JustJames

It is well worth it, at least for me compare to any reels in the same price range. The different between the USDM ballistic LT and Ballistic FW is Zaion rotor and that help a lot in lower inertia. It is smoother and lower inertia than Vanford. I am not sure what Daiwa does to Ballistic FW, my friend just got Ballistic FW LT along with Luvias airity and he also confirmed that Ballistic is less effort to spin the handle out of the box. For the gear ratio, this up to your preference. The 5.2 gear for IPT about 27-29” which is fast enough to keep track with the fish and not too fast when you want to slow thing down. The 6.2gear with about 34” IPT help when you wanna keep pressure on the fish at all time but harder to slow down. I fish both gears for bass but for panfish I’d rather use slower gear because it helps when slow retrieve cast and reel or jigging technique.

If you buy nice gears and only look at it, you only got half worth the price you paid. The nice beautiful rods and reels would look even nicer when taken picture with fish not on counter top or casting in backyard. I don’t really have those expensive stuffs like other but I’m proud of mine and don’t mind at all to show off with fish of course. It makes me feel even more enjoyable when using one and catch fish. I do take care of my gear but not to the point of baby it. All my reels got cover but only when transport with other reels other than that it will stay on rod racks waiting the turn to get used.

Thanks @XF15-Loaderi normally don’t ride in super windy but will get one that drain water out but block from coming in.

If not Nanofil my next option would be Sufix 832. You don’t really want too soft of braid for spinning, a lot of tip wraps and harder to fix windknot. Any of 8 strands braid should quiet down a lot compare to PP.

So you snagged the line 3 times and all those you have to cut the line? Usually I can brake the snagged line up to 15lb mono, unless it snagged to something that give while pulling. If you cannot use bare hands try some branch, water bottle or anything that would not damage the line( or carry 1” dowel especially when use braid) 3/8 oz is pretty heavy weight for shore fishing, how deep is your target? Try @Scott Fmentioned go weightless Texas rig is the best around rock. My main Texas rig weight is 5/32 when bank fishing, even that I don’t use around rip rap area.

My crappie plastic collection, only have 1 or two in blue. Mostly yellow, pink and white. I catch them with all kind of color but my favorite is yellow, chartreuse and white. At one time I used dark color, the bite was good for about 45 mins and die down, I switched to light color (white/pink), the bites fire back up for another good 30 mins. Sorry have to use Instagram picture (I update my phone and all pictures in my laptop now).

If you buy Beacon light stick kit (not refill) it will come with a lot of adapter that might fit your bobbers. Depends on bobbers you use some might not work well with weight added. https://www.amazon.com/Rod-N-Bobbs-Universal-Lightstick-Fishing-Refills/dp/B003CTOQW4 I use Mr. crappie flo glo with about 5 grams weight. The weight help with casting distance also.

That might also be wrong. It should say Japanese mono 6lb/50yds not typically US line using diameter of 8lb line but advertised as 6lb. All the spec of this reel are close to that scorpion bfs, even though spool seem to be different but rate the same at 9 grams. http://www.tackletour.com/reviewshim17scorpbfs.html

Some prefer to use hi-vis braid for finesse which easier to watch line movement. Traditional baitcaster doesnt like less than 30lb braid and 30lb braid doesn’t work well with let’s say weightless worm. Now this shallow spool type reel should offer the benefit of using tiny 8-10lb hi-vis braid and also a lot easier to cast light weight bass type lure. I like the feel of Nanofil on my spinning when finesse fishing especially Neko rig/shakey head but no way I can use 8lb Nanofil on my baitcaster. Shallow spool help me achieve that, is it BFS? I would say NO but I adapt the technology to improve my fishing style. Nanofil, it is so light, doesn’t absorb water and cut thru water very well. You won’t feel the unnecessary resistance and weight from the line, instead you feel a lot of lure movement. Have you ordered that MGL spool? If not I think you’d better off with this reel. Cheaper than scorpion bfs with full warranty. My friend already pre-order and I’m so tempted.

I only plug the holes in the rear storage area o. I normally just carry backpack so it doesn’t get wet when riding on waves. In case of flipping, the rest of the holes should be able to drain water out. I use anchor sometimes, it is really help when windy or fishing in a cove. You might want anchor trolley if you use anchor a lot.

Tell you what. I have a storage that would fit. I have a kayak and my lake is plenty with DD bass. Send it my way and I’ll catch some for you. Oops forgot I sold all my big swimbait gear last year so if you please send me rod/reel as well. I’m not too picky and will appreciate you a lot.???

Man cannot believe a thread like this last as long, more than half of this thread post about just a few guys pessimistic on their cast and tried to hit a nail on his coffin, for what? I think it is still better than those pessimistic on their catches plus “long hand picture” to proof. OP just want to know our average cast, so he knows how much line he needs. He would be the judge. Thanks @Angry Johnand @Choporozto give alternative for OP to save even more. Addition: I just came back from testing the casting distance. Nothing special and not optimal for testing just my everyday use gears. 1. Curado 70 with 30lb PP braid (my jig reel) stcroix 7’ M/M, 1/4oz red eyes Shad. I got only 117’(so less than a mile). And accuracy at about 80’ I think I can do better with 8lb copolymer line (about 15-20’ more), since braid with 70, I have to lob cast it a lot. 2. Alphas SV TW, 10lb FC, crucial 6’6 M/F, Fatika. Only got 110’ with brake dial to 5-6 but accuracy and control all the way.

Thanks, At least we got the EUDM version not SLX BFS (2 less bearing on the knob) from JDM. It basically old scorpion bfs in new paint, no micro module gear, but quite a bit cheaper than 70MGL and way cheaper than Scorpion BFS with Full warranty. Man, should I be happy? US market is really suck in this category or all categories in comparison with Europe and Asian. They got all kind of nicer rod and reels, baitcaster and spinning. We here only want bigger, heavier, Tank a lot of line capacity to fit 50lb braid or 25lb FC because we think our fish is bigger and need those big line and big/heavy reel to catch them.

Maybe get stopper one size bigger. If you buy from place that didn’t not advertise size buy from somewhere else. I have small and medium, the small fit up to about 4-6lb, medium 8-12lb(hybrid line size).

You beat me, last time I checked I cast about a mile and a half.

It is you though who started off about fairy wand war.

Well said my friend. This type baitcaster with shallow spool enable some of us to use with 8-10lb braid where it used to be almost impossible, for finesse tactics, unless using spinning. Do we call ourselves BFS crown, NOPE just use the right gear for the right job. And he got plenty of nice fairy wand setups where a lot of ppl dream of.

Where have you been? BFS is when I a guy try to cast “trout magnet” with baitcaster, or a guy successfully cast Ned Rig (3/16oz) with UL casting rod) ?

Totally different, I target on techniques and lure that I wanna use to catch fish. Sometimes small, sometimes big but I use gears that best fit, doesn’t matter spinning or casting, BFS or BSF.

If you want one now then you have to pay whatever available, period. There are times when I paid discount price but times that I paid full price or even more.

Why such a hater, BFS hater? Now baitcaster hater?

I love watching ladies golf swing

Dominant hand? What would be the best benefit? Holding the rod or cranking the handle? There are always two sides of coin. when fighting fish, big fish. I’d rather use my dominant hand to crank the handle. When fishing specific techniques (a lot of shaking and precise movement) then my dominant hand would present it better. it is only take 1 second to switch hand or you can switch hand while lure flying out, don’t use that as excuse to only stick to one hand retrieve. It is also take one miss spin the handle to lose that big fish. I use spinning both hand (you should utilizing the benefit of be able to switch the handle). I also use right and left baitcaster. I always cast right (distance and accuracy) but I can cast left (back hand) not as bad.

I lost quite a handful of jigs when I started. I remembered bought like 30-40 jigs (cheap ones) just to learn how to maneuver it around rock. I agree with everyone about football jig versus arkie jig. I like arkie jig for all around but football when dragging it downhill or parallel with gravel type rock. Nowadays I got at least 2-3 fish before I lost one which is good enough for me I guess.

Look good I might try that soon.