22 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

I am interested in your thoughts on the reel now that you have had a few months to play with it.

I love it. 

 

I used it in early season here in WI with great results, I used it to finesse smallies on Lake of the Woods, and then I used it back here in WI for the rest of the season.  No problem throwing Ned rigs, small Rapalas, weightless Senkos, #3 Mepps...

 

Had a mishap in late season though...snapped the tip off the St. Croix Rage RC610MXF I was using and have not been able to replace it.  Went with an Avid AVC69MLXF...but it's just not quite the same...It's OK...and I'll get back to where I want to be...but it's just not exactly what I wanted.

Aldebaran BFS and new Bantam rod. Trying something a little different. 

old school, I'm shocked I tell you. Shocked. 

4 hours ago, oldschoolbasser said:

Aldebaran BFS and new Bantam rod. Trying something a little different. 

That is an awesome combo. Where did you find the bantam rod? I haven't been able to.

6 hours ago, oldschoolbasser said:

Aldebaran BFS and new Bantam rod. Trying something a little different. 

 

WHO ARE YOU...and what did you do with the REAL oldschoolbasser ?

OP... I fish with a Pixy, Premier, Morrum sx1601 and Chronarch 51e; all have a pretty good track record with lighter weight lures.  My opinion for what you're asking is you need a med. light spinning rod.

 

oe

On 2/8/2017 at 3:02 AM, LuckyHandsINC. said:

That is an awesome combo. Where did you find the bantam rod? I haven't been able to.

I think it was Japan Angler,or Japan Lure Shop. Actually it was Plat that had them.

On 2/8/2017 at 4:34 AM, Goose52 said:

 

WHO ARE YOU...and what did you do with the REAL oldschoolbasser ?

Just an Old Dog learning new tricks,but I still have my Oldschool arsenal 

 

Can you tell us a little more about the Bantam?

11 hours ago, Further North said:

Can you tell us a little more about the Bantam?

It's a 6'5" one piece rod. Rated for 6-12# line 1/8-3/8 oz lures. CI4 handle with cork foregrip,and split handle. Super lightweight. Paired with the Alderbaran BFS it's sick!

2 minutes ago, oldschoolbasser said:

It's a 6'5" one piece rod. Rated for 6-12# line 1/8-3/8 oz lures. CI4 handle with cork foregrip,and split handle. Super lightweight. Paired with the Alderbaran BFS it's sick!

Sounds sweet.

 

Where did you find it?

Online at Plat. I tried Digitaka,but there's a problem with their website.

On 4/2/2016 at 3:18 PM, Fishin' Fool said:

Just curious why do you want to finesse fish on casting rigs? I'm from SE Michigan and I've really resisted adding casting rods to my arsenal for the longest time. I finally did but those will be my crankbait, spinnerbait, jerkbait, chatterbait rods. I couldn't imagine wanting to throw senkos or small finesse crankbaits on baitcast gear. For the size fish we have up north I don't think it makes sense.

That was my thought too. 

Zombie thread but the answer is simple.  Ultralight, BFS, and light casting gear (i.e., finesse) can catch fish in difficult conditions where regular gear may not.  It's just an additional tool in the shed.  A more interesting question is why not use finesse casting gear when conditions are appropriate?

The smaller the water the smaller my gear. I love throw’n 1/16, 1/8 oz baits, everything from ned to topwaters!

 

 

 

Side note;

Read this whole thread and love it. Amazing the methods , gear and presentations used several years ago still relevant today. Good Stuff.

What a gem of a thread.  This is around the time BFS is starting to leak from Japan into US bass fishing lexicon.  You see both the terms BFS and finesse baitcasting being used.  BFS is referencing Japanese L and ML bass rods with aftermarket spools Daiwa and Shimano reels with light flouro.  There is also the ever present small Ambassadeur enjoyer present to point out that casting light weight baits with a baitcast reel isn't new.  Worth a read just to see oldschoolbasser's reels.

Thanks for bringing this thread back up. I haven't read it in its entirety yet, but started in on it. Very interesting.

On 4/3/2016 at 6:36 PM, ranger7717 said:

that's why i own some .... i fish up north and usually manage just fine - it's not often i'm in heavy cover or fighting anything over 5 or 6 lbs... but also remember that saltwater guys are fighting pretty big fish on spinning gear ...you just gotta know how to use it ....it's actually something to be proud of...i brought in a 15 lb. pike on champlain with 8 lb. test - just sayin'

Resurrected thread that I read all the way through again.  My largest fish on 8# mono was a 35 pound carp.  As you stated, saltwater guys land much bigger.

 

I've pick up 2 or 3 BFS spools since this thread but have yet to use one.  I've found that as my age increases, my ambition decreases. A rotten shame!  

Finesse casting gear has accounted for several of my bigger fish this year. It offers a different experience than fighting a fish on a spinning rod and, personally, I have way more casting control on a casting rod. I run mine with 8lb braid to a 7lb fluoro leader and throw things like the 2.5 Yamatanuki, Fluke Jrs in current, Ned rigs, finesse Neko rigs, hard baits under 1/4oz, split shot rigs and the like. I've gotten comfortable using everything from an Aldebaran BFS to a Kastking Kestrel Air on rods rated for light power, up to about 3/8oz, but never go that high. I just got the Kestrel 6'9" L 3pc rod two days ago and have not taken it out yet, but it has the Kestrel Air and a Yamatanuki on it that I plan to fish tomorrow evening for a bit. The trick is drag management. River smallies will rip drag if they're above about 15" and, striper? Boy, that is just fun right there. 

The I small in light and ML BFS keeping 1 spinning outfit.

Started with the ARK limited edition BSF reel and Falcon 7’2” Cara BSF ML rod and liked. Then ordered Alderaan BFS HG from Japan coupled with Phenix 7’1” BFS light rod, now have a pair of them.

All 3 have 5 lb Max UG copoly line, may change 1 to 6 lb Tatsu FC, have a lot confidence with 5 lb UG.

This has rejuvenated my bass fishing.

Tom

 

24 minutes ago, WRB-2.0 said:

This has rejuvenated my bass fishing.

Tom

 

I hear ya… I don’t BFS fish all the time, but really enjoy it on certain bodies of water. 
 

The other thing is that I burned out on crankbait fishing with standard equipment about 10 years ago. Results diminished, confidence slid, and I just didn’t enjoy it any more. Basically stopped. 
 

Then I ended up with a BFS rod with a good parabolic bend to it, ideal for small BFS cranks. I found the fish hadn’t been as conditioned to smaller silent crankbaits and started having an absolute blast again. Caught some smaller fish for sure, but a couple of 5 lb largemouth and even a 20 lb Tarpon. 
 

Label me “hooked!” 

I was thinking: Cool topic!
 

...then looked to see when it was started, and found out I started it in 2016.

11 hours ago, Further North said:

I was thinking: Cool topic!
 

...then looked to see when it was started, and found out I started it in 2016.

I got a notification, and I clicked on it. It's been a while lol

1 hour ago, oldschoolbasser said:

I got a notification, and I clicked on it. It's been a while lol

About time you showed back up!  Thanks again for the 2500CIAR brake plate.

On 4/2/2016 at 10:25 PM, rippin-lips said:

^^^ that means put the spinning rod down and use your casting gear more. That's how you gain accuracy by practice. 

Off topic, but this is a member I wonder what happened to.  Always posted in the show and tell and had several high end reels.  He was on Tackle Tour also.  Vanished.  

20 hours ago, redmeansdistortion said:

About time you showed back up!  Thanks again for the 2500CIAR brake plate.

It's been a minute! Glad I could help you out