I'm supposed to be selling rods, but I've always wanted to tip my toes into the BFS world. So I decided to give it a try. 

 

I'm not sure if there's one rod that does most the techniques "ok". Or if I should get one rod for micro plastics/t-rigs, jigs, neds etc and one for small treble hook baits. 

 

I've watched a few Youtube videos. Rods I keep seeing are-

 

Shimano Expride B 6'8 L (for all-around?)

Cashion Icon 6'10 ML (bottom contact?)

Cashion Icon 7' L (treble hooks?)

Dobyns Sierra 700

Dobyns Sierra 701

 

For reels I'd probably do thee Curado BFS unless there's other stuff around that price point that is as god/better.

 

Any info on anything would be great. Even line you guys use.

 

Thanks! 

 

I don't know anything about those rods but the curado bfs is a great reel. Easy to dial in, (magbrake)

and throws light baits. I use 15 lb braid, 8 lb flouro leader. This is on a kistler klx ML.

Also have SLX bfs but gives me issues...

For what its worth I ordered a Cashion and hated the build quality and immediately sent it back.  I now have the Expride 6'8" on the way.

I've been really happy with the Icon 610ML and Dobyns 701, but they're also my only BFS rods so I have nothing to compare. I feel like either can fish jig or treble hooks, usually just comes down to weight and presentation for me. The Icon is usually 1/4oz+ and the Dobyns 1/4oz-. If I was fishing a jig or something with a weed guard I'd probably go up to the ML but open hooks are no problem on the 701. Dobyns almost always has a finesse paddle tail or pointer 65 jerk on, and the Icon is my go to for the pop-x and showerblows 77.

I am going to suggest 4 different ones depending on what you want to throw. 

 

Dobyns Sierra Ultra Finesse 700C - You can do anything BFS with this rod but it works best for small plugs and crankbaits. It can handle bottom contact but it's not its strong suit.  I have a Curado BFS on this one. This is a good all around combo that won't hurt your wallet too bad. 

 

Kistler Hunt Series 3X 6'8" - A really good all around rod BFS rod. More of a true BFS rod in my opinion. Again, it's best suited for cranks and trout plugs but can do some soft plastic better than the Dobyns. Overall, a much better quality rod and probably my favorite.  Aldebaran BFS on this one. Also, I caught a 5lb Smallmouth on this set up. 

 

Megabass P5 Kasumi Six Eleven - A BFS crankbait powerhouse. It can do whatever though. I have caught more fish on this rod than I can count. It is a heavier powered BFS rod but you can throw 1/8oz crank with no issues. I have it paired with a Calcutta Conquest BFS. 

 

Jackall Revoltage II 6'9" - I picked this up last year and I am still breaking it in but I use it for small jigs 3-5 grams and small soft plastic. It just sets the hook well on these little baits. I have it paired with a Daiwa Tatula BF 70. I do not recommend this reel. Just too many issues. 

 

For line I use FC.  I like 5 and 6lb Sunline Invizible but I would start with 6lb Invizx. It's cheaper and if you are like most people you are going to backlash a few times. Just something to think about. 

 

Lures are a whole different topic. 

 

Also, I have looked hard into the Cashion Icon and the Shimano Expride B and I didn't care for them. The Cashion just didn't do it for me. It just felt off, not balanced, it didn't cast well to me and I didn't like the handle wrap or the trigger. At that time, I chose the Dobyns instead. The Expride felt too stiff and not like what I thought a BFS rod should feel like. It felt as though it would struggle to load with something around 1/8oz but 1/4oz might be perfect. It might be me and this rod is just fine but I chose the P5 Six Eleven instead, which is my favorite P5 rod. I might end up buying another one. 

 

I think you nailed what the Expride EXC68another siteSB can do.  IMO, it is just a great all-around light bass fishing rod and I recommend it as a first BFS setup if the $$$ is reasonable to you.  I use it for slow moving baits though I have used it for spinnerbaits, I just prefer another setup for spinnerbaits.

 

What I expect out of a setup vs anyone else is unique to all of us BUT, I know that Expride, even if it turns into "not your favorite rod", you will end up finding something that is does great for you so know that if you go in deep with BFS and buy more, that Expride will never get shelved.

 

I do like the Curado BFS as well.  I prefer Sunline Assassin FC in 8lb.  I have thrown 6lb on it but with 8, it is so well behaved, and I never have to think about it.  While I am technically fishing BFS, I still power in fish so that extra strength fits my fishing style well.

 

My current favorite setup and the one that is my hands most of the time is my St Croix Physyx PHXC68MXF.  This is a phenomenal spinnerbait rod for me and it's accuracy top tier.  The confidence I have with this rod hitting any cast is off the charts, very sensitive and powerful making it borderline BFS, I just call it light bass fishing.

I think you are on the right track with Curado BFS. I have one and I think it’s great.   Drag clicker is super cool in a casting reel.  I use 20lb PP to a leader on mine. Hard to see you being disappointed with it.  
 

rods I don’t use a traditional bfs rod with mine, I use a gloomis CR722 IMX so can’t really say on the rod choice.  Megabass Levante BFS is one I’d check out if I was shopping though.  

A Japanese 68L BFS rod would be my recommendation.  So the Expride from that list.  Assuming you are just buying on Tacklewarehouse then don't overlook the Majorcraft Day's 68L either.  

I have three low cost setups:

Phenix Feather 7’1 FTX Series-C71L-2

AbuGarcia 6’4 ***-642MLIII

Diawa Bass Beat 6’2” Bass X632MLB-Y

All three with Shimano SLX BFS XG reels spooled with 15# Power Pro braid. 

All three are excellent for tiny baits and lures with the Phenix being exceptional.

 

Sorry, didn’t mean to hijack your thread!!

 

 

 

I have had two Curado BFS reels (still have one), and I just can't call it a true BFS reel and keep a straight face. JMHO. I have a KastKing Kestrel BFS (they list for $120) that fishes circles around the Curado BFS, and weighs 4.5 oz. I have no idea how long for this world the KastKing will be since it's only been out for a year or so. The Curado BFS is built like a Mack truck compared to the KastKing, but to me, it also fishes like a Mack truck.

 

I have it on a Phenix Classic BFS rod. The combo weighs < 8.5 oz.

 

I love it for lake fishing with small Texas rigged plastics like a tiny Brush Hog or the 2.5" Z-Man Crawz, small jerk baits, and the Z-Man Gobius.

 

Whatever reel you get, I suggest cleaning and lubing the spool bearings straight away.

 

If you're talking about creek fishing in tight quarters, that's not my jam, so I have no suggestions for that type of action

3 hours ago, Big Hands said:

I have had two Curado BFS reels (still have one), and I just can't call it a true BFS reel and keep a straight face. JMHO. I have a KastKing Kestrel BFS (they list for $120) that fishes circles around the Curado BFS, and weighs 4.5 oz. I have no idea how long for this world the KastKing will be since it's only been out for a year or so. The Curado BFS is built like a Mack truck compared to the KastKing, but to me, it also fishes like a Mack truck.

 

I have it on a Phenix Classic BFS rod. The combo weighs < 8.5 oz.

 

I love it for lake fishing with small Texas rigged plastics like a tiny Brush Hog or the 2.5" Z-Man Crawz, small jerk baits, and the Z-Man Gobius.

 

Whatever reel you get, I suggest cleaning and lubing the spool bearings straight away.

 

If you're talking about creek fishing in tight quarters, that's not my jam, so I have no suggestions for that type of action

Just laughing about your Mack truck comment.  

7 hours ago, Big Hands said:

true BFS reel

What makes for a true bfs reel?

1 hour ago, Bass Rutten said:

What makes for a true bfs reel?

Light weight, smaller size reel with a shallow spool. It’s all about weight and being able to throw very light lures and baits. Of course the rod has to have the same ability to cast those lures.

 

Essential it’s a light spinning setup only in baitcaster form.

9 hours ago, Big Hands said:

I have had two Curado BFS reels (still have one), and I just can't call it a true BFS reel and keep a straight face. JMHO. I have a KastKing Kestrel BFS (they list for $120) that fishes circles around the Curado BFS, and weighs 4.5 oz. I have no idea how long for this world the KastKing will be since it's only been out for a year or so. The Curado BFS is built like a Mack truck compared to the KastKing, but to me, it also fishes like a Mack truck.

 

I have it on a Phenix Classic BFS rod. The combo weighs < 8.5 oz.

 

I love it for lake fishing with small Texas rigged plastics like a tiny Brush Hog or the 2.5" Z-Man Crawz, small jerk baits, and the Z-Man Gobius.

 

Whatever reel you get, I suggest cleaning and lubing the spool bearings straight away.

 

If you're talking about creek fishing in tight quarters, that's not my jam, so I have no suggestions for that type of action

Interesting. Why don’t you consider the Shimano’s as true BFS. Is it the weight? Ability to toss tiny lures? Line capacity? Just trying to understand.

 I have a Tsurinoya on a super ultra light creek stick and it’s a superstar with very tiny lures but have never had it on a bigger rod.

For a slightly cheaper option Abu offers the Revo X BFS and the Veritas BFS rod. This setup can get you into BFS with a decent combo for about 250.00 bucks.

1 hour ago, Motoboss said:

Light weight, smaller size reel with a shallow spool. It’s all about weight and being able to throw very light lures and baits. Of course the rod has to have the same ability to cast those lures.

 

Essential it’s a light spinning setup only in baitcaster form.

That pretty much defines a bfs reel, but he said a true bfs reel so I assumed there’s a distinction.  (fyi I’m just being a smart azz😁)

Thanks for all the recommendations and info, guys. This isn't gonna be as easy as I hoped. I don't know, maybe this is a rabbit hole I shouldn't go down. Because I'd still have to buy the baits to throw on the BFS setups. And that could get out of hand/expensive. 😅

2 hours ago, Bass Rutten said:

That pretty much defines a bfs reel, but he said a true bfs reel so I assumed there’s a distinction.  (fyi I’m just being a smart azz😁)

 

I have to reel in my smart azz tendencies too, so absolutely no worries.

 

The most glaring thing that stands out to me is the 8.9g spool weight of the Curado BFS. The Kestrel BFS spool weight is 4.5g (I have weighed it). That extra mass has to 'spool up' and then be able to slow down. Lightweight lures and heavy spools are not generally great together, and I suspect this is why the Curado BFS doesn't cast lighter baits as well as the two KastKing BFS reels I have. The Zephyr BFS has a spool weight of 5.5g, and it casts noticeably better that the Curado BFS too. That said, the Kestrel BFS casts better than the Zephyr BFS.

 

Roro sells a 4.9g spool that fits the Curado BFS for $92, and I imagine there are others (I know there are others that are a little less expensive). A spool like that might get the Curado back in the game.

 

Regardless of whether or not the spool weight is the difference, the Curado just isn't that great at  casting something like a Tiny Brush hog with a 1/16 oz worm weight compared to the other two reels I own. The Curado is great for what I refer to as BFS-adjacent weight lures on 8 lbs line or even 6 lbs line. With 10 lbs line, the Curado BFS drag just isn't capable of providing that much drag IMHO. 

Kinda late to the party but I have two Phenix Feather FTX-C 71L with Curado BFS and 8# Sunline Sniper. They can do it all as far as I'm concerned and are great looking to boot.

4 hours ago, NorthernBasser said:

Thanks for all the recommendations and info, guys. This isn't gonna be as easy as I hoped. I don't know, maybe this is a rabbit hole I shouldn't go down. Because I'd still have to buy the baits to throw on the BFS setups. And that could get out of hand/expensive. 😅

There have been a few consistencies among the posts. Go buy one setup and see where it fits in and more important, that it helps you catch.  I started with one, now I am up to 3 but as I mentioned, I don’t consider myself a BFS angler, just a light bait angler.  I am down to just these 3 rods in my boat now.  Other than specific techniques that are specific to just a few lakes I visit, that is when I visit my rod rack to grab that special setup. 

If you ever get into a dinkfest they're a great way to make it super fun and a bit of a challenge. I have two off your list... Dobyns 700 with a jdm slx and the expride B with a jdm aldebaran. Both spooled up with 6# sniper. I've been happy with both of them and would gladly buy them again if I was starting over.

@NorthernBasser Forget all the confusing chatter about what is or isn't bfs, we're not tryna cast a 1/96oz trout magnet jig here. My simple formula to get started was to get you a bfs reel, the jdm slx is inexpensive and virtually the same reel as the curado, spool with 10lb braid. Even better and cheaper and easy if you're so inclined is to convert a reel with finesse bearings and an aftermarket spool (my preference), pm me if you want info & reccos. Slap it on a medium light casting rod of your choice and you're good to go. I do it all on a single 7ft ml/fast.

 

Using the same lures and presentations you already know and have confidence in helped me a lot, just get you a few smaller (1/4oz-ish) versions of your current favorite/confidence lures.

4 hours ago, Bass Rutten said:

@NorthernBasser Forget all the confusing chatter about what is or isn't bfs, we're not tryna cast a 1/96oz trout magnet jig here. My simple formula to get started was to get you a bfs reel, the jdm slx is inexpensive and virtually the same reel as the curado, spool with 10lb braid. Even better and cheaper and easy if you're so inclined is to convert a reel with finesse bearings and an aftermarket spool (my preference), pm me if you want info & reccos. Slap it on a medium light casting rod of your choice and you're good to go. I do it all on a single 7ft ml/fast.

 

Using the same lures and presentations you already know and have confidence in helped me a lot, just get you a few smaller (1/4oz-ish) versions of your current favorite/confidence lures.

^^^ This!

When I wanted to try bfs, I bought the Gomexus bfs spool for a Daiwa tat 80 that I already had and put it on  ML salt inshore rod, and it was a great way to fish finesse. Now, I have 4 bfs setups. I'm sure I could do the same with spinning rods but I love baitcasters!

BFS is simple math. Assuming a given braking system is up to scratch, the equation is lower weight spools cast lighter baits better. Even junk-piece reels coming out of the far-east have super light spools in the 5 gram range and lighter these days. That's right about Alde BFS territory. There's a reason Shimano didn't put a lighter spool in the Curado/SLX/Scorpion BFS platform. Once the thumbar is pressed the reel proper is out of the equation leaving only the identical FTB magbrake. Kinda makes the Alde a waste of money, eh?

 

At 9 grams the SLX/Curado BFS's spool is relegated to power BFS, IMO. Lighter transfer weighted jerkbaits and cranks will do way better than soft plastics of the same weight, but that really isn't BFS. Frankly, with the same amount of the same line my Alphas 800s will compete with it which is odd because of its 12 gram spool.

 

Anyway, the SLX BFS is a disappointment to me in that it's too touchy with softer plastics  in the 4-5 gram range including the jig head which is why I bought it. On the other hand, the ARK Gravity BFS handles that range beautifully with its 28mm 5 gram spool.

 

I'd go that way if you want to try a true BFS reel with a domestic retail presence and a warranty. Check for sales on ARK's site too. They can be good.

 

Maybe get a Curado BFS if you wish to play in the middle ground of a standard finesse-y reel like the Alphas 800s and a true BFS reel, but my opinion is why bother.

I’m clearly doing something wrong, I can cast the 4-5 gram range quite satisfactorily with my alphas 800 and a ray’s studio sv spool (8.8gm), I also have a kkr spool at 5.9grams and don’t care for it, it feels too wild to me, go figure. My bottleneck seems to be my rods tip but I rarely go lighter than that anyhow. In a happy place now, it’s nice to no longer have the need for out of the box bfs reel, I’ll probably keep my ss air tw because it’s so slick and light.