I'm not going totally finnesse but need to come up with a combo that I can cast 3/16th and 1/4 oz lures with the same muscle memory  as I do now with heavier lures. I have a 6'6" Shimano Compre ML. I think a Piscifun Phantom reel will suffice but will have to use a much smaller line diameter.Maybe 6lb test TrileneXL .Right now  when I try to roll cast those lighter lures they end up going way left. I have some crankbaits that flat out get bit but I cant cast them competently.

24 minutes ago, Bass Rutten said:

Not sure that I want to make the full bfs commitment 

I understand the hesitation, but it isn't nearly the commitment it used to be. Ark and kastking have budget reels many laud, add a medium-light casting rod of your choice and your in business.

@Joedodge what 1/8 oz spinnerbaits are you planning on using? 

17 minutes ago, Jweller said:

@Joedodge what 1/8 oz spinnerbaits are you planning on using? 

Some small 1/8 ounce strike kinds I found at fleet farm. They aren’t much bigger than a beetle spin 

So I’ve hesitated posting on this thread because I know I’ve suggested a few things in other threads and didn’t want to seem to be pushing one thing or another.  But after the info above and what you’re looking for- I’ve been in your shoes the past two years.  Not quite true BFS, but using the benefits of a BFS rig to give some versatility in lighter weights.  You’re talking about 1/8-5/16 total bait weight range (3-10g).  Some ML baitcasters will do it but the reel is the real key.  The low startup inertia of a BFS reel lets the line flow sooner in the cast.  When @scaleface talks about the lures going left, that’s a right handed sidearm cast with a ‘not light’ spool.  The spool doesn’t get moving so the lure doesn’t start going away until later in the casting stroke.  So for a right handed sidearm cast arm cast that will mean the lure isn’t out far enough as it is swinging from right to left on the cast.  A light spool will solve that.  You might even have rods that will work for what you’re doing.  So I’d start with the reel and adjust from there.

 

That said, If you have the budget and want to jump in then the 7’2’ Cara bfs with a BFS reel (I have an aldebaran) is exactly what you’re describing.  

 

That out of the way, picking something (like ‘finesse’, ‘swimbaits’, etc) as a thing to focus on is great.  I try to do something every year like that.  I did finesse baits two years ago  (after some experimentation 3 years ago) and I learned a whole lot.  It’s very worthwhile to add to the toolbox like that.  I would suggest just keeping it simple at first to find what works for you and for your fish.  My biggest limiting factor for finesse plastics for instance is grass.  And, if I really wanted to keep it simple, a 4” senko with a couple head shapes/weights, in 3-5 colors, and with a chartreuse highlighter pen would cover all of the subsurface work.  Fish it full, trim it down, chartreuse tip/belly it, swim it, dead stick it, doesn’t matter.  You can do it all with it.  I’d start there and adjust to what works for you. 

For years, I used bait casting gear for all my bass fishing, and, I still use it . Several years ago I started fishing a 7 acre quarry. The water is very clear in this lake.                                                 I started using spinning gear with 6 and 8 lb lines, and my catches improved a lot. Finesse is good in this scenario. It works great for clear water and sometimes spooky fish. My main baits are 4" plastic worms. I use Slider heads, and t rig, and adjust my weight depending on the depth I'm fishing. Smaller spinnerbaits can be good also, as well as inline( Mepps) style spinners.                                      Best luck on your finesse fishing journey. It's loads of fun.