Seems like there are many options available, I’m trying to figure out what’s best for me.

 

Mostly looking for a rod to handle small treble hook baits. Small cranks, maybe topwater, and of course the world famous Karashi.

 

What model(s) should I be looking at?

 

THANKS!

Tactical Bassin's karashi rod is the 7ft Cashion light. Id imagine it would be good for most treble hook baits.

I've got a few P5 rods that could be considered BFS rods......

 

Siglett - small topwater like the Siglett, soft plastic bug baits. Super light weight.  I would not use it on a boat in deep water.

 

Kasumi Six Eleven - my favorite P5. I use it for all things small crankbaits and jerkbaits.  It can throw the Karashi but you need your A game when casting it. 

 

Criffhanger - small paddle tail swimbaits,  jigs, soft plastic.  This rod is slightly stiffer. 

 

 

When it comes to the Karashi,  I throw it on a couple of different rods...Kistler Hunt BFS,  Dobyns Sierra Ultra-Finesse 700C,  and a P5 Whippet spinning.  I'm torn between these rods as to which one I like better.  Without any internal parts on the Karashi that improve casting it, I lean towards rods with a whippy tip.

2 hours ago, FishTank said:

I've got a few P5 rods that could be considered BFS rods......

 

Siglett - small topwater like the Siglett, soft plastic bug baits. Super light weight.  I would not use it on a boat in deep water.

 

Kasumi Six Eleven - my favorite P5. I use it for all things small crankbaits and jerkbaits.  It can throw the Karashi but you need your A game when casting it. 

 

Criffhanger - small paddle tail swimbaits,  jigs, soft plastic.  This rod is slightly stiffer. 

 

 

When it comes to the Karashi,  I throw it on a couple of different rods...Kistler Hunt BFS,  Dobyns Sierra Ultra-Finesse 700C,  and a P5 Whippet spinning.  I'm torn between these rods as to which one I like better.  Without any internal parts on the Karashi that improve casting it, I lean towards rods with a whippy tip.

 

Thanks for the info, I was hoping you would chime in. I know there are a few of us P5 lovers on here.

 

I was hoping more of a light powered rod would work but it sounds like it should be more of an UL?

 

Ever have your hands on the PopX Stick?

 

Thanks again

47 minutes ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

 

Thanks for the info, I was hoping you would chime in. I know there are a few of us P5 lovers on here.

 

I was hoping more of a light powered rod would work but it sounds like it should be more of an UL?

 

Ever have your hands on the PopX Stick?

 

Thanks again

 

I was going to suggest the PopX Stick but I don't know much about it. I often wish I would have bought that instead of the Criffhanger.  

 

I will say this as well when it comes to the Karashi... Line is important. I found fluorocarbon to be the best option. I tried 6lb mono and it was not good. Also tried braid to leader,  it works but I like this bait to sink some and the braid seemed to interfere.  Straight braid was a disaster.

 

Another thing with the Karashi,  I would try it with and without a split ring to see if you get the action you want. I have some set up both ways. With the split ring, you get a wider side to side action and without,  its slighty tighter.  

 

 

@HawkeyeSmallie I should have asked.... What reel are ypu planning on using? 

24 minutes ago, FishTank said:

 

@HawkeyeSmallie I should have asked.... What reel are ypu planning on using? 

 

That's a good question.

 

Number one on the list is defiantly the Calcutta Conquest.

 

I fell in love with it when I saw it. Just a gorgeous reel.

 

If there's something that would work better, I'm all ears.

7 minutes ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

 

That's a good question.

 

Number one on the list is defiantly the Calcutta Conquest.

 

I fell in love with it when I saw it. Just a gorgeous reel.

 

If there's something that would work better, I'm all ears.

 

I have two of the Conquest BFS reels.  I haven't found a reel I like better. It is heavier than most but it works really well for just about anything. I would highly recommend it. 

 

I also have the 100 and the Shallow Spool edition if that tells you how much I like them. They are all the same reel frame but different spools and braking systems. 

20 minutes ago, FishTank said:

 

I have two of the Conquest BFS reels.  I haven't found a reel I like better. It is heavier than most but it works really well for just about anything. I would highly recommend it. 

 

I also have the 100 and the Shallow Spool edition if that tells you how much I like them. They are all the same reel frame but different spools and braking systems. 

 

Not surprising that it's heavy(ish), good chunk of metal.

 

Ideally I'm throwing that reel, on a Megabass P5. 

 

Small hard baits.  Don't really see myself throwing single hooked lures. IDK, could change.

37 minutes ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

 

Not surprising that it's heavy(ish), good chunk of metal.

 

Ideally I'm throwing that reel, on a Megabass P5. 

 

Small hard baits.  Don't really see myself throwing single hooked lures. IDK, could change.

 

The formula I found for small hard baits.....

 

P5 Kasumi Six Eleven 

 

Shimano Calcutta Conquest BFS HG

 

6lb Sunline Invisible 

 

Evergreen Piccolo PC-5 3/16oz

Any color works. Easy to cast. Fish smash it on a stop and go retrieve. 

 

I'm not guaranteeing that this will work on your lakes but I haven't found a lake where I can't catch something on this. 

 

December 26th nothing was biting for anybody.  This was the only fish I caught and it was on the above. Not huge but between 3 and 4lbs.

 

 

 

 

 

13 minutes ago, FishTank said:

Evergreen Piccolo PC-5 3/16oz

Any color works. Easy to cast. Fish smash it on a stop and go retrieve. 

 

 

I've had really good luck with the Strike King Bitsy minnow also using a stop and go retrieve.

 

Bass and panfish love it.

 

Throw it on an UL spinning rod.

 

Not sure how much it weighs but it's definitely a lure I want to keep throwing on the BFS combo.

 

The fun factor is off the charts.   

@HawkeyeSmallie I have P5 siglet for your application and I paired that with Aldebaran BFS.

Right side combo is the siglet and that's the lure I am using it for.

3 hours ago, ATA said:

@HawkeyeSmallie I have P5 siglet for your application and I paired that with Aldebaran BFS.

Right side combo is the siglet and that's the lure I am using it for.

Super ultralight, dang.

 

Must bend like crazy. lol 

16 hours ago, FishTank said:

When it comes to the Karashi,  I throw it on a couple of different rods...Kistler Hunt BFS,  Dobyns Sierra Ultra-Finesse 700C,  and a P5 Whippet spinning.  I'm torn between these rods as to which one I like better.  Without any internal parts on the Karashi that improve casting it, I lean towards rods with a whippy tip.

 

I have the Dobyns SUF700C and the SUF 690C and both cast a Karashi (they weigh 3/16 oz, or slightly over 5g) really well. I also have a 7'4" Phenix Classic BFS and fishing from my boat, I prefer the SUF700C or the 7'4" Phenix for the extra distance. I would not go to an SUF701C as I think it would be a bit stiff for casting a Karashi for distance.

 

Karashi is on the heavy side for a lot of the small hardbaits that I like to throw as many of them are more in the 2.5g to 4g range and I definitely wouldn't want anything too stiff for that. 

 

Additional food for thought: I can bend out hooks or even break the hooks on a Karashi if I try to horse the fish too much on even the rods I mentioned above. I have to be mindful of that, so I think it would be even more of a problem with even a slightly heavier rod and I wouldn't want to have to not keep a rod well bent to keep from losing fish by bending out hooks.

I have a Pop X Stick with an Aldebaren BFS on it and will do all OP asks. Also have an Expride 6’8” light with an Aldebaren BFS and will also do all OP asks plus is better with plastics

On 1/4/2026 at 7:22 PM, HawkeyeSmallie said:

Seems like there are many options available, I’m trying to figure out what’s best for me.

 

Mostly looking for a rod to handle small treble hook baits. Small cranks, maybe topwater, and of course the world famous Karashi.

 

What model(s) should I be looking at?

 

THANKS!

Yes there are several P5 options, maybe to many  if there's such a thing. Up until now, i've been using a P5 Whippet, Luvias, braid/floro leader setup for all my BFS type needs. Over the last few months I've acquired a P5 Gravel Code (new for 2025) paired with a Calcutta Conquest BFS. I'm planning on spooling up 7# Shooter to start. Checkout The Hookup Tackle's youtube channel and other reviews as some options lend them selves better to bottom contact, others to trebles, and others seem to do it all. My reason for choosing the gravel code what I think its a nice pairing for the whippet.  Don't forget to check out the MB Evoluzion line, there's a couple of very nice BFS options in that lineup.

I think I'm leaning towards the PopX Stick.

 

I'm also thinking about getting a Z Crank Elseil for smaller cranks so I need to make sure I don't overlap things.

 

I love P5 rods but I don't need 15 of them.