spin vs BFS

[Jonas Staggs]

So I am new to BFS fishing. Given that I primarily finesse fish, I figured I would give this BFS thing a try. Its pretty cool, but I am finding it is limiting me in both casting distance and lure weight selection. To get good casting distance with my BFS, I have to run light line, 1/8 oz jigs, to be able to cast accurately and good distance. Sure I can cast lighter lures, but not as accurate, and not as far.

 

However I am finding my spin rod to be way more versatile. M action rod, 15# braid to 15# flouro. I can fish lures from weightless all the way up to 1/2 oz. And because of the braid I get amazing casting distance even with weightless lures.

 

I know that baitcasters are more accurate, for pitching into heavy cover for example, but the majority of places I fish, are man made lakes, with no brush etc. its open water, theres cover under the water sure, but theres no need to be extremely accurate. I can just cast past the target and drag the bait to it. 

 

I have a few standard baitcaster setups, but I didnt like the poor casting distance with light lures, which is why I gave this BFS thing a try.

 

After trying the BFS thing. I am just finding my spin rod to be a way more versatile setup. I get good casting distance, wide lure weight selection, and the benefit of being able to run it on a bit heavier rod and line. I can show up to a spot I never fished before and fish 1/32 jigs from  it, all the way up to a 1/2 whopper plopper. Whatever the situation calls for.

 

Trying to fish anything under 1/8 oz with the BFS seems kind of silly to me. its like why? so you can cast a trout magent 10 ft on a baitcaster? why not just use a UL spin rod, I feel it does the job better. 

 

Kind of just a rant about my experience with the BFS thing but I am still new to it. Anyone else have similar experience?

[NYWayfarer]

No. I have stuck with my size 10 (100) reels and 4-6# mono paired on light to medium light rods for fishing lures 1/8 oz and below.

 

I can cast well and best yet no day ruining backlashes.

[jigheadworm]

I just got a curado bfs and mounted it on a phenix feather 7'1 light spooled it up with 15lb j braid with 8lb invisix floro. I used it to throw 1/10 ned rig and all i can say is wow can't believe i waited so long to try it so put me in the bfs camp. 

[Jonas Staggs]

5 minutes ago, jigheadworm said:

I just got a curado bfs and mounted it on a phenix feather 7'1 light spooled it up with 15lb j braid with 8lb invisix floro. I used it to throw 1/10 ned rig and all i can say is wow can't believe i waited so long to try it so put me in the bfs camp. 

 

 

I fish neds alot. I bank fish. I can absolutely bomb ned rigs on my spin rod. 

16 minutes ago, NYWayfarer said:

No. I have stuck with my size 10 (100) reels and 4-6# mono paired on light to medium light rods for fishing lures 1/8 oz and below.

 

I can cast well and best yet no day ruining backlashes.

 

yeah, with 1/8 oz not too many backlashes, but anything under just seemed to be a hassle. Its like sure you can do it, but why?!?! lol. 

 

I just got some bearings to upgrade all my baitcasters, BFS included. well see if that makes a difference, but I think ill probably fish the spin rod most the time.

[bulldog1935]

For my inshore XUL niche, I was able to set up a BFS reel that will cast 3-g lures farther and more accurately than a comparable spinning set up will cast 5 g.  

I fished both at the same tide pass and proved that - farther and more accurate on the baitcaster, and with lighter lures.  

Same rod length and rating, just slightly larger braid diameter on the baitcaster.  

 

The trick was not buy a small-spool BFS reel, but put a 34-mm Roro-X spool on Zillion or Steez.  I did this because Roro-X was the only spool rated to cast 2 g, and my 8'2" small game rod was also rated to cast 2 g.  

 

Noteworthy, on a good 6'7" bass all-range BFS rod, the reel with Roro spool will cast 2 g just as far as it will on the longer inshore small game rod.  Though I switch from the fixed-rotor Roro spool to Ray's Studio SV spool to cover the bass lure range - still more cast distance than I need to fish the light range.  

[FryDog62]

I’m having a hard time putting my Phenix Feather Lite and Air TW reel down these days. Neds and 1/16 oz hair jigs...  

[Jonas Staggs]

17 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

For my inshore XUL niche, I was able to set up a BFS reel that will cast 3-g lures farther and more accurately than a comparable spinning set up will cast 5 g.  

 

The trick was not buy a small-spool BFS reel, but put a 34-mm Roro spool on Zillion or Steez.  

I did this because Roro-X was the only spool rated to cast 2 g, and my 8'2" small game rod was also rated to cast 2 g.  

 

Noteworthy, on a good 6'7" bass all-range BFS rod, the reel will cast 2 g just as far as it will on the longer inshore small game rod.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

so im fishing the zephyr reel on 8# mono. what is zillion or steez? spools?

8 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

I’m having a hard time putting my Phenix Feather Lite and Air TW reel down these days. Neds and 1/16 oz hair jigs...  

 

 

I been throwing berkley nymphs T rigged. 1/16th bullet weight on a weedless size 8 ewg. Its so weedless due to that small gap its amazing. I can toss it anywhere. I highly suggest trying some tiny ewg hooks. I go them in size 1,2,4,6, and 8.

[bulldog1935]

They're high-grade Daiwa SV reels with short spool spindles.  

I'm fishing PE#0.8 (0.15 mm) on the Roro-X spool, and PE#1.2 (0.19 mm) on the Ray's Studio SV spool.  

 

  

[Jonas Staggs]

2 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

They're high-grade Daiwa SV reels with short spool spindles.  

I'm fishing PE#0.8 (0.15 mm) on the Roro-X spool, and PE#1.2 (0.19 mm) on the 

 

  

 

i see. im still new to this stuff so were getting a bit too technical for me to quite follow along without asking a ton of questions. the short spool spindle allows it to spin easier/faster im guessing.

 

1/4 oz from my bfs and I will cast all the way to the knot on the spool.

[bulldog1935]

You've never cast a reel with a spool so fast.  

Roro spool bearings are the stuff of pocket-rockets.  

Roro also sells the best-buy spool pin tool on the planet.  

This spool will cast 1/16 oz 30' farther than the stock Daiwa spool will cast 1/8 oz.  

 

The Roro spool has a fixed rotor, and the Daiwa SV mag brake is exceptional for this task. 

(The Ray's Studio SV spools - honeycomb black and blue spools farther above - have moving SV rotor for wider lure weight range)

I'm running the mag setting at 6/20 to cast 3 g to 120'

Check out Rorolures.com - they're in Hong Kong and post inexpensively.  

Ray's Studio is in Thailand - don't confuse either with China knock-offs.  

[FryDog62]

I’m actually getting good distance with BFS. Throwing a light Ned or 1/16 oz hair jig on spinning was ok, but the line slap coming off the arbor seemed to limit some distance. I was using braid.
 

Switched to the BFS Air TW reel and 7 lb Sniper fluoro and the hair jig just floats through the air effortlessly.

 

Advantage of spinning has been casting into the wind, but other than that I’d easily stay BFS. 

 

37 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

Noteworthy, on a good 6'7" bass all-range BFS rod

Cool looking rod, where did you find it... link? Thx?

[bulldog1935]

@FryDog62

That's Valleyhill Raison Odessa.  Digitaka may have stock.  It's a high-grade rod, moderate fast, nothing tippy anywhere in the rod. 

I had 3 or 4 BFS rods lined up in comparison - all comparable price w/in $50 -  Major Craft, Megabass and the Valleyhill - none of the other rods had the wide lure range of the Valleyhill, and it does it with aplomb.  

Since I'm fishing from a kayak, it's a versatile bass rod for me.  

[Jonas Staggs]

32 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

You've never cast a reel with a spool so fast.  

Roro spool bearings are the stuff of pocket-rockets.  

Roro also sells the best-buy spool pin tool on the planet.  

This spool will cast 1/16 oz 30' farther than the stock Daiwa spool will cast 1/8 oz.  

 

The Roro spool has a fixed rotor, and the Daiwa SV mag brake is exceptional for this task. 

(The Ray's Studio SV spools - honeycomb black and blue spools farther above - having moving SV rotor for wider lure weight range)

I'm running the mag setting at 6/20 to cast 3 g to 120'

Check out Rorolures.com - they're in Hong Kong and post inexpensively.  

Ray's Studio is in Thailand - don't confuse either with China knock-offs.  

 

 

so what i know about bfs mostlly came from rawrfishing youtube. 

 

so what your telling me is to upgrade to roro bearings, roro spool, and roro spool spindle. is that corect?

 

I was looking at rays studio based off rawrfishing suggestion for bearings. 

[T-Billy]

I bought a Curado BFS, but not really for the purpose of throwing tiny stuff. I just wanted a light duty baitcaster with a shallow spool for throwing 1/8oz - 1/4oz or so stuff with braid. I paired it with an Ark Tharp, One Eyed Jack rod, and spooled it with 15# 832. It's proving to be a sweet and versatile setup. Small cranks, jerkbaits, grubs, tubes, wacky, light T rigs, topwater... It's awesome for my intended purpose but, I'll stick with spinning for neds and other really light stuff. 

[bulldog1935]

@Jonas Staggs

If you want to cast the lightest weight to the greatest distance, it's Roro-X spool.  

 

But if you're looking for low-inertia spool bearings, can't beat Roro bearings to improve what you already have. 

Ray's Studio bearings are also good.  

[Jonas Staggs]

Just now, T-Billy said:

I bought a Curado BFS, but not really for the purpose of throwing tiny stuff. I just wanted a light duty baitcaster with a shallow spool for throwing 1/8oz - 1/4oz or so stuff with braid. I paired it with an Ark Tharp, One Eyed Jack rod, and spooled it with 15# 832. It's proving to be a sweet and versatile setup. Small cranks, jerkbaits, grubs, tubes, wacky, light T rigs, topwater... It's awesome for my intended purpose but, I'll stick with spinning for neds and other really light stuff. 

 

 

that was actually my hope with the BFS setup. I didnt want to go extremely light, as I feel a UL/L spin rod does the job better. after fishing with it though. 1/4 oz seemed way to heavy for the reel. 1/8 oz ideal. and anything lighter a hassle. 

Just now, bulldog1935 said:

If you want to cast the lightest weight to the greatest distance, it's Roro-X spool.  

 

But if you're looking for low-inertia spool bearings, can't beat Roro bearings to improve what you already have. 

 

 

so just upgrade to roro spool and bearings?

[bulldog1935]

You're heading in the right direction with either Ray's or Roro spool bearings.  

Replace the palm-cap bearing and spool main bearing, on your spool, and of course make sure you get the right size bearings for your reel.  

I mentioned Roro spool pin tool is the best buy tool out there.  

 

Also remember you have to keep these unshielded bearings oiled (a few times/yr) - get the the lowest-viscosity spool bearing formula you can find.  

 

If you find the Roro-X spool that matches your reel and want it, it comes with the spool bearing installed - doesn't include the palm cap bearing.  

Ray's Studio spools come with shielded bearings, and I upgrade them.  

But I'm not sure either Ray's or Roro offers a spool for your reel - likely just Abu, Shimano, and Daiwa.  

 

If you have a pinion bearing, don't worry about that - it doesn't contact the spool during cast, only during wind - keep stock shielded bearing there.  

 

Since I'm in the salt, I've swapped all my BFS and ML spool bearings to IXA - had to buy them through a broker I've used for decades, Masamichi at noppin.com.   

[T-Billy]

5 minutes ago, Jonas Staggs said:

that was actually my hope with the BFS setup. I didnt want to go extremely light, as I feel a UL/L spin rod does the job better. after fishing with it though. 1/4 oz seemed way to heavy for the reel. 1/8 oz ideal. and anything lighter a hassle. 

 I feel about the same with my rod and line selection, 1/8 is about as light as I can throw and still get good distance and accuracy. 1/4 is about as heavy as I want to throw on it. This is the range I was looking to throw with this setup though so, WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER!!! LOL.

Side note: The One Eyed Jack is a sweet rod. 

[Kenny Yi]

I don't own any bfs stuff but it would definitely fit as a light jerkbait reel for me, I dont like using spinning rods for jerks

 

put light cranks in there too

[jimmyjoe]

1 hour ago, Jonas Staggs said:

im fishing the zephyr reel

 

   That could be the problem, right there.                 jj

[David 7]

I wouldn’t even know how to use one but because I pretty much fish exclusively with soft plastics, there’s no need for me to switch from spinning. 

[CrankFate]

Yes spinning gear is more versatile. And easier to use. But casting gear, IMO, is more sensitive and less fatiguing.

[WRB]

I hate leaders!

BSF Bait Finesse System allows the anger to cast lighter weight lures then traditional bait casting rods and reels. 

My mentor was Jason Lucas who was the original BSF angler.

Jay promoted using light line bait casting in the 50’s, read Lucas On Bass book.

My 1st bass rod and reel would be considered BSF today. Langley 340 Target reel on Connolin Feather Lite rod using 8 lb braid. 2nd reel was Langley Lure Cast 330 reel, the difference the 340 was free spool no level wind and 330 was direct spool with level wind. 330 weighs 4 1/8 oz, 340 was 4 oz, both drilled light weight aluminum spool that held 50 yards of 8 lb Dacron line. 

When mono came out I tried adding a leader to the braid thinking clear line would improve my catch ratio....it didn’t.

Fast forward to the 70’s when Abu introduced the 2500C reel. Not light weight in today’s standard but could cast 8 lb mono without getting past the spool into the spool shaft. 

Graphite rods were state of the art introduced by Fenwick, not light weight or reliable. 

Enter Gary Loomis a fly rod maker who developed today’s graphite bass rods for Lamiglas. I wanted a light weight custom Lamiglas 3 power rod for super tuned 2500C reels and Lamiglas made them for me. No heavy reel seat but the Fenwick Trigger Stick design 6’10” long. This became my BSF combo for 35 years using 8 lb Maxima UG Copolymer line, no braid. Lamiglas also made my 5 power rods for jigs with 4500C reels followed by Daiwa HTSA 103  & 105 reel using 10 & 12 lb Big Game, my heavy bass combo.

Spinning reels twist line but cast lighter weight lures easier then BSF outfits. So I added Shimano Stradic 1000& 2500 reels using both 5 lb UG and 7 lb FC on Phenix/Iovino custom Spit shot rods.

Pall my giant bass were caught using a Lamiglas Rods and a combination of Abu 2500C and 4500C reels and Daiwa HTSA  on Copolymer/mono line ranging 8 lb to 12 lb....no leaders.

Tom

 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

The rod you use can make a huge especially when you go lighter then 1/8.

[bulldog1935]

51 minutes ago, CrankFate said:

Yes spinning gear is more versatile. And easier to use. But casting gear, IMO, is more sensitive and less fatiguing.

I only go to spinning for fishing in the dark.  

No casting weight advantage, no versatility advantage - with spinning, just don't have to see the lure land in the dark. 

I'm set up now to do everything better with baitcasters in daylight.  

 

I've always been my own mentor.  I've been trying to teach my dad to fish since I was 12.  Never could teach him to read water, and there's no counting how many times he's planted his boat- though the place he planted it most is the also the most famous shipwreck bar in Texas history.  All those guys who need to take people under their wing - don't get me wrong, Joe Robinson's a great guy, but I'll do fine, thanks.  

I did let Joe teach me at the vise how to tie a dubbing loop using scrap marabou.  

When I give a fly fishing talk, always describe myself as The Difficult to Mentor Type.  

48 years of fly fishing will make you appreciate the good points of leaders.