Jmurphy87

No the brakes work, my thumb just has to be on point or it’s a ugly over run, go up 6 clicks on the dial and you can feel the difference of the brakes slowing the spool. I run my reels loose on spool tension and my brakes really low. It’s something that I have had to work on to get good at.

I would say the alderbaran bfs, 23 conquest bfs, the newer daiwa breaks. Are really strong on there newer bfs reels. I have a daiwa gekabijin air with a roro spool in it and the lighter brake ring and I can cast it at 0 brakes and the reel definitely has a very strong braking profile, that has been a very common concern on there newer reels along with spools that run over 8 grams. I also really like the bates bfs reel it does really well but it is a little bit more expensive but I like it. I hope this helps, I also run .60 braid from 8-12lbs and they do great.

Reels 25 Antares hg right 23 Calcutta conquest bfs hg right 21 daiwa gekkabijin air right Spools one pictured is the roro ax22 spool for the daiwa, not pictured because it’s almost 2am and currently in my car in my 22 aldebran bsf. This is a roro CQ25-MG I have always wanted a Antares reel and figured why not same with the conquest reel . I invested a decent amount into bfs last year and was still sort of on the fence about it all. I decided to dive into the deep end and just go all in before I made my conclusion. The daiwa gekkabijin air with the spool and a kistler hunt 4x rod will cast a trout magnet to about 60 feet. Have not had a lot of time with work and family activities to test it out more or the shimano roro spool. But the AX22 spool with the light brake ring will cast at zero brakes and get really good distance but your thumb has to be on point. I just got the Antares today and the conquest so I have not gotten a chance to use them. I have no clue if the shimano roro spool will stay in ther alderbarn or the conquest, I would just have to use the peek bar in the conquest and I don’t know if that might affect its ability to cast super light weights or not. Thanks for reading and have a great day.

Sort of yes and no, just really have not been buying a whole lot of stuff. I finally got another better paying job again. But mostly been trying to refine my taste a little bit lol. The monkey is still there though.

New rod showed up today, excited to try it out.

A couple things and a new bfs reel to try out.

I am sorry to hear this, life is a very weird experience for sure. I am wishing you nothing but happiness and peace in this tough time. I always enjoyed when you would give me a good ribbing when the bait monkey used to make me go overboard. Keep your head up and focus on the outcome you want is all you can do at this point.

The 844 will work perfectly for the chatter baits. The mbr action does a lot of things good. I have used mine for everything under the sun and it just gets it done without a problem. I think that you will be set up perfectly with the rod.

My perfect pitch has held up great, I have had it 3 years and put it through some hard work no issues with mine.

Very true, I hardly target them most of the time. I have the leaders for when I fish heavy pike waters. This one was incredibly stubborn though for some reason. Definitely need to look at a set of jaw spreaders when I get the money. I am sure the barbless hooks would help immensely also, thanks for the tips.

Well it’s been a while since I posted, first time I got out fishing in the past few months. I caught a small pike, no pictures of it. He did not want to open his mouth to let me get the treble hook out, so it was out of water longer than I like so that is why there is no photo. I was really surprised he didn’t bite through my super thin bfs braid. Bait was a sixth sense 1/8 line through head and a 4 inch pink easy shiner.

Dobyns 701c is my best bfs rod that I have owned, I also have 2 kistler hunt casting rods that are good but for different lures and uses. I use a alderbarren bfs reel and my dobyns cast light weights without any problems at all the kistler rods won’t give me the same results unfortunately. I held the expride bfs new model at the local tackle shop, it’s more suited for power bfs and 1/8 or higher lures all day long. It reminded me of my old zodias 7”2 ml bfs rod. I hope that this helps you out.

It’s good to see you back at it, hope your shoulder heals up and you get back to normal soon. I really enjoy reading your reports.

I use the new Japanese seagur 24lb on my 150mgl curado and don’t have any issues and enjoy the extra distance that I get with the ultra thin diameter. It’s very pricey at $40 a spool, if you want a cheaper option daiwa j braid grand 8 strand is half the price but just about as good in my book.

Smallest fish that I have ever caught on a lv500 lipless no clue what species it is probably a bluegill or some panfish species.

I have not been posting but still catching fish when I get the time to go fishing. 2 biggest ones out of 90 minutes plus 15 plus smaller ones. All on a wacky rig.

Another small one from me on the gantral jr. I even got to break the new rod in on a fish at least.

Well I made my second trip down the big baits road once again 1 deps bull shooter 160 1 deps slide swimmer 145 1 gantral jr 2 loaded soft swim baits 1 pack mag draft freestyle 5 packs 4” senkos 10 packs of skirts 1 osp slipper swim jig 1 pack 3.3 keitech trailers for the swim jig 1 daiwa prorex 8’6” mh regular rod , I know that it’s a musky rod. Although it seems to be soft enough for trebles and stiff enough for top hook swim baits.

The best way that I can tell you about how to check to make sure if you tied the knot properly is to put a peg and tungsten weight on then snell your hook. To make sure that you did it right put the bullet weight directly against the hook and pull on your line and the hook should rotate up and not down, if the hook drops down you snelled your hook backwards and you have to redo it so that it goes upward and penetrates the plastic. I hope that this helps you out. I got out on a work buddy’s boat today with one of the other supervisors who works 3rd shift like me after work. We got there and I started throwing a bone one knocker and caught the first fish and plenty more after that one, I lost count. One stuck two treble hook points in my hand while unhooking his little feisty butt. Got the points out and got him unhooked and on his way. I gave my one friend a white freeloader for his jackhammer and he did good with it. I caught the biggest skinny little fish of the day at 18” long and 2.78lb he was thin or it would probably be a 3.5-4 if I was lucky. I then decided to throw a jika rig and tried multiple plastics but no takers, I did manage to saw into my finger with braided line on hook set once yay. My last fish came on the chatter bait. It was a good day.

A few more little ones from me.

I caught this little guy in the first 10 minutes and then it went dead for 2 hours and I called it good. But hey a fish in 10 minutes after it’s been over 2 weeks is a win in my book.

Yes enough power for that size hook and up to a 3/0 . I use to throw stick baits on mine of the 5” variety and 4” occasionally. It’s a very deceiving powerful little rod.

I had the zodias 7’2” ml xf bfs casting rod, I used it quite a bit it was a decent rod. More finesse stuff not too light but handled the upper end of the weight range ok, was plenty sensitive. I ran into problems with fish coming undone on different presentations. Single hook presentations was fine and good, mostly treble hooks were the issues most of the time.

I used to have the champion 736 and it would bomb cast a frog and handled a 3/4 oz tungsten and a half ounce plastic and would launch it also. It’s a great powerful rod with a nice tip that does well with walking a frog. I would assume that the 746 would be the same just a inch longer.

I will say yes to braid on baitcasters. Go as small of a diameter as you can and enjoy the distance gains. I really love J-Braid grand 8 strand it works great with no issues, 8lb on spinning gear no problem. 30-50 on casting is great.