Megabass F10-76XBJ Super Red Demon/Daiwa Z200HL/70lb Daiwa Samurai Braid
Megabass F6.5-74XBJ Power Versatile/Daiwa Z200HL/55lb Daiwa Samurai Braid
Megabass F5-76X Nautilus/Megabass IS71HL/55lb Daiwa Samurai Braid
Megabass F6-72X4 Destruction/Original Deps Zillion/55lb Daiwa Samurai Braid
Evergreen Super Stallion/Daiwa Z200HL/55lb Daiwa Samurai Braid
Megabass F6-68X4 Cover Hacking/TD-Z 103ML Type R+/30lb Daiwa Samurai Braid
These combos may seem like overkill, but if you've ever been on Falcon and know what lurks there, how powerful these fish really are, and the likelihood that they may get off in all the nasty heavy cover there, it might make more sense. After last year, I wanted to be prepared to do battle with big fish around heavy cover!
The Super Red Demon was used for flipping, pitching, and casting 3/4 to 1oz jigs with oversized trailers from shallow, extremely heavy cover (standing timber, etc.) to 30' rocky humps and ledges. Fortunately, a few decent fish decided to play, but nothing over 8lbs. This stick is properly named and it handled everything Falcon Lake had to dish out and then some. The hookset power both shallow to deep is amazing and the sensitivity left nothing to be desired either. I only wish I could have stuck a true giant in the thick stuff because I have no doubt, it would have come out!
The Power Versatile was used for everything from the Strike King 10XD to large squarebills to swim jigs to swimbaits to mag flukes and 7" senkos. It's hard to imagine a rod that can do all of those things and do them as well as the Power Versatile! I would have liked a longer handle for the 10XD, but the blank made casting and retrieving the almost 2 oz mega crankbait much easier than anticipated.
The Nautilus was used for spinnerbaits from 1/2 to 1oz, mag flukes, 1/2 to 3/4 oz jigs in open water, DD22's, 6XD's, 5" senkos, and a few other baits. Again, the range of capabilities of this rod and it's impressive sensitivity make fishing it an absolute joy. Even in strong winds, I was easily able to detect jig bites and drive home solid hook sets on some quality fish. This rod is a real winner.
The Destruction was used more than anything as a mid depth cranking rod. There was a decent bite in the 8' to 12' range around the outside edges of some very heavy cover and the fish would usually head straight into it once hooked. The Destruction has the perfect mix of flex and power to keep them out of the nasty stuff, but if they did get in there, it did a great job of turning them the other way.
The Super Stallion spent most of it's time tossing swim jigs back into the nasty thorny weeds, standing timber, and small cedar trees that were flooded from the rising waters. Time and again, it's sensitivity telegraphed strikes with ease and it's power got the fish out of there in a hurry.
The Cover Hacking was my dedicated squarebill rod. This was my shortest available, lighter powered rod and it ended up being the one that brought the big fish of the trip to the boat.
I was tossing a big squarebill back in and around a bunch of standing timber when she inhaled the bait. Instantly, I knew it was a beast. She made a hard run under the boat pulling drag on the R+ (thank you Carbontex!) and headed for the trees. I added pressure and she turned, running back around the boat tangling the line in the trolling motor (thank you Samurai Braid!). I held pressure on her as she ran back toward more standing timber. My fishing partner was freaking out holding the net when he saw her surface while wrapped around the trolling motor and I had no choice but to drop the rod down under the motor, momentarily releasing pressure on this giant. It was a risky move, but the only way I had a chance to stop her from wrapping around the trees. Fortunately, the gear held up and she was hooked securely. Shortly thereafter, I brought her back to the boat and she was netted, weighed, photographed, and released unharmed to make more giant Falcon Lake bass! 11.8lbs
We were bid farewell by a beautiful sunset over the shores of Mexico after several days of hard fishing before daylight till dark. It's no secret that Falcon Lake is a special fishery and a place I hope to visit again sooner rather than later!
