Hey guys, my Mother has had brain surgery on multiple tumors and watching your buyers guide videos in the hospital has helped to get my mind off of some of this. I appreciate these guides each year, but they've been really special for me this year.
@Robert Guss Thanks Robert, I appreciate that. It has progressed to hospice at home now. Regardless of the ultimate outcome, those prayers are always welcome! Hope you get some great fishing in this spring! Thanks again!
Thanks for exploring BFS Matt and Tim, I never thought two California Huddleston chucking swimbait guys would ever fall into this rabbit hole, very surprising, and very cool!!! I'm a spinning gear guy, so BFS, hmmm.🤔 I grew up using spinning gear in the Great Lakes region fishing for walleye and stream fishing for steelhead and salmon. Light tackle for giant fish is the name of that game, I think the thickest line we owned was 8 lb test mono. No one in my family used baitcasters, EVER. When I took up bass fishing in middle school I kept using nothing but spinning rods for decades, right up to a couple of years ago. I felt like I flipped and distance casted just fine with my spinning gear. I still love spinning gear, and my most expensive Diawa and Shimano reels are spinning reels and nicest rods are still spinning rods. Therefore, I suppose I will always be too much of a baitcaster newbie to be seduced by BFS....until the crazy actually BITES ME. These "smaller" baits and lures are the BULK of my arsenal for northern glacial waters with 30-foot visibility. My first PB largemouth was a prespawn 6-pound tanker caught on a 1/16 oz. marabou jig in about 15 feet of bathtub clear water. So, when it comes to BFS....I'm listening Matt and Tim, I'm listening. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THESE VIDEOS!!!
Inshore saltwater guy here, who has bested enough monsters on spinning gear to LOL hard when I hear spinners referred to as "fairy wands" and "sissy sticks". For me, the choice is easy; finesse = spin, power = baitcasting. Right tool, right time. I reel baitcasters with my left hand, so it's an easy transition. That being said; to each their own; if anglers want to use BFS in place of, or in addition to, spinning, have at it. I'm limited in what I can carry, so for me, it's either spinning or BFS. Easy choice. Good luck out there!
I was thrilled when you spoke about BFS last year. I have 1 Dobyns 700 spinning and casting, 1 7’ 2’’ Curado BFS and finally picked up last week a Expride 7’ 2’’ Med light +. Have caught numerous 4 plus on this gear. It’s phenomenal
I accidently caught a 35lb flathead while bfs fishing for smallmouth, while on a kayak. It's a good thing that I was on a kayak...It pulled me upriver like I was on a dog sled. That little curado bfs and the zodias handled it. Funniest catch of last summer. The year before it handled a school of wipers all day long.
I purchased a Kastking Zephyr, with the "Bait Clicker" drag at the end of July 2023. I spooled it with some braid backer, finishing with Berkley FluoroShield copolymer 6 lb test ( .009in diameter ) and here is my experience. #1 - Although this reel can cast baits of 1/8 oz a fair distance, it does not have the magnetic brake adjustability to control the spool and prevent backlashes unless the adjustment is turned up close to its maximum. I played around with a Kastking Spartacus II, which is a bit heavier reel, but has the same issue, and found that, I could shim the magnet assembly closer to the spool ( on that reel only) with some thin washers, and get the brake to adjust to where I like it at about a 6 ~ 7 setting instead of max. #2 - The spacing between the spool and housing, even with a small tan colored plastic guard, still allows loops of .009in diameter line to get between the spool and housing during a backlash, ( which WILL happen) and slightly damaging the line in the process. This should be an unacceptable issue, and I am still on the fence on weather to return this reel, and just stick with an ultralight spinning rig, which has no such issues. I think the bottom line is, it's just manufactured to a "loose" tolerance in the brake and spool / housing edges, most likely so it won't have "issues" with rubbing, most likely because they don't trust the manufacturer's ability to control tolerances close enough to keep things from rubbing and having issues that way. I wouldn't personally recommend the Zephyr until they clearly address both issues.
Awesome Video and Finally you guys answered the question I've been trying to explain to everyone for years... Why BFS.. it's the funnest way to catch Fish... Secondary why is because guys like me can and have done away with spinning gear yet still throw any size baits we want to without issue... I'm glad you guys are loving the BFS .. I would like to mention that although not ideal there are several reels available that can be paired with a good bfs rod and still work.. the zillion sv boost spool comes to mind but only spooled halfway up.. but almost all the 70 size Daiwa sv or Shimano mgl spools are bfs capable of you already own one.. simply put light braid on any of the deeper sv spools and you can get started..
I think the one thing that I love most about the BFS category is because of the US not having like a dedicated section of baits it's actually made me think much more creatively in terms of what I can find for BFS and when I did open my mind to it the options are endless. I love your guys enthusiasm and I'm really interested in how you guys are flipping on this tackle. I'd love to see a breakdown video of your process. Thank you for your perspective on this category and I'm grateful for your presence in the Bass fishing world, cause a lot of professionals don't talk about this with the same passion for it that you do. Love you guys. God Bless and Happy turkey day!
Right! I’ve just been using the finesse baits from the bigger companies like 6th sense and I’ve had some killer results. Caught a 25 lb bag on a 1/4 oz 25x crankbait using the dobyns Sierra and kast king zephyr with 6 lb test. I’ve got a ton of videos of results of this technique on my channel! I’m glad you enjoy it too!
@@tacticalbassin not to mention the fact that I'm in CA watching this at 3:30 am as it hits knowing that I'ma be dead tired for the fishing trip 😂🙆 all good this content is priceless 🔥keep up the amazing work matt and Tim!
Absolutely love bfs. I caught an 8 pound largemouth on 6 lb line with the Dobyns rod and an slx bfs reel this past spring. System worked flawlessly it took about 5 minutes to get the bass in but I never felt like I was not in control. Bfs is awesome
For a casting fan it’s hard to go back to spinning after trying BFS. I now have 4 combos strictly for bfs. You guys really need to check out the Daiwa alphas air and the steez air. I do love the Curado bfs but Daiwa is way ahead IMO. Also megabass has some other great rod options. The p5 bait finesse is amazing and the original destroyer Hein is one of the most beautifully styled rods I’ve ever seen. Best week of the year! Great job fellas
The CT SV models do great. Get an ultralight BFS spool like a Roro or prorex and you're set for a lot less. And that's coming from someone who uses a Steez CT SV TW.
@@gobybryant1001 The Steez is for sure, but you can get the Alphas Air from Japan for about what a Curado BFS sells for in the US...or get an SLX BFS (I need to open mine up and confirm my suspicion that it's the same reel as the Curado) for about $120.
@@helotaxi both the slx and curado are essentially the same. Same with the scorpion. I think there is like 1 or 2 parts that are different and they are minor.
Great to see your enthusiasm for BFS and the direction it is going in the US. I myself caught the bug 3 years ago and now run a FB group for budget BFS with many US members. Some purists argue that what’s happening in the US is not really BFS but I like yourselves disagree. Finesse is the key word here and that is exactly what you guys are doing. Always loved your channel and have taken inspiration from it many times, applying it to my fishing over here in the UK. Some of us are also fishing BFS in the Saltwater now. Great video
love your channel fellas, I started on this BFS train around March of this year, a couple rods that fall into my budget are the Fenwick Elite Bass 6' 10" rated 4#-10# mono and the Phenix Featherlite FTX71L also rated 4#-10# mono (however these are not Ultra-lites) , my reels are CDM (Chinese Domestic Market) Soloking/Doviello Acura HICC-50, tossing 1/16-3/16oz Ned rigs, w/ 3" Keitech Minnows & Z-Man MinnowZs, 1/8-1/4oz Bitsy Bugs, & 1/8-1/4oz Pond Magic spinnerbaits, and some baby Rapala's; with 6# or 8# straight fluorocarbon & having the time of my life on this gear. there are quite a bit of reels available in the Zephyr class price range although they're coming from overseas. keep up the great work... luv it !!
from someone who has been BFS fishing for 15+ years theres a ton of JDM options that dont cost a bunch and with the exchange rate right now its well worth exploring those options.. Dobyns also has a Sierra 701 now that is a Great all around BFS rod..
I posed this question elsewhere in this thread. Why do you suppose BFS reels have been so slow in becoming available in the US market? I'm a spinning guy, so I don't really track BFS matters, but it strikes me as odd that this "hot trend" has not been embraced more fully by the US market.
@@oldeschoolbob1022 BFS in Japan is a trout thing, not a bass thing. Bass anglers don't throw lures nearly as light as what trout guys are using and don't use line nearly as light either. Basically, what most US anglers use spinning gear for and consider "finesse" can pretty easily be fished well on a good medium (or even MH!) power baitcaster with a good reel. You just have to get out of the "power fishing" mindset and downsize your line, back off the drag and take is easy on the hookset. Some reels are better suited for it but finding the right rod to go lighter than 1/8oz has been the real challenge until very recently.
Dobyn's is up to 4 different rods now I believe. Two different lengths each in a 0 power and a 1 power. Difference between the two appears to be the action rather than the power, per se. The "1" power are a fast action while the "0" are marked "Moderate action with an Extra-Fast tip" Great rods and the SLX/Curado/Scorpion BFS reels don't do them justice.
@@helotaxi That's interesting; thanks! I just bought an MGL reel at the TW sale, that I am planning to see how light I can go with. It's more for my curiosity than anything; I have a MH spinner that does a lot of what a M baitcaster would. I live in Florida, which is Power Fishing Central for largemouth, but I have found that scaling down is often a very good tactic. Looking even more forward to getting that SLX MGL in my hands now; good luck out there!
I started using BFS gear this year and it's a blast. I was in the camp... "Why would I use this if I have spinning gear". I quickly learned that BFS gear is not exactly spinning and it's not exactly like using a regular baitcasting setup. It's its own thing, which made it more fun. Another bait I would highly recommend is the Megabass Baby PopX.
Loved this one. Here in Europe BFS fishing for Perch is pretty much the gold standard at this point simply due to the pressure and size of the Perch. Incredibly fun stuff
I always enjoy your videos. I have been Bass fishing longer than either of you have been alive and have seen quite an evolution in how we fish. I just purchased my first somewhat BFS setup. I went with the 6'10" ML Curado rod and a highly rated inexpensive reel from overseas (Dark Wolf Ultra). I set my limit on what I would call bait finesse at lures weighing no more than 1/4 oz. I was able to find versions of every type of lure covering the water column from top to bottom that fit within my weight restriction. I am mostly a power fisherman and fish Florida lakes with heavy vegetation. I am looking forward to hitting the water next week with light 1/8 oz spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, swim jigs, and even 1/8 oz. micro chatterbaits. I'm not sure if I can win the battle if I hook a big fish in the hydrilla jungle but I am going to have fun trying.
Great video guys, thanks. I have a curado bfs and it's great. I've been throwing tiny lures1/8, 3 inch Basstrix, 4 inch fluke unweighted for years on regular reels. Aldebaran, Lewis SLP lite, curado 70 as easily as the bfs reel. Phenix feather ml 7'2" works great.
The feel is the deal ! When finesse fishing. With BFS, you feel every heart beat of your finesse lures and detect very supple strikes. BFS gives more sensitivity than spinning... Enjoyed the video ! Would like to see many more on BFS... Bill
I have used BFS in Fort Worth all year, and I am in LOVE with it too. Not just because it’s fun like you said, but because I’ve caught 2 fish over 8, a few 7s and multiple fish in the 5-6 pound class all using a dobyns Sierra 7’4” and a kastking zephyr with 6 lb Fluoro. I might be more of a “power” 😂 bfs technique guy, but anything I used to throw on a spinning rod, has been replaced with my BFS combos. Tip for everyone there are cheaper options at bfs empire and they normally always have some stuff in stock both rods and reels and baits. I’ve found using finesse stuff from companies like 6th sense are cheaper as well. I caught 25+ lb limit on a 6th sense 1/4 oz squarebill the crush 25x, caught a ton of big ones on a 2.7” divine swimbait and the 2.8” keitech on a guppy head, and literally a couple weeks ago I caught a 8.4 on the rapala ultralight crank which is only 1.5”. It’s amazing what this technique can produce in pressured fisheries. And because that’s pretty much all I fish, bfs has become my go to. I’ll leave some links to the videos of the 25 lb limit and two 8s that I’ve caught this year using bfs. Also don’t forget finesse JERKBAITS for this category. I’ve started experimenting with little duo realis and the nanahans from megabass on 6lb flouro and bfs and it’s going to be LETHAL this winter in Texas. They dive deeper and have better action on these 0 power rods. My fave is the sierras from dobyns and zephyrs. But bait finesse empire has a 80 dollar tsurinoya dragon rod and 60 dollar tsurinoya hurricane that makes a great budget option and is what I caught one of my 8s with. Great cranking combo. Alright here are those links to my results 👇🏽
Thanks Matt and Tim you guys have made me so much better at fishing...My favorite way to fish is with my Curado BFS on my 6'8"ML rod. For some reason i just cant put the set-up down. I still power fish but i always have my BFS gear in my car. God Bless y'all and tight line's
I love it. BFS is so much fun. I almost get nervous over a 2 pounder like I do over a 7 or 8 on regular casting gear. So much fun. Thanks for putting me on this. I love that little Rapala ultra light pop. ❤
Guys absolutely love the videos. 2 quick questions, could you do a buyer’s guide for kids getting into the sport, like rods for shorter kids, clothing for sun protection and cold, life jackets? And how do you guys compare edge rods at the same price points to other brands?
Hi guys, I know you said BFS started with a Shimano‘s 70. But really started way before that in my opinion. But it was not called BFS. Back in 2007, 2008 Daiwa what came out with the Team Daiwa TD Sol baitcaster. Small in size and cast all those baits that you were showing on my G Loomis DSR820 C drop shot bait casting rod. Which you cannot find anymore. Then came out the Daiwa SV105P which is the same body as the TDSOL. I believe that came out long before the Shimano 70 did. Phenomenal reels!! I use that for my BFS, I can cast all those baits that you mentioned. Now Daiwa has the alpha series which is based off those reels that you can’t get today! As you can tell I’m probably in Daiwa fan as you are a Shimano fan which is all good. I love your videos thanks
Hard to get is right. I just received a Curado BFS and ordered November 2021. Forgot I still had it on order lol. When I got the notification from TW, I figured why not, I can use a 4th BFS setup. Pretty much stopped using spinning rods. L and ML Phenix Feathers make great BFS rods.
I've been a fan of ultralight spinning gear for a while. I'm stoked about having a way to cast super accurately with the tackle I'm already throwing. My favorite thing about ultralight gear is the multispecies aspect. I started finding species I didn't even know existed in certain bodies of water.
My favorite duo on RUclips dropping knowledge. Preciate y’all big time! Bout to order me a BFS setup. These Texas pond bass are gonna love these baits.
Lucky Craft Pointer 65 is a killer pond bait on spinning gear. Gotta think it would be great on bfs. Blue gill color is my fav. Very subtle and natural color/bait.
The Daiwa Gekkabijin Air TW PE Special reel is sweet and you should try it even though it's not available at Tackle Warehouse. In Asia many people use PE line .6 or smaller (12lb braid to westerners) straight to reaction baits. I have found this to be very effective and despite my initial skepticism the braid has not suppressed the bite. I enjoy the Duo Spearhead Ryuki Spinners, the Shimano Macbeth 39, and the OSP Louder 50 for the technique.
Before BFS gear & Ned rigs the zoom tiny brushhog & 4" lizard where my go to back I'm 2004-2007 time frame. I had no idea about Huddleston taking over 18lbers haha. I did know I was catching 40 fish on 6lb spinning rods at Lake sonoma.
Anything from Japan is on average 20-30% cheaper than in North America, no taxes, most of the time free shipping - plenty of relativity cheap Daiwa or Shimano BFS reels to choose from. As for rods, JDM light game casting rods is the way to go for ultimate fun and super light rigs. Most of those rods come two piece and are insanely lightweight. US market is at least 10 years behind to Japan when it comes to BFS.
Because of the exchange rate, i always buy my reels directly form Japan. It is much cheaper than buying them here and the shipping is fast. I typically get mine in a week. If you buy from Japan Lure Shop they always throw in a nice lure.
I don’t BFS for bass very often, mostly for crappie and the setups are pretty similar. The rods are known for being good alternative BFS rods and are much cheaper than a lot are. The Shakespeare 4’6”-7’ micro series UL and the bass pro crappie maxx 6’ L are what I use, paired with a kastking zephyr and typically 4-6lb seagaur floro or hi vis mono.
KastKing has come out with a second BFS reel. I forgot what it’s called but it’s in the price range of the curado if y’all hadn’t seen that one yet. Cool video👍🏻
It is the Kestrel Elite BFS but they also have a cheaper model called the Valiant Eagle II. There are some pretty interesting videos on here about them both.
Try this Rod out Megabass P5 Siglett. Talk about lite. Using some of the tiny lite baits I can find. Pared with the Shimano BFS IN THE VIDEO. GOing trout fishing or crappie fishing but put a Bass on it hang on for the ride. So so much fun
I've had great success using the newer 70 sized reels on these bfs rods. The shimano slx mgl 70, curado mgl 70, and my daiwa sw tw CT 70 all handle straight 6lb flouro without problem. It's such a fun way to fish. I throw drop shot, Ned rig, micro jigs (2.5 to 5 gram), shaky head, and tiny Texas rigs with em
I want to try the heavy bfs for flipping, that sounds awesome. My bfs combo is a megabass triza aello and a daiwa alphas air SV tw. I can cast the whole spool across the pond it is such a fantastic outfit to fish and weighs nothing.
I don't think I am ready for BFS but BFS gives me confidence in using smaller baits with the equipment I already own. I immediately thought you could accidentally catch a bunch of crappie, bluegill and white bass with BFS while trying to catch black bass. I like to catch fish when I go out and don't mind if they are smaller.
my BFS(ish) setup is a Shimano Clarus 7'2 Med light with a Shimano Curado 70 MGL k . not a true BFS setup but still so fun. you actually have to fight a 1 pound bass its really fun i highly suggest looking into the budget options if u want to get started.
That 70MGL paired with that rod will do 99% of what most US anglers use a spinning rod for. And you don't give up anything going to the SLX 70MGL from the Curado. Can just about get the Clarus/SLX combo for the price of the Curado reel alone.
@TacticalBassin you guys oughta try the dynamic lures trout crankbait out. I've used it for years fishing for rainbows in streams and they have worked out great with my BFS gear for bass. I usually fish it like a micro jerkbait. I first started using dynamic lures for pike years ago, they make great stuff!
I did the same thing last year when they posted this buyers guide video. You will love it. I’m hooked. I’ve caught 2 8s, a few 7s, and a ton of 5-6 lbers and more bass than I’ve ever caught in Fort Worth. And that’s just with 1 year of working on it! Have fun man!
@@kalecastaneda 6 lb fluoro has been the best for me, get some good stuff though. I use seguar red label. The 6 is versatile. And then if you wanna try some topwater when it gets warm again 10 lb braid is perfect. But you can go smaller to 8 lb braid as well for more casting distance.
Thank you guys from the awesome and informative videos on BFS! There is however an issue with one of your products that are linked to Tackle Warehouse. Specifically the link for the Shimano Macbeth Tiny 39F Crankbait actually links to Shimano Macbeth 63 Original Crankbaits in a 5/8th Oz size. I did not notice this until i received my order from Tackle Warehouse recently and I am currently exchanging it for a tiny version instead of the original size. I wanted to give you guys a heads up so that future viewers will get the link to the right product and thank you again for the great information and breakdown on the different products. I appreciate all the hard work that you guys put into your channel.
Ifishband clamber hyper micro is a great reel for bfs, can throw a few grams easily and has clicking drag. Paired with a major craft 6’5 rated 1/32-1/4 and it is a blast to fish with
Nice video guys. Always learn a lot from you gents. Also happy about the big shout out to Kastking. Their new Kestrel Elite BFS is insanely awesome and is also available in the US
You told me to wait till today and wasn't lying My fishing partner and I also use the SUF 700C for crappie fishing instead of spinning rod for casting to them 🔥🔥🔥
Haven't gotten into the bfs gear yet, not to say I won't. I know it's gotta be a blast fighting fish on smaller gear. Not dealing with line twist from spinning rods
For BFS rods, did you find anything in the St.Croix range that could be a good fit? I like the Dobbyns rod highlighted in the buyers guide, but all of my other rods are St.Croix. My sprinkling of OCD prefers theme consistency 🤠
If you're looking for a budget BFS entry rod try the Shimano Sensilite (around $60). It won't compare to the suggestions here, but it's a great entry budget BFS rod paired with the Zephyr to get into BFS. One caution on the Zephyr: Use 8# line as anything less will tend to get caught between the spool and the reel frame. I'm hoping that Shimano will bring the SLX BFS to the States soon. It should be a great step up from the Zephyr that won't break the bank for us budget fishermen. Since getting my BFS combo I find I rarely bring a spinning rod on the boat.
I've been using bfs for decades here in the US... I just got a small baitcaster and filled it up with 8# test and a medium/light baitcaster rod and that was my finesse approach using small lures on a baitcaster... you could probably throw lighter baits with the actual bfs.
Thank you, gentlemen, and congratulations on the Wardrobe Change. 🤣🤣 . I'm way too comfortable with spinning gear (my Fury ML spinner and 6-lb. test is amazing until the cover gets too heavy for my comfort zone) to dip my toe into the world of BFS, but it definitely seems to be a growing trend. I wonder why new reels have been so slow into the market; is the technology in adapting a baitcaster to channel its inner spinning reel that complex? Or maybe the companies aren't buying into the movement. It seems curious that there are so few reels available for what so many believe to be a trend rather than a fad. Thank you for all of the great guides, looking forward to the next!
It's a very niche market. The US bass fishing landscape is dominated by power fishing with heavy rods, heavy line and stout hooks. There are regions where the very idea of using a spinning rod is reserved for "perch jerkers" or kids. BFS is way more specialized than a lot of guys are willing to go and the lack of available equipment is further deterrence. Of course the two factors compound each other. Why is no one using it? Can't get it. Why can't we get it? No one is using it so we don't want to stock it.
So we watch these reviews for years and get down to our 4 rods to cover everything, and now you show us BFS. So now i feel i do need 5 rods and reels to effectively cover everything. Lol.
I see BFS as an "either / or" with spinning. I'm very comfortable with the spinners, so BFS is really a world I probably won't explore, especially since I am limited in how many combos I can carry.
You all showed me the BFS light a few years ago. Only have 2 combos right now, but don’t fish without them. My favorite is a small swim bait and flukes. Hook up ratio seems to be better than my spinning rod and no line twist. I do seem to have trouble getting a good hook set with non moving baits though. Maybe I’m using the wrong hooks?..
SLX 70 MGL and a Dobyns Fury 703C is the closest setup I have to bait finesse. It actually does very well with Ned rigs and 2.8 keitechs, but anything less is a no go.
Great video guys! I just got my hands on the Curado BFS and the Dobyns should be coming tomorrow. When do you recommend braid vs straight fluoro with BFS? What are the advantages disadvantages to each? I've only thrown real light braid/fluoro on spinning gear. I also noticed a lot of guys recommending 4 strand braid on BFS, is that intentional to get some additional stiffness and avoid backlashes?
Hey Matt, I just saw KastKing launched the Kestrel Elite Magnesium Frame BFS Finesse Baitcasting Reel. It goes for about $220 and seems like an ENORMOUS step up from the Zephyr. HA, NOW THE TABLES ARE TURNED! I'm now TEMPTING YOU to spend YOUR CASH!!!🤑💰🤣
@@tacticalbassin IMO, AVOID THE TEMPTATION!!! Cheap KastKing gear was my step into baitcaster rods and reels after growing up in Michigan using only spinning gear. I found both KastKing rods and reels LACK DURABILITY. You may be deceived by great performance out of the gate, but will then be heartbroken when the cheap material used rears its ugly head and your rods and reels begin to scratch up and break down.
The SLX BFS, which is what you can get on a budget JDM, sells for less than $120 with the current exchange rate. Built on the same frame as the Curado and the Scorpion BFS. The KastKing Zephyr works and is available. It has WAY too much drag and the drag isn't very progressive; it's either off or too much. KastKing also has the Kestrel that came out earlier this year. I've got one that I haven't gotten a chance to use yet. It feels pretty good in the hand and has the design elements of the JDM BFS reel as far as the super shallow and light spool and well designed magnetic brakes. Reading reviews, the QC is spotty on them but the customer service is very good as it should be for a $220 reel. Which brings us to JDM. The SLX BFS, which is what you can get on a budget JDM, sells for less than $120 with the current exchange rate. Built on the same frame as the Curado and the Scorpion BFS. The Aldebaran BFS is in the $275 range and the Daiwa Alphas Air is about $225. You don't get customer support from Shimano NA or Daiwa USA, but they're quality reels which means you're not going to need it 99.9% of the time.
The real limiting factor until very recently for what a lot of US anglers would consider finesse (Ned Rig, drop shot, shaky head, weightless worm) has been the rod, not the reel. I've been doing this for 7+ years now and have scoured the US market for rods that will actually load with lighter baits. Phenix rods have been my go-to until the Dobyn's rods dropped. The Maxim 6'10" MH is a real sleeper and there's a ML in that length as well as a 7'3". There are ML and L powers in the Feather, M1 and Recon Elite series that split the gap between the Dobyn's and Shimano rods in power. Look around your local Bass Pro and Academy Sport (if you're lucky enough to have one, sorry if you're like me and west of OKC) for the smaller rods in L and ML power in their house brands. They're actually hidden gems here. Finally, there are 2 ML models in the Shimano Clarus line that match the action and power of the ones in the Curado line for half the price. TW doesn't carry those models and I've been hard pressed to find them online anywhere. Only reason that I know that they exist is I found one a few weeks ago in a small tackle/hunting/gun shop in NW FL when I was visiting. Didn't have a way to get it home so I didn't buy it.
Man I was just searching all over the net and YT for an “American style” finesse jig rod and BAM you suggest the Zodias and Expride! I have a custom spiral wrapped 7’2” M/L fast that worked wonders this year but need something a little more stout for those 1/4-3/8oz micro/finesse jigs (total weight). Thanks 👊🏼🎣
You guys should try the Dark Wolf Ultra reel, I have one paired with a Dobyns Sierra Z SUF 701C. Hundreds of casts so far and zero bird nests. It casts about as well as my Shimano SLX DC for a third of the cost. It’s bottom end is 1.5 grams
Hey guys, my favorite video so far from the buyers guide! I have the 6'3 Expride BFS light rod paired with the Shimano Curado BFS and it's incredible! I was wondering why you guys didn't talk about this rod and also which Plano box are you using for your micro cranks?
I live in western Washington where the bass are naturally smaller and much more pressured. The 'normal' techniques and lure sizes don't quite work where I live (not that I'm saying I'm good though lol). I've had to downsize over the years, and now the largest hook in my box is a 1/0 and heaviest weight is 3/8oz. Anyway, if you have the money for it, BFS is great; if not, lighter spinning tackle will do the job just as well! Tight Lines everyone!
I'm in Florida, arguably the largemouth power fishing capital of the world, and I throw a 1/16 Texas rig on 6-lb. spinning gear all the time. I'm convinced that downsizing can improve your odds when dealing with pressured fish.
Is the Dobyns Sierra ultra finesse 700 or 701 better? Trying to decide between the two. Thanks Matt and Tim! I know one has a solid tip and the other is tubular or something like that.
Your videos are outstanding and I watch everyone. I’m just getting into BFS and I’m using the Curado BFS reel with a 7ft Curado medium light rod. What a blast. I am looking for your opinion of the Shimano Alderbaran BFS reel and what your rod recommendation would be to pair it with.
Refreshing to see Matt getting even with Tim regarding their holiday videos.: Tim's "Long-winded" side-comment in a previous holiday video got paid-back with Matt watching Tim struggle with the name of a bait, within this video. Really, you two make a great pair of fishermen. Because you both have different character traits...
Hey guys: Very cool Info here on this new (in the USA market) BFS category. From what you guys said and showed it seems to me you could probably take a lot of the crappie/pan fish gear and apply it in BFS? I’m also amazed at how small some baits are now and can still attract decent to large size fish. Thoughts…🎣🤔😎🐝
I’m a northerner, spinning has been a part of my routine since I started bass fishing in the late 80s. I’m going to assume this is wind dependent, a 1 ounce spinner bait is no fun of casting when it’s blowing over 20 and trying to fish a shoreline.
I would say most of my lures are pretty light... Sub 8g and the next notch is probably around 10 g and two or three 15 to 20g. It seems older lures were lighter than now.
Hey guys, my Mother has had brain surgery on multiple tumors and watching your buyers guide videos in the hospital has helped to get my mind off of some of this. I appreciate these guides each year, but they've been really special for me this year.
Praying for your mother 🙏
🔥🕊🔥
Yo!!!!!!! I DO BELIEVE ON THE HEALING OF OUR CREATOR! I DO PRAY AND BELIEVE ON A FULL RECOVERY!!!!!
SALUTE...✊🏾
Praying for your mother
@Robert Guss Thanks Robert, I appreciate that. It has progressed to hospice at home now. Regardless of the ultimate outcome, those prayers are always welcome! Hope you get some great fishing in this spring! Thanks again!
Praying for your mother
Thanks for exploring BFS Matt and Tim, I never thought two California Huddleston chucking swimbait guys would ever fall into this rabbit hole, very surprising, and very cool!!!
I'm a spinning gear guy, so BFS, hmmm.🤔 I grew up using spinning gear in the Great Lakes region fishing for walleye and stream fishing for steelhead and salmon. Light tackle for giant fish is the name of that game, I think the thickest line we owned was 8 lb test mono. No one in my family used baitcasters, EVER. When I took up bass fishing in middle school I kept using nothing but spinning rods for decades, right up to a couple of years ago. I felt like I flipped and distance casted just fine with my spinning gear. I still love spinning gear, and my most expensive Diawa and Shimano reels are spinning reels and nicest rods are still spinning rods.
Therefore, I suppose I will always be too much of a baitcaster newbie to be seduced by BFS....until the crazy actually BITES ME. These "smaller" baits and lures are the BULK of my arsenal for northern glacial waters with 30-foot visibility. My first PB largemouth was a prespawn 6-pound tanker caught on a 1/16 oz. marabou jig in about 15 feet of bathtub clear water. So, when it comes to BFS....I'm listening Matt and Tim, I'm listening. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THESE VIDEOS!!!
Inshore saltwater guy here, who has bested enough monsters on spinning gear to LOL hard when I hear spinners referred to as "fairy wands" and "sissy sticks". For me, the choice is easy; finesse = spin, power = baitcasting. Right tool, right time. I reel baitcasters with my left hand, so it's an easy transition. That being said; to each their own; if anglers want to use BFS in place of, or in addition to, spinning, have at it. I'm limited in what I can carry, so for me, it's either spinning or BFS. Easy choice. Good luck out there!
@@oldeschoolbob1022 I use "left-handed" baitcasters too, because of the decades of using spinning reels.👍🏻
I have sold most of my spinning gear, I have four BFS combos that I fish most of the time now. So much fun!!!
Same!
What combos for BFS are you using? Anything to throw micro glide baits or small swimbaits??
I was thrilled when you spoke about BFS last year. I have 1 Dobyns 700 spinning and casting, 1 7’ 2’’ Curado BFS and finally picked up last week a Expride 7’ 2’’ Med light +. Have caught numerous 4 plus on this gear. It’s phenomenal
I accidently caught a 35lb flathead while bfs fishing for smallmouth, while on a kayak. It's a good thing that I was on a kayak...It pulled me upriver like I was on a dog sled. That little curado bfs and the zodias handled it. Funniest catch of last summer. The year before it handled a school of wipers all day long.
I purchased a Kastking Zephyr, with the "Bait Clicker" drag at the end of July 2023. I spooled it with some braid backer, finishing with Berkley FluoroShield copolymer 6 lb test ( .009in diameter ) and here is my experience.
#1 - Although this reel can cast baits of 1/8 oz a fair distance, it does not have the magnetic brake adjustability to control the spool and prevent backlashes unless the adjustment is turned up close to its maximum. I played around with a Kastking Spartacus II, which is a bit heavier reel, but has the same issue, and found that, I could shim the magnet assembly closer to the spool ( on that reel only) with some thin washers, and get the brake to adjust to where I like it at about a 6 ~ 7 setting instead of max.
#2 - The spacing between the spool and housing, even with a small tan colored plastic guard, still allows loops of .009in diameter line to get between the spool and housing during a backlash, ( which WILL happen) and slightly damaging the line in the process. This should be an unacceptable issue, and I am still on the fence on weather to return this reel, and just stick with an ultralight spinning rig, which has no such issues.
I think the bottom line is, it's just manufactured to a "loose" tolerance in the brake and spool / housing edges, most likely so it won't have "issues" with rubbing, most likely because they don't trust the manufacturer's ability to control tolerances close enough to keep things from rubbing and having issues that way. I wouldn't personally recommend the Zephyr until they clearly address both issues.
Awesome Video and Finally you guys answered the question I've been trying to explain to everyone for years... Why BFS.. it's the funnest way to catch Fish...
Secondary why is because guys like me can and have done away with spinning gear yet still throw any size baits we want to without issue...
I'm glad you guys are loving the BFS ..
I would like to mention that although not ideal there are several reels available that can be paired with a good bfs rod and still work.. the zillion sv boost spool comes to mind but only spooled halfway up.. but almost all the 70 size Daiwa sv or Shimano mgl spools are bfs capable of you already own one.. simply put light braid on any of the deeper sv spools and you can get started..
Literally 80% of what I'm using since they came out. I own two Curado BFS and Dobyns rods. Great combo.
I think the one thing that I love most about the BFS category is because of the US not having like a dedicated section of baits it's actually made me think much more creatively in terms of what I can find for BFS and when I did open my mind to it the options are endless. I love your guys enthusiasm and I'm really interested in how you guys are flipping on this tackle. I'd love to see a breakdown video of your process. Thank you for your perspective on this category and I'm grateful for your presence in the Bass fishing world, cause a lot of professionals don't talk about this with the same passion for it that you do. Love you guys. God Bless and Happy turkey day!
Right! I’ve just been using the finesse baits from the bigger companies like 6th sense and I’ve had some killer results. Caught a 25 lb bag on a 1/4 oz 25x crankbait using the dobyns Sierra and kast king zephyr with 6 lb test. I’ve got a ton of videos of results of this technique on my channel! I’m glad you enjoy it too!
Been watching this series day by day my head just auto programed this morning no alarm needed here I am😂😂🤔
😂 That's hilarious! We're on the same schedule!
@@tacticalbassin not to mention the fact that I'm in CA watching this at 3:30 am as it hits knowing that I'ma be dead tired for the fishing trip 😂🙆 all good this content is priceless 🔥keep up the amazing work matt and Tim!
Absolutely love bfs. I caught an 8 pound largemouth on 6 lb line with the Dobyns rod and an slx bfs reel this past spring. System worked flawlessly it took about 5 minutes to get the bass in but I never felt like I was not in control. Bfs is awesome
Would you recommend that slx bfs reel?
For a casting fan it’s hard to go back to spinning after trying BFS. I now have 4 combos strictly for bfs. You guys really need to check out the Daiwa alphas air and the steez air. I do love the Curado bfs but Daiwa is way ahead IMO. Also megabass has some other great rod options. The p5 bait finesse is amazing and the original destroyer Hein is one of the most beautifully styled rods I’ve ever seen.
Best week of the year! Great job fellas
They are also more expensive lol
The CT SV models do great. Get an ultralight BFS spool like a Roro or prorex and you're set for a lot less. And that's coming from someone who uses a Steez CT SV TW.
@@gobybryant1001 The Steez is for sure, but you can get the Alphas Air from Japan for about what a Curado BFS sells for in the US...or get an SLX BFS (I need to open mine up and confirm my suspicion that it's the same reel as the Curado) for about $120.
@@helotaxi both the slx and curado are essentially the same. Same with the scorpion. I think there is like 1 or 2 parts that are different and they are minor.
Thanks for the Owner rigging hook recommendation. This hook rigged texas style with a little ned rig has increased my hook ups!
Great to see your enthusiasm for BFS and the direction it is going in the US. I myself caught the bug 3 years ago and now run a FB group for budget BFS with many US members. Some purists argue that what’s happening in the US is not really BFS but I like yourselves disagree. Finesse is the key word here and that is exactly what you guys are doing. Always loved your channel and have taken inspiration from it many times, applying it to my fishing over here in the UK. Some of us are also fishing BFS in the Saltwater now. Great video
love your channel fellas, I started on this BFS train around March of this year, a couple rods that fall into my budget are the Fenwick Elite Bass 6' 10" rated 4#-10# mono and the Phenix Featherlite FTX71L also rated 4#-10# mono (however these are not Ultra-lites) , my reels are CDM (Chinese Domestic Market) Soloking/Doviello Acura HICC-50, tossing 1/16-3/16oz Ned rigs, w/ 3" Keitech Minnows & Z-Man MinnowZs, 1/8-1/4oz Bitsy Bugs, & 1/8-1/4oz Pond Magic spinnerbaits, and some baby Rapala's; with 6# or 8# straight fluorocarbon & having the time of my life on this gear. there are quite a bit of reels available in the Zephyr class price range although they're coming from overseas. keep up the great work... luv it !!
from someone who has been BFS fishing for 15+ years theres a ton of JDM options that dont cost a bunch and with the exchange rate right now its well worth exploring those options.. Dobyns also has a Sierra 701 now that is a Great all around BFS rod..
I posed this question elsewhere in this thread. Why do you suppose BFS reels have been so slow in becoming available in the US market? I'm a spinning guy, so I don't really track BFS matters, but it strikes me as odd that this "hot trend" has not been embraced more fully by the US market.
I also love my Dobyns Sierra 701! Does almost all pretty well in this category.
@@oldeschoolbob1022 BFS in Japan is a trout thing, not a bass thing. Bass anglers don't throw lures nearly as light as what trout guys are using and don't use line nearly as light either. Basically, what most US anglers use spinning gear for and consider "finesse" can pretty easily be fished well on a good medium (or even MH!) power baitcaster with a good reel. You just have to get out of the "power fishing" mindset and downsize your line, back off the drag and take is easy on the hookset. Some reels are better suited for it but finding the right rod to go lighter than 1/8oz has been the real challenge until very recently.
Dobyn's is up to 4 different rods now I believe. Two different lengths each in a 0 power and a 1 power. Difference between the two appears to be the action rather than the power, per se. The "1" power are a fast action while the "0" are marked "Moderate action with an Extra-Fast tip" Great rods and the SLX/Curado/Scorpion BFS reels don't do them justice.
@@helotaxi That's interesting; thanks! I just bought an MGL reel at the TW sale, that I am planning to see how light I can go with. It's more for my curiosity than anything; I have a MH spinner that does a lot of what a M baitcaster would. I live in Florida, which is Power Fishing Central for largemouth, but I have found that scaling down is often a very good tactic. Looking even more forward to getting that SLX MGL in my hands now; good luck out there!
Bfs is something I just started to pick up and wow you wouldn’t believe how fun it is.
I started using BFS gear this year and it's a blast. I was in the camp... "Why would I use this if I have spinning gear". I quickly learned that BFS gear is not exactly spinning and it's not exactly like using a regular baitcasting setup. It's its own thing, which made it more fun. Another bait I would highly recommend is the Megabass Baby PopX.
You guy's are so much fun to watch, good friends, great Fishing! 😀😂
YES!! This is the one I was waiting for!
Loved this one. Here in Europe BFS fishing for Perch is pretty much the gold standard at this point simply due to the pressure and size of the Perch. Incredibly fun stuff
Great stuff. We use bfs inshore in our backlakes, bayous, and bays often. It works excellent for Specks, Reds, and Flounder.
I always enjoy your videos. I have been Bass fishing longer than either of you have been alive and have seen quite an evolution in how we fish. I just purchased my first somewhat BFS setup. I went with the 6'10" ML Curado rod and a highly rated inexpensive reel from overseas (Dark Wolf Ultra). I set my limit on what I would call bait finesse at lures weighing no more than 1/4 oz. I was able to find versions of every type of lure covering the water column from top to bottom that fit within my weight restriction. I am mostly a power fisherman and fish Florida lakes with heavy vegetation. I am looking forward to hitting the water next week with light 1/8 oz spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, swim jigs, and even 1/8 oz. micro chatterbaits. I'm not sure if I can win the battle if I hook a big fish in the hydrilla jungle but I am going to have fun trying.
Great video guys, thanks.
I have a curado bfs and it's great. I've been throwing tiny lures1/8, 3 inch Basstrix, 4 inch fluke unweighted for years on regular reels. Aldebaran, Lewis SLP lite, curado 70 as easily as the bfs reel. Phenix feather ml 7'2" works great.
The feel is the deal ! When finesse fishing. With BFS, you feel every heart beat of your finesse lures and detect very supple strikes. BFS gives more sensitivity than spinning... Enjoyed the video ! Would like to see many more on BFS... Bill
I have used BFS in Fort Worth all year, and I am in LOVE with it too. Not just because it’s fun like you said, but because I’ve caught 2 fish over 8, a few 7s and multiple fish in the 5-6 pound class all using a dobyns Sierra 7’4” and a kastking zephyr with 6 lb Fluoro. I might be more of a “power” 😂 bfs technique guy, but anything I used to throw on a spinning rod, has been replaced with my BFS combos. Tip for everyone there are cheaper options at bfs empire and they normally always have some stuff in stock both rods and reels and baits. I’ve found using finesse stuff from companies like 6th sense are cheaper as well. I caught 25+ lb limit on a 6th sense 1/4 oz squarebill the crush 25x, caught a ton of big ones on a 2.7” divine swimbait and the 2.8” keitech on a guppy head, and literally a couple weeks ago I caught a 8.4 on the rapala ultralight crank which is only 1.5”. It’s amazing what this technique can produce in pressured fisheries. And because that’s pretty much all I fish, bfs has become my go to. I’ll leave some links to the videos of the 25 lb limit and two 8s that I’ve caught this year using bfs. Also don’t forget finesse JERKBAITS for this category. I’ve started experimenting with little duo realis and the nanahans from megabass on 6lb flouro and bfs and it’s going to be LETHAL this winter in Texas. They dive deeper and have better action on these 0 power rods. My fave is the sierras from dobyns and zephyrs. But bait finesse empire has a 80 dollar tsurinoya dragon rod and 60 dollar tsurinoya hurricane that makes a great budget option and is what I caught one of my 8s with. Great cranking combo. Alright here are those links to my results 👇🏽
ruclips.net/video/lZfmYycg72A/видео.html. 8 pounder
ruclips.net/video/9OiTWzsYTbE/видео.html . 25 lb limit
ruclips.net/video/zHOVnBzX9Ec/видео.html . 8.8 lb PB on 6 lb fluoro and bfs
But literally almost all my videos are bfs dominant, it works and is so much fun! Thank you matt for turning me onto this technique!
Thanks Matt and Tim you guys have made me so much better at fishing...My favorite way to fish is with my Curado BFS on my 6'8"ML rod. For some reason i just cant put the set-up down. I still power fish but i always have my BFS gear in my car. God Bless y'all and tight line's
I love it. BFS is so much fun. I almost get nervous over a 2 pounder like I do over a 7 or 8 on regular casting gear. So much fun. Thanks for putting me on this. I love that little Rapala ultra light pop. ❤
Lately all I have been using are my two BFS set ups. It is fun throwing small tackle on light line. Great video.
Guys absolutely love the videos. 2 quick questions, could you do a buyer’s guide for kids getting into the sport, like rods for shorter kids, clothing for sun protection and cold, life jackets? And how do you guys compare edge rods at the same price points to other brands?
Yes Need buyers guide for kids
Hi guys, I know you said BFS started with a Shimano‘s 70. But really started way before that in my opinion. But it was not called BFS. Back in 2007, 2008 Daiwa what came out with the Team Daiwa TD Sol baitcaster. Small in size and cast all those baits that you were showing on my G Loomis DSR820 C drop shot bait casting rod. Which you cannot find anymore. Then came out the Daiwa SV105P which is the same body as the TDSOL. I believe that came out long before the Shimano 70 did. Phenomenal reels!! I use that for my BFS, I can cast all those baits that you mentioned. Now Daiwa has the alpha series which is based off those reels that you can’t get today! As you can tell I’m probably in Daiwa fan as you are a Shimano fan which is all good. I love your videos thanks
Hard to get is right. I just received a Curado BFS and ordered November 2021. Forgot I still had it on order lol. When I got the notification from TW, I figured why not, I can use a 4th BFS setup. Pretty much stopped using spinning rods. L and ML Phenix Feathers make great BFS rods.
I've been a fan of ultralight spinning gear for a while. I'm stoked about having a way to cast super accurately with the tackle I'm already throwing. My favorite thing about ultralight gear is the multispecies aspect. I started finding species I didn't even know existed in certain bodies of water.
My favorite duo on RUclips dropping knowledge. Preciate y’all big time! Bout to order me a BFS setup. These Texas pond bass are gonna love these baits.
This is very informative and answered some questions. Thank you so much for this video! I see BFS in my future!
Lucky Craft Pointer 65 is a killer pond bait on spinning gear. Gotta think it would be great on bfs. Blue gill color is my fav. Very subtle and natural color/bait.
Shhhhhh
Outstanding review of BFS. Anyone can do this and have on hell of a fun day. Thank you.
The Daiwa Gekkabijin Air TW PE Special reel is sweet and you should try it even though it's not available at Tackle Warehouse. In Asia many people use PE line .6 or smaller (12lb braid to westerners) straight to reaction baits. I have found this to be very effective and despite my initial skepticism the braid has not suppressed the bite. I enjoy the Duo Spearhead Ryuki Spinners, the Shimano Macbeth 39, and the OSP Louder 50 for the technique.
Here we go baby. Thank you again for all the gems
We're happy to do it 👍🏼
All things ultra light. That’s what we called it back in the day
Before BFS gear & Ned rigs the zoom tiny brushhog & 4" lizard where my go to back I'm 2004-2007 time frame. I had no idea about Huddleston taking over 18lbers haha. I did know I was catching 40 fish on 6lb spinning rods at Lake sonoma.
"Holdin' Grudges" You guys are THE BEST. Thanks for all that you do, and cheers to a new rod and reel for next year!!!
Anything from Japan is on average 20-30% cheaper than in North America, no taxes, most of the time free shipping - plenty of relativity cheap Daiwa or Shimano BFS reels to choose from. As for rods, JDM light game casting rods is the way to go for ultimate fun and super light rigs. Most of those rods come two piece and are insanely lightweight.
US market is at least 10 years behind to Japan when it comes to BFS.
Because of the exchange rate, i always buy my reels directly form Japan. It is much cheaper than buying them here and the shipping is fast. I typically get mine in a week. If you buy from Japan Lure Shop they always throw in a nice lure.
I don’t BFS for bass very often, mostly for crappie and the setups are pretty similar. The rods are known for being good alternative BFS rods and are much cheaper than a lot are. The Shakespeare 4’6”-7’ micro series UL and the bass pro crappie maxx 6’ L are what I use, paired with a kastking zephyr and typically 4-6lb seagaur floro or hi vis mono.
I'm fishing using an Ultralight spinning rod and reel.
I want to try BFS.
Thanks to your video I've now idea on BFS.
These guys know more about reel selection than I know how to breath respect ✊
LOL! Thanks Jude!
KastKing has come out with a second BFS reel. I forgot what it’s called but it’s in the price range of the curado if y’all hadn’t seen that one yet. Cool video👍🏻
It is the Kestrel Elite BFS but they also have a cheaper model called the Valiant Eagle II. There are some pretty interesting videos on here about them both.
Try this Rod out Megabass P5 Siglett. Talk about lite. Using some of the tiny lite baits I can find. Pared with the Shimano BFS IN THE VIDEO. GOing trout fishing or crappie fishing but put a Bass on it hang on for the ride. So so much fun
I've had great success using the newer 70 sized reels on these bfs rods. The shimano slx mgl 70, curado mgl 70, and my daiwa sw tw CT 70 all handle straight 6lb flouro without problem. It's such a fun way to fish. I throw drop shot, Ned rig, micro jigs (2.5 to 5 gram), shaky head, and tiny Texas rigs with em
Interesting! Been thinking of using my Curado 70 on a bfs rod. What bfs rod(s) are you using?
@@DavidBronstein1961 shimano expride bfs, megabass p5 destroyer bait finesse, and a megabass p5 destroyer pop-x stick for small topwaters
I want to try the heavy bfs for flipping, that sounds awesome. My bfs combo is a megabass triza aello and a daiwa alphas air SV tw. I can cast the whole spool across the pond it is such a fantastic outfit to fish and weighs nothing.
I don't think I am ready for BFS but BFS gives me confidence in using smaller baits with the equipment I already own. I immediately thought you could accidentally catch a bunch of crappie, bluegill and white bass with BFS while trying to catch black bass. I like to catch fish when I go out and don't mind if they are smaller.
Every now and then you’ll catch a monster drum or carp on these little baits and then you’re in for a BIG fight. Happens to me all the time 😂
The new 2022 Aldebaran is available everywhere in the US and right now it's in stock for $290 on Amazon. Definitely the #1 BFS reel anywhere.
my BFS(ish) setup is a Shimano Clarus 7'2 Med light with a Shimano Curado 70 MGL k . not a true BFS setup but still so fun. you actually have to fight a 1 pound bass its really fun i highly suggest looking into the budget options if u want to get started.
That 70MGL paired with that rod will do 99% of what most US anglers use a spinning rod for. And you don't give up anything going to the SLX 70MGL from the Curado. Can just about get the Clarus/SLX combo for the price of the Curado reel alone.
BFS is fun. Fun from bank or boat. Fun if you are taking the kids out. Fun for multi species.
BFS for trout is awesome.
@TacticalBassin you guys oughta try the dynamic lures trout crankbait out. I've used it for years fishing for rainbows in streams and they have worked out great with my BFS gear for bass. I usually fish it like a micro jerkbait. I first started using dynamic lures for pike years ago, they make great stuff!
Just finished up the night shift working on my birthday and get to wrap it up with you guys. Keep up the good work !!!
I just did it! The dobyns sierra rod, zephyr reel and some of the baits listed. I’m so excited!!!!!!!! Thanks guys. I ordered through your links.
I did the same thing last year when they posted this buyers guide video. You will love it. I’m hooked. I’ve caught 2 8s, a few 7s, and a ton of 5-6 lbers and more bass than I’ve ever caught in Fort Worth. And that’s just with 1 year of working on it! Have fun man!
Dang! I need to fish in Texas at your spots lol! Sounds like so much fun! Can’t wait. Fishing still makes me feel like a little kid!
@@kalecastaneda you’ll catch more fish than you ever have when you get it dialed in!
What line should I run?
@@kalecastaneda 6 lb fluoro has been the best for me, get some good stuff though. I use seguar red label. The 6 is versatile. And then if you wanna try some topwater when it gets warm again 10 lb braid is perfect. But you can go smaller to 8 lb braid as well for more casting distance.
Thank you guys from the awesome and informative videos on BFS!
There is however an issue with one of your products that are linked to Tackle Warehouse.
Specifically the link for the Shimano Macbeth Tiny 39F Crankbait actually links to Shimano Macbeth 63 Original Crankbaits in a 5/8th Oz size. I did not notice this until i received my order from Tackle Warehouse recently and I am currently exchanging it for a tiny version instead of the original size. I wanted to give you guys a heads up so that future viewers will get the link to the right product and thank you again for the great information and breakdown on the different products.
I appreciate all the hard work that you guys put into your channel.
Ifishband clamber hyper micro is a great reel for bfs, can throw a few grams easily and has clicking drag. Paired with a major craft 6’5 rated 1/32-1/4 and it is a blast to fish with
Thanks guys great video!! I just ordered my second BFS combo. Dobyns rod Shimano reel.
Nice video guys. Always learn a lot from you gents. Also happy about the big shout out to Kastking. Their new Kestrel Elite BFS is insanely awesome and is also available in the US
You told me to wait till today and wasn't lying My fishing partner and I also use the SUF 700C for crappie fishing instead of spinning rod for casting to them 🔥🔥🔥
Fun is the same reason we love ultra lite spinning gear for panfish and bass!!
Haven't gotten into the bfs gear yet, not to say I won't. I know it's gotta be a blast fighting fish on smaller gear. Not dealing with line twist from spinning rods
For BFS rods, did you find anything in the St.Croix range that could be a good fit?
I like the Dobbyns rod highlighted in the buyers guide, but all of my other rods are St.Croix. My sprinkling of OCD prefers theme consistency 🤠
If you're looking for a budget BFS entry rod try the Shimano Sensilite (around $60). It won't compare to the suggestions here, but it's a great entry budget BFS rod paired with the Zephyr to get into BFS. One caution on the Zephyr: Use 8# line as anything less will tend to get caught between the spool and the reel frame. I'm hoping that Shimano will bring the SLX BFS to the States soon. It should be a great step up from the Zephyr that won't break the bank for us budget fishermen. Since getting my BFS combo I find I rarely bring a spinning rod on the boat.
I've been using bfs for decades here in the US... I just got a small baitcaster and filled it up with 8# test and a medium/light baitcaster rod and that was my finesse approach using small lures on a baitcaster... you could probably throw lighter baits with the actual bfs.
Thank you, gentlemen, and congratulations on the Wardrobe Change. 🤣🤣 . I'm way too comfortable with spinning gear (my Fury ML spinner and 6-lb. test is amazing until the cover gets too heavy for my comfort zone) to dip my toe into the world of BFS, but it definitely seems to be a growing trend. I wonder why new reels have been so slow into the market; is the technology in adapting a baitcaster to channel its inner spinning reel that complex? Or maybe the companies aren't buying into the movement. It seems curious that there are so few reels available for what so many believe to be a trend rather than a fad. Thank you for all of the great guides, looking forward to the next!
It's a very niche market. The US bass fishing landscape is dominated by power fishing with heavy rods, heavy line and stout hooks. There are regions where the very idea of using a spinning rod is reserved for "perch jerkers" or kids. BFS is way more specialized than a lot of guys are willing to go and the lack of available equipment is further deterrence. Of course the two factors compound each other. Why is no one using it? Can't get it. Why can't we get it? No one is using it so we don't want to stock it.
So we watch these reviews for years and get down to our 4 rods to cover everything, and now you show us BFS. So now i feel i do need 5 rods and reels to effectively cover everything. Lol.
I see BFS as an "either / or" with spinning. I'm very comfortable with the spinners, so BFS is really a world I probably won't explore, especially since I am limited in how many combos I can carry.
You all showed me the BFS light a few years ago. Only have 2 combos right now, but don’t fish without them. My favorite is a small swim bait and flukes. Hook up ratio seems to be better than my spinning rod and no line twist. I do seem to have trouble getting a good hook set with non moving baits though. Maybe I’m using the wrong hooks?..
SLX 70 MGL and a Dobyns Fury 703C is the closest setup I have to bait finesse. It actually does very well with Ned rigs and 2.8 keitechs, but anything less is a no go.
Awesome info! Will be trying to get into BFS this year!
Do it you’ll love it
Bfs is fun. You can go panfishing with BFS if you wanted to. Old school pond fishing!
Old school? I'm in. Give me a minute to find a cane pole.
Great video guys! I just got my hands on the Curado BFS and the Dobyns should be coming tomorrow. When do you recommend braid vs straight fluoro with BFS? What are the advantages disadvantages to each? I've only thrown real light braid/fluoro on spinning gear. I also noticed a lot of guys recommending 4 strand braid on BFS, is that intentional to get some additional stiffness and avoid backlashes?
I know you guys probably know. That's shimano makes a JDM BFS version of the aldebaran.I have one and its nice.
Hey Matt, I just saw KastKing launched the Kestrel Elite Magnesium Frame BFS Finesse Baitcasting Reel. It goes for about $220 and seems like an ENORMOUS step up from the Zephyr. HA, NOW THE TABLES ARE TURNED! I'm now TEMPTING YOU to spend YOUR CASH!!!🤑💰🤣
Ha! Oh we've seen it, but $220 was pretty hefty for the brand's history. It's constantly tempting me and has even made it in the cart a couple times.
@@tacticalbassin IMO, AVOID THE TEMPTATION!!! Cheap KastKing gear was my step into baitcaster rods and reels after growing up in Michigan using only spinning gear. I found both KastKing rods and reels LACK DURABILITY. You may be deceived by great performance out of the gate, but will then be heartbroken when the cheap material used rears its ugly head and your rods and reels begin to scratch up and break down.
I had this summer with the a Z-man Flashback chatter bait on the Dobyns sierra with the Kastking BFS reel. A carp took me for a run
The SLX BFS, which is what you can get on a budget JDM, sells for less than $120 with the current exchange rate. Built on the same frame as the Curado and the Scorpion BFS. The KastKing Zephyr works and is available. It has WAY too much drag and the drag isn't very progressive; it's either off or too much. KastKing also has the Kestrel that came out earlier this year. I've got one that I haven't gotten a chance to use yet. It feels pretty good in the hand and has the design elements of the JDM BFS reel as far as the super shallow and light spool and well designed magnetic brakes. Reading reviews, the QC is spotty on them but the customer service is very good as it should be for a $220 reel.
Which brings us to JDM. The SLX BFS, which is what you can get on a budget JDM, sells for less than $120 with the current exchange rate. Built on the same frame as the Curado and the Scorpion BFS. The Aldebaran BFS is in the $275 range and the Daiwa Alphas Air is about $225. You don't get customer support from Shimano NA or Daiwa USA, but they're quality reels which means you're not going to need it 99.9% of the time.
The real limiting factor until very recently for what a lot of US anglers would consider finesse (Ned Rig, drop shot, shaky head, weightless worm) has been the rod, not the reel. I've been doing this for 7+ years now and have scoured the US market for rods that will actually load with lighter baits. Phenix rods have been my go-to until the Dobyn's rods dropped. The Maxim 6'10" MH is a real sleeper and there's a ML in that length as well as a 7'3". There are ML and L powers in the Feather, M1 and Recon Elite series that split the gap between the Dobyn's and Shimano rods in power.
Look around your local Bass Pro and Academy Sport (if you're lucky enough to have one, sorry if you're like me and west of OKC) for the smaller rods in L and ML power in their house brands. They're actually hidden gems here.
Finally, there are 2 ML models in the Shimano Clarus line that match the action and power of the ones in the Curado line for half the price. TW doesn't carry those models and I've been hard pressed to find them online anywhere. Only reason that I know that they exist is I found one a few weeks ago in a small tackle/hunting/gun shop in NW FL when I was visiting. Didn't have a way to get it home so I didn't buy it.
I want to get started with the BFS. T.hanks for the great video
You should!
The daiwa tatula 70 and 80 are incredible bfs reels as well
Do they have shallow spools?
What's yalls opinion on the 22 Aldebaran BFS I have one and love it just seeing what yall thought
Man I was just searching all over the net and YT for an “American style” finesse jig rod and BAM you suggest the Zodias and Expride! I have a custom spiral wrapped 7’2” M/L fast that worked wonders this year but need something a little more stout for those 1/4-3/8oz micro/finesse jigs (total weight). Thanks 👊🏼🎣
Excited to hear Kastking's name in a buyer's guide as well! Officially getting a BFS for the dropshot now.
You guys should try the Dark Wolf Ultra reel, I have one paired with a Dobyns Sierra Z
SUF 701C. Hundreds of casts so far and zero bird nests. It casts about as well as my Shimano SLX DC for a third of the cost. It’s bottom end is 1.5 grams
Heck yeah I was able to curado bfs reel it was in stock at tackle warehouse. Also swoop the sierra rod!
Thanks for this… been wanting to get into BFS but had no idea where to start
if you like PHENIX RODS the have the RECON ELITE in 682/712 and they both work great for all things BFS and of course the WARRANTY is great
Hey guys, my favorite video so far from the buyers guide! I have the 6'3 Expride BFS light rod paired with the Shimano Curado BFS and it's incredible! I was wondering why you guys didn't talk about this rod and also which Plano box are you using for your micro cranks?
Jackall made a bfs sized TN38. No doubt you guys will be reviewing it when it hits the US. I already ordered some from Japan.
I live in western Washington where the bass are naturally smaller and much more pressured. The 'normal' techniques and lure sizes don't quite work where I live (not that I'm saying I'm good though lol). I've had to downsize over the years, and now the largest hook in my box is a 1/0 and heaviest weight is 3/8oz. Anyway, if you have the money for it, BFS is great; if not, lighter spinning tackle will do the job just as well! Tight Lines everyone!
I'm in Florida, arguably the largemouth power fishing capital of the world, and I throw a 1/16 Texas rig on 6-lb. spinning gear all the time. I'm convinced that downsizing can improve your odds when dealing with pressured fish.
Is the Dobyns Sierra ultra finesse 700 or 701 better? Trying to decide between the two. Thanks Matt and Tim! I know one has a solid tip and the other is tubular or something like that.
I bought a 7’2 expride to use for finesse jigs and swim baits, underpins. Do you think that it’s a good fit for these applications
Great video, I forget to ask in my last comment if the Shimano Metanium Shallow addition would be effective for BFS?
Your videos are outstanding and I watch everyone. I’m just getting into BFS and I’m using the Curado BFS reel with a 7ft Curado medium light rod. What a blast. I am looking for your opinion of the Shimano Alderbaran BFS reel and what your rod recommendation would be to pair it with.
Can you guys please post what size treble hooks to use for replacements? Haven't seen it posted in description or talked about once.
Refreshing to see Matt getting even with Tim regarding their holiday videos.: Tim's "Long-winded" side-comment in a previous holiday video got paid-back with Matt watching Tim struggle with the name of a bait, within this video.
Really, you two make a great pair of fishermen. Because you both have different character traits...
Hey guys: Very cool Info here on this new (in the USA market) BFS category. From what you guys said and showed it seems to me you could probably take a lot of the crappie/pan fish gear and apply it in BFS? I’m also amazed at how small some baits are now and can still attract decent to large size fish. Thoughts…🎣🤔😎🐝
Have either of you used any of the Edge rod's from Gary Loomis?
I’m a northerner, spinning has been a part of my routine since I started bass fishing in the late 80s. I’m going to assume this is wind dependent, a 1 ounce spinner bait is no fun of casting when it’s blowing over 20 and trying to fish a shoreline.
I would say most of my lures are pretty light... Sub 8g and the next notch is probably around 10 g and two or three 15 to 20g. It seems older lures were lighter than now.
Please do a review on open face Zebcos