Bfs line

[PressuredFishing]

Despite all the trash talking I do about bfs, I do own some, and fish them often. I normally fish mono but was planning on switching to a thin superline/coated slick braid. Will these lines warp the spool compared to mono/floro? The spool I've got is a 5gram with bearing

[bulldog1935]

no, it's actually the opposite.  Mono/fluoro stretches, and if it's loaded onto the spool under tension, it can relax and crush the spool. 

Since braid doesn't stretch, that can't happen. 

When I found the same question on a thread by @desmobob since we both fly fish, I was able to use the example of fly reels loaded with mono, which can blow the side flanges out of fly reel spools when the mono stretch relaxes. 

We can't link to the Express website on BR, but if you check AMO spools they specifically warn against mono, and recommend braid. 

Come to think of it, I guess there's nothing against a screen capture: 

 

This is PE#0.8 being spooled on a Roro-X spool, which I've fished 18 months now, landed specs, redfish and snook. 

 

[a1712]

I thought it was mono/fluoro that warped/distorted spools. Berkley X-9. Brian.

Dang it Bulldog.

[FishTank]

Mono from what I can tell is the hardest thing on bfs spools.  I haven't tried a hole lot of braid yet on this guy but I have really been liking the PE 1.0 Dead or Alive from Varivas. I still use leader but it looks like this stuff will last forever. 

 

 

[redmeansdistortion]

Non-perforated spools work good with mono and fluoro since they are more structurally sound.  Think OG Alphas Air, Steez CT SV, etc.  I run braid all the time either way.  Currently my 1600C is spooled with 50m of Gosen Roots x8 #0.6 14lb in multicolor.  It changes color every 10m, so it's easy to know how much is going on without a line counter.  Braid keeps weight off the spool, which means less rotating mass and easier casting light stuff.  Thinner line also casts better in general.  

[PressuredFishing]

53 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

Come to think of it, I guess there's nothing against a screen capture

understood, very good info. I guess maybe I should not use mono then on the light spools? I picked up the krestel elite and was not sure if i should put mono on the spool or not.

29 minutes ago, FishTank said:

Mono from what I can tell is the hardest thing on bfs spools

dang thats a bummer, maybe I should stop using mono...

[bulldog1935]

We've discussed this before on the forum, the risk might be over-rated, and probably doesn't apply to a beefier spool like Avail or @FishTank's Silver Wolf. 

 

 

They still have the center support spokes and full-ring side flanges that give support.  Plus the spool tube itself is without cut-outs and adds support. 

 

That said, I've seen heat-exchanger tubes that flattened to ribbon from low internal pressure instability, with cooling water surrounding the outside flashing to steam and creating steam pressure that crushed them. 

[FishTank]

I am still new at the whole BFS thing but @bulldog1935 is correct with the spools I have on the Silver Wolf and the Aldebaran BFS. If I understand this correctly.....The more machined the spool, the more chance it has to be crushed by mono/FC but I think there may be some operator error involved as well with this phenomena. 

 

So far I have had no issues with the spool on my Aldebaran BFS. I caught a 7-8lb catfish with 5lb test Sunline Sniper. It was a blast to say the least.  The spool is in perfect condition after the 5-10min fight this fish put up but the treble hooks on a Megabass Great Hunting 51S I used were not. They were bent and broken.  This is another fun topic with BFS hard baits..... bent hooks.  If you buy these small trout baits for bass fishing, invest in some more hooks while you're at it.  They are great at hooking fish but most are fragile. 

[redmeansdistortion]

7 hours ago, FishTank said:

If you buy these small trout baits for bass fishing, invest in some more hooks while you're at it.  They are great at hooking fish but most are fragile. 

Replace the hooks with VMC 7237 1X single inline hooks.  They come in size 6 and bigger and are made from thicker wire than many other single inline hooks.  https://www.jannsnetcraft.com/vmc-7237bn-inline-replacement-hooks?quantity=1&hook-size=1459

[FishTank]

1 minute ago, redmeansdistortion said:

Replace the hooks with VMC 7237 1X single inline hooks.  They come in size 6 and bigger and are made from thicker wire than many other single inline hooks.  https://www.jannsnetcraft.com/vmc-7237bn-inline-replacement-hooks?quantity=1&hook-size=1459

 

I have thought about inline hooks but the VMC's you mentioned only go down to a 1/0. I would need size #8's, #10's, and #12's, which can be harder to come by. Single hooks are great for trout and panfish but I have used trebles for bass for so long, it would be hard for me to switch. Plus, I would need new split rings, maybe a size bigger. Those are not easy to put on these little baits.

 

Right now I have been replacing them the #10's with Owner Stinger ST-36s and Duo Nano Trebles, #12's and #14's.  These were somewhat hard to find as well. 

[bulldog1935]

Since we switched to single plug hooks, the very best I've used is Vanfook ME-41MB, recently replaced by MEB-41F (same-same)  BaitFinesseEmpire stocks these. 

The shank is so short for the gap, it lets you go up a hook size on tiny plugs. 

The 45-mm Smith Gunship (pink) has #3. 

Even the 36-mm Gunship will fish #6.

 

Last winter, landed a couple of 18" snook on 38-mm Ryuki-S with Cultiva #8 single plug hooks.  I've gone to Vanfook #6 on those, too. 

Here on the Cultiva hooks, you can see the difference in shank length. 

I'll also add tiny plug hooks foul on the line 3/4 casts on spinning finesse, but almost never foul on BFS. 

[redmeansdistortion]

3 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

Since we switched to single plug hooks, the very best I've used is Vanfook ME-41MB, recently replaced by MEB-41F (same-same)  BaitFinesseEmpire stocks these. 

The shank is so short for the gap, it lets you go up a hook size on tiny plugs. 

Thanks for the heads-up, just ordered a bunch from Japan Tackle in #4, #6, and #8.  I'm running Owner Cultiva hooks as well but the wire is too light for the soon approaching steelhead season.  The ME-41Bs are much more beefy and should hold up well.

[redmeansdistortion]

4 hours ago, FishTank said:

Plus, I would need new split rings, maybe a size bigger. Those are not easy to put on these little baits.

This thing is a godsend for swapping hooks on small baits.  I keep one on the bench and one in my tackle pack.  They are cheaper if you look around, I think I paid $3 each for mine when I got them.  https://baitfinesseempire.com/product/smith-split-ring-pincette/

[bulldog1935]

Smith split ring tweezers on top that work everything down to 0, Jeweler's split ring pliers down to 2, and TTF sprit ring pliers limited to 4. 

Lures 4" to 35 mm

And yes, I have an Ott magnifier and lamp...

 

@redmeansdistortion if you throw any finesse spoons, Vanfook Twin Dancer hooks are a game-changer that also improves the spoon action.  My last river spotted bass trip. the "clear chartreuse" Rodio Craft spoon was the day's lure. 

[redmeansdistortion]

10 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

if you throw any finesse spoons, Vanfook Twin Dancer hooks are a game-changer that also improves the spoon action.  My last river spotted bass trip. the "clear chartreuse" Rodio Craft spoon was the day's lure. 

I'll have to order some of those too, I'll just have Jun add them to my order so I don't get double-tapped for shipping.  I never thought of using assist hooks for spoons, seems that would be very nice in the rivers.  I have a some Daiwa Presso and Smith Ltd spoons ranging from 2g to 6g I like to use.

[bulldog1935]

@redmeansdistortion

When I did the same thing, Jun or Kayo (son) told me they weren't set up to add, but make a note in your second order, and they'll refund shipping. 

 

Since I'm showing lures, Jackson Bottom Magic is a mudball machine. 

Vanfook sells VANZ that's a pre-tied woolly booger, here on Mukai Max spinner it's an inline spinner you can bottom-bounce because the hook rides up.  

[PressuredFishing]

5 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

Since we switched to single plug hooks, the very best I've used is Vanfook ME-41MB, recently replaced by MEB-41F (same-same)  BaitFinesseEmpire stocks these. 

The shank is so short for the gap, it lets you go up a hook size on tiny plugs. 

The 45-mm Smith Gunship (pink) has #3. 

Even the 36-mm Gunship will fish #6.

 

Last winter, landed a couple of 18" snook on 38-mm Ryuki-S with Cultiva #8 single plug hooks.  I've gone to Vanfook #6 on those, too. 

Here on the Cultiva hooks, you can see the difference in shank length. 

I'll also add tiny plug hooks foul on the line 3/4 casts on spinning finesse, but almost never foul on BFS. 

Im colorblind but what is the plug at the top of the screen with single hooks with thread wrapped around, is that a topwater?

[bulldog1935]

That is MagBite Mimiq, it's a shrimp and I used the Vanfook single-loop hooks tied with red PE braid, because the attractor adds to the evading shrimp lure action - tail and antennae. 

 

I am dying to wade a salt lake and sight-fish redfish with it. 

Here's the equivalent lure I would use on a fly rod. 

We have a dozen kayakers in a redfish rodeo late next month, and the lake just above will be on the venue. 

[PressuredFishing]

7 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

We have a dozen kayakers in a redfish rodeo late next month, and the lake just above will be on the venue

Neat, bet thos would work out here in the west coast SW too.

[bulldog1935]

The fly I added, I derived from Ally's shrimp, which is a west-coast chrome salmon lure. 

Second cast of the morning thrown into jumping shrimp.  First cast was a bigger spec that tore the hook out on her second run.

[PressuredFishing]

11 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

The fly I added, I derived from Ally's shrimp, which is a west-coast chrome salmon lure. 

what size hook you like to tie on, what strength? do some SW flyfishing for bonefish in our bays, they are strong fish and typical hooks I use can get bent out because its hard to perfectly palm  a click and paul drag on light line and hooks against bonefish and big SW fish.

[bulldog1935]

That's on a size 6 2x-long Mustad stainless - you could go to size 4. 

Shrimpy thread

Tail (antennae) is a mix of krystal flash and bucktail

Bead chain pair outside the hook bend

Palmered rooster hackle to keep everything open

A pair of pheasant crest feathers on one side (Ally's puts them on both sides)

Pheasant rump soft hackle collar - nothing looks more like shell in the water, and it's loaded with iridescent red, blue and green. 

Looks totally strange and totally behaves like an evading shrimp with a line strip. 

It works for a crab, as well, and is generic crustacean food-thingy on the flats. 

[PressuredFishing]

4 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

generic crustacean food-thingy on the flats. 

thats what I was thinking lol, I havent seen a fly like that so thought id give it a try

[roadwarrior]

My BFS is a Conquest spooled with #4 Tatsu.

[bulldog1935]

a couple more shrimp finesse lures

Jungle Gym Yuri - stick bait with a kick

Duo Ebikko on bottom is a glow lure for dock fishing. 

There are always little crabs and shrimp swimming around the lights. 

 

Here's how I rig a Nikko Okiami to finesse fish below a small clicking cigar cork.  Done the same thing for decades with 1/4 oz Stazo jigheads and Hogys. 

On the snap, it doubles over like a tail-kicking shrimp, and settles down head-first like a shrimp swimming with its legs back into the grass.  This fishes really well on spinning tackle. 

The Nikko lures are made from krill, so the taste is built in.