Not another BFS post (well kinda)

[MediumMouthBass]

I know, i know theres been 50 posts this week about BFS rods and reels. Like the title says this isnt exactly about that, well it kind of is but isnt.

Alot of you have either gotten into BFS or are thinking about it, it seems really cool to cast such light and small lures with baitcasters and alot of you are catching good bass on them too.

 

Now this isnt a BFS vs non BFS argument im just curious about something.

Using ultra finesse, finesse baits for spinning gear? Same/similar baits and lures but on spinning gear (since BFS isnt in everyones budget).

 

Ned rigs, small paddle tails, tube jigs, and the drop shot are usually the smallest/finesse type of baits we use for bass with spinning gear, but why not throw those smaller and lighter BFS baits on them? The guys using BFS seem to be having success with quality/quantity since well its not a overly used bait for bass in most lakes/ponds and therefor should work great in high pressured waters.

I think we are severely under utilizing these type of lures and baits on our spinning gear (for those of use who dont have BFS gear that is).

 

I know the rods for BFS arent comparable to a UL spinning rod because they are actually designed for bass fishing, but there are several companies and rods that have lighter spinning rods that would hold up very good for bass, so to those of you who dont have BFS gear or cant justify the extreme prices of getting into it maybe we should give this a try?

Maybe some of you are already doing this with your spinning gear, and if so please comment about your fish catches with using it, and also give some recommendations on the rods that would work well for this along with the baits and lures that work for you.

 

(To the BFS guys i know your specifically BFS made expensive rods and reels will do a better job of casting these lighter baits but its not in everyones budget like i said a few sentences above, but the whole reason for BFS is more about fishing for bass using very small and light finesse baits, not about which type of rod or reel you use correct?)

 

(To moderators i put this in Tackle because even tho this is talking about BFS for spinning gear its more about using the BFS lures and baits so therefor tackle).

[TnRiver46]

7. Final answer 

[MediumMouthBass]

@TnRiver46 ??

[TnRiver46]

Just messin. I don’t have BFS and can still throw little stuff and catch a bass every now and then 

[MediumMouthBass]

I dont have it either, cant justify the cost right now. But seems fun so why not utilize it more using spinning gear.

[Big Swimbait]

Two reasons for me. 1) I am much more accurate with a baitcaster than I am with a spinning reel. 2) I hate line twist. These are my reasons and I know they don't apply to everyone. As far as cost goes, I did not upgrade any of my conventional gear as I usually replace one or two reels a year - I have more than I can use now. As far as the BFS rod goes, until I was sure I was going to like it I bought a Shimano Sensilite rod for $50.00 and could not be happier for the price.  Now that I am hooked, I will build my next BFS rod for a 3rd of what the better  rods cost now.

[NorthernBasser]

I've yet to get into BFS, but I likely will at some point. I still find it hard to believe you can bomb-cast a 1/16oz TRD. And I won't believe it until I see it with my own eyes. ?

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

1 hour ago, NorthernBasser said:

I've yet to get into BFS, but I likely will at some point. I still find it hard to believe you can bomb-cast a 1/16oz TRD. And I won't believe it until I see it with my own eyes. ?

What distance would define a bomb cast for a BFS TRD? 

[FryDog62]

1 hour ago, NorthernBasser said:

I've yet to get into BFS, but I likely will at some point. I still find it hard to believe you can bomb-cast a 1/16oz TRD. And I won't believe it until I see it with my own eyes. ?

It is truly a thing of beauty! No line slap when casting hard, no line twist, and the lure just flies! 

[Bird]

I've still got concerns with BFS.

Love my baitcasters but quite a few lakes I fish have very steep banks " almost vertical " and casting a finesse worm on a 1/16 Wacky head you must keep the bait tight to shore cover to catch fish.

 

Easily done on spinning gear by simply lifting the rod after the cast to create slack and vertical fall.

Seems like the bait would struggle to drop vertical with BFS because the spool is added into the equation, not with spinning. 

[casts_by_fly]

2 hours ago, NorthernBasser said:

I've yet to get into BFS, but I likely will at some point. I still find it hard to believe you can bomb-cast a 1/16oz TRD. And I won't believe it until I see it with my own eyes. ?

you mean a zman trd with a 1/16 oz head?  That’s not even bfs level. That’s just lighter baitcasting. 30 yard bombs are no problem

there

 

@MediumMouthBass people have been throwing ‘bfs’ lures on spinning rods for decades. There isnt anything about ‘bfs’ lures that mean you have to fish them on a bfs rod. Bfs rods are just a way to throw light lures on a baitcaster.

 

what you’re really asking is why don’t more people fish tiny finesse baits more often (and on spinning rods)?  They do. 

[Tennessee Boy]

3 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

you mean a zman trd with a 1/16 oz head?  That’s not even bfs level. That’s just lighter baitcasting. 30 yard bombs are no problem

there

So if 1/16 oz is not BFS level,  what is?   ?

[MediumMouthBass]

@casts_by_fly that was exactly what i was asking, i know some people do use it on spinning gear but it doesnt seem like a large portion of anglers do (or atleast not many talk about it), which is odd since it could be a good option on a day with tough conditions or in high pressured waters.

[casts_by_fly]

43 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

So if 1/16 oz is not BFS level,  what is?   ?

a trd weighs about 0.15 oz. A 1/16 head is 0.063 oz.  That’s 0.21 in total, or 1/5 of an ounce. Just a tiny speck under a quarter ounce. Show me a medium heavy that doesn’t work with a quarter ounce, or better a medium that doesn’t work well with a quarter ounce.  That’s not exactly the range that requires bfs. Now sure, a bfs reel on a lighter casting rod will certainly help that. But there are other non bfs setups that will do that too. 

[MN Fisher]

19 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

But there are other non bfs setups that will do that too.

Exactly - If I wanted to do 1/16oz Neds on casting gear...my Tat-CT/Victory 68MXF would handle it no problem.

[Tennessee Boy]

6 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

a trd weighs about 0.15 oz. A 1/16 head is 0.063 oz.  That’s 0.21 in total, or 1/5 of an ounce. Just a tiny speck under a quarter ounce. Show me a medium heavy that doesn’t work with a quarter ounce, or better a medium that doesn’t work well with a quarter ounce.  That’s not exactly the range that requires bfs. Now sure, a bfs reel on a lighter casting rod will certainly help that. But there are other non bfs setups that will do that too. 

You didn’t answer the question.   What range do you consider BFS?

[rboat]

Trying to adjust the monthly budget to try BFS gear. I do throw lighter stuff on spinning gear now, but as others say, casting is more accurate and is more consistent since most of my gear and what I throw 80% of the time is bait casting. I am hoping throwing smaller lures on BFS gear opens up something new and fun.   

[casts_by_fly]

5 hours ago, Tennessee Boy said:

You didn’t answer the question.   What range do you consider BFS?

Fair callout, i missed the question.  I'd say anything you can't throw effectively on a regular baitcaster.  Practically speaking I think that's probably 1/8 oz total weight and under.  BFS gear can go higher, but most all 'regular' baitcasters are going to struggle at that level.  Using words and rod ratings, a medium is firmly in the non BFS camp.  A light is firmly in the BFS camp.  A ML will depend on the rod.

[ska4fun]

I'm the opposite, I have difficulty using finesse lures under spinning gear. I can't conceive losing precision and better line slack control, when using spinning reels.

[msgf91]

I  use both spinning and casting for the light stuff. After reading comments on here about spinning gear I realized I'm proficient with the egg beaters. I just saw TW has the Phenix classic BFS rod in both spinning and casting so I'm already planning to get both.

 

 

[bulldog1935]

Very clearly, this is an Anti-BFS thread - the only BFS you talk about is what other people purchase.  

 

What you're trying to talk about is Bass Spin Finesse, and you should do that without talking about other people and BFS.  

 

I'm not saying I caught this bass because I was fishing BFS when my other two kayak buddies were fishing UL spinning tackle, but it worked out that way.  

 

No, Bait Finesse System is the reel modification - a combination of lightweight shallow spool, low inertia spool bearings, and threadline.  

[WRB]

Bait Finesse System includes the rod, reel and line.

Rods cast lures reels hold the line, the rod is rarely discussed in these threads, yet the key component.

My original Langley 340 Target Free spool reel weighs 4 oz and has a light weight drilled aluminum spool made in the late 1940’s. The spool held 50 yards of 8 lb Dacron braid that I could cast all the line to the spool knot...in the 50’s when started to bass fish. The rod was a Connolin Feather Lite 5 1/2’ in today’s rating a Medium Moderate action.

BSF from Japan is light to ultra lite trout rods with reels designed for .002/.004 dia braid and lures 1/16 oz or less. We rarely use tackle that light bass fishing. The Americanized BSF is similar to my old Target bait caster using Medium light rods and lures nearer to 1/8 oz., line .006/.008D.

I think light tackle bass fishing is more in tune with the average size 1 3/4-2lb bass being caught. 

Give it try you might like it. 

Tom

[dave]

I reiterate, BBFS...

[MediumMouthBass]

Ive said it several times on here i think BFS is really cool and i think it might help catch more bass in the high pressured waters i fish on slower days. I dont have tons of money to spend on it so i thought maybe the same lures would work on my spinning gear and made this post to ask if anyone on here did it and if it works for so many people using actually BFS gear why wouldnt more people use the same lures on their gear that they already have?

You think the lures have nothing to do with BFS only the reel does?

I know you BFS guys take this stuff very seriously, sorry if i offended you with just asking about trying out something that works for other people

[12poundbass]

I’m not sure why this topic gets people all worked up. Let’s keep things civil here.