Should I be looking at BFS?

[kazact95]

Hello all! I'm a fairly new bass fisherman looking for some advise on a new setup. There are a few things I've learned I prefer in my short time fishing, and one of them are baitcasters. They feel "Right" to me and I'd like to replace my spinning rod with some sort of caster. Another thing I'm adamant about is casting distance. I fish from shore on very pressured water. If I can't cast 20-30 Yards to inaccessible shoreline, I'm not gonna catch much. BFS and finesse fishing in general aren't about distance, but it's what I need.

The setups main job will be throwing the following rigs:

1/15 oz Ned head + TRD craw/creature = ~5.1g

Weightless Finesse worm = ~5.5g

1/16 oz Okashira Screw head + 3" Spark Shad = ~5.95g

1/15 oz Ned head + Normal TRD = ~6g

1/10 oz Ned head + TRD craw/creature = ~6.1g

1/8 oz Skirted Ned Head + TRD craw = ~6.8g

1/10 oz Ned head + Normal TRD = ~7g

Weightless Plastics = ~7g

1/8 oz Shakeyhead + Finesse worm = ~8.8g

1/4 oz Keitech Jig + TRD Craw = ~10.3g

Weightless Plastics = ~10.5g

That's literally everything this rod will see with accompanying (True)weights. A range of about 3/16-3/8. I'm currently planning on purchasing the Shimano Expride in 7'2" ML+ with a stated range of 1/8-5/8. My current plan is to pair it with a Curado BFS. I also considered a Curado MGL 70k for the spool capacity, but I'm worried about throwing the rigs I have listed under 6g. Is that BFS reel territory?

What about the rod? I'm looking at it over the Sierra BFS rods mostly due to the stated lure range. 3/8 oz Weightless plastics like 5 inch senkos would overpower the Sierras I believe.

I could always Move The 1/4 Keitechs and Weightless senkos to another rod, I suppose. Planning on getting a 6'11" M+ Poison Adrena at the same time as the "BFS" combo, and I believe it will handle lures around 3/8 oz fine.

[fishwizzard]

The Sierra BFS rods will be way over powered by a lot of the presentations you want to throw, around 3/16oz is where it tops out imho.  There are some reviews floating around for the Expride ML+. I feel like people found the rod a little stiffer/more powerful than listed, which may still work for you as you’re never really dipping far below 3/16oz.  

I fish a lot of BFS and honestly in your situation I would look at getting two rods or prioritizing one end of that weight spectrum and figuring out another way to fish the rest of it.  One of the Light power Major Craft BFS rods would be a good compromise at the lower end and the Megabass XXX Black Themis would be one for the upper.  
 

The Phenix BFS rods are also worth a look, I know the old Recon 2 that I had was on the slightly slower side of fast and it was a very easy to cast right across pretty much the range you’re looking at. 

Edit:  the PA 610m+ is an amazing rod and really shines in the 3/8-5/8 range.  Super versatile and fun rod. 

[BayouSlide]

Extremely happy with my Phenix Feather light coupled with a Curado BFS, for what its worth.

[Mobasser]

I don't own or have fished any BFS gear, but I still tend to think that with the lightweight stuff your using, you'll do better with a spinning rod.

[MN Fisher]

^ What Sean said.

[Jmurphy87]

It basically comes down to if you really want to use a baitcaster with light weight lures and line. I have one setup I use for it and enjoy it a lot but as with everything in life it can come down to how much money you want to spend. My setup is fairly cheap but it works and I am happy with it curado bfs and zodias ml with 7lb braid, I need a different rod to go lighter but without ordering online it makes it very hard to acquire rod's.

[kazact95]

15 minutes ago, Jmurphy87 said:

It basically comes down to if you really want to use a baitcaster with light weight lures and line. I have one setup I use for it and enjoy it a lot but as with everything in life it can come down to how much money you want to spend. My setup is fairly cheap but it works and I am happy with it curado bfs and zodias ml with 7lb braid, I need a different rod to go lighter but without ordering online it makes it very hard to acquire rod's.

 

I'm set on using baitcasters for anything I'm able to. I know that will mean more time spent dialing in the setup, and more money spent over an equivalent spinning setup. As it stands I'd be more apt to throw larger/heavier baits that don't get bit nearly as often before I'd use spinning gear. It just feels awkward in my hands and I always find myself picking up my caster, even when the conditions don't call for it.

 

How low of a weight have you gone on the Zodias/Curado combo and how's the 7lb braid do on the BFS?

[ike8120]

I am using a Zephyr BFS rod and reel combo for my UL lures .

[QED]

Shimano Poison Adrena 163L BFS rod with

Shimano Aldebaran BFS XG reel.

 

The shiznitz for sure.  But you have to purchase from a JDM site.  And definitely not budget friendly - but totally worth it.

[Jmurphy87]

5 hours ago, kazact95 said:

 

I'm set on using baitcasters for anything I'm able to. I know that will mean more time spent dialing in the setup, and more money spent over an equivalent spinning setup. As it stands I'd be more apt to throw larger/heavier baits that don't get bit nearly as often before I'd use spinning gear. It just feels awkward in my hands and I always find myself picking up my caster, even when the conditions don't call for it.

 

How low of a weight have you gone on the Zodias/Curado combo and how's the 7lb braid do on the BFS?

The zodias is rated for 3/16 to 1/2 with the 7lb braid I can cast less than a gram consistently and cast 3-5 grams a very long ways.I like the 7lb braid it's good haven't had any issues and have caught some ok fish with it.

[Phil77]

BFS with casing reels peaked my interest for a bit but I settled for a daiwa regal and a BPS Pro Crappie rod. Crappie and Bluegill feel like 2-3lb bass on my rig and it was under a hundred bucks. If youre wanting to do the casting route check out youtube, theres a dude on there who demo's all of it from the high dollar to the dirt cheap rigs. 

[bulldog1935]

You don't have to get too fancy to cast 6 g - a good ML rod and a Lew's Super Duty G or any good mag-brake reel with good spool bearings can do that.  Shallow spools are a bonus for keeping line mass down. 

 

It's definitely possible to put together a baitcaster that will out-cast spinning tackle for light lures. 

If you already have a good reel with a deep spool and casting brake you trust, you may be able to build the reel you want by simply swapping in a lightweight, shallow spool, Roro-X or Ray's Studio. 

The one you don't have to fumble with is Daiwa SV.  Simply set mag brake for the lightest thing you're going to throw, and the SV takes care of the rest. 

 

When I went looking for a BFS bass rod, it was to find one rod that would cover most fishing from a kayak.  My list began with 1/16 oz BFS, but narrowed to all-range rods that could cast 5/8 oz on the heavy end.  The high-grade Valleyhill all-range BFS rod I finally selected does everything I wanted, from Ned rigs to crank baits at the max rod rating (just not a frogger rod).  It's faster than the MM rating it's given, transmits everything you want to feel, and nothing tippy about the rod.  It also casts the light end toe-to-toe with my longer shore light game rod (though most of that is the reel set-up). 

[fishwizzard]

3 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

 

My list began with 1/16 oz BFS, but narrowed to all-range rods that could cast 5/8 oz on the heavy end.  The high-grade Valleyhill all-range BFS rod I finally selected does everything I wanted, from Ned rigs to crank baits at the max rod rating (just not a frogger rod).  

 

I would love to hear more about it and/or anything else you know about Valleyhill.  I have heard the name a few times but never found any real info.  I think the Hookup imports them from time to time.

[bulldog1935]

@fishwizzard

They've managed to build a fast progressive taper into a relatively short rod - seems like the tip is what they intentionally made short - the tip feels fast. 

The butt has plenty of power for turning fish, and the rod is so light in hand, the weight feels like UL. 

The light, fast rod transmits all the feel you need for bottom-bouncing ned rigs. 

You don't really feel the moderate in the taper until you're casting toward the upper weight limit, and that action also fishes crankbaits just fine. 

I don't remember the other exact rods from my short list, but they were Smith and Megabass, cost more, and as much.  Major Craft didn't have one that matched the heavy end. 

 

Valleyhill - they make great Ambassadeur LW upgrades, including BB worm and idler gears, and ceramic line guide. 

[GRiver]

23 hours ago, ike8120 said:

I am using a Zephyr BFS rod and reel combo for my UL lures .

I’ve checking that rig out, would you recommend it?

[ike8120]

14 hours ago, GRiver said:

I’ve checking that rig out, would you recommend it?

I personally like it, but everyone has their own opinion, it is not an expensive setup.

[ATA]

BFS Rod Lenght:

I have Five BFS combos and non of the rods longer than 5'6", That what. I call BFS rod which usually using in streams.

I have sixth combo which is 1 power edge rod 8' with Aldbaran BFS reel and I use that only on couple lakes for trout fishing that you can cast that without getting into any trees and get the most of distance with 1/32 jigheads.

so watch the lake you going to fish and choose the length of rods depending on the location you are fishing.

since you going to have one BFS combo, I suggest you do 6' rod or at the most 6'6".

 

(the heaviest jighead I use in my BFS setups is 1/16oz)

[ATA]

This is my Goto 5'6" and 1gr to 8gr ML Rod and I Paired with Conquest BFS.

[bulldog1935]

BFS = bait finesse system,

@ATA

the reels are essentially the same no matter where you use them. 

This may be what you call BFS, but it's actually where you choose to use it. 

(I showed my stillwater bass rod above, fast progressive MM)

 

The rods can cover the whole range, from stream trout (para-taper L/UL)

 

 

 

To shore light game (long, fast progressive taper) and inshore ML

(the Japanese take them offshore, also)

 

 

[roadwarrior]

On 10/10/2021 at 5:13 AM, bulldog1935 said:

You don't have to get too fancy...

 But if you want to:

Megabass FOst-66X

Shimano Conquest BFSHG

 

I have fished this a few times and caught bass too big for the rig. I plan

to fish it next month for trout on the White River. Then I will be selling both

rod & reel. Contact me if you like, but otherwise it will be offered at cost in

our Flea Market.

[bulldog1935]

6 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

 

 

unless you want to cast 3 g 140' across a tide pass

[JustJames]

3 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

 But if you want to:

Megabass FOst-66X

Shimano Conquest BFSHG

 

I have fished this a few times and caught bass too big for the rig. I plan

to fish it next month for trout on the White River. Then I will be selling both

rod & reel. Contact me if you like, but otherwise it will be offered at cost in

our Flea Market.

As much as I would want to, I will stick with my cheapo 10 years old crucial and Curado 70 with Ray’s-spool. ??? for 3” Senko.

Now tell us about your too big bass, is that a reason you are selling the rig?

 

[fishwizzard]

On 10/10/2021 at 11:00 AM, bulldog1935 said:

@fishwizzard

They've managed to build a fast progressive taper into a relatively short rod - seems like the tip is what they intentionally made short - the tip feels fast. 

The butt has plenty of power for turning fish, and the rod is so light in hand, the weight feels like UL. 

The light, fast rod transmits all the feel you need for bottom-bouncing ned rigs. 

You don't really feel the moderate in the taper until you're casting toward the upper weight limit, and that action also fishes crankbaits just fine. 

I don't remember the other exact rods from my short list, but they were Smith and Megabass, cost more, and as much.  Major Craft didn't have one that matched the heavy end. 

 

Valleyhill - they make great Ambassadeur LW upgrades, including BB worm and idler gears, and ceramic line guide. 

Cool, thanks for the info.  Thats a great looking rod and I really like the full grip and endcap.   I need to get a tuned Abu at some point soon, I have all the Pixies a reasonable man needs.  

[roadwarrior]

The rig is all "Japanese" from Japan Tackle,

 

https://japantackle.com/casting-reels/shimano/round-shaped-casting-reels/reg0000212.htm

https://megabassusa.com/product/destroyer-p5-f0st-66x-siglett/

 

I caught several 3-4 lbs and a couple of big bass. This gear is designed for little

trout or pan fish.

[JustJames]

Same reason I always said I’m not a BFS guy to use UL rod targeting bass and try to avoid giving any comments.

Since I already started let me say this.

@kazact95 you don’t need to go all the way  to BFS to cast those lures. I use my stock Curado 70 or Alphas SV 105 to cast 1/15 Ned rig with either TRD or 1/2 ZinkerZ all the time and as well as weightless trick worm. But to have shallow light weight spool is just icing on the cake and can help you cast further more accuracy and less headaches. you do need the right rod though, just regular ML bass rod with 1/8oz lure weight with softer tip should be able to handle those weight just fine plus you have backbone when you need it.

BTW I have a few nice super lightweight spinning setup but I also prefer baitcaster.