New Phenix BFS rod

[Robin]

Has anyone picked up one of these yet? The 6'8 model has definitely caught my attention and the price is reasonable too.

Hoping it is not as heavy as their Recon Elite 6'8 Light. I purchased one last year and although the rod's performance is great,

it tips the scales at about 4.3 ounces which was a big surprise to me. I have a number of 7 foot+ heavy jig rods that way less

and are better balanced.

[Darth-Baiter]

I saw those.  but on most days, I feel I have one too many BFS setups as it is.

 

I have one.  it usually comes with me when I accidentally think it is another rig and grab it instead.  I just dont fish BFS that often.  

[corey90]

phenix ros are excellent and im sure the bfs rods are great but i dont get this bfs bull i think its another way to get people to spend money i mean do you consider your crappie rig bfs i do and thats what i use when i i feel the need to finness bass

[Tatulatard]

17 hours ago, corey90 said:

phenix ros are excellent and im sure the bfs rods are great but i dont get this bfs bull i think its another way to get people to spend money i mean do you consider your crappie rig bfs i do and thats what i use when i i feel the need to finness bass

If you fish flooded brush and docks with 10 lbs flouro paired to 1/16 to 1/8 oz head on small plastics you gain an appreciation for bfs rods real fast. That line on a spinning reel is no fun.  Also true bfs rods designed for this exact scenario have more power than any spinning rod I have ever used to cast the same baits. A "light" bfs rod will shut off from the 1st guide to the butt and give you a nice stick to pull at fish and get them away from that cover.

[corey90]

thats good insight. maybe ill get a bfs rod and reel for bass and crappie

[KP Duty]

I don't see a new rod series for pheonix on TW.  Is this a bfs model in an existing line?

[softwateronly]

1 hour ago, KP Duty said:

I don't see a new rod series for pheonix on TW.  Is this a bfs model in an existing line?

https://phenixrods.com/product/classic-bfs-casting-rods/
 

scott

[FryDog62]

Would be interesting to know how the 7'1" (3/32-1/4 oz) BFS rod compares to their 7'1" (1/8-3/8 oz) "regular" baitcasting rod (which I have and like a lot).  Hopefully this new BFS model isn't as light as Dobyns 700 or 740... the tips on those can't pull much of anything in/near even light cover. 

[KP Duty]

13 minutes ago, softwateronly said:

https://phenixrods.com/product/classic-bfs-casting-rods/
 

scott

Those look nice....dig the reel seat/locknut.

[softwateronly]

Just now, KP Duty said:

Those look nice....dig the reel seat/locknut.

 

2 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

Would be interesting to know how the 7'1" (3/32-1/4 oz) BFS rod compares to their 7'1" (1/8-3/8 oz) "regular" baitcasting rod (which I have and like a lot).  Hopefully this new BFS model isn't as light as Dobyns 700 or 740... the tips on those can't pull much of anything in/near even light cover. 

wondering as well, the solid tip with a feather(ish) backbone might be a winner. Also, a 7’4 version for boat fishing seems like a nice touch. 
 

scott

[ghost]

Hi, I have the exact 6'8" Phenix Classic BFS rod. I have a Kasking Kestrel Elite mounted, and total weight is 7oz.

 

The rod is perfect for BFS fishing. The store I bought had the 6'8", 7'1" and 7'4" lengths available. My thinking is that a BFS rod should be under 7', and the 6'8" length was perfect. I can cast with over hanging tree branches and I can side arm cast easily. I don't have any streams close to me, so the 6'8" length suits my BFS needs, I don't need a rod around 5' or shorter. The rod is very light and sharp looking. I did cast as low as 1/16oz lures but mostly around 1/8oz spoons and inline spinnerbaits. The rod casted my lures a good distance. The guides I think are semi micro guides. I tried using braid(10lb) to copoly(4lb) and the top guide at times would catch the knot. So I switched out to complete 4lb copoly line and problem solved. But using straight lower weight braid with this rod and the sensitivity goes up a few more notches.

 

Both rod and reel handled that 3lb rainbow trout I caught on a 3.9g trout spoon swimmingly! I had no problem feeling the vibrations from the trout spoon using 4lb Izorline XXX line. The rod is very sensitive and being under $200 was just perfect for me. I compared it next to the Dobyns Sierra Ultra Finesse Casting Rod(6'9"), which was the same price; $189.99. The Phenix Classic BFS(6'8") rod in similar length was lighter in feel. Also I like the reel seat on the Phenix. It has a small finger trigger and IMO adds to that JDM enthusiast look, but there's enough of the trigger to keep a good finger grip. The reel seat nut has that JDM'ish look to it. The rod is comfortable to hold with the Kestrel Elite, very low profile. I did add a Fuji EZ Keeper since it does not have a hook keeper. I guess you can use one the reel seat nut opening for a hook keeper, I did but didn't like it that way.

 

I'm going to mount my Curado BFS on the Phenix rod next time. Should perform just as good as the Kestrel Elite used, but probably the Curado BFS may be a bit more refined.

 

Overall, the Phenix Classic BFS rod is outstanding! I thought of waiting for a sale on them but I was greedy and wanted to be one of the firsts in my area to own one.

[Robin]

Your response is much appreciated. That was exactly what I was hoping to hear. Looks like I will be adding a new rod to my BFS collection.

[FryDog62]

Well, I broke my favorite BFS rod - a Phenix Feather 7'1" LIGHT on a recent trip. I happened to stop into a new rod/tackle shop in the Minnetonka area and they had their rods 30% off. They had a new Phenix Classic BFS rod in the 7'1" and I picked one up. I can tell it's a little more sophisticated version of the regular Phenix Feather. 

 

To get additional distance throwing light 1/16th oz hair jigs, I considered getting the 7'4".  However, the tip felt a little too light. If you've ever had a hard-charging smallmouth boat side it's a challenge landing a fish with a longer/light rod. 

 

I would liken the action of the Classic BFS to be somewhere right in between the regular Phenix Feather LIGHT and the Dobyns 700 BFS rod. I think the slightly softer tip will help me get a little more distance when casting the small hair jigs. Plus the handle is about 1.5 inches shorter than the Phenix Feather LIGHT was, so a little extra rod in front to get distance when casting. 

 

Have only cast it around on dry land so far, looking forward to getting out and trying it on the water soon ~

[MN Fisher]

17 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

I happened to stop into a new rod/tackle shop in the Minnetonka area

Was that Waypoint per chance, Chris?

 

I've stopped in - it's about a mile from my place...pretty decent selection overall.

[FryDog62]

2 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Was that Waypoint per chance, Chris?

 

I've stopped in - it's about a mile from my place...pretty decent selection overall.

Yes, really like the store. Some of the guys there used to work at Capra’s too. Most days you can get stuff for 20% off, this sale was 30%. Nice to have a quality (non-big box) store on the West side. They sell a lot of JDM baits (Deps, OSP, Fish Arrow) too… not all your standard, run-of-the-mill stuff ?

[msgf91]

On 9/23/2023 at 12:34 PM, FryDog62 said:

I would liken the action of the Classic BFS to be somewhere right in between the regular Phenix Feather LIGHT and the Dobyns 700 BFS rod. I think the slightly softer tip will help me get a little more distance when casting the small hair jigs.

Hello, would you say the action is slow enough to use with treble hook baits like micro crank baits?  I've been trying to decide on a BFS rod to use with crankbaits. 

[FryDog62]

29 minutes ago, msgf91 said:

Hello, would you say the action is slow enough to use with treble hook baits like micro crank baits?  I've been trying to decide on a BFS rod to use with crankbaits. 

It is extra fast, but also a light rod with a little more softness in the tip than the standard Phenix Feather. I think you potentially could throw some cranks, but wouldn't use braid... some stretch and give would really help. 

[msgf91]

Thanks for the response 

[Fishydishy]

On 3/24/2023 at 8:17 PM, ghost said:

Hi, I have the exact 6'8" Phenix Classic BFS rod. I have a Kasking Kestrel Elite mounted, and total weight is 7oz.

 

The rod is perfect for BFS fishing. The store I bought had the 6'8", 7'1" and 7'4" lengths available. My thinking is that a BFS rod should be under 7', and the 6'8" length was perfect. I can cast with over hanging tree branches and I can side arm cast easily. I don't have any streams close to me, so the 6'8" length suits my BFS needs, I don't need a rod around 5' or shorter. The rod is very light and sharp looking. I did cast as low as 1/16oz lures but mostly around 1/8oz spoons and inline spinnerbaits. The rod casted my lures a good distance. The guides I think are semi micro guides. I tried using braid(10lb) to copoly(4lb) and the top guide at times would catch the knot. So I switched out to complete 4lb copoly line and problem solved. But using straight lower weight braid with this rod and the sensitivity goes up a few more notches.

 

Both rod and reel handled that 3lb rainbow trout I caught on a 3.9g trout spoon swimmingly! I had no problem feeling the vibrations from the trout spoon using 4lb Izorline XXX line. The rod is very sensitive and being under $200 was just perfect for me. I compared it next to the Dobyns Sierra Ultra Finesse Casting Rod(6'9"), which was the same price; $189.99. The Phenix Classic BFS(6'8") rod in similar length was lighter in feel. Also I like the reel seat on the Phenix. It has a small finger trigger and IMO adds to that JDM enthusiast look, but there's enough of the trigger to keep a good finger grip. The reel seat nut has that JDM'ish look to it. The rod is comfortable to hold with the Kestrel Elite, very low profile. I did add a Fuji EZ Keeper since it does not have a hook keeper. I guess you can use one the reel seat nut opening for a hook keeper, I did but didn't like it that way.

 

I'm going to mount my Curado BFS on the Phenix rod next time. Should perform just as good as the Kestrel Elite used, but probably the Curado BFS may be a bit more refined.

 

Overall, the Phenix Classic BFS rod is outstanding! I thought of waiting for a sale on them but I was greedy and wanted to be one of the firsts in my area to own one.

How much does the rod weight?

[ghost]

Fishdishy, I weighed my Phenix Classic BFS 6'8" casting rod on my analog scale.

 

The rod weighs 2 3/4oz or 77.96g.

 

I then weighed the Classic BFS rod 6'8" rod with my Shimano Aldebaran BFS XG with line. Total weight was 7 1/4oz or 205.5g.

 

This past February, a local fishing shop weighed the said rod with a Kastking Kestrel Elite BFS reel with line. The weight of both was 7oz or 198.4g