Hooked my first BFS bass yesterday. I was unprepared.

[Darth-Baiter]

I was slow twitching a tiny swimbait.  It took some getting used to casting it. It just feels so light and unsubstantial.  But by the end of the day I was getting some good distance.  
 

when the fish grabbed the lure. I set the hook.  My drag was embarrassingly loose.  I’m shocked how loose it was.  I got the most flimsy hook penetration ever. I cinched the drag down while I thumbed braked the fish.  My initial thought was my drag was broken.  Eventually I got the fish kayak side by saying, “don’t come off, don’t come off…..” repeatedly and in a rapid staccato.   It was barely hooked. I just reached down and took the lure off without boating the 12” fish. 
 

im not sure how a much larger fish will play out. You cinch the drag knob down super tight?  A 3lb bass is gonna be a wild ride. Scary almost

[roadwarrior]

I have caught a couple of better fish and have decided this gear is not appropriate

for Tennessee bass. Yes, they can be landed, but the stress on the bass is probably

not good for the fish, particularly in warmer weather.  

 

If you are interested in a high end combination, I will sell this at cost and foot the freight:

 

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/

 

[Darth-Baiter]

1 minute ago, roadwarrior said:

I have caught a couple of better fish and have decided this gear is not appropriate

for Tennessee bass. Yes, they can be landed, but the stress on the fish is probably

not good for the fish, particularly in warmer weather.  

 

If you are interested in a high end combination, I will sell this at cost and foot the freight:

I’ll see how this plays out.  My PB was caught on a tiny worm with spin-gear. It was nerve racking.   I see your point.  Something to consider for sure. 

[Deleted account]

36 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

I’ll see how this plays out.  My PB was caught on a tiny worm with spin-gear. It was nerve racking.   I see your point.  Something to consider for sure. 

What line and lure where you using? It's a bass, not a tarpon. Even a large bass (in open water) is no match for a crappie outfit and 6 lb test without much drag going out.

[T-Billy]

 

1 hour ago, Deleted account said:

What line and lure where you using? It's a bass, not a tarpon. Even a large bass (in open water) is no match for a crappie outfit and 6 lb test without much drag going out.

I've caught smallies over 5# on 6# mono. It's over in a couple minutes.

These guys on 6# are a different story.

[DitchPanda]

My PB of almost 9lbs was caught on a 2" crappie grub on a light power rod with 6 or 8lb mono. So like stated above it can easily be done. I agree with @roadwarrior that the stress on the fish needs consideration in the summer time.

[cyclops2]

Actually long Sporty  playing of a fish can kill or cripple a fish from the     Lactic Acid     buildup in them.  Why I switched to 6# braid. Breaking strength is 12 # for most 6#  brands.   Why I pull all fish in quickly to keep or kill. 

My real enjoyment is finding them.  Anybody can hook them with bait if they see them.

[Deleted account]

#7 on my "You know how I know you don't fish" list is "I love hearing the sound of the drag" and the associated too loose of a drag setting.

[thediscochef]

51 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

#7 on my "You know how I know you don't fish" list is "I love hearing the sound of the drag" and the associated too loose of a drag setting.

The only time I like hearing drag is when my line is tight enough to make me worry about it breaking. Otherwise it sounds like a bad hookset and lost fish.

[BrianMDTX]

I caught my PB (6-7 lbs estimate-no scale) on a Shakespeare 2052 spinning reel (over 50 years old) with 8 lb Stren on a Cabela’s UL rod (over 40 years old) with 1/2 a nightcrawler on a Eagle Claw #6 snelled hook. It was a 5 minute fight. But not bad until it headed for some submerged stumps. But I horsed her out and landed her. 
 

If that could do it, a BFS set-up should! 

[casts_by_fly]

56 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

#7 on my "You know how I know you don't fish" list is "I love hearing the sound of the drag" and the associated too loose of a drag setting.

the sound of an open water steelhead on the shores of the Great Lakes zinging drag off a fly reel is pretty sweet. When I lived up that way you could fish the mouths of the streams in the fall and walk the lake shoreline casting streamers like you were surf fishing for strippers. Tons of fun. You could also cast spoons on medium spinning rods to the same effect. 

[detroit1]

15 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

the sound of an open water steelhead on the shores of the Great Lakes zinging drag off a fly reel is pretty sweet. When I lived up that way you could fish the mouths of the streams in the fall and walk the lake shoreline casting streamers like you were surf fishing for strippers. Tons of fun. You could also cast spoons on medium spinning rods to the same effect. 

 

That does sound like fun.

[cyclops2]

40 years ago the junction of Lake Ontario and the Salmon river were covered with schools of all fish waiting to go up the river. To munch on fresh laid salmon eggs at the base of the power dam.  I tuck my rod under my arm so I can bend over to release my friends salmon. I can barely hear  his voice and see him pointing in my direction. I look behind me at nothing.

Bend back over to continue the release of his fish. Free it. He comes to me smiling. "  You did not see a massive Rainbow Trout jumping up & down ?  He was trying to grab your egg bag.  "

[bulldog1935]

I set my drag with a spring scale, always at the first guide, and usually limited by (1/4 of) the rod max line rating, so to 2-1/2 lbs on this rod.  But even my ML and MM rods are set to 3 lbs drag. 

The plug was one size smaller than this one (38 mm), with size 8 barbless single plug hooks, and came undone in the net. 

Laid them on the dock table and took a quick photo of the 18-inch snook before I released it - he's close to hopping off there -  I just drop my camera on lanyard and get him back in the water quickly. 

The 45 mm plug above took my first BFS redfish the month before, a 14" rat - he was solid on he size 6 barbed hook. 

There's really not much drama involved - both fish take good drag, and the first 3' of the 8' rod move around frantically, but the butt section has good power and control. 

Looking forward to one of these with shoulders on the rig. 

[cyclops2]

bulldog

  I use the same hook setup as you, I figure If I can not keep a tight enough line ?  Bless the fish. I have just started using only 1 single tail hook barb less. The fish can sometimes unhook as I bring him on deck.  Trebles & nylon nets ?  5 minutes to get the trebles free of the net strands.  LOVE BARBLESS     

[ATA]

Befor I got BFS only for trout creek fishing, I was doing same thing and try my combo at near by pond and I catch 10" bass. from that day I BFS for bass also when catching is hard.

[cyclops2]

Darth

 

 My first fish some years is MONSTER also. I back all drags off if not using the rod for a while.

[Big Hands]

3 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

when the fish grabbed the lure. I set the hook.  My drag was embarrassingly loose.  I’m shocked how loose it was.  

 

I initially felt the same way. The drag on my two Curado BFS reels is not what I would describe as 'beefy' in any way. It is smooth and the adjustment has a fine modulation across a relatively narrow range, which is great for lighter lines, but if you think you're going to just tighten it down enough to work with a 10 lb leader, you've probably got the wrong reel. You'd have to cinch down very hard to get that much.