Current thinking on BFS reels please?

[MickD]

I know we have a bunch of BFS experts on the forum, and I'm interested in getting into it, but I confess to be very confused by the reel offerings on Digitaka, and am thinking of just going Daiwa SVTW 70 from TW.  I would appreciate your current opinions on reels.  TIA 

[FryDog62]

I think you give up distance with any SV reel. Which when you’re casting light weights that can cause you to over throw and backlash. 
 

I have 3 reels that all cast well/effortlessly - Aldebaran BFS, Daiwa Air TW, and Curado BFS.  I like them about in that order.  But they’re all really good 👍

[bulldog1935]

Mick,

you might want to review this thread.  

Tatula 70 SV TW is the right package in USM reels for fishing mono.  

If threadline braid is ever in your sights, you might like the JDM Alphas, giving you more, lighter spool options. 

Note, you can get the Alphas Air ready to go for the same price in RH.  

https://www.amazon.com/Daiwa-Alpha-7-1R-Baitcasting-Reel/dp/B09LQYMTB7/ref=sr_1_5

[Bigbox99]

2 hours ago, MickD said:

I know we have a bunch of BFS experts on the forum, and I'm interested in getting into it, but I confess to be very confused by the reel offerings on Digitaka, and am thinking of just going Daiwa SVTW 70 from TW.  I would appreciate your current opinions on reels.  TIA 

You can get the Alphas Air on Tackle Warehouse for $350 or you can buy an Alphas Air from Japan for over $100 less and put a longer handle on it.  

[softwateronly]

@MickD I have alphas 800s, alphas air, and a zillion w/ roro x27 spool all capable of casting 4g with the modified zillion and air definitely able to go lighter/throw further.  I think jdm alphas/zillion with an extra lightweight spool (usually $80 ish) can you give you the most flexibility if you end up moving away from bfs, use it seasonly, or remake combos for specific trips.  Alphas w/ 2 spools would be $240, Zillion w/ 2 spools $300.  The Tat 70 might fit into this category too, I just haven't kept up with the all the iterations of the tatula.  All the previous posters helped me previously, back then I wasn't ever considering spool swaps.

 

scott

[Eric 26]

If I may with very limited knowledge or bfs experience offer my advice if you’re on the fence about bfs and don’t want to spend a whole lot figuring out if you like it then look into a Daiwa Tatula 80 with a bfs spool that @bulldog1935 shared with me for my Tatula 80 both on AliExpress for around $124.00 before taxes and shipping. If you decide to upgrade the reel at a later date you can sell the Tatula and spool or just spool and have a nice extra reel and as a bonus decide if you like the Alphas platform which the Tatula 80 shares.

[Bigbox99]

I see you were referencing the Tatula 70 SV and not the USDM Alphas Air (PXBF 70).  Yeah, that should work great for traditional BFS (bass fishing).  It's not going to cast a crappie jig but it'll cast and skip weightless light plastics like a spinning reel but allow you to use fluoro mainline.  I use a 1st gen Alphas SV for this on a ML rod with 10# sniper.  It's been my spring clear water dock skipping go to for years. 

[ABU is overpriced]

Alphas air was $150 on plat for months. That would've been the best of the best for the money, but it looks like the sale finally ended.

[MickD]

what is plat?

[Eric 26]

42 minutes ago, MickD said:

what is plat?

It is a Japanese Domestic Market or JDMTackle shop.

Edited November 23, 2024 by Eric 26
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[new2BC4bass]

Mick, I don't know what reels you own, but it might be a simple matter of buying an aftermarket finesse spool for one of them.  Daiwa reels in particular have offerings from alternative suppliers.  Daiwa also offers finesse spools, but they usually cost more.  I've barely looked at spools for Shimano reels, but the ones I looked at cost more than I paid for some of the reels that the spool would be going into.

[bulldog1935]

Mick, BFS-mod is the reason I went to Steez and Zillion - because of the range of aftermarket spools made for these reels.  (otherwise, I was perfectly happy fishing Lew's).  

Loaded spool mass and spool bearing inertia are the last words on light lure distance.  

Alphas and Zillion are basically the same reels - Alphas is the compact frame version.  

I've never looked past Steez and Zillion, and have a gang of 34-mm-spool reels that everything swaps.  Shore-fishing distance was always primary for me, and I've never had the compact frame bug.  

  

@FryDog62 mentioned '23 SS Air TW

https://www.amazon.com/Daiwa-Bait-Reel-Finesse-AIR/dp/B0BY89LJKJ/ref=sr_1_1 

SS-Air brake is the latest version of MagForce, with the lightest inductor yet.  Daiwa blurb reads the configuration makes the reel a bit more compact than Alphas. 

There is a general agreement the smaller-diameter spools in compact frame can give you greater cast reliability, easier brake adjustment, etc.  

[MickD]

Regarding what reels I currently have, a couple Daiwa Tatula SV 103's, if I remember correctly.  I've never gotten into changing spools or bearings.  I really appreciate all the participation in this question of mine.  I'm learning.  

[FryDog62]

2 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

@FryDog62 mentioned '23 SS Air TW

https://www.amazon.com/Daiwa-Bait-Reel-Finesse-AIR/dp/B0BY89LJKJ/ref=sr_1_1 

SS-Air brake is the latest version of MagForce, with the lightest inductor yet.  Daiwa blurb reads the configuration makes the reel a bit more compact than Alphas. 

There is a general agreement the smaller-diameter spools in compact frame can give you greater cast reliability, easier brake adjustment, etc.  

That’s a good price, probably $80 less than I paid for it a few years ago…

[Reel]

I'm no expert at BFS , but like you I had some interest.  I got a Curado BFS reel because I wanted something simple and I like it.  I can throw down to about 1/10 of an once fairly easily and at a good distance.  But I found out that BFS is more that throwing light lures.  It's also about light line and light drags.  When you have on a lure with # 6 and # 8 trebles, and 8 pound test line, you need a drag system that is meant for those.  From my experience, the drag system is different on my BFS reel.  

[new2BC4bass]

22 minutes ago, Reel said:

I'm no expert at BFS , but like you I had some interest.  I got a Curado BFS reel because I wanted something simple and I like it.  I can throw down to about 1/10 of an once fairly easily and at a good distance.  But I found out that BFS is more that throwing light lures.  It's also about light line and light drags.  When you have on a lure with # 6 and # 8 trebles, and 8 pound test line, you need a drag system that is meant for those.  From my experience, the drag system is different on my BFS reel.  

To that I would add the rod is very important for me.  I didn't grow up using casting reels with no brakes.  Was 61 before buying my first low profile reel.  Had purchased an Ambassadeur 5001C many years before that, but knew no one using a baitcast reel.  Don't think computers were even a thing back then much less youtube.

 

BTW, the 5001C casts great now. 

 

[MickD]

I'm all set on a rod, will build a Rainshadow walleye spin blank into the casting rod, 7 ' 2" ML, ModFast.  A friend uses that one and loves it. 

[Reel]

I agree.  I'm using an old Compre rod that was hidden away in my rod locker.  It' 6 foot 8 and light action with a moderate curve.  It works well with the Curado BFS.  BFS is a complete system; not just a spool, line, rod or reel.

[Eric 26]

Speaking of bfs rods has anyone had the chance to handle or better yet use the Tatula BFS rod? I’m thinking of picking one up next spring and at the $99.00 price point I’m hoping it’s a decent rod.

[bulldog1935]

While people use BFS to mean whatever they want, it's the reel, the combination of shallow. lightweight spool, low-inertia spool bearings, and threadline.  Bait Finesse System was coined in print in 2000 by Hiroyuki Motoyama, but the practice goes back to 1985 and tuning parts made in Japan for small frame Ambassadeur (also made in Japan by Ebisu).  Before it had a name, it was simply called "reel tuning"

https://www.bassresource.com/fishing/finesse-101.html

The progressive-taper rods employed are best termed baitfinesse or BF rods.  

[Big Swimbait]

I have 3 BFS reels. In order of my preference, Diawa Salmandura (Ali Express), Calcutta Conquest BFS (Digitaka) and the Curado BFS. 

[Bass Rutten]

I've got zillions, alphas, ss air tw, just sold off my bfs slx/curado. Knowing what I know now if I was starting from scratch I would stay away from out of the box bfs reels unless you are planning on trout or panfishing or going really light, like under 1/8oz which that rainshadow blank won’t handle anyhow. I have one of my alphas svtw’s setup with a kkr spool (I have a rays studio sv spool enroute too) and roro bearings that I like as much and performs just as well on a medium light/fast rod as the one trick pony, albeit a very good trick, ss air tw which will cost you at least a hundo more. I’ll dabble with converting a zillion to bfs at some point too which bulldog has proven is a formidable bfs platform. My point is that the alphas and zillion is much more versatile and fun overall with the plethora of parts, spools, and high performance bearings available, and can be returned to stock should the need arise.

 

Of these the alphas svtw 800 (my favorite) is the most compact even over the the ss air despite what daiwa implies. I was surprised when I received it to find that it feels a smidge taller and fuller in hand (steez based frame) than the alphas, but in terms of weight the ss air is the featherweight champ with the zillion even bigger and heavier than both. I’ll be perfectly content with the alphas and zillion one-two punch for the foreseeable future, which between them can be setup to handle everything from bfs to punching.

[FishTank]

@MickD

 

What baits or techniques are you intending to throw? What weights?  

[MickD]

11 hours ago, Bass Rutten said:

under 1/8oz which that rainshadow blank won’t handle anyhow.

It does for spin, so why not for BFS?  

9 hours ago, FishTank said:

What baits or techniques are you intending to throw? What weights?  

Thinking neds and small cranks, but basically just wanting to experience the technique and have an excuse to build another rod.  

[Bass Rutten]

1 hour ago, MickD said:

12 hours ago, Bass Rutten said:

under 1/8oz which that rainshadow blank won’t handle anyhow.

It does for spin, so why not for BFS?

A rod rated for 1/8-3/8 will very likely not load the tip enough to cast 1/16 or 1/32oz (total weight) well, at least in my experience, assuming that’s the weight range on the rod you mentioned above.