9 minutes ago, Siebert Outdoors said:

I bought an Cashion Icon 7'L. I havent used it much but so far I really like it. I paired it with a Lews BFS reel and 7lb sniper.

I'm kind of leaning this way. What do you feel comfortable throwing on it? Like I said I'm mainly looking at treble hook baits. But if it does small T-rig as well like @Big Hands says that makes it even more intriguing. As well as the new micro bladed jigs.

12 minutes ago, NorthernBasser said:

I'm kind of leaning this way. What do you feel comfortable throwing on it? Like I said I'm mainly looking at treble hook baits. But if it does small T-rig as well like @Big Hands says that makes it even more intriguing. As well as the new micro bladed jigs.

So far I have only thrown a Karashi on it. I bought it late last year.

7 hours ago, NorthernBasser said:

I'm kind of leaning this way. What do you feel comfortable throwing on it? Like I said I'm mainly looking at treble hook baits. But if it does small T-rig as well like @Big Hands says that makes it even more intriguing. As well as the new micro bladed jigs.

My bad. I got that rod mixed up with the Phenix that @Big Hands mentioned. I was leaning towards that rod. But the ICON also has me intrigued.

On 4/5/2026 at 10:01 AM, Big Hands said:

I can throw a Tiny Brush Hog with a 1/8 oz tungsten worm weight a country mile and it fishes well.

What hook are you using for those tiny Hogs?

1 hour ago, NorthernBasser said:

What hook are you using for those tiny Hogs?

So far, I really like the Owner Rig-n-Hook. I think they're either size 1 or 2 for that bait, and the same size for the z-man krawz. I also like to pin the hook eye in place with a whittled down flat toothpick though YMMV on doing that particular step. Smallmouth and largemouth both seem to love both of those baits.

4 hours ago, NorthernBasser said:

What hook are you using for those tiny Hogs?

The Hobbit is a like a wider hybrid style hook.

The Anemone Is typical round bend

I have both hooks in larger sizes. If I had to guess it would #2 for the Hobbit and #1 or #2 for the Anemone. Both are light wire hooks, but are fairly strong, especially the Hobbit.

Theres a heavier wire LT Ryugi that would work well, but I have no idea what size to go with.

The Decoy Dream Hook has a hybrid style bend and is made of an impossibly strong light wire. Just reeling down on a fish hooks them.

The light wire Rebarb #2 would work, although I think a #1 would be better.

The first pic shows the Rebarb #2 rigged in the Tiny BH and the #2 Dream Hook above it.

The second pic the #2 dream hook rigged. IMO the #2 dream hooks is about perfect

On 4/4/2026 at 1:05 PM, PhishLI said:

If the wind cooperates, I'll be throwing BFS cranks down to the Bill Lewis Gnat.

I'd like to report something on the matter, but I just can't get a break with the wind on days where I can get out on the boat. It's just been cranking. Like ridiculous.

On 4/4/2026 at 9:48 PM, Motoboss said:

I concur with @Big Hands , the Phenix is a great BFS rod

Although I use a Curado BFS reel which has been great too

No issues tossing the evergreen gizmo on that rod?

46 minutes ago, MiceNReets said:

No issues tossing the evergreen gizmo on that rod?

No Sir, no issue at all.

I have a GLoomis UL spinning outfit and this rod outcast the same lure on 8# braid.

On 4/6/2026 at 6:06 PM, Big Hands said:

So far, I really like the Owner Rig-n-Hook. I think they're either size 1 or 2 for that bait, and the same size for the z-man krawz. I also like to pin the hook eye in place with a whittled down flat toothpick though YMMV on doing that particular step. Smallmouth and largemouth both seem to love both of those baits.

Are you saying you insert the toothpick to through the eye of the hook to pin the knot/line to keep it in the same position on the line tie? If so how well does it actually work and stay in place?

Toothpick? Meh. Here's a better solution:

32 minutes ago, Glenn said:

Meh. Here's a better solution:

Works great even for smaller baits/hooks...like a Tiny Brush Hog on a #6 EWG when drop-shotting for crappie.

I got a 160yd spool of Berkley Outcast ($3.99 at Amazon currently) specifically for this when I first watched this vid a few years ago....still have about half the spool.

On 4/13/2026 at 1:34 PM, Bass Rutten said:

Are you saying you insert the toothpick to through the eye of the hook to pin the knot/line to keep it in the same position on the line tie? If so how well does it actually work and stay in place?

I bury the hook eye into the bait and then run the toothpick into the bait, through the hook eye and out the other side of the bait. Then I trim the toothpick so it doesn't protrude from the bait.

On 4/4/2026 at 12:05 PM, PhishLI said:

I'll have my new BPS Carbonlite Super Finesse 6'9" out today.

On 4/4/2026 at 3:34 PM, Eric 26 said:

I also just purchased the 6’-9” BPS “Super Finesse” rod and although I haven’t fished it yet I’m pairing it with a older Piscifun reel with a shallow spool to see if I’m going to continue with BFS fishing.

Have either of you fellas had a chance to test out your new rods yet?

I ended up getting the 7'1 Phenix Classic BFS along with an Ark Gravity reel. Haven't been able to get out with it yet, though. But depending on how that goes, I may want another option for other type baits. I really don't wanna put much more money into it tho...with just not knowing how much I'll even be able to use them. Looking at the Element Z2 and maybe the Kast King reel @Big Hands recommended.

Thanks again everyone for your advice.

1 hour ago, NorthernBasser said:

Have either of you fellas had a chance to test out your new rods yet?

Finally got it out this past Sunday, but true to form the wind was blasting again. I only threw a 2 3/4" finesse terd on a 1/16oz Decoy VJ-36 Decibo darter head as I needed something that wouldn't catch wind and wouldn't snag algae. The amount of growth this place had already in the middle of April was something else.

I thought the rod's sensitivity was really good. Caught a ton of dinkers and chunky gills. I really thought that I felt everything on the bottom while dragging the bait. They wanted it moved very slowly. Line was PE 0.8 to a 10lb Blue Label leader.

I don't feel like this setup will win a casting distance contest with say a 3000 size spinner on a similar rod with the same line in open water. However, fishing from a boat as I was, I was able to cast precisely against a line of reeds growing out of the water from about 60' away. It seemed as if most of the fish were staged in them. Dropping the bait right there at the edge then dragging it just a bit and soaking it seemed to be the formula for the moment.

I know that doesn't answer your question regarding treble baits, but I know it'll be just fine with them. Personally, I'm not going about this to split hairs. This will be a universal setup for me for any baits up to 6 grams I'd say.

@NorthernBasser I have not had a chance to take mine out yet, I do have it ready to go but the winds have been pretty bad in Illinois.

15 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

Finally got it out this past Sunday, but true to form the wind was blasting again. I only threw a 2 3/4" finesse terd on a 1/16oz Decoy VJ-36 Decibo darter head as I needed something that wouldn't catch wind and wouldn't snag algae. The amount of growth this place had already in the middle of April was something else.

I thought the rod's sensitivity was really good. Caught a ton of dinkers and chunky gills. I really thought that I felt everything on the bottom while dragging the bait. They wanted it moved very slowly. Line was PE 0.8 to a 10lb Blue Label leader.

I don't feel like this setup will win a casting distance contest with say a 3000 size spinner on a similar rod with the same line in open water. However, fishing from a boat as I was, I was able to cast precisely against a line of reeds growing out of the water from about 60' away. It seemed as if most of the fish were staged in them. Dropping the bait right there at the edge then dragging it just a bit and soaking it seemed to be the formula for the moment.

I know that doesn't answer your question regarding treble baits, but I know it'll be just fine with them. Personally, I'm not going about this to split hairs. This will be a universal setup for me for any baits up to 6 grams I'd say.

Would you say it's powerful enough to set the hook on micro Texas rigs?

29 minutes ago, NorthernBasser said:

Would you say it's powerful enough to set the hook on micro Texas rigs?

Absolutely.

This was the hook I was using in the ned. 1/16oz 1/0. Sharp as a M...The hook's point curves down into the plastic which naturally skin hooks it.

Decoy VJ-36 Decibo Darter Offset Jig Head - Tackle Warehouse

@NorthernBasser Although I didn’t use my BPS rod very long we finally had a warm day without obnoxious winds during the week so I stopped for only a 1/2 hour but I have a few observations to share. So for starters I have 6 pound Suffix 832 on the reel with a 6 pound Yo Zuri Hybrid leader at about 36” long, I’m using a Uni to Uni connection knot and to be honest I’m not good at tying knots in general so my knot isn’t very pretty but I trimmed both tag ends to next to nothing and I could feel the knot hitting the top 2 guides on my casts which was causing some trouble and forcing me to use my thumb to control the fluff which I didn’t always do. When the cast was perfect I would say I was getting about the same distance as @PhishLI with a 3/16th ounce BPS Crappie Max spinner bait fished with no trailer. Although I didn’t get any takers I was honestly surprised by the feeling of the rod as in hand it feels a bit slow (parabolic) but while retrieving the bait it felt a bit faster overall if that makes any sense. I can’t wait to get it back out hopefully Sunday for a proper trial after I shorten my leader down considerably and I’m going to try a few different baits on it as well. I did in fact trim the leader down to about 12” and I feel that should help in my casting distance 🤞🏻

28 minutes ago, Eric 26 said:

I’m using a Uni to Uni connection knot and to be honest I’m not good at tying knots in general so my knot isn’t very pretty but I trimmed both tag ends to next to nothing and I could feel the knot hitting the top 2 guides

Eric,

Try an alberto with 3 half hitches to finish. Then use Loon UV to smooth out the leading edge of the knot over the tag. I used a loupe to shape the glue then quickly hit it with a UV light. Good sun will do the same. Line goes through pretty well.

41 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

Eric,

Try an alberto with 3 half hitches to finish. Then use Loon UV to smooth out the leading edge of the knot over the tag. I used a loupe to shape the glue then quickly hit it with a UV light. Good sun will do the same. Line goes through pretty well.

I appreciate the advice and now I’m going to have to do some research but as of right now I’m feeling…..🤣😆😂

1 hour ago, Eric 26 said:

I’m using a Uni to Uni connection knot and to be honest I’m not good at tying knots in general so my knot isn’t very pretty but I trimmed both tag ends to next to nothing and I could feel the knot hitting the top 2 guides on my casts which was causing some trouble and forcing me to use my thumb to control the fluff which I didn’t always do

Uni uni is a good knot, but its a bit chunky. A #10 smackdown-#10 blue label alberto gets through my Tatulas guides really well. You dont need more than 2 additional wraps at the end if you're concerned with slippage and or want to add some strength, but its a BFS outfit, and its not going to have a ton of pressure on it. The wraps do add a little bit of bulk and make the knot uneven causing it to favor one side little more.

Albright knots are a little easier to seat and plenty strong if tied correctly. You dont have to worry about the crossing the wraps back up to the loop and its a thinner knot. Just like any Albright style knot, the people who have problems with the are doing 1 -3 things wrong.

1- When finishing the knot the mainline has to exit the loop on the same side it came in.

2- You have to seat the knot tight, just under the top of the loop, so it has enough materials to bite into and a check at the top to keep it from slipping. You don't want it so low that there is any space in the loop and you dont want it too high where the braid is about slip over loop. Ive seen quite a few instructional videos where the knot isnt tight enough. If the knot isnt tight it will tighten under heavy load and slip over the loop. You will know when the braid is tight when the color of the wrapped line brightens slightly when compared with the rest of the braid. Sometimes, especially when tying Albertos with heavier 4 or 5x PE, you may need a glove or something to keep the braid from cutting into your hand.

3- The last mistake is leaving too much tag. You need to cut the tag lines almost flush with the knot, especially the leader tag. As long as the knot is tight it won't need any tag to tighten. The leader tag is what causes most of the problems people have. The tag will be very stiff and creates a catch for line coming of the spool. If the line does catch the tag on a hard cast, it can cause a nightmare that is referred to as a blow-by knot.

Good luck, I hope it works out.

Suck it up buttercups, time to learn the FG knot!

I've ended up using six pound monofilament or five pound fluorocarbon on most of my BFS rods and haven't been compelled to use braid.

On 4/13/2026 at 3:52 PM, Glenn said:

Toothpick? Meh. Here's a better solution:

I've used this method for about 40 years, still have balance spools of 40# and 50# cheap stuff from back then; super stiff.