Looking to get my first bfs setup. Primarily for hardbaits - Karashi is the gateway for this. I also plan to throw small topwaters, twitchbaits, jerkbaits, crankbaits. Maybe some spybaits.

Some rods I was looking at are Megabass pop x stick (TB rec for Karashi), raid anti power bait finesse, Daiwa steez bfs 6’8 regular glass.

Looking to potentially buy a rod this weekend with the sales going on. Reel I can figure out later but would be good to know suggestions there too. Thanks in advance.

I bought a Cashion ICON 7 foot light/fast specifically for the Karashi as I've never used anything that small before. I've only had it out once but have no complaints. I also don't have anything to compare it to.

Realistically, you can get any of those rods and be just fine. Keep in mind, the Karashi is 3/16, so any light-tipped ML will throw it provided your reel will handle it. I have a M Crucial here I can throw it on and I would have zero issues doing so. If you really want a new rod, that Raid is pretty sweet. Put a Daiwa BF70 or Aldebaran BFS on it and have fun.

On the budget side of reels the new ark bfs avid casts a karashi like a champ and is on sale at TW for $80.

No experience with the pop x stick but the cashion icon 7L is a hard bait bfs beast.

When I was looking for the perfect rod for the Karashi the Megabass P5 pop X kept coming up in my research......then I saw the price 😳

I throw the Karashi on spinning and settled on TFO Pro 6'6 light.

The tip does very well enhancing the action of this little bait.

If you want high end then get the Pop X and put a Curado bfs on it.

Oh perhaps no necessary but I put a VMC #1 split ring on all my Karashi's.

G. Loomis just came out with a 7 foot imx pro BFS rod that definitely would be worth looking into as all the other imx pro rods are great.

My favorite BFS crankbait rod is the Megabass P5 Kasumi Six Eleven but it's not my favorite for the Karashi. I tend to like to throw it on the P5 Whippet spinning. The Six Eleven just doesn't load the Karashi well for me. I have tried it on several different BFS rods though and there is one that I do like but it can be hard to come by, the Jackall Revoltage II 6'9" BF Light. It's a little stiff at the tip but it works a small jerkbait and the Karashi well. Another I like is the Kistler Hunt series. It just a great all around rod.

I wish I could comment on the Pop-X but I don't own that one. It might be a great fit.