Beginner BFS setup for panfish...

[DitchPanda]

So I'm considering getting a BFS setup for crappie and bluegill primarily...of course I will catch some incidental bass as well. Looking to throw mostly small swimbaits and micro crankbaits. Budget: I'd like to stay under $150 for the combo but would go up to $200. Recommendations? Looking for line recs as well.

[ghost]

Kastking Zephyr and Shimano Sensilite 7' casting rod will get the job done.

[BlakeMolone]

On 12/22/2022 at 3:14 PM, ghost said:

Kastking Zephyr and Shimano Sensilite 7' casting rod will get the job done.

Sensilite is a bass rod in my opinion, I haven’t actually fished mine but I went out in the yard and could actually cast a 110 jerkbait with it as well as a small ned. I don’t have it yet but I’ve heard hundreds of people recommend the ace hawk 2 from Ali express, it’s cheap and comes with two different tip sections and people seem to love it, definitely getting one eventually.

[PressuredFishing]

I have never tried but TSU dark wold ultra might be what you want for that light of lures, I'll DM you budgetrod options if you like but it's a lot to write up here. Kastking also launched a cheap 70$ bfs reel with a krestel spool, I own the krestel elite and performs well, only difference is magnesium frame.

[T-Billy]

I'd avoid the kk zephyr for your purposes. The spool/frame gap is too large. Anything under 8# mono finds it's way in there on my reel. That said, it's a great performing reel for the price with 8# XT. I'd advise to buy a decent reel from a reputable manufacturer and skimp on the rod if you need to.  I prefer mono for BFS so top of the line guides are not a must. The ifishband hyper micro has been a solid performer for me at $124.99.

[bulldog1935]

The one thing people may miss on threads like this by aiming for a "cheap" BFS "starter" reel. 

You can always take the approach of buying a $60-$90 spool instead, that will swap into one of your nicer reels, then you have a nice BFS reel, and a budget for a nicer rod. 

 

It probably comes from 50 years of fly fishing, where you match the rod to the day's water, mix and match reels and lines. 

But I take this same approach with my casting reels from bass to inshore, have more rods than reels, and move the reels and spools around. 

[Bigassbass]

How about a nice spinning reel and rod, there's lots to choose from in your price range. Every rod maker has a UL or a Light.  Bait-caster look at combos; Bass Pro, or Lew's and others.  IMO I think spinning reels are the best for this kind of fishing. Shimano makes super nice rods and reels just for pan fish and I"m sure you can get one under or right at 200 bucks. 

[DitchPanda]

2 hours ago, Bigassbass said:

How about a nice spinning reel and rod, there's lots to choose from in your price range. Every rod maker has a UL or a Light.  Bait-caster look at combos; Bass Pro, or Lew's and others.  IMO I think spinning reels are the best for this kind of fishing. Shimano makes super nice rods and reels just for pan fish and I"m sure you can get one under or right at 200 bucks. 

This is the route I ended up going. I got a BPS panfish elite 6'8 ultralight and a 1000 size daiwa legalis.

[GANGGREEN]

I appreciate the info here.  I tried to purchase a BFS rig a year or two ago and had a hard time finding a rod.  Got a nice reel that I think I'll like, but I ordered the Shimano Sensilite and it was on back-order forever and then my order just got cancelled.  I kind of forgot about the BFS thing for a while, but I need to find a rod and use it some.  I live on a clear-water Spotted bass lake and I think it'd be just the thing for some winter fishing.