Slx bfs on the way, looking for rod recommendations and general advice.

[BlakeMolone]

Moving to Utah in a month and figured it would be a great place to experiment with bfs. I’m planning on fishing streams, rivers, and lakes for bass trout, musky, and whatever else will bite. I’m thinking this real will make a good ned rig, 3 inch swimbait, 65mm jerkbait reel? Is it too heavy duty for stream fishing? I’m looking for a rod $150 or less that will throw those baits for bigger trout in the rivers and bass/trout in the lakes, does this seem like a reasonable use for the reel? Bfs is new to me but the average size fish is going to be smaller out there  so it seems like a good choice. Looking for general advice and a few rod recommendations, thanks!

[warefisher]

BFS and musky in the same paragraph!  I want to read that fishing tale!

[BlakeMolone]

? definitely not going to intentionally make that happen but I kind of hope it does ? just trying to get my gear in order, it seems like a completely different world of fishing compared to Oklahoma. 

[FishTank]

I went down the BFS rabbit hole this year and it has been a blast. No regrets so far. I may not be catching big fish all the time but I am catching more fish than ever. 

 

As far as a rod recommendation, you are going to be hard pressed to find a rod that will do both bass and trout for $150. And if you hook into a musky with some these tooth pick rods, you are asking for trouble. My favorite rod so far for BFS style fishing has been the Dobyns Sierra Ultra Finesse (700) and you could probably find it on sale now for around $150. Great rod that you can throw a variety of baits on. I have thrown top water, 3in Easy Shiners, cranks and few small jigs.  I have landed good size fish on all of them. 

 

 

Also, whatever hard baits you buy, be prepared to change out the hooks on a regular basis. They get bent up pretty easy. 

[BlakeMolone]

 Appreciate the advice, do you think the sierra would be a good choice for 3 inch spark sharks, 2.8 keitechs, pointer 65, rozante 63, small max scent tubes, ned rigs, and other similar baits? If so I’m sure I could use it as both a bass and big river/lake trout fishing. I’ll just get a nice ultra light spinning combo for the stream trout stuff. Don’t actually want to use bfs for musky, not sure why I even mentioned them in the post to tell you the truth, just excited I guess ?

[FishTank]

Those baits should work. I have used all of them except the tubes.

 

This rod to me sort of odd and it took some getting use to but once you catch fish with it, it's no big deal. It's listed as having an x-fast tip and a moderate mid section.  So hook sets are quick but once you start fighting a fish, it softens up. Also, I would advise against setting the hook hard. Most of the small hooks penetrate easily.

 

I would also pick up some of the Megabass Great Hunting baits. They have been fantastic but again I would get some extra hooks. I also like the 3in OSP DoLive craw for ned rigs but there are cheaper versions.  

[BlakeMolone]

Great info, thank you! Lastly do you think the X Nanahan would overpower the sierra? 

[FishTank]

No, not all. I was going recommend that one as well but didn't want to give you too many choices. My favorite color so far has been Kasumi Ito. 

 

Two other baits I like, the Baby PopX and the Baby Griffon. 

[bulldog1935]

@BlakeMolone

You need to visit Bait Finesse Empire - they have rods divided by niches

Onshore, they stock both USM and JDM tackle, and a great place to sample lures without having to shop in Japan. 

Look for versatile rods that show up in more than one niche, and don't rule out salt light game rods that overlap in bass finesse and panfish. 

 

You'll find stream trout rods to be very specialized, though. 

Short UL rods for throwing 1-7 g. 

 

@redmeansdistortion is a forum member who fishes more stream trout than any other here.  I fish some of that, but most often salt finesse. 

 

 

 

smallest plug in this box is 1.5 g; most are around 3 g - largest spoons are 3.5 g. 

The largest 62-mm plug is 4.5 g

 

That said, lake fishing will let you use longer, faster rods.  I have several friends in the Sierras who fish mountain lakes for trout and bass using 7' bass finesse and salt light game rods. 

[ghost]

Phenix Feather 7'1" L casting rod

[redmeansdistortion]

Fishing the wide open rivers in Utah, you will want something 6'+ with a stiff backbone and a limber tip, capable of handling the fast water.  The Major Craft Finetail comes in a 6' L 2g-10g and a 7'2" 5g-21g, both of which would be ideal in that environment.  These are JDM rods designed for fishing fast current and very fast action, so fast they make the American mainstays of Loomis and St Croix feel like wet noodles.  The tips of these rods are very limber to keep the fish pinned during every surge and head shake and great for throwing things like jigs, jerkbaits, and heavy sinking minnows.  Spoons and spinners can also be fished but they tend to perform best with a more moderate action.  

 

If you're fishing headwater streams where the current is slower and the environment brush-choked, a shorter rod in the 4'6" to 5'6" range is best, preferably light power over ultralight, even medium light would do well.  With this you get one-handed casting which lets you maneuver around obstacles much easier and cast to targets that would otherwise be much more difficult to hit swinging a longer rod.  I see a lot of would-be trout fishermen assuming they need to use UL to chase trout.  UL does work, but the moment you hook into a 20"+ brown or rainbow, you need a stick that will help you keep them clear of the wood and boulders where they can and will break you off.  A UL is under powered for trout over 12", and a L or ML would do you best.  You aren't going to be able to cast the smallest baits, which shouldn't be a consideration in the first place.  Yeah, it's nice to say you can cast a trout magnet, but very, very few people fish baits that light in general.  Even a 6" brook trout will absolutely hammer a 3/16 Countdown.  

 

I feel the SLX BFS will do exactly what you want.  It isn't over powered, nor is it under powered, it's the tool for the job.  Spool it up with some 6lb or 8lb braid and set your drag for a pound or two and you'll be off and running.  Remember, BFS isn't about casting the absolute lightest bait, that's what UL spinning is for.  BFS is about casting baits you'd otherwise need to use a spinning reel for, and most of those happen to be in the 1/16 to 1/4 range, which every BFS reel should be able to do.

[BlakeMolone]

Great information!! Really appreciate the well thought out reply and it really helped me get a better perspective on the whole thing, can’t wait to make my first cast in a beautiful Utah river.

[redmeansdistortion]

Trout rods are just as varied and technique specific as bass rods, they just aren't marketed here as such and as a result, most manufacturers tend to stick with the moderate spoon/spinner blanks.  This is because they are the most widely used lures on this side of the world.  A minnow/jig/jerkbait blank is much stiffer so those twitches are transferred immediately to the lure.  It's a lot of fun fishing the rivers, streams, and creeks.  If you're new to this type of fishing, my best advice is to take a run and gun approach.  Trout are constantly on the move and seldom hold in the same place very long.  If you aren't getting hits within the first few casts, move along to the next hole.  

[jdr99a]

I just got a slx bfs reel a couple of weeks ago and it’s been a blast. I have it paired up with a ace hawk double (with the light tip installed) and 4 pound mono. Another rod to look at for a bit heavier stuff is a BOS carbonlite 2.0 ML. Not bfs-specific, but fun for some light stuff. 

[BlakeMolone]

Do you think I could throw ned rigs and 60-70mm jerkbaits on the major craft 6 ft rod? I think those are the main baits I want to use with me bfs combo along with 3 inch swimbaits. I want to use it for trout and bass, I will get a nice ultra light for the small streams. I’m not afraid to order from Japan if that helps. I really just want something that’s as close to a do everything rod as possible although I realize that’s a tall order.

[Tatulatard]

I wouldn't.  Sounds like you want a bass rod and not a trout rod.  I would look at the majorcraft bfs offerings or Phenix light powered bfs rods.  Trout rods are very noodly compared to a bass stick of the same power rating.  

[redmeansdistortion]

The Major Craft rods are jerkbait rods, meant for throwing minnow style baits in the 4g and up range.  They are unlike the noodly spoon/spinner rods we have on shelves here.  The noodly trout rod reputation is due to what's sold here, but JDM trout rods are an entirely different kind of rod.  On this side of the world, most soak bait or swing spoons and spinners which do work best on a more moderate action.  In Japan, they fish jerkbaits which work best with a much faster blank.

[bulldog1935]

If you think in terms of tapers, the traditional UL rod in USM is 5-6', moderate-slow para taper, and flexes deep into the handle - narrow lure weight range. 

JDM rods are all progressive taper with fast mid and more powerful butt - very wide lure weight range. 

My Smith Dagger Stream that I show in photos above makes beautiful skip casts off the tip (with a reverse spiral cast). 

They'll have just enough flex in the tip to cast their light lure rating, and nothing about them will be noodle-y. 

[Tatulatard]

For minnow baits for sure.  For Ned rigs I would want a majorcraft bfs offering over a finetail.  I'm assuming Ned rig means 1/20 ounce head with 3 inches of plastic as big around as my pinky.  Maybe even a wire weed guard.  I would want a bfs rod with its larger diameter blank over a trout rod the diameter of a toothpick.  Honestly he probably needs both.  A graphite stream rod and then a bass bfs rod.  

[Darth-Baiter]

i have my BFS on the Phenix Feather rod.  i think it is a 7'1" light rod.  flings anything out there.  i think it might be on the heavier side of BFS.  but it works.  

 

i have used it for micro texas rigged worms and it is almost scary.  i had a big bass grab it and it owned me.  while i was messing with the drag, it bent my hook and shook it all.  

[Tatulatard]

That's the fun.  A big fish on a bfs rod when the fight is on is heart pumper.  I love seeing that rod folded over and the drag peeling.   I run my drag a little loose and use thumb pressure on hooksets and to add additional drag when the fish is taking line.  Just something I do unconsciously.  

[Darth-Baiter]

YUP.  i need to burn this into muscle memory.  thumb pressure.  i was a hot mess.  

 

the tap of the bass taking my tiny bait is burned into my memory like "prom night". 

[redmeansdistortion]

That's not a valid comparison.  A 4'5" rod will definitely be thinner in the butt section than a 6'8" unless you're looking at a halibut rod.  My 6'L Finetail measures 0.3mm thicker in the butt than my 6'4" L Blazon and is a faster blank.  Both are rated for a similar weight range.  The Finetails with the straight grip are not for small stream trout, but for steelhead and cherry salmon which spawn in those mountain streams in Japan.  Those rods in general are very stiff in the butt section and feature a limber tip to keep the fish pinned during runs and head shakes.  My Finetail bends mostly in the top quarter of the blank with very little bend towards the handle.

[bulldog1935]

Here's how far the Japanese push super-progressive taper (and beyond this).  This 7'3" salt finesse rod with extreme lure range is made for Kurodai (black sea perch), and will command big redfish and snook.  Most important, turns a redfish from going under the kayak. 

 

Progressive rod tapers get more powerful as they get longer without making big changes in the tip and mid.  This one is maximized for cast distance, and gives up some of that power. 

This one gives up a little distance and light lure end for more seabass-turning power. 

[ATA]

I have rod for you give you half price, Silver needle. Have two tip head as well so it is two BFS rod :). one Light and one Medium Light.