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Falcon Lures Big Eyez Paddletail Swims True
(continued)
  Retrieving:
Once the Big Eyez sinks down to the desired depth we fished the lure both with a
constant retrieve and erratic jerks. Under just about any speed retrieve the
boot tail on the Big Eyez vibrates consistently in a tight rhythmic side to side
action. We found the Big Eyez drew strikes under both types of retrieves.
Even at high speed retrieves the
bait doesn't roll over
Falcon has done an
outstanding job
balancing this bait
and even at faster
retrieve speeds the
Big Eyez will not
roll over like many
paddletails. At
first we thought
this was solely the
design of the bait
but when we used
other hooks we found
the bait would roll
over at times. So
what was the
difference? It is
the combination of
Falcon’s Bait Jerker
Hooks. Once rigged
the weight actually
acts as a keel and
helps keep the Big
Eyez bait swimming
perfectly upright.
The hook matches the
profile of the bait
as well since the
lower portion of the
bait protrudes
downwards.
Spotted bass were eager to attack
darting Big Eyez
When fish hit the lure
aggressively there was no problem sticking them with a solid hookset. The flat
back design of the top of the lure allows the hook point to rest totally outside
the bait while remaining weedless. Because the hook is fully exposed and only
resting on the top of the bait it made it easier for lighting fast positive
hooksets, and the slit underneath the stomach of the lure provides room for the
hook when the Big Eyez is taken.
It is also possible to rig the
baits with the company's screw lock swimbait hooks as well
Durability:
With Falcon’s own
hooks we had
virtually no
durability problems.
The hole where the
hook point comes
through the top of
the bait did open up
a bit but because of
the belly slit the
hook still remains
right in the center
of the bait. Through
all the fish we
caught from the
stripers to the
meanmouth we didn’t
have a single tail
rip off the bait.
Screw in the lock into the head...
They were surprisingly
durable and lasted through quite a few fish, and in an upcoming test we actually
plan to weigh them down and fish them in inshore applications to target Cabazon
and Ling Cod to further test the lure’s range of applications and durability.
...and insert the hook
through the center of the bait
Price & Applications:
The baits retail for $6.97 per pack direct from Falcon and can actually be found
for lower prices at a number of the major e-tail sites. They do last through
quite a few fish and based on their durability they are a reasonable price.
Which brings us back to the competition, there are a lot of boot tail swimbaits,
and while they are all a little bit different, the lines between them all seem
to blur a bit.
Stripers liked the lighter colors
What Falcon lures
does have going for
it is they are able
to offer a complete
solution. By pairing
the company’s
weighted hooks with
their own baits you
know you have a
system that was
designed with both
components in mind,
and judging from how
true the baits swim
there was likely a
lot of parallel
development.
Another schoolie takes the Big
Eyez, the lures were surprisingly durable and no tails were ripped off
Ratings:
|
Falcon Big Eyez Ratings (?/10) |
| Construction/Quality |
The Falcon Big Eyez swimbaits make use of quality materials but are not the most detailed in design, certainly not a Basstrix. Overall we rated the quality of the baits good |
7 |
| Performance |
Performance that is better than it looks, this bait swims true and pairs very well with the company's own weighted hook designs |
8 |
| Price |
A reasonable price for a pack of four paddletail swimbaits. Anglers can buy them direct or get them cheaper at the top e-tailers |
7 |
| Features |
A good overall design, the flat top allows hooks to rest on top and remain weedless and the slit in the belly makes hooksets easier |
8 |
| Design (Ergonomics) |
This bait is very easy to fish and can be jerked or straight retrieved |
8 |
| Application |
Good for both bass and stripers and durable enough for some inshore applications as well |
8.5 |
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Total Score |
7.75 |
Ratings Key: 1 = terrible : 2 = poor : 3 = lacking : 4 = sub par : 5 = mediocre : 6 = fair : 7 = good : 8 = great : 9 = excellent : 10 = unbelievable!
(For a detailed explanation of the ratings go here) |
Pluses and Minuses:
|
Plus Minus |
| J Easy to fish, swims true and doesn't roll over easily |
L Not the most realistic looking paddletail |
| J Pairs nicely with the company's own hooks for a total solution |
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| J Good for multiple species |
|
| J A reasonable price direct from the manufacturer, and can be found for great prices at e-tailers |
|
Conclusion:
The Big
Eyez
swimbaits
may not be
the
prettiest of
swimbaits
but they do
get the job
done, we
found them
effective
for
largemouth,
spotted
bass, and
the lighter
colors were
excellent
for pulling
stripers out
of schools.
Falcon also
offers a
thinner
version of
the Big Eyez
for those
times when a
more finesse
paddletail
are
necessary,
both can be
employed for
freshwater
or inshore
saltwater
applications.
The Big Eyez
swimbaits
are a
no-nonsense
fish
catching
machine, and
what they
lack in
splendor
they make up
for in
consistent
swimming
action and a
well
designed
hook slot
that pairs
perfectly
with the
brand’s own
terminal
tackle
solutions.
Looking for
Falcon Big
Eyez
Swimbaits?
Tackle
Warehouse
has them at
special
prices
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