hands on one to check, but I don't need two of the 'same' function blank.

 

 

Cara Big bait rod (7'9", H/F 1-5 oz)- In the original post for this thread, I talk about the rod power number ratings.  This rod is a 7 power, just the same as the eye crosser and the Amistad.  I wouldn't have guessed that if you didn't tell me.  This rod is a big rod.  The amistad and Eye crosser are pretty similar in total power.  This rod feels like they took an amistad, beefed up the tip a little, and extended the butt 6".  Last year I started throwing 6" magdrafts on the other two rods and it worked.  The regular is 1.25-1.5 oz and the freestyle is probably just a little more with my using a 3/8 oz weighted hook (I plan to try a 3/4 oz hook on them later this summer).  With the amistad (no slouch of a rod) it fishes fine but you know you're working the rod.  The Big Bait Rod just eats up a 6" magdraft.  It feels the same as my lighter rods throwing a 1/2 oz spinnerbait.  I grabbed some 8" MDs and I was throwing them earlier in the year with no issues.  This rod will fling an 8" magdraft 40 yards on 20 lb fluoro.  I was babying it at first as I thought that was too much for the rod.  It was just me.  I wasn't used to throwing that much weight.  With a modest side arm lob it just flings it.  And yet, if there isn't a bait hanging on the end the rod is super balanced and doesn't feel tip heavy at all.  I have a Chronarch 200E on it which isn't a huge reel and it feels just balanced.  I'm excited to throw this rod more this summer into some truly heavy stuff.  I suspect that it would be a pretty good punching rod with an ounce or ounce and a half plus plastic.  I'm going to find out.

 

 

Nice write up! Thanks for taking the time to do this. I'm a novice to the BFS stuff so it's interesting to read about it. I have a BFS reel that a buddy gave me to but I've never even used it. Haven't tried BFS fishing. Maybe I should, but I just can't see the reason for it personally. 

On 4/17/2025 at 10:43 AM, msgf91 said:

The Light and UL Bucoo spinning rods go for 54. Even the Lowriders are less than regular Lowrider price. They are $99. 

Learn something new every day. I never noticed that either. I guess if I ever want to get a dedicated crappie rod I'll have to keep that in mind.

On 5/24/2025 at 11:50 PM, dk2429 said:

Learn something new every day. I never noticed that either. I guess if I ever want to get a dedicated crappie rod I'll have to keep that in mind.

Can't go wrong with either one. I ended up with the three of them and I've been catching  tons of crappie and bass with them. I even caught a small channel with the Bucoo. They each have their own positives over each other.  The Evo has an old school style full grip. The Bucoo looks more modern but is super sensitive. I was able to catch tons of dink crappie with it. While the Lowrider has a bit more power in it and a super soft reversed cork grip. 

On 4/10/2025 at 7:24 AM, rangerjockey said:

The weightless worm has always been popular around here as a jerkbait rod.  I think its better than the rod Falcon actually calls a jerkbait rod which has always felt too soft to me. The WW is basically a MH butt with a medium tip.

Remember, it was meant to be a floating worm rod but it fishes a popper or sammy well also.

Tell me more about the topwater capabilities of this rod... I saw the 6'7" and in the 6'8"  in the Lowrider.  Looking at a dedicated topwater rod, back up floating worm and jerkbait. I like the shorter length in a kayak. I would be throwing primarily 3/8-1/2 oz topwaters... which rod will handle the heavier 1/2 oz lures better?  Not only imparting action (walk-the-dog, chugging poppers, etc.), but staying hooked up with treble hooks?  Thx! 

1 hour ago, FryDog62 said:

Tell me more about the topwater capabilities of this rod... I saw the 6'7" and in the 6'8"  in the Lowrider.  Looking at a dedicated topwater rod, back up floating worm and jerkbait. I like the shorter length in a kayak. I would be throwing primarily 3/8-1/2 oz topwaters... which rod will handle the heavier 1/2 oz lures better?  Not only imparting action (walk-the-dog, chugging poppers, etc.), but staying hooked up with treble hooks?  Thx! 

It will fish a full size spook, SB125 or a Vixen ect. fine, especially with braid.

  If you throw big walking baits on mono I would also check out the headturner but I personally wouldn't throw a jerkbait on it. 

I've used the finesse jig rod also with mono and it's good also.

It's really like Loomis . With the SBR , TWR and JBR . They feel pretty much the same to me. 

19 minutes ago, rangerjockey said:

It will fish a full size spook, SB125 or a Vixen ect. fine, especially with braid.

  If you throw big walking baits on mono I would also check out the headturner but I personally wouldn't throw a jerkbait on it. 

I've used the finesse jig rod also with mono and it's good also.

It's really like Loomis . With the SBR , TWR and JBR . They feel pretty much the same to me. 

When you say the rod will be fine, I assume you mean the Lowrider 6'7" MH. Realistically, I'm throwing 3/8 oz Chug Norris, or 1/2 Giant Dog X for this rod. Sound right for this rod?  

1 hour ago, FryDog62 said:

When you say the rod will be fine, I assume you mean the Lowrider 6'7" MH. Realistically, I'm throwing 3/8 oz Chug Norris, or 1/2 Giant Dog X for this rod. Sound right for this rod?  

Yes. I wouldn't have a problem with that.

I have the Bucoo pitching stick. I've had someone on here argue with me when I said it was a great all-around rod for T-rigs. It really does have a great tip for skipping and making a light presentation. It can cast lighter weight quite well. It feels like air in my hand, but has the backbone to drag up to 8 pounders out of cover with the drag tightened down. I caught this gal on it and she was wrapped around a log. 

And I have an older Lowrider Trap Caster. I usually keep it loaded with 30# braid. I bought it 2nd hand from a coworker for $50 about 15 years ago-a testament to its durability. He was trading his bass fishing hobby for a custom motorcycle build hobby. When I first got it I used it for everything from frogs to cranks. Now I use it for lipless cranks, 110 size Plopper and in winter, the Sonic blade bait. That bait gets hung up enough that I use straight braid so I can bend the hook and save it. Otherwise, I could go through a couple per trip.

12 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

I have the Bucoo pitching stick. I've had someone on here argue with me when I said it was a great all-around rod for T-rigs. It really does have a great tip for skipping and making a light presentation. It can cast lighter weight quite well. It feels like air in my hand, but has the backbone to drag up to 8 pounders out of cover with the drag tightened down. I caught this gal on it and she was wrapped around a log. 

And I have an older Lowrider Trap Caster. I usually keep it loaded with 30# braid. I bought it 2nd hand from a coworker for $50 about 15 years ago-a testament to its durability. He was trading his bass fishing hobby for a custom motorcycle build hobby. When I first got it I used it for everything from frogs to cranks. Now I use it for lipless cranks, 110 size Plopper and in winter, the Sonic blade bait. That bait gets hung up enough that I use straight braid so I can bend the hook and save it. Otherwise, I could go through a couple per trip.

 

I'm with you on the pitching stick, aka head turner.  That's exactly what it was designed to be- a short range pitching rod for jigs and other bottom contact.  Only after that did people realize its pretty good for spinnerbaits and chatterbaits too.  As ranger jockey noted above, it's a pretty good rod for 1/2 oz walking baits on mono and will throw them and work them further than you can properly set the hook with mono.  And with braid it makes a pretty good light to modest cover frog rod.  I wouldn't use it for heavy slop but for sparse grass or overhanging banks it's great.  

On 3/30/2025 at 8:25 PM, Bird said:

Just when I've slowly went with mostly Dobyns, now got to consider Falcon.

Thanks 🤔

I switched from Dobyns to Falcon this year. Have to be honest, Dobyns just feels like a step behind in weight, action, sensitivity. So pretty much everything. I would have no issue putting the LowRider up there with the Champion. When it comes to the Cara, I don't think Dobyns makes a rod that competes with it. 

On 9/15/2025 at 10:28 AM, NoFroFishing said:

I switched from Dobyns to Falcon this year. Have to be honest, Dobyns just feels like a step behind in weight, action, sensitivity. So pretty much everything. I would have no issue putting the LowRider up there with the Champion. When it comes to the Cara, I don't think Dobyns makes a rod that competes with it. 

I agree overall but I do like dobyns for moving baits and spinning rods slightly better than Falcon.  They have a really smooth action.  I don’t know if that’s is a quantifiable quality but I think so. 

With bottom contact Falcon is my favorite by far over a few other top brands that are in the $250 to $450 range.
 

It’s been awhile since getting to fish the Cara BSF 7’2” rod and it’s perfect for my fishing using casting in lieu of finesse spinning combo’s. 
The 1st  bass I caught was a striper feeding with largemouth using Karashi twitch bait. 5 lb Ultra Green on Ark limited Ed BSF reel. The striper was a handful and good fight the rod handle it well. Casting 1/8-3/16 oz lures was easy with this rod with the light tip action. My only complaint is the open hook holder location on top of the blank tends to snag the line retrieve do to the way I hold the rod and run the between my fingers.

The CARA BSF rod tip is light and requires a firmer hook set then I was use to for top water feeding LMB. The striper crushed the Karashi no issue with a hook set, the rear treble is another issue!
Definitely rate this excellent for myBSF bass fishing.

Tom 

@WRB-2.0

 

So glad you like it.  I’ve only fished mine a little this year.  It was mostly the spawning season Ned bite.  I should throw the neko rig on it more since the Cara bfs and my poison adrena are pretty similar in action and power and the neko on the PA has been one of my two main things this year.  

 

Not sure if it is a thing for you, but I did the fish the Cara with the bitsy sexy dawg for a while and it’s a nice pair.  It is just over 1/8 oz so definitely spinning rod territory but the rod and a BFS reel handles it.

 

On 9/21/2025 at 12:29 PM, WRB-2.0 said:

Definitely rate this excellent for myBSF bass fishing.

Tom 

 

Never thought I'd see the day Gary's 3rd biggest fan boy would see the light.💡 I've been waiting ten years to see WRB in a Falcon thread speaking positively about the brand. 😂

 

J/k. Glad you like your Falcon, Tom. 

Has anyone got one of the new falcon rods since they switched suppliers or whatever they did? 

Not yet for me.  They’ve only moved the expert line over to the new lineup so far and the next rod I’m buying is probably the Cara head turner or another swim jig.  Those are my two main rods and I’d have a second of either of them.  

7 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

Not yet for me.  They’ve only moved the expert line over to the new lineup so far and the next rod I’m buying is probably the Cara head turner or another swim jig.  Those are my two main rods and I’d have a second of either of them.  

Did I miss something? Have they changed blank suppliers again ?

9 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

Not yet for me.  They’ve only moved the expert line over to the new lineup so far and the next rod I’m buying is probably the Cara head turner or another swim jig.  Those are my two main rods and I’d have a second of either of them.  

Do you have any idea about the lowrider? I haven’t felt any falcon rods in store in a little while but this one feels off to me. I ordered in August and got it recently. It’s the finesse jig model. I’m going to try and find some in store to feel soon. 

9 hours ago, rangerjockey said:

Did I miss something? Have they changed blank suppliers again ?

 

Up for debate.  They refreshed the expert lineup (check out the labels) and supposedly they moved production (word on the street was to Korea, but there is nothing online to support that).  Like when they moved production from US to CN, rods were (and many still are) out of stock as they run down the old and stock in the new.  TW has a bunch of “!” on Cara rods right now and some are backordered until March.  The same happened on the expert lineup a couple months ago.  Now the new ones are decently stocked (and $30 higher I think).  It could just be an aesthetic revamp to justify a price increase creating the stock transition, but there was chatter in another group about a move a couple months back.

 

@Brycecover - I don’t know the low rider finesse jig.  I have the expert version which I believe is just a touch stiffer.  The expert lineup are just a touch stiffer across the board for what I’ve seen.  What feels off about it and what are you using it for?

I’m still waiting for a lowrider headturner to be in stock. But they are worth the wait