BFS Travel Rod

[Big Swimbait]

Can anyone please recommend a BFS travel casting rod that isn't $400.00 ! I want something I can keep in the truck.

[Junger]

Major Craft BENKEI BIC-652UL/BF

https://www.ebay.com/itm/134970854996?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=hzJajaeTToW&sssrc=2047675&ssuid=HbUnHEMjSEa&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

 

I have the one piece and it has pretty good backbone to it.

[Kevin Shoot]

https://baitfinesseempire.com/product/kuying-freestyle-walker-travel-rod-series/

[Big Swimbait]

Thanks for the recommendations. 

[Motoboss]

Build your own 

[walleyecrazy]

I am pretty happy with both the Tsurinoya Partner, and the Kuying Freestyle Walker travel rods that I have. I give the edge to the Tsurinoya though because it comes with two tip sections with slightly different ratings, so it is a little more versatile.

[Big Hands]

Do you consider a two piece rod to be a travel rod?

[slowworm]

1 hour ago, Big Hands said:

Do you consider a two piece rod to be a travel rod?

Depends how I'm travelling. 

 

By car? - Yes.  By plane?  No.

[Big Hands]

24 minutes ago, slowworm said:

Depends how I'm travelling. 

 

By car? - Yes.  By plane?  No.

 

I agree with your statement 100%; travel could mean something that could 'travel' behind the back seat of a pickup truck, or in luggage for a flight, or the inside of a backpack.

 

However, I was specifically asking the OP so I (we) could tailor our responses to his specific situation.

[Fishingmickey]

Shimano has both of these in Spinning and Casting. for $250.

 

https://www.omniafishing.com/p/shimano-zodias-pack-travel-spinning-rod

https://www.omniafishing.com/p/shimano-zodias-pack-travel-casting-rod

 

Falcon's Low rider.

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Falcon_Lowrider_Traveler_Casting_Rods/descpage-WTC.html

 

Those are a couple for US retailers, That I consider decent. Diawa also has the Ardito in both spinning, casting and a both spin and cast model. I have a couple of the non-binary Ardito's. But there is much better out there if you're willing to go down the JDM worm hole.

FM

[Big Swimbait]

On 3/25/2024 at 9:46 AM, Big Hands said:

Do you consider a two piece rod to be a travel rod?

If it will fit into the 4 ft hard case I travel with. 

On 3/25/2024 at 1:48 PM, Fishingmickey said:

Shimano has both of these in Spinning and Casting. for $250.

 

https://www.omniafishing.com/p/shimano-zodias-pack-travel-spinning-rod

https://www.omniafishing.com/p/shimano-zodias-pack-travel-casting-rod

 

Falcon's Low rider.

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Falcon_Lowrider_Traveler_Casting_Rods/descpage-WTC.html

 

Those are a couple for US retailers, That I consider decent. Diawa also has the Ardito in both spinning, casting and a both spin and cast model. I have a couple of the non-binary Ardito's. But there is much better out there if you're willing to go down the JDM worm hole.

FM

Thanks, but those are not BFS rods.

[FishTank]

On 3/23/2024 at 9:59 PM, Big Swimbait said:

Can anyone please recommend a BFS travel casting rod that isn't $400.00 ! I want something I can keep in the truck.

In what weight range are trying to throw?  Are looking for a trout or bass BFS? Something in between?  Streams or lakes?

[Big Swimbait]

Just now, FishTank said:

In what weight range are trying to throw?  Are looking for a trout or bass BFS? Something in between?  Streams or lakes?

Bass BFS, 1/8 oz max and lake fishing - mix of soft plastics and small cranks.

[FishTank]

1 hour ago, Big Swimbait said:

Bass BFS, 1/8 oz max and lake fishing - mix of soft plastics and small cranks.

I went down this rabbit hole late last year and early this year. I was wanting something more for trout streams. Some of the streams I have tried have tight spots so I needed a short packable rod that I could hike with. I ended up with a Tenryu Rayz Integral 4'8'' L 4 piece.  Despite it being short,  it can cast a 4g lure just as far my 6'8'' Kistler BFS. I have caught a handful of bass on it and it's surprisingly powerful,  almost too powerful for the small trout I'm after. With that said, I would always use a net and I would probably not use it on a boat. May not be the rod for you.

 

So which leads me to the rod that was my second choice but it's always out if stock on most JDM sites due to it being one of Japan's best selling BFS rods, the Megabass Triza Aello. This is the rod I should have picked up for bass. I got to look at the next step up the Sparna. These rods are just built different and worth the money.  By the look and feel, you would expect it to cost more but it is still $370 US retail. You can get it for around $275 on few JDM sites if you're lucky. 

[Fishingmickey]

35 minutes ago, Big Swimbait said:

If it will fit into the 4 ft hard case I travel with. 

Thanks, but those are not BFS rods.

 

20 minutes ago, Big Swimbait said:

Bass BFS, 1/8 oz max and lake fishing - mix of soft plastics and small cranks.

Hello Big Swim,

     I missed the BFS in your original post. We don't have much selection for light to ultra light travel rod in the US market. There is or was the Diawa minicast. I think it came in spincast and spinning reel combo's with case. Not very high on quality or cost. 

   I feel that your going to have to go JDM if you want good quality. I've bought a couple of travel rods from the JDM market.  I hope Bulldog1935 will chime in here. He is BR's most knowledgeable JDM market guy (IMHO).  He also has some of the most sexiest rod and reel fishing porn in the world.

  Good luck in your search, The Japanese have some very fine and reasonably priced light tackle fishing gear.

FM

[bulldog1935]

I plead the 5th - without knowing how you plan to fish the rod, I can't make a recommendation.  

The UL rods would be choice for creek fishing,,,

 

.,.. this is how I began a post that I backed away from last Sunday.  

You have to tell us how you want to fish the rod.  BFS=reel, so any rod that fishes well with it is a "BFS rod" - inshore kayak, 

 

or shore/surf microjigging (yes, I have a high-geared BFS surf reel)

 

If what you want is a creek rod, well, that's a stream trout/panfish baitfinesse rod.  

Look at Smith, look at Tailwalk, look at Major Craft - look at BaitFinesseEmpire.  

If you're shore fishing lakes or ponds, you may want something longer to cast farther.  

Since you're keeping it handy all the time, may not want to limit your upper range, letting you fish 1/16 to 5/8 oz, e.g.

[Big Swimbait]

Thanks, Bulldog1935. I have about 5 BFS setups but they are all one-piece rods. Those are fine for the boat but I travel a lot for work and would like to keep a travel rod with me. As long as I could get it in a 48" hard case, two piece rods would be fine. I will look at the JDM sites and see what is available. My Conquest, Aldebaran & Curado BFS reels came from Digitaka. My Daiwa Salamandura came from Ali Express.

 

Thanks to all for your responses. I know it was kind of an open-ended question. And yes, my board name still applies. My partner and I won our last tournament and I had 3 swimbait rods and 3 BFS rods LOL.

[Motoboss]

https://www.majorcraft-america.com/collections/benkei/products/benkei-spinning-type-1?variant=42004758823094 

[Bigbox99]

UL Benkei 2pc for sure.  Majorcraft knows how to make a BFS rod.

[bulldog1935]

My first Takamiya finesse rods from 14 years ago are still fishing, and one of my combos was Tony's bread-and-butter at Arroyo earlier this month.  

My buddy Lou's Major Craft fished through the tip over 3 hard winters - Susie helped.  

 

Lou upgraded it with Yamaga Blanks, but Y/B won't meet your ante.

[Marty-WI]

On 3/23/2024 at 8:59 PM, Big Swimbait said:

Can anyone please recommend a BFS travel casting rod that isn't $400.00 ! I want something I can keep in the truck.

I purchased this Kastking Kestrel BFS Casting Rod from this retailer.  Saw review on YouTube from another source, not this retailer.   They suggest don’t buy the featherlight.   Prone to tip breaks.    Have not used, but surprisingly not a bad rod and very nice fit and finish.   I think this will be nice for its intended purpose.   There were other sizes too, but this link only shows the one size. They had more at the time.   Suggest looking for the other sizes to fit your needs.  
 

https://www.fishusa.com/KastKing-Kestrel-Elite-Finesse-Casting-Rod/

Forgot to add that I found a perfect 3-piece rod case at Cabela’s that held the rod exactly.   Not sure if Plano rod case.  Online doesn’t show what I bought.  Not at home to double check, but can later.  It’s just a tube case so you have to remove the reel.  

[Marty-WI]

Here are the pictures of the rod and tube I purchased.  This is all new territory for me so I make no claims to quality.  It’s a cheaper alternative and very compact for the money.  It gives me the travel mobility I wanted, now hoping for it to be fun and effective.  90% of my rods are 1 piece so the thought of a 3-piece rod is foreign to me.  The tube is 31” and it’s White River from Cabela’s.    The rod fits perfectly inside the tube.  Unfortunately the reel has to be removed every time but I have a neoprene cover to protect whatever I use.  I will leave in the vehicle the majority of the time. I have a Kast King Zephyr or a Shimano to pair it with.