Been thinking about it mainly due to the fact I've migrated to mostly finesse over the last couple of years.

Can you actually get a vertical fall after the cast without manually running line out ❓

You can if you put a higher arc in the cast to create slack line when the lure hits the water. If it’s windy the higher arc gets negated. 
1/8 oz is nominal for BSF light rods and normally can cast well over 30 yards.

The Falcon Cara BSF rod is a ML rod, still can cast 1/8 over 30 yards but has more back bone then light power rods like Dobyns and Classic Phenix BSF rods.

For those who use braid to leader the Shimano Zodias BSF rods offer larger guide trains.

Tom

13 hours ago, Bird said:

Been thinking about it mainly due to the fact I've migrated to mostly finesse over the last couple of years.

Can you actually get a vertical fall after the cast without manually running line out ❓

Yes.  Same with normal baitcast reels.  That old belief that you cant get a vertical fall stems from people using spool tension to get a slow drop from the bait and the line being yanked tight between the bait and rod throughout the cast.  When the bait hits the water there isnt enough slack line to allow the bait to fall vertically so the bait pendulums back at you.  All my baitcast reel casts have a slack line sitting in coils on the water including skip casts because I don't use spool tension on any reel I own and I get vertical bait falls as well as back glides on baits when skipping docks.   

14 hours ago, gim said:

Gimmick. My friend handed me one while we were finesse fishing using plastics. I made one cast and went back to my spinning setup.

Did you apply that same field test methodology to the drop shot? (jk 😉, sort of).

 

13 hours ago, Bird said:

Can you actually get a vertical fall after the cast without manually running line out

You can get a short vertical fall by finishing with the rod tip high, for any depth you'll probably need some manual help. For paralleling vertical structure or hitting bottom targets?

Got rid of all my spinning gear at the end of 2012 season. Ever since, been using nothing but BFS. I see no disadvantages, not even a tiny one. Amazingly fun to fish walleye with.

As long as you are using the correct rod to fling the bait you are trying to cast, bfs is night and day better than spinning.  I have fished down to 1/16 oz total weight as I have no need for anything smaller.  The rod is the key.  Ignore the ratings on the rods.  Let the blanks tell you what they can cast.

15 hours ago, Bird said:

Been thinking about it mainly due to the fact I've migrated to mostly finesse over the last couple of years.

Can you actually get a vertical fall after the cast without manually running line out ❓

 

Yes and no. Depends on a few things.  The weight of the lure and the line you're using are the main thing.  Even with zero spool tension (which is what I run) there is still resistance to pull line off the spool- the line itself has some friction with itself, the guides, the water tension, etc.  It isn't a ton and you can minimize it in different ways but there is some.  And the spool itself has a little albeit minimal.  The weight of the lure has a big impact.  Throw a 1/8 oz head on a 3" plastic and there is no problem.  Throw a 1/20 oz head and a 2" plastic and you'll get a pendulum.  Two trips ago I saw it with a 1/15 oz and a 3" ned.  On a 50-60' cast you could arc it in like Tom says and get a good 10-15' drop straight down.  While it was dropping I could give a little pull on the line to get the spool moving and it would mostly be okay.  Get down below 20' and the line drag in the water was more than the weight of the bait and it was penduluming back.  That was with skinny 6 lb mono (supernatural).  I have seen the same with 832 braid.  Sinking braid or fluoro might help and I'll find that out this spring.  A heavier head is fine.  This was all watched live on FFS as I had a clump of standing timber up on a hump where the edge of the hump dropped from 5' to 35' almost pure vertical.  The fish were along the base of the timber, but you'd also get some haning at the bottom of the drop in 30-35'.  It was tough to get straight down to the bottom of the drop with a BFS setup (a spinning rod was no problem with an even lighter lure).

Slack line drag on the water doesn’t change using BSF or Spinning. Verticle fall requires slack line, create that you’re get vertical lure fall. 

Tom

Today bfs was pretty good to me.  I used it with TRDs and ZinkerZs.  I boated 11 bass with 6 nice keepers using my Curado bfs reels with 8# fluorocarbon line.

I tried and, honestly, it was such a disappointment. 

 

For me, it was neither fish nor fowl, as they say. Didn't feel right when I tried to use it like a real baitcaster... also didn't feel right when I tried to use it like a spinning rod. It just felt wrong no matter what I did. Sold it all very quickly. 

I've clamped down pretty firmly on it and currently have four BFS combos

 

Phenix 7'4" Classic BFS / Aldebaran BFS

Dobyns 7'0" SUF700c / KastKing Kestrel BFS

Dobyns 6'9" SUF690c / KastKing Kestrel Air Micro Finesse

Old18 6'6" Buoyancy UL  / KastKing Kestrel Air Micro Finesse

 

I'm still doing a lot of experimenting with line and lures as well as casting and retrieving techniques. I like to throw Texas rigged creature baits like the Zoom Tiny Brush Hog and Z-Man Crawz and a multitude of small crankbaits, jerkbaits, poppers, walking baits, Kastmaster spoons, tiny wakebaits.

 

So far, my most limiting factor has not been the rods, reels, or line, but rather the trebles on some baits either bending or even breaking. 

 

My biggest catch so far was a six pound striper on a Karashi. Took close to ten minutes to land it and each of the trebles were half bent out, but still got it into the net. 

Greetings and Happy Holidays All,

My BFS experience has included great learning combined with a full spectrum of emotions. In total, it has been positive. I'm glad I had the experience and continue to use it as part of my angling kit. 

First off I'm a simple recreational angler that generally favors ultra lite gear as my preferred approach. BFS brought new interest in casting lighter presentations than I could with traditional casting reels. Yes, as some point out you can cast some light weight presentations using traditional casting reels with very refined casting skill. I am not all that experienced in casting reel use because it simply didn't support my preference for smaller lures and soft plastics. Using BFS reels it is 'easier' to cast lighter presentations. It still takes development of casting skill. 

 

After paying a significant tuition price in trashed mono fishing line to 'learn' how to use  a BFS casting reel, I am now to point where I can 'enjoy' angling adventures without worry about wasting too more fishing line due to casting errors or flaws. 

 

I am grateful to folks on BassResource for guiding, encouraging, and providing sound information with advice on BFS and other angling matters. Folks like Tom and Bulldog have shared a great deal of knowledge and experience for which I appreciate greatly. 

 

Currently I use the BFS gear frequently along with my UL spinning rigs. Because it is trout season here in Southern AZ, the BFS gets used a great deal when casting metal spoons to great success taunting those stocked trout. 

 

I am now at the level of being able to use my BFS reel with a zero spool friction setting with a modest magnetic brake setting. I am better at modulating the spool with a better educated thumb. There is still room for improvement and I aspire to build that mastery. All in good time as I do what I can when I can on the water. On those better casting days it is possible to support an even lower magnetic brake setting on those long bomb casts. Each angling adventure is an opportunity to dial it down further just to see if I can live with that new limit. 

I will say my use of BFS and traditional casting reels has required a dedicated effort to be competent in basic use. It was not something that came quickly. Coming from flinging spinning rigs, that background did not prepare me for dealing with use of casting reels.

 

Fortunately, what I've learned from folks at BR was to refine my casting for using BFS reels with a better cast technique. Which is also applicable for use with my spinning reels too.

 

I was OK with the investment of time and effort to be able to use the BFS reel. I'm still learning and continuing to improve.  Now, I've got another means of enjoying angling as a result of it. 

 

I use bulk lower cost 4 pound mono with the BFS reels. Mainly because that is what I've got. It also minimizes the frustration and cost of trashing fishing line when I would muck up a cast and blow up the spool with incredible and impressive backlashes. Yeah, it is hard to teach an old dog. It can be done, if the dog is willing. I kept at it and I'm further along than I was. 

The average lure / bait presentation is roughly at the 3 gram-ish range. Currently for the trout taunting is with a 1/8 oz metal spoon. I've used soft plastics such as the TRDs with a 1/64 oz bullet weight which scores for trout and bass nicely. 

 

Advantages for me is just another way to enjoy angling. It is new and fresh. I can't say that I've reached a full appreciation because of my skill building is in progress with it. Which brings me to the disadvantage, it requires the elevated skill necessary to properly use a BFS casting reel. Something I didn't have and needed to build on.

 

I did have to explore several rod configurations until I identified what worked better with my ever improving casting. My initial experience was with a rod action that was not helpful. I realized I was using too stiff of a rod action which presented a challenge to resolve the proper release point for the cast. Currently, I'm using a slower action fiberglass rod which provides me better results along with my improved understanding. I will revisit the faster action rods occasionally but I'm more comfortable and prefer the slower, moderate action rods. Yeah, I don't want to work too hard to recreate. 

 

All the fish caught using the BFS have been great. The UL gear has an amplification factor to bring angling exhilaration to greater heights. All fish that are 'on-line' are fun, some are way more fun.

 

Here in Southern AZ, I'm pretty satisfied and gratified with anything larger than 5 pounds. To date, there have been a fair number of large mouth bass exceeding that 5 pound threshold successfully on that BFS with the 4 pound mono. There has been one flathead catfish over 8 pounds that took some time to manage. I'm always astonished what will strike a weedless soft plastic worm.

 

The clicking drag on the BFS reel is very subtile, it is no where near the audible ringing you get from a spinning reel. I will tell you the thrill in hearing the drag pay out on either type of reel is exhilarating for an angler.

 

Yes, it is different. Yes, is brings me joy to use it. I couldn't say that for some time while skill building. Yes, I intend to keep using it because I purchased a second BFS reel identical to the first one. Yes, you have to service it differently than spinning reels. The spool bearings don't do well with just any lubricant. That for me was another learning point. 

 

I can say for my style of angling, BFS was a nice supplement to my kit. I didn't have to invest heavily as I stuck to a lower cost solution for the reels and rods. My combined cost of rod and reel were right about the $100 range. Note: I've got a number of spin cast rods that are also suitable for use with BFS reel too. That configuration variety is fun to explore the different handling characteristics with those alternate setups. 

 

I hope some of this has been helpful. I bid you angling success and encourage you to consider and explore BFS reels as they can expand your angling endeavors. 

 

Wishing each of you well for all the Holidays and a fantastic New Year! Cheers!

 

 

Not sure if it is considered BFS but I have a 6'6" Team Daiwa-X light rod (4-12lb test rating) w/ a Tatula TW 80 reel.  Tossing 1/8oz lures (spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, ect.) has been fun this past year.  I have read that Gomexus makes a BFS spool specifically for the Tat 80 and was considering it for next season. 

Thanks for all of the replies.

 

I'm still on the fence about buying something.

 

To me, it's not something to replace spinning. I'll still throw a wacky or a neko on spinning.

 

It's just an additional fun way to fish. 

 

I'm either going to buy a BFS combo or upgrade a current combo. Insert "Why not both?" GIF.  LOL

 

THANKS AGAIN.

 

You better be careful.  I decided to get one for right shoulder relief from spinning setups.  It was great.  I now own 4.

On 12/16/2025 at 8:47 PM, gim said:

Gimmick. My friend handed me one while we were finesse fishing using plastics. I made one cast and went back to my spinning setup.

I'd hardly call this giving a casting BFS setup a fair trial.  Admittedly it isn't for everyone, but calling it a gimmick because it isn't for you does an injustice to others.  With this kind of mindset, I'm surprised you took the time to learn using a baitcast reel.  As always...fish what makes you happy.

 

Like Fishing_Rod said in his post, very light lures aren't something you can quickly learn on casting gear. (At least for someone like me.)  It takes time and effort. Some give up before achieving success.

 

In my youth 'finesse' fishing was what I did the majority of the time.  Used spinning gear only.  Knew no one using casting gear.  When I turned to 'bass' fishing in my late 50s, finesse fell along the wayside.  I prefer lures in the 3/8-7/8 oz. range.  Spinning reels became almost obsolete once I tried my first LP casting reel at 61.

 

Now in my late 70s, I want to try learning BFS with casting reels.  I can do quite well with 3/16 oz. but know some don't consider this BFS.  For me the rod is even more important than the reel.  However, with my current skill level both are still critical.  I know of one young gentleman that can cast 1/8 oz. (probably not total weight, just lure listing) on a MHF rod.  I can't.  

This past season I went to the extremes on both ends of the spectrum and had a lot of fun doing so.  BFS and big swimbaits.  I had a BFS rod in my hand probably 65% of the time.  25% of the time I was casting big baits on big rods, and the other 10% I was fishing conventional tackle.  There is so much you can do with a good BFS setup, and it is so much nicer to have a casting rod in hand rather than dealing with a spinning setup and all of its nuances. With the right rod and the right reel, you can cast quite a bit of different lures.  At one point I was even using my BFS rod for throwing jerkbaits and it performed great.

@Flyfish-mt

I bought that Gomexus shallow spool for my TW 80. It works great! It was my first plunge into bfs and I never looked back. I use 10 lb braid on it, throws light baits very well using a ML rod.

5 hours ago, little giant said:

@Flyfish-mt

I bought that Gomexus shallow spool for my TW 80. It works great! It was my first plunge into bfs and I never looked back. I use 10 lb braid on it, throws light baits very well using a ML rod.

Which ML rod?

@new2BC4bass

It's a Falcon Clearwater, salt inshore rod. ML, 6'7" moderate. Built for casting finesse hair jigs for speckled trout. Limber tip but terrific backbone. Handled an 8 lb largemouth. I use it now with a Dream Tackle bfs reel, 10 lb braid.

 

A lot of hate on here towards spinning gear & I'm not gonna tolerate it anymore. 😝🤣😂

15 minutes ago, F14A-B said:

A lot of hate on here towards spinning gear & I'm not gonna tolerate it anymore. 😝🤣😂

Everybody is going to have their preferred niches.  My first need for BFS is single plug hooks, which never foul on the line - they foul 4/5 casts on spinning tackle.  Every technique where tight-line is an advantage works best on BFS.  

I prefer spinning on complex rigs like tandems and long dropper below cigar cork.  

My spendiest combo is finesse spinning.  

What I don't get is making spinning tackle the subject on a BFS thread.  If BFS doesn't interest you, post about what works for you somewhere else.  

 

The laughing emojis at the end of the comment mean to not take too seriously, it's just some light hearted taunting.

My preference is definitely casting but now that I've recently moved from Florida to Washington state I could actually see me with some spinning outfits again especially if I get back into salmon and steelhead.

12 minutes ago, Bass Rutten said:

The laughing emojis at the end of the comment mean to not take too seriously, it's just some light hearted taunting. My preference is definitely casting but now that I've recently moved from Florida to Washington state I could actually see me with some spinning outfits again especially if I get back into salmon and steelhead.

Exactly.