I turned to the dark side.

[Columbia Craw]

I picked up a BFS set up.  We essentially fish a derivation of BFS in the 80’s. Short limp wanger rods on Abu 1500C reel with 10 pound Strength for small stuff.  Left that deal long ago but, late August and September are notorious for small schooling fish so I grabbed a two piece and a reel with two spools.  One with 5 and the other with 7.  My brother in law has two small lakes near his place and this will work for that perfectly.  Here we go again.😁

[little giant]

Not the dark side, the FUN side. Catching with light tackle is a challenge that I enjoy! Florida LMB and Peacocks.

Reminds me of those who fish for Tarpon with flyrods!

[bulldog1935]

gratuitous 1500CI on stream rod

 

[msgf91]

I like to think of it as nice panfish gear that by chance catch a lot of bass while I'm crappie fishing. 

[bulldog1935]

It is nice panfish gear, except when it's nice redfish/snook gear - never try to box-in BFS.  

[msgf91]

I meant it as a joke so you don't have to say you went to the dark side or something 

[new2BC4bass]

Still have the 1500C?  If so, use it.  Then you'll have 2 combos.

[HawkeyeSmallie]

I know this is a BASS forum but I've fallen in love throwing artificials for bluegills this summer.

 

Of course I'm catching bass as well.

 

Using UL spinning and it's a complete blast.

 

A big bluegill on UL is probably more fun than a decent bass on heavy equipment.

 

I might be looking into this BFS as well.   

 

 

[softwateronly]

@HawkeyeSmallie had some of the same thoughts the last couple weeks.  I'm having it harder than normal trying to catch bass during the daytime on structure and or cover since mid july.  Small natural lake, clear water, lots of variation in breaks from 5-20 fow, various weeds and grass grow out to 18-22, but the vertical stuff stops around 15', then large expansive 20-35' flats with gentle depth changes, hard bottom, and barren.  Point is, bass bust small gizzard shad on the surface on these large deep flats, and targeting them with small 1.75-2" metal jigs is currently my best bet.  So as I wait for the bass to show themselves, I often set up to cast the deep weed edges with my eye on the "abyss" and keep my line tight grabbing decent bluegill and crappie on these spoons.  BFS makes this possible to be ready in time when the bass do start showing up and still have a whole lot of fun when I'm waiting.

 

scott

 

 

 

[HawkeyeSmallie]

53 minutes ago, softwateronly said:

@HawkeyeSmallie had some of the same thoughts the last couple weeks.  I'm having it harder than normal trying to catch bass during the daytime on structure and or cover since mid july.  Small natural lake, clear water, lots of variation in breaks from 5-20 fow, various weeds and grass grow out to 18-22, but the vertical stuff stops around 15', then large expansive 20-35' flats with gentle depth changes, hard bottom, and barren.  Point is, bass bust small gizzard shad on the surface on these large deep flats, and targeting them with small 1.75-2" metal jigs is currently my best bet.  So as I wait for the bass to show themselves, I often set up to cast the deep weed edges with my eye on the "abyss" and keep my line tight grabbing decent bluegill and crappie on these spoons.  BFS makes this possible to be ready in time when the bass do start showing up and still have a whole lot of fun when I'm waiting.

 

scott

 

 

 

 

What pound line are you using?

 

I'm using 4 lb but I threw a small crank last night and a decent bass broke my line right away. IDK, maybe it was the knot. Lost it on the hookset.

 

IDK, the setup is mostly for panfish so I'd like to stick with the 4lb.

 

This is exactly why I need a BFS setup. At least that's what I'm going to tell my wife. 

 

[F14A-B]

 

As close as I’m gonna get to this micro BFS stuff 🤣this rod and reel is a blast. Vanford 2500 Shallow, 5.3:1

Edge two piece Light/Fast. I like it so much I’m going to order another one. 

[softwateronly]

1 hour ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

 

What pound line are you using?

 

I'm using 4 lb but I threw a small crank last night and a decent bass broke my line right away. IDK, maybe it was the knot. Lost it on the hookset.

 

IDK, the setup is mostly for panfish so I'd like to stick with the 4lb.

 

This is exactly why I need a BFS setup. At least that's what I'm going to tell my wife. 

 

 

I do pe #1 w/ 10lb sniper on one true bfs set up and pe #1.5 w/10lb sniper on 2 others that are soft tip, M/RF rods that throw down to 3g.  I have to be conscious to reel set, then lift, or I get straight to swinging on some of those hard thumps.  Still fighting my instincts on this stuff.

 

scott

[T-Billy]

3 hours ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

A big bluegill on UL is probably more fun than a decent bass on heavy equipment

Nope.

[bulldog1935]

More proof I began on the darkest side, and my all-time best fish story.  

I was sight-fishing this bass in an oxbow on the Pedernales headwaters - she was creeping, almost yawning, toward my cats whisker.
The massive yellow belly dashed out and snagged the fly. The bass then fought the yellow belly, and sat down at my feet while I was handling her.
I released the sunfish, daubed the fly at my feet and caught the bass -

- only time I ever had a 5-lb bass wait in line to eat my cats whisker.

 

[Bankc]

I often catch catfish on my ML rods.  It's a lot of fun until you get that fish near the surface and realize it's a catfish.  I'm not sure if that's the same thing.  But landing a big cat with 6# line does take a bit of skill.   Though not as much as prying open the mouth of that big cat to get your lure back.

[F14A-B]

22 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

More proof I began on the darkest side, and my all-time best fish story.  

I was sight-fishing this bass in an oxbow on the Pedernales headwaters - she was creeping, almost yawning, toward my cats whisker.
The massive yellow belly dashed out and snagged the fly. The bass then fought the yellow belly, and sat down at my feet while I was handling her.
I released the sunfish, daubed the fly at my feet and caught the bass -

- only time I ever had a 5-lb bass wait in line to eat my cats whisker.

 

That sunfish is a dandy, what rod is that? Is it glass?

[bulldog1935]

That rod is cane, Norm Thompson Armourcane, which is the same impregnated Farlow's blank sold by Lee Wulff, and sold as (post-fire) Leonard Duracane.  7'6" 5-wt - eventually burned a hole in my pocket, and I sold it, because it's a good value, wide-range functional, and a Gateway rod into cane.  

Brass Brit ferrules, and the nicest thing about it was the thick-section alloy reel seat.  

 

 

[F14A-B]

8 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

That rod is cane, Norm Thompson Armourcane, which is the same impregnated Farlow's blank sold by Lee Wulff, and sold as (post-fire) Leonard Duracane.  7'6" 5-wt - eventually burned a hole in my pocket, and I sold it, because it's a good value, wide-range functional, and a Gateway rod into cane.  

Brass Brit ferrules, and the nicest thing about it was the thick-section alloy reel seat.  

 

 

Beautiful rod.