Your BFS Set Up ?

[Eric 26]

@PhishLI This is the monkey speaking…..JUST DO IT 😆

[redmeansdistortion]

Where do I start?   

 

Rods
Smith Troutin'Spin 74M 5-16g

Smith Troutin'Spin 65ML 3-12g

Palms Rera Kamuy 69ML 4-10g

Daiwa Silver Creek Glass Progressive 51LB-G 2-10g

Major Craft Finetail Glass B410UL 1-8g

Major Craft Finetail B502L 2-10g

Major Craft Troutino B410UL 1-8g

Daiwa Blazon 66MLB 3-14g

Daiwa Bass X 64LB 2-11g

Graywolf 410 2-6g

Graywolf 542 2-10g

Kuying Teton 66L 2-10g

 

Reels

Abu 2500C, Avail 2540R, 4.7:1

Abu 2500C IAR, Avail 2540R, 5.3:1

Abu 2500C IAR, Avail 2520R, 6.1:1

Abu 2500C IAR, Avail 2520R, 5.3:1

Abu 2600C IAR, Avail 2540R, 5.3:1

Abu 1600C IAR, Avail 1520R, 6.1:1

'17 Calcutta Conquest BFS

Millionaire CT SV, SLP SV700S, 7.2:1

Millionaire Ringa SSS, Roro MX30, 5.8:1

 

 

[WRB]

1/8 oz = 3.5 grams. Nearly every bait casting 100 size reel with 8 lb mono today can effectively cast that weight using Medium fast rods.

I get the shallow spools that accommodate braid line under .005 diameter being marketed as BFS reels. 

Tom

[PhishLI]

2 hours ago, WRB said:

1/8 oz = 3.5 grams. Nearly every bait casting 100 size reel with 8 lb mono today can effectively cast that weight using Medium fast rods.

100 sized reels typically have spools of 32-34 mm in diameter that can weigh from 21-30 grams loaded with line if that line is braid. Add some weight for straight plastic line. They can cast 3.5grams or 1/8oz total weight effectively?

 

Define effectively.

 

Is that more effectively than a spool with a similar diameter topping out at 10 grams or less with line?

 

On a side note, how many times on this forum have we heard that rods cast, not reels, and that reels just wind in line?

 

Has everyone who's listed their BFS setups been duped?

[WRB]

Effective cast is anything over 75’ IMO.

3/32oz dart head with 4” ribbon tail weight 3.5 gr/ 1/8 oz and 6’8” MC MF Iovino rod Splash-It rod, SLX MGL 70* and .008D copoly can cast that distance with ease. I call this combo a finesse outfit,  ML rod would be easier.

I have always said any lure under 1/8 Spinning is my choice before BSF. 

* before this I used an original TD Fuego and sold it. 

Tom

[bulldog1935]

It's not like the Actual physics of casting 3.7 g hasn't been covered before on this forum in great detail.  

The ability to cast 2 g consistently beyond 130' may not be effective, but it is significant.  

 

This is effective.  

 

Being able to fish both slopes of a tide pass on your cast is twice as effective as only being able to fish the close one.  

 

@new2BC4bass  Ray's Studio, Roro-X, AMO.  

The pork difference vs. a stock 1016 spool is evident.  

AMO and Roro-X fixed-rotor spools will fish 2 g on Zillion.  

Ray's Studio SV spool will fish 3 g and still allow the brake full SV function to fish 1 ounce.  

You get the last 10% of your cast distance from your bearings.  

A BFS Zillion will cast the light weight farther than an Alphas Air because the 34-mm spool doesn't have to turn as fast to get there.  The 37-mm spool on an Ambassadeur CT can be set up to out-distance the Zillion.  

 

On my '77 Ambassadeur 4500C BFS conversions, I set the internal mag brake casting 3 g.  This one casts it past 100' and 100% backlash-proof.  The rod is 6'7", rated for 5-g at the low end, but this light-end performance is typical of Japanese rods.  

[new2BC4bass]

4 hours ago, PhishLI said:

On a side note, how many times on this forum have we heard that rods cast, not reels, and that reels just wind in line?

 I've read this a few times.  Would have to disagree with my limited experience.  A review of the original Zillion said it was best at 3/8 oz. and above.  I don't know if there are aftermarket spools that could turn this model into a BFS reel.  I use mine on MH or more powerful rods.  For me anything below 1/4 oz. requires the correct rod and reel.

 

I know there are those that can use a MH rod for 1/8 oz. lures.  I ain't one of them.

 

No idea what my best BFS combo would be.  I've gathered a few options over the years.  Last year I purchased an aftermarket spool for a Pixy and a Steez.  Unfortunately life got in the way.

 

Possible rods that might work:

OG Falcon Expert 6'9" Light

BPS Crankin' Stick 7' ML

Smallmouth 6'10"MF (1/8-5/8 oz.)

HMG 7' MLF

Envy Black 6'10" ML-EF

Recon2 7' MLF

Custom 7' LF

Ace Hawk Double 6' UL/L

 

Possible reels:

Black Max 1600C

Scorpion 1001 4x4 SVS

Lew's SuperDuty G (per bulldog1935)

SV105HSL

Airy Red Pixy with above spool

PX68L with above spool

Steez SV103H with above spool

 

Additional spools might turn a few more of my reels into the BFS arena.  I've read a T3 does quite well with a BFS spool.  I've got a couple Alphas reels that aftermarket spools might turn them into BFS reels.

 

[Big Hands]

11 hours ago, waymont said:

Try using 8lb braid. 8lb PP is crazy thin. It works really well with that rod.

 

I found that after casting and retrieving lightweight baits in a few times, the line would wind on kinda loosely. Then, I would get bit, set the hook and reel in a fish. Then, when I would go to cast again, I would find that the line had dug in.

 

Do you find issues with line-dig with 8 lbs PP?

[waymont]

4 minutes ago, Big Hands said:

 

I found that after casting and retrieving lightweight baits in a few times, the line would wind on kinda loosely. Then, I would get bit, set the hook and reel in a fish. Then, when I would go to cast again, I would find that the line had dug in.

 

Do you find issues with line-dig with 8 lbs PP?

Not one time. It’s completely trouble free for me. Only thing is with the Alphas Air TW I have to cast lightly.

but the baits fly easily.

[bulldog1935]

9 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

....Possible reels:

Black Max 1600C

Scorpion 1001 4x4 SVS

Lew's SuperDuty G (per bulldog1935)

SV105HSL

Airy Red Pixy with above spool

PX68L with above spool

Steez SV103H with above spool

 

Additional spools might turn a few more of my reels into the BFS arena.  I've read a T3 does quite well with a BFS spool.  I've got a couple Alphas reels that aftermarket spools might turn them into BFS reels.

 

It's time to look for a spool to see for yourself what you can do.  (Winter is a good time to tinker, but it's no fun until you can get outside to cast)

You're not going to kill the reel by making the swap to BFS, because everything you do will change right back to where you started.  You're simply adding a capability you didn't have before. 

A recommendation, get used to the new set-up first casting disposable mono, set your mag brake at the lightest end.  When you're backlash proof, install the better line you plan to fish.  

 

Exactly what you're doing with BFS spool and microbearing swap is taking a reel made to fish 3/8 oz, and making it fish 3/30 oz just as effectively, and just as reliably.  The trick is picking one with a good mag brake.  Daiwa SV makes this swap easy (you need the right spool bearing tool - Rorolure sells a good one).  

 

Super Duty G is a brain-stumper.  It's not supposed to cast 1/8 oz this well, but it does. 

  

The reason I ended up with a ZPI Alcance was to chase this further, and there are no aftermarket spools made for Lew's reels.  The Alcance - not for the faint of heart - matched with IXA bearings, is the fastest spool I have ever cast, including my racy Daiwas and Abu CT's

[redmeansdistortion]

This just showed up today, first time I saw one under $500 so I jumped on it.  From Avail we have a 2540R spool, pinion bearing, line guide, and mag brake.  From Valleyhill we have a 2BB level wind and idler gear, and rounding it out a 60mm Haneda Craft handle.  This reel is in exceptional shape, much nicer than I was thinking going by the pics in the ad on Yahoo Auctions.

 

[bulldog1935]

@redmeansdistortion Perfect - that's everything you want.  

Of course, part of the fun with Ambassadeur is making all those upgrades at your bench.  

 

 

 

Also worth pointing out, your new 2600CI is tough to come by.  

[redmeansdistortion]

3 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

Of course, part of the fun with Ambassadeur is making all those upgrades at your bench.

My happy place.