Abu Black Max BFS? BFS Alternatives

[1984isNOW]

Anybody have any experience converting the black max to BFS with a spool change? I'm assuming it's the same as the Max Ultra

 

Spool is like 30 bucks, Kastking Zephr is $54 with clicker. Worth 24 bucks more?

 

Other BFS Alternatives?

 

Have

SLX MGL

Tatula CT

Tatula sv103

Zillion SV TW (21)

[A kid from Canada]

I have a Ray's Studio spool on my Tat SV with 15lb braid on it and I'm pretty happy. I would go that route instead if the Black Max mainly cause the Tatula is more narrow and comfortable to palm on a small rod.

[FishTank]

Braking, bearings, line and the rod would also come into play.

 

Out of the reels you have, I am going to guess based on other CT reels that the Tatula CT would be the best option.  @bulldog1935 might have a better option on this subject.  

[MN Fisher]

I would say that either of the SV reels would be heaps better than the Max or the CT.

[bulldog1935]

I haven't needed to be in that market for a long time, but there are some very good spool options for Daiwa from Ray's Studio, Roro and AMO.  

I went 34-mm Daiwa SV, 3 reels, all the spools interchange.  

@Kites R4 Skyfishing - I'll send you a pm w/ link to AMO store, and you can check there for what's available for your different reel models.  

[1984isNOW]

Thanks for the feedback y'all, and for the PM @bulldog1935

 

Nobody have anything to see about the Kastking Zephyr?

[A kid from Canada]

I've owned one Chinese BFS reel (GH100), at the time it seemed to be the most popular choice of youtubers and it worked very well until the second season of use and the clutch broke. You also have to be careful about the braid going in between the spool and frame on these cheaper reels as well as adding or removing magnets to get it tuned just right. Just some things to think about that they might not tell you on a YouTube review. 

[garroyo130]

Roro for the CT. I was on the fence on getting this myself, but ultimately decided not to just bc I'm good with spinning.  

 

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/255983973705?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D777008%26algo%3DPERSONAL.TOPIC%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20230811123856%26meid%3D803ed3c8021f4334be1ecacfaf032e6f%26pid%3D101770%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26itm%3D255983973705%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D4375194%26algv%3DRecentlyViewedItemsV2&_trksid=p4375194.c101770.m146925&_trkparms=parentrq%3A0948876a18c0ac1d4708fa42fffe1762|pageci%3Ab4bc8feb-8bfc-11ee-a494-0a37187c5a31|iid%3A1|vlpname%3Avlp_homepage

[1984isNOW]

30 minutes ago, garroyo130 said:

I'm good with spinning.

Ya know man I've felt that way literally up until today haha. I'm just over the line twist, wind knots, and the process of casting and retrieving to the next cast of a spinning reel. Especially with a missed fish and trying to cast right back to a spot.

 

I feel I've at least got to at least try the BFS experience, hopefully not have to deal with 20 ft of leader popping off my spinning reel.

 

@A kid from Canada I appreciate the heads up, I'm just trying to get a taste to see if it's worth the investment. Maybe I'll give the Zephyr a go and return it if there's any doubt or an inkling that a spool in another reel would be better.

[redmeansdistortion]

I wouldn't waste my time with the Zephyr in order to get a taste of BFS.  Yes, the bar for entry is low, but the lack of refinement may put you off of BFS entirely as a first timer.  If you were wanting to buy a brand new BFS reel, the SLX BFS can be had for $140 or less depending on where you get it.  I understand this is more than what you want to spend, but it will give you a much better idea of BFS since the reel will perform much more consistently than down market BFS reels.  

 

Conversely, your Zillion would make for a nice BFS reel as well since it uses the 34mm standard Daiwa spool giving you an eye watering amount of options.  You can go fixed inductor in the AMO or Roro spools or you can go moving inductor in the Ray's spools or even SLP spools like the 1012 SV G1, SV Boost PE 1000, or SV Boost 1000S.  There are plenty of options out there.

 

 

[T-Billy]

Spool to frame gap is a problem with the zephyr. Anything under 8# mono gets caught in there on mine. Shame, would be a great value if it weren't for that.

[BC VC basser]

I went the zephyr route for my bfs introduction reel.

Spooled it with 7lb sniper fluorocarbon.

It has performed great.

Still my only bfs reel at this point.

 

[1984isNOW]

@redmeansdistortion that's about 3x the amount I paid for the Zephyr, I'm gonna spool it up and see how it feels.

 

Maybe I'll grab one of those BFS spools for my TatCT

 

Also I don't wanna lock up my zillion (the nicest reel I own and will never buy another like it) as a BFS reel, or ever have it as BFS when I'm probably gonna want my zillion to be a zillion every time I fish ya dig,

 

@BC VC basser thanks for sharing your experience with it bro, I'm gonna give it a fair shake.

 

I'm thinking 15# j-braid 8

 

 

[redmeansdistortion]

Just now, Kites R4 Skyfishing said:

@redmeansdistortion that's about 3x the amount I paid for the Zephyr, I'm gonna spool it up and see how it feels.

 

Maybe I'll grab one of those BFS spools for my TatCT

 

Also I don't wanna lock up my zillion (the nicest reel I own and will never buy another like it) as a BFS reel, or ever have it as BFS when I'm probably gonna want my zillion to be a zillion every time I fish ya dig,

 

@BC VC basser thanks for sharing your experience with it bro, I'm gonna give it a fair shake.

 

I'm thinking 15# j-braid 8

 

 

The SLP spools aren't as shallow as the AMO and Roro spools and will be plenty good throwing standard sized baits as well.  Where they shine is they are reasonably light and have a braking profile suitable for finesse presentations.  

[BC VC basser]

23 hours ago, Kites R4 Skyfishing said:

thanks for sharing your experience with it bro, I'm gonna give it a fair shake.

Let me know your experience with the reel…

[1984isNOW]

Set up: Zephyr, 10#ezbraid (I'll never put that on a spinning set up again)[didnt realize how little line was left so there wasn't much line on the reel] 6'9 MHM Fitzgerald Vursa - but this thing is pretty whippy and wimpy to be called a MH.

 

First impressions: even with the rod not quite being the right fit it felt good. I competed casts with my 7ft light set up with Pflueger Supreme XT with 10# spider wire ultra cast

 

They casted equally distant with 1/16 plus a TRD (not the crawz or tacklers but one of their smaller creature ones) and a 1/8 with regular TRD. Accuracy suffered a little with the zephyr with 1/16 but it was also windy and I think a more suitable rod would help.

 

It cast as far with 1/8 but I hit the end of my line, so might even cast farther.

 

Certainly not a refined reel, I can feel every turn of the knob, but if it can keep my line twist from becoming much of an issue I'm in. Plus the high ratio gears definitely gets the lure in quicker, which can come in handy sometimes.

 

Brakes were at 3.5-3.75 on the dial and had barely, if any, side to side play.

 

Spinning rod did have a leader tied on, I'm going to tie either a leader or a full cast length of leader on the Zephyr and see how that feels.

 

It didn't like overhead casts, I definitely nested a couple times with the 1/16, but I was practically casting into the wind a good chunk of the time.

 

One thing I noticed was the line guide sits pretty low relative to the spool, keeps the line constantly in contact with the top of the line guide. More line will only increase that angle and tension, but we'll see how it fishes when I get a little more time on it.

 

I'd say it's performed well enough to keep it around, gonna try to give it some more time over the next couple weeks and come to a conclusion, but I'm already excited.

 

Doubtful I'll bump into any fish though, bank fishing in MA in winter is basically just practice casting. I'll report back when I get more time with it.