This is a follow-up to my line connection question earlier. What line type and lb test are you using on your BFS setup?

I currently have 6lb suffix 131 braid. I feel it is too thin and wants to dig into the other line on the spool. Maybe a larger lb test braid or switch over to mono. I do not like FC so I will avoid that for now. Thanks.

I quit thinking lb-test when I switched to braid, and it's easy to accuse me of turning Japanese (I really think so).    

Gou -  - also represented by PE#, is the traditional  silk thread dia. scale.    

 

BFS reels have increased level-wind pitch, so they're made to fish down to PE#0.4 without line dig.  

Backlash in threadline braid is very difficult to detect 180-degree bends, so most complaining about line dig are really finding backlash that they missed before.  

On BFS-mod reels without increased LW pitch, PE#1 is go-to.  I have no problem on Steez fishing PE#0.8 and catching snook and redfish without line dig.  

 

Smallest line I fish is #0.6 on Silver Wolf with increased LW pitch, but I'll be the first to agree most don't want to mess with line this small.  

 

6# ultra green 

4 hours ago, rboat said:

This is a follow-up to my line connection question earlier. What line type and lb test are you using on your BFS setup?

I currently have 6lb suffix 131 braid. I feel it is too thin and wants to dig into the other line on the spool. Maybe a larger lb test braid or switch over to mono. I do not like FC so I will avoid that for now. Thanks.

I have 5# braid on a BG1500.  Agree line is too thin.  Zero abrasion resistance.  Not a fan of leaders but this will need one.  Definitely will go to heavier line when it needs replacing.  Don't recall it digging in.  Seldom gets used.  5# or 6# Maxima Ultragreen may be an option.  I've seen it mention before as a good line for BFS.

4 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

BFS reels have increased level-wind pitch, so they're made to fish down to PE#0.4 without line dig.  

 

Is this something that one should expect on any reel supposedly designed for "BFS" use? If not, how does one know if a reel has this design incorporated into it?

@Big Hands - it's definitely typical of package BFS reels.  Generally stated as:  

Silver Wolf SV TW PE Special is the diversified version of 21 Zillion to be used better with thin, from #0.4 to #1 PE braid lines. Modifications are mainly at spool and level winder. SV Boost PE Special spool is optimized to cast with thin PE braid lines. Level winder moves faster to prevent braids dig-in. 

Not perfect photos, because one was shot for the purpose, and the other was cropped.  

But the LW pitch on Silver Wolf is about 20% faster than on Zillion SV TW

 

Silver Wolf is rated down to PE#0.4, though the stock spool is really deeper than the rated capacity, and even on Roro spool swap, I stack thicker braid below my PE#0.6 working line.  

17 hours ago, rboat said:

This is a follow-up to my line connection question earlier. What line type and lb test are you using on your BFS setup?

I currently have 6lb suffix 131 braid. I feel it is too thin and wants to dig into the other line on the spool. Maybe a larger lb test braid or switch over to mono. I do not like FC so I will avoid that for now. Thanks.

 

I fished 10lb 832 braid for 2 years and then started with it again this year before I swapped to straight mono.  The braid is super light weight and the wind just blows it around.  It was fine on calm days, but anything more than 3 mph and it would just blow around.  I swapped to 8 lb supernatural and am much happier for it.  

On 9/5/2025 at 9:22 PM, Big Hands said:

 

Is this something that one should expect on any reel supposedly designed for "BFS" use? If not, how does one know if a reel has this design incorporated into it?

No.  That's almost always a feature of Daiwa PE reels.  They have had a number of PE specials over the years and actually just released a new Zillion HD based HRF PE special.  There really isnt a BFS line.  Early BFS spools for bass reels, such as the KTF spools, were centered around using light fluorocarbon line too stiff and unruly for spinning reels with the sunline finesse special being popular at the time.  Today we have super light weight spools meant for stream trout fishing that are PE/braid only because non braid can collapse the spool if wound on under tension. 

 

25 HRF PE special