Lucky me received a new Shimano Calcutta Conquest BFS from my kids this christmas, destined for the new P5 gravel code I purchased during a black friday sale.

I have several shimano and diawa casting reels where I adjust to spool tension differently. For Diawa, I just remove any side to side play on the spool and then leave it alone.  I adjust the brake basted on wind direction and performance, for the Shimano, I start with allowing the lure to drop slowly when the clutch is released followed by adjusting the brake based on wind direction and performance.  If I can get away with it, I'll loosen to spool tension a bit to increase performance.

 

So Diawa uses a magnet brake and typically Shimano uses a mechanical system.  How should I treat my new Calcutta with the magnetic brake?  As this is for BFS, I imagine the spool tension will be quite lite regardless.

Every reel I own, from Daiwas, to Shimanos to weird chinease reels you've never heard of is setup with the spool tension to just remove side to side play and this is also how they came out of the box.  All 30 something of my reels are zero adjust set from the factory.  I'm a believer that you should do what you want with your reels but the "right" way according to Shimano Japanese instructions is to just eliminate side to side play.  The US instructions will tell you that you can use spool tension if you want.  Who is right?  Probably Shimano Japan but you do what you are accustomed to.

I have the Curado and SLX bfs reels with mag brake. I set tension to remove play, (actually its loose), and adjust only the brake for lure weight and wind. I'm using ML rods and 1/16-1/8 oz weight. I've been using baitcasters forever so my thumb knows what to do, lol!

With bfs, I cast more gently than normal. I use braid also.....

4 hours ago, Patrick Oliver said:

Lucky me received a new Shimano Calcutta Conquest BFS from my kids this christmas, destined for the new P5 gravel code I purchased during a black friday sale.

I have several shimano and diawa casting reels where I adjust to spool tension differently. For Diawa, I just remove any side to side play on the spool and then leave it alone.  I adjust the brake basted on wind direction and performance, for the Shimano, I start with allowing the lure to drop slowly when the clutch is released followed by adjusting the brake based on wind direction and performance.  If I can get away with it, I'll loosen to spool tension a bit to increase performance.

 

So Diawa uses a magnet brake and typically Shimano uses a mechanical system.  How should I treat my new Calcutta with the magnetic brake?  As this is for BFS, I imagine the spool tension will be quite lite regardless.

I think in the Conquest BFS himano uses a combination of magnetic and mecanical breaking.  I have a Curado with a similar system and to get the maximum distance and performance I leave a bit of side to side play in the spool compensating with the magnetic breaking system.  I like a ''loose'' reel for BFS.

I have it and it is very special reel with great performance. Highly recommend to get it if you want to enjoy BFS fishing. Depending on your place you can pair it with short glass rod for river trout style fishing or longer graphite rod for lake fishing. I have mine paired with AIRE (JDM handwrapped) glass rod 5'6" and I am using it on river/creek fishing.

19 hours ago, ATA said:

I have it and it is very special reel with great performance. Highly recommend to get it if you want to enjoy BFS fishing. Depending on your place you can pair it with short glass rod for river trout style fishing or longer graphite rod for lake fishing. I have mine paired with AIRE (JDM handwrapped) glass rod 5'6" and I am using it on river/creek fishing.

Beautiful setup!

On 1/5/2026 at 12:18 PM, Patrick Oliver said:

So Diawa uses a magnet brake and typically Shimano uses a mechanical system.  How should I treat my new Calcutta with the magnetic brake?  As this is for BFS, I imagine the spool tension will be quite lite regardless.

Still, no one has a simple why and how answer to set up Shimano brake.  

Logically, if this system copies Daiwa SV function, you should set the mag brake casting high arcs with your lightest weight to dial-out mid-cast backlash.  Non-linear start-up should then take care of heavier weights.