My Budget BFS Review

[MBB Nate]

I'm pretty much addicted to fishing and always looking for something new to try.  I spend a heck of a lot more time reading and watching videos than actually on the water, thanks a lot life for getting in the way of my fishing, and somewhat recently discovered BFS fishing.

 

For those unfamiliar with the term BFS, it is essentially fishing really light lures with a baitcaster that you would normally throw on a spinning rod.  Most BFS setups start with expensive reels like the Aldebaran BFS and expensive Majorcraft Rods, but I found a much cheaper alternative. 

 

The Reel:  Fishband GHS100.

This reel is a Chinese made Aldebaran knockoff.  It's very small and comes in a 7.2:1 gear ratio.  You can find this reel on Amazon/Ali Express for $50-$65.  I watched a few videos and it looks like a dang Aldebaran and the video reviews were pretty good.  I figured what the heck lets give it a shot.  Once I got the reel and opened it up, it feels pretty good in hand.  Everything feels pretty smooth.  I spooled it up with 6lb Trilene XL.  I don't know exactly how much line I got on it but I would guess somewhere around 60-70 yards maybe? The reel itself feels pretty good. The brake dial is the only part of this reel that feels cheap, as it's made of plastic.

 

The Rod: Ace Hawk CU Double

This is another Chinese item.  This rod is pretty cool. It can be found on Ali Express for $37.   I opted for the 6' version but they make it in a 5'6 and a 7' thats a bit heavier I believe.  The rod is 2 piece and comes with two different tips, a light and an ultralight.  The UL rating is from .5 to 5 grams, 1/56 - 5/28 oz.  The L tip is rated 2 to 6 grams, 1/14 oz to 3/14 oz.  The rod actually feels pretty nice and came in a bag to store it in.  The handle is pretty short but it's still long enough to make two handed casts with.  The rod is really nice for less than $40

 

The Review:

 

I put the reel on the rod and attached the light tip.  I spooled the reel up with 6lb Trilene XL.  I tied on a 1/15oz ned head and a TRD worm and set out in the yard for testing.  I set my spool tension like I normally do and maxed the brakes.  At first cast I noticed that oh man the brakes on this reel are very very strong.  After tinkering with it a little I got to a point where I could cast my little ned rig about 30-35 yards.  Not bad.  

 

I ran into my first issue.  I made a cast and my spool blew up.  The line came off the spool and got between the spool and the frame and made a big mess.  I took the spool out, fixed the line and went back at it.  It happened again.  I tightened the spool tension as tight as I could get it and noticed the spool still had quite a bit of side to side play.  I went inside and removed the spool tension knob.  Now I don't know the name of the part here, but when you remove the spool tension knob there is a plastic piece that rotates when you turn the knob.  It looked like it was too loose.  I hand tightened it, put the knob back on and voila, fixed it!

 

I respooled the reel and hit the water.  I didn't try to throw anything ultra finesse but I threw ned rigs, a tiny fluke on a 1/0 EWG weightless, some trick worms, a yo zuri snap bean, a tiny trap and a booyah pond magic spinner bait.  I spent about an hour on the water just doing some testing and managed to catch a 10 in bass which was a whole of of fun to bring in.

 

My Opinion

First impression is oh man this is LIGHT.  I thought my 7' finesse spinning rod setup was light, but picking it up after fishing this made it feel like a tank.  I can see why people spend a ton of money to BFS fish.  While I didn't even try throwing anything super light like trout magnets, it was so much fun throwing stuff that I would only throw on a spin rod on a baitcaster.  Some techniques like crankbaits, flukes, and spinnerbaits just feel better on a casting rod.  Once dialed in the reel casts incredibly smooth.  I think if I put a 1/4oz lipless on it I could spool myself on every cast.  

 

If anyone is even remotely interested in BFS fishing, or just wants to try something new, this is a heck of a lot of fun for under $100. 

 

 

[zell_pop1]

Honestly if you want a good cheap aluminum finesse bait caster look for a used Pflueger Asaro on ebay. Probably $50 max. I have it on a 6'4" Team All Star m/f sbr1 rod. This combo likes 8lb test and light lures, I use it for river Smallies.

[new2BC4bass]

I worked in sheet metal for about 9 years.  We used tape measures (and combination squares) so 64ths and multiples of it were used.  Been a programmer 33 plus years in a machine shop.  If fractions are used on a drawing they are again in 64ths or multiples of it.  Soooooooooooooooo.....................I had to dig a calculator out to find out what weights you were talking about, and I use math daily (except weekends).  I'd be willing to bet that just about everyone else will have to as well.  And, yes, I realize your figures are closer than using 64th multiples.

 

Now that I have the nitpicking out of the way, thanks for the review.  I've tried to lower the weights I can cast on a baitcast combo.  I can't go as pricey as an Aldebaran.  A cheap option for me would be a used ProLite.  Other possible options are used Abu small round reels.  Both in the $30-$65 range.  However, I don't think there is a baitcast reel made....regardless of price....that would allow me to cast .0705 of an ounce.  Forget about .0176 ounce.  You are much better with a baitcast reel than I am.  So far about 1/8 oz. is the best I can do, and casts aren't very accurate or very far.  An honest 3/16 oz. is very doable with both decent distance and good accuracy.

[JustJames]

Thanks

[MBB Nate]

I think the lightest I casted was a 1/16.  It didn't cast as far as spinning gear does.  I can't imagine casting 1gram is fun.

 

I didn't buy this with the intention of throwing salmon eggs and stuff for trout which is what some people do or to replace my spinning rod which I adore.

 

I got it mainly to fish things around 1/8 oz which it will throw very easily. It throws lighter stuff than I can on my alphas sv/med rod combo.

 

Is bfs optimal or practical cost wise?  Absolutely not when youre looking at a $500 rig to do what a $40 spin combo can do.  I do like the experience of throwing small spinnerbaits, flukes and buzzbaits on this rig over my spinning rod though.

 

I think this little inexpensive rig does everything I was looking for but there is no way I'd drop $300 on an aldebaran bfs reel and matching rod.

[ibobpeb]

I also have the Ace Hawk CU Double and man it's awesome. The extra fast tip really helps propel light lures and I get good accuracy too. I bought it for $39 and the value can't be beat. I mainly use this to throw 3.5 gram crankbaits. 

 

Right now I have it paired up to an aldebaran bfs xg limited but I plan to get the GHS100 as a xmas gift to myself. So then the aldebaran can go on a different rod.