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So with what you said and the Berkley claw experiment, let me time travel you from when that experiment happened to the present, now. Check out the Fish Arrow Heavy Poop Stick Bait and the Deps Cover Scat. I reckon the Japanese anglers caught on with this experiment and introduced these 2 baits but are heavy that they can cast far without using additional weights. It's like using a Fat Ika backwards for better casting distance. They also have a gliding down look similar to a craw or poop in the water. Look at pics of those 2 baits and both look similar to a craw without claws. VOILA! Now you have 2 Japanese lures that cost more(expensive) than your average craw lure with claws!

Hi, I have the exact 6'8" Phenix Classic BFS rod. I have a Kasking Kestrel Elite mounted, and total weight is 7oz. The rod is perfect for BFS fishing. The store I bought had the 6'8", 7'1" and 7'4" lengths available. My thinking is that a BFS rod should be under 7', and the 6'8" length was perfect. I can cast with over hanging tree branches and I can side arm cast easily. I don't have any streams close to me, so the 6'8" length suits my BFS needs, I don't need a rod around 5' or shorter. The rod is very light and sharp looking. I did cast as low as 1/16oz lures but mostly around 1/8oz spoons and inline spinnerbaits. The rod casted my lures a good distance. The guides I think are semi micro guides. I tried using braid(10lb) to copoly(4lb) and the top guide at times would catch the knot. So I switched out to complete 4lb copoly line and problem solved. But using straight lower weight braid with this rod and the sensitivity goes up a few more notches. Both rod and reel handled that 3lb rainbow trout I caught on a 3.9g trout spoon swimmingly! I had no problem feeling the vibrations from the trout spoon using 4lb Izorline XXX line. The rod is very sensitive and being under $200 was just perfect for me. I compared it next to the Dobyns Sierra Ultra Finesse Casting Rod(6'9"), which was the same price; $189.99. The Phenix Classic BFS(6'8") rod in similar length was lighter in feel. Also I like the reel seat on the Phenix. It has a small finger trigger and IMO adds to that JDM enthusiast look, but there's enough of the trigger to keep a good finger grip. The reel seat nut has that JDM'ish look to it. The rod is comfortable to hold with the Kestrel Elite, very low profile. I did add a Fuji EZ Keeper since it does not have a hook keeper. I guess you can use one the reel seat nut opening for a hook keeper, I did but didn't like it that way. I'm going to mount my Curado BFS on the Phenix rod next time. Should perform just as good as the Kestrel Elite used, but probably the Curado BFS may be a bit more refined. Overall, the Phenix Classic BFS rod is outstanding! I thought of waiting for a sale on them but I was greedy and wanted to be one of the firsts in my area to own one.

Saw it on TW, looks promising but...EXPENSIVE. More than the Curado BFS. Not sure the frame material, I rather guess it's a composite or graphite something or other. It's not the shallow spool skipping/pitching baitcast that came out last year. It also has centrifugal braking. I'd rather spend a few more dollars and get an Aldeberan BFS, which has been tried and true top end BFS reel.

Anyone of you tried this shallow spool reel for pitching and flipping for BFS use?

One word...Meh. What has happened to the BPS Spring Classic and Black Friday sales??? Why waste time, money and paper(trees) to send those out and 80% of the content is just regular priced items and very, very little worth of things on sale. And most times now, the only thing(s) on sale are Rapala, Strike King lures. I've seen the patterns on their sales flyers. They even show new BPS lures like the XPS Swerve glide bait, ok I'm interested. But listing it on the Spring Classic flyer at regular price???? BPS if you happen to troll these posts, you as a company are losing more people who just find your sales as...Meh.

Thanks guys, I'll try the 20lb mono backing then electrical tape to make a spool shallower. I have a Shimano Calcutta 51B and a Curado 51E that I'd like to cast lighter lures from 1/8oz and up. I don't want to fill those deeper spools with all 4lb line, either braid or copoly.

I know this is an odd question to ask. I remember many years ago, TT had an article to make a shallow spool from a standard casting spool. I can't find that article now,. Is there a way to do this or is it even possible without adding too much additional weight to the spool?

I have 2 of the big ones and 2 of the smaller ones. I've had them for years. Caught small bass on the smaller ones but nothing on ythe big subwart. IDK if the louder rattle sound, the SoCal bass don't like them.

That is so very cool! Is he a nice guy?

What JediAmoeba said. 13 fishing doesn't have a spool BFS conversion or BFS reel in their stable. Rod and reel mfg's are slowly getting BFS gear. Reason why Shimano and Daiwa have a few BFS equipment is cuz they are originally a Japanese type of fishing technique and setup that has trickled to the U.S. Eventually 13 Fishing will possibly have BFS gear but when that will happen, IDK. Kastking is Chinese fishing gear, that I believe made it to the U.S. market via Amazon. I reckon they saw the how BfS was starting to get popular and came out with the Kasking Zephyr a couple years ago. And now they have a couple more BFS reels available. Eventually 13 Fishing and other reel mfg's will have some type of BFS gear coming up. I'm hoping Bass Pro would come up with a BFS rod and reel.

I finally have had a chance to use my Armajoint. First of all, it floats and does not slowly sink. But once you start your retrieve it does dive, I'd say less than a foot. It does wake too. Keep your rod tip up and slow to medium retrieve. It's a versatile swimbait. Also, it does fold when you cast the Armajoint. I noticed I got a bit more distance than my other swim and glide baits. It's not too heavy and the rod I am using is a Dobyns Fury swimbait, rated 1-5oz. The hooks are very good stock hooks, I'm guessing Gamakatsu's. I have the rainbow trout color and the foil thing does shimmer when just sitting on top of the water. It has a very nice glide while swimming. You can do all your techniques with this lure. I haven't caught a bass yet. I've only used it a a couple days, a couple weeks ago. But I have to say, Shimano did a great job with this swimbait. Got mine on sale and paid 20% less than retail price. I may get another Armajoint in a different color scheme. It comes with a spare tail and instructions how to install the tail. I keep my Armajoint in the plastic container it came in, to keep the tail from getting bent by heat or being smushed next to my other swim and glide baits.

Hey Y'all, Should be getting tax refund in the next few weeks and I'm a itchin' to go to the dark side and get a JDM reel or 2. I know a couple months ago buying JDM was less expensive than buying USDM reels, but is that still true now?

I just wish Yozuri still had the moss green colored line. I still have the 4 and 6 lb lines in moss green.

Well, FINALLY! Received the 2023 BPS Master Catalog today! What a pleasant surprise to see that catalog waiting for me on the dining table this evening. I was expecting so much new stuff, but meh. BPS does have a new glide bait that looks quite interesting. No new BPS rod or reels, except for a new crappie baitcast rod that looks promising. I kinda wished that BPS would join the BFS bandwagon and offer something from them. Or and update to the Carbon Lite 3.0 casting reel, or bring back the mean green Extreme rods and reels. Now I can retire the 2022 master catalog and have a 2023 master catalog to keep me amused. I do like looking online for fishing stuff from TW and the likes, but there is something special and cool to still have a master catalog to look forward to turn the page(s) and see what is new and have a physical feel of paper. It's like bringing back my childhood and teenage years of getting the BPS Master Catalogs from days gone. Please BPS, don't ever discontinue with the master catalog, it's like almost the last piece of the past that I can still enjoy...

Not yet, I will though. I just found this issue today, first time using the setup. I need to try the Curado 301K on my 2 other swimbait rods and find out if it might the the reel foot on the Curado 301K.

Don't know who else owns this combo, but the reel seat on the Dobyns Fury 7'9" swimbait rod and Curado 301K, the reel moves slightly sideways. It's annoying as all get out! I have to say I'm quite disappointed this happens. I think the reel seat on the Dobyns Fury Might be a tad wide. I'm going to mount the the Curado 301K on another swimbait rod I have and find out if it seats better.

Hmph! No 2023 BPS master catalog in the mail today. Guess I'll be perusing, again the 2022 in the toilet...again. At least I won't hear my wife griping I've been in there for 3 hours and not have done nothing of importance.

Thank you, I asked that a couple weeks ago about the master catalog. Not sure when I'll get mi e, can you please take a pic of the cover?

Yup. BPS has that treble hook on some of their crankbaits.

BTW, the stock front treble hook on the Egg is supposed to be like that. It's supposed to help keep the hooks from fouling and have the front hook close to the body to lessen picking up weeds/grass. Good concept, not my thing.

Ouch! You can also go size 4 KVD in front and Size 6 KVD trebles. They will still at times tangle up. I like the better hook up ratio with same size 4 hooks. No issues with Bouyancy or action with replacement trebles. Good luck with the Egg!

I really like this Daiwa reel. I notice that it is the same frame as the Daiwa Tatula 80. AlieExpress has a DIY BFS spool for the Tatula 80. Would this DIY spool fit and work on the Coastal 80?

22lb Sunline Shooter Armilo Defier. Per WRB recommendations. Thanks fellow SoCal!

Much appreciate the spelling correction. Guess that's what I get for living close to a few po-dunk towns in Indiana, years ago. Y'all live long and prosper

I've had my best luck fishing the Scatter Rap Crank Shallow. I wish Rapala would bring that model back. I still have my original ones I bought years ago, but sure would like to get back ups in certain colors.