thehooligan

After trying tons of braking options on the ktf spool, i found this setup works best for me. Just pull off all the brakes, put on 2 reds, 2 clears and your good to go...

A lot of the bfs rods meant for hardbaits are regular fast/moderate action. Definitely helps to fling those super light baits out there.

I was slinging 1/8oz jerks about 75-100ft with 6lb copoly on that poison glorious bfs rod i had.

thanks, i typically use 4-6lb hybrid, 4-8lb floroclear for all finesse fishing. I havent used the brenious but whats not to like, 7:7 brass gears, shallow spool, and 50 frame, I prefer the bfs xg cause its a slightly lighter spool and lighter reel in general. Or just drop a shallow spool in your scorpion xt. Im selling an avail & zpi spool for the shimano 50 size platform if interested...

Lightest lures i throw are 1/8oz jerkbaits, 3 inch wacky senkos. Stock spool should handle most finesse baits easily with the right light action bfs rod.

I learned on a curado 201e7, and still hold the core 50/51 and Conquest 50/51 as my favorite all time casting reels.

Nice reel adam

I regularly use jls, jpangler, japan tackle and digitaka. All great vendors, no worries.

Uni - Uni is my goto knot. Never had one fail yet and i think its the easiest to tie.

Little update: Im used to having 2 brakes set with all my other shimanos. I was throwing a pop-x lastnight and realizing i wasnt getting nearly as far as my core 51 with the new aldebaran. Decided to go down to 1 brake and now the reel is performing like it should. Maybe 2 brakes on the svs system is a little stonger then 2 on the vbs system...

Nice lineup Joe Matt (hooligan) from bassbarn

3 inch wacky senkos, 1/16oz flickshakes, 2.8 keitechs, 1/16oz shakeyheads, dropshot, and the neko rig.

Nice combo Cheng, love that handle.

That's a tough call, I've only had it out for two short trips to the pond. I've been using Aldebaran mg7's & core 51's for almost 5 years now, lol I need more time on the water but I will say its smoother due to the xship, and it's definitely a better looking reel. Theres little things that I prefer on the older Aldebaran. Call me crazy, but I like an attached side plate. I've almost lost the side plate to my bfs xg and it sucks. After using the yumeya shallow spool in the alde & core, I sometimes think to myself that I have it all figured out and I'm never buying another reel again, haha.

I replaced the spool bearing and sideplate bearing with 3X10X4 hedgehog airs, didnt touch the bearing behind the cast control knob.

I use shimanos, I learned on a curado 201e. Tried abu, lews, and daiwa/megabass. Always go back to my 50 size shimanos. Light, smooth, palm great, tons of spool options, and super easy to use.

Id go with the 6:2 if you already have a pitching/jig setup

Didnt weigh each handle but it should be slightly lighter. Its 80mm, carbon, and i was able to get rid of that stupid plastic cap shimano likes to put over the handle nuts, lol.

New alde hg, hedgehog airs, zpi offset handle, thats it. Love it as is. Might pair it with the Ultima if yumeya makes a finesse spool for it...

My hg came in nice and early in the morning. Had plenty of time to look it over and give it a quick clean. Threw some hedgehog airs in, and put a zpi carbon handle on. Actually got this thing down to 128grams/4.5oz, lol. Ridiculously light... Ive been using 6-8lb hybrid lately, but i ended up spooling it with 20lb power pro. Mounted it on my 6'5L expride and threw pop-xs, flickshakes, 1/4oz spinnerbaits, and a few other smaller topwaters. First off, its palms awesome, just as good or better then the core 50/bfs xg. Very smooth due to the x-ship, love the knobs. Probally the most comfortable factory knob ive used so far. I honestly think it feels like a smaller metanium without the micro gears. I was getting major distance with 1/4oz hardbaits. Wasnt getting great distance with finesse baits though, but im so used to using finesse spools in core/alde mg7's. I kept it at 2 brakes on, and the exterior dial off or it seems to look like its at 1 when off. Definitely starts to cut some serious distance off your cast even it setting 2 on the dial. I honestly dont like exterior brake dials. Im a minimalist, i like setting 2 brakes on the spool and using my cast control knob. Thats why ive always liked the shimano 50 series platform, set 2 brakes and forget it. Positives - 1. Love the silver parts, dragstar, factory handle nut can be reused with aftermarket handles. 2. Very smooth 3. Super light 4. Palms awesome 5. Love the knobs Negatives - 1. I honestly think the silent tune thing is a gimmick, theres absolutely no need for a spring behind the bearings, especially the spool mounted bearing. I'm probally going to remove the spool spring when i get a chance. 2. Id prefer a regular sideplate like the core 50 with no exterior brake dial. I dont need the extra braking. 3. I noticed when taking off the cast control knob that theres no aluminum threaded insert like the core 50/alde mg/mg7/bfs xg. Its actually the frame material (ci4+?) Just doesnt seem as smooth when adjusting the cast control, but i suppose thats weight savings... Either way, i think the reel is great. Ill be using it for 1/8oz and heavier plastics and 3/8-1/2oz moving baits. Really hoping yumeya makes a finesse spool for it.

I'll get ya one in the morning.

My favorite way to rig the fat and easy shiner is with the owner underspin.

I almost grabbed a lefty mg while waiting for my new alde hg to come in today, lol Talk about a smokin deal. Anyway, I went to the lake and by the time I got back they were sold out, haha