BFS Academy: How to Bait Finesse Cast Light Lures in Stream (BFS Trout Fishing)

[@HobieWanKenobi]

Comment any questions you may have about BFS.

[@kevythyrrakalastus1296]

Very good video and not the newest one. I'm not sure have i looked this, but at least now I looked it. Have to share this video.

[@HobieWanKenobi]

Thanks for sharing! It is an older video but, still a good source of information.

[@telemarkmann6870]

Hobie-Wan, Great video, great instruction. A lot to absorb. This is a video I will watch multiple times because it is filled with so much content. Please give us more of this type of instruction. The gear reviews are great so please keep them coming. It is spring time and time to buy new equipment and the reviews help with the decisions. I am in the market for a BFS set up. I am finesse now and want to go lighter and smaller. Nice tip about the short rod. I have a couple of short spinning rods and when on a stream they are a joy to fish with. I suspect it is 10 times better with a casting reel and rod.

[@HobieWanKenobi]

I have a BFS skipping video planned. I also will be doing other instructional videos. BFS is really fun. I get so jacked when I make a crazy cast, like under that ice shelf. Sometimes, I can really care less if I catch fish, I just like to challenge myself and cast.

[@princessslaya8845]

Great video on how to cast bfs! I feel that I need a badge for completely the Hobie-Wan academy on casting in the field. Thanks for the tips!

[@HobieWanKenobi]

No problem. The only "badge" you get is the satisfaction of your prefect cast hitting the perfect hole and getting a fish. There will be more videos on how to cast coming soon.

[@stuartday3232]

Been looking for a video like this since I started my BFS journey in sept. I appear to be the opposite of yourself in that my forehand is my preferred cast with a little roll cast. I really struggle with the back hand so this was perfect for me. I mainly fish jigs on Canals in the uk in the 1.5>3g range so the stream fishing techniques transfer really well to my local waters. Just need our 'lockdown' to end so I can go and practice with a nice open bank before our Trout season starts in March and I can go jungle bashing. Ta muchley!

[@HobieWanKenobi]

I am glad this video helps. You can always practice in your yard with lures.

[@stuartday3232]

@@HobieWanKenobi Funnily enough I've just been practicing pitching in my living room, only 17ft but still fun. Casting in the back yard would be good practice for stream/jungle warfare 👌

[@HobieWanKenobi]

@@stuartday3232 The short pitches I feel are the most important. Lure accuracy and getting the lure to land SOFTLY are the most important.

[@stuartday3232]

@@HobieWanKenobi yeah I noticed the lure bounced out quite a few times, I guess due to excess energy. Set up a little game using 5 cups in a cross, big shallow one at the front, a tall standard width one in the middle and the a shorter one at the back to make it harder to get at with 2 normal ones on the outside. Was scoring where the lure landed. Took me quite awhile to start landing 50% of my efforts in a cup.

[@HobieWanKenobi]

Good idea. You will be amazed how so.wthing that silly helps on the water

[@ocdfishingaus268]

Great content

[@HobieWanKenobi]

Thanks man. What other BFS would you like to see?

[@sgtpavlov]

Nice, the other day I was casting a really light plastic, and it seemed to cast better using a back hand cast.This was on a cheap gh100 reel with a 9.5g spool. I'll have to experiment with it more sometime.

[@HobieWanKenobi]

Did you clean the stock bearings? Sometimes, even with higher end reels, there is grease that inhibits the reels performance. BFS casting takes practice.

[@sgtpavlov]

@@HobieWanKenobi actually with that reel, I replaced the existing bearings with hybrid ceramic ones, and everything runs a lot smoother. Hell, the original spool bearing was literally jammed onto the spool shaft, and a pain in the ass to get off! I most likely didn't have the breaks lowered, and I have 10 lb power pro braid on the spool. The rod it's on is a kuying teton 5'2" 2 piece SUL, which should handle casting really light weights. I think the jighead is 1/64 oz with half a Berkley power bait honey worm rigged. On the end of the line, I have a really short leader of heavy 40 lb braid to prevent pickerel bite offs, which doesn't allow me to leave the lure hanging 1" from the tip either. That rod is so noodle like and whippy, it casts so different than my other rods. I really need to try my other reels on it.

[@HobieWanKenobi]

I have always wanted to compare the Teton SUL to the rod I used in this video. It does take a little getting to know your rod and how it will react to casting a variety of lures. People going to a pond and trying to cast the lightest lure possible with a rod doesnt really tell a story. Using the rod in fishing situations with lures that you would fish with does. It is all about who does the rod work for the fishing you will be doing.

[@sgtpavlov]

@@HobieWanKenobi you definately have to release a bit more earlier with the SUL than other rods. It's a slow or moderate power rod. The cheap shakespeare micro series 4'6" rods I use sometimes I think are fast, and cast more normally.

[@HobieWanKenobi]

I like to "calibrate" myself to whatever setup I am using with stream fishing. Just a few warm up casts is all it takes. I usually prefer moderate rods for stream BFS.

[@leepao6302]

I notice you been doing BFS reel but never see the Shimano Calcutta conquest BFS reel?

[@HobieWanKenobi]

Although I have owned many BFS reels, I have never used the Conquest BFS. The size of the reel does not appeal to me. I do think it is a nice looking reel, I just do not like using round reels.

[@brasshnkey]

Excellent video, I learned quite a bit. I put your techniques to practice on one of the cold water creeks here in SE MI and was rewarded with a decent brown and a rainbow smolt this past weekend. Do you happen to have a link to the AliExpress rod you're using? You can never have enough trout rods.

[@HobieWanKenobi]

I got a link to the rod in a few of my other BFS videos too. www.aliexpress.com/item/Trulinoya-Soft-Baitcasting-Fishing-Rod-1-4m-85g-Power-UL-Lure-Weight-1-6g-Section-2/32851210377.html

[@Sweaz.]

Hi, currently in France we can’t get out so I can’t test my new bfs setup. I have a Calcutta conquest bfs, and a tenryu rayz 4102B. Do you think I should spool it with nylon or pe ? I have varivas trout master twitching nylon in 6lb and varivas trout master pe in 8lb average lure I throw is between 2 and 4. Wich one will be best to be able to cast like you do 😎? Thank you very much your videos are helpful !

[@HobieWanKenobi]

I am glad my videos have been helpful for you. I dont have too much of a preference in line. I let the rod and fish choose for me. I have not used the Rayz rods. With the rod in this video, it has so much flex that I chose braid. This is also my very finesse BFS setup so, the 3lb braid will help with casting. If you are going to practice casting the techniques in this video, I suggest that you start with braid. It is much easier to pick birdnests out with braid.

[@Sweaz.]

Hobie-Wan Kenobi thank you very much ! I’ll keep you updated as soon as I can go out haha ! And I will try to post a video on my 1st bfs test ! Thank’s a lot !

[@HobieWanKenobi]

No problem. BFS is very fun and can be especially useful for streams

[@bryanjohnson9050]

Just getting into BFS fishing. I'm seeing that I can't cast it like I do a "heavier" power baitcaster. When setting the reel up, is there supposed a "lure drop", based on the brakes and tension knob?

[@HobieWanKenobi]

I usually set my tension knob to have the tiniest about of side to side play in the spool and only use the brake dial from there. You shouldnt have to rip into the cast. Gentle with less brakes is better than forcing a cast

[@natureman871]

Nice video, very instructive. I plan to buy Daiwa Alphas CT SV 70, is that a good choice?

[@HobieWanKenobi]

Did you see my Steez AIR series? In addition to using the Steez AIR, I used a Steez CT with a spool from AliExpress. The brand is Roro. That same spool will fit the Alphas CT. It is a really good BFS spool. The stock spool is a good choice for Ned rigs and other finesse bass lures from 4-5gr and up. That Roro spool will help with lighter lures.

[@rmbassfishing]

Have you had experience with the calcutta conquest bfs? When compared to the aldebaran BFS 16 with an avail spool which would be better for lures around one gram?

[@HobieWanKenobi]

I have not used the Conquest BFS. The size kinda turns me away. I have heard the the Conquest BFS is a great reel. The Aldebaran and the Conquest cast about the same from my research.

[@richarddeboer8934]

The Weight 135 grams instead of 200 grams, made me buy the Aldebaran 16 bfs xg and also the size holding ( grip and balance on the rod. Conquest bfs looks real nice and great too, for me its the weight.

[@HobieWanKenobi]

I do like the classy look of the Conquest

[@rmbassfishing]

I found a microcast spool for the aldebaran and Conquest that's around $65. It is also about .5 g lighter than the avail spool due to a lot of porting. I may try that with an aldebaran as the price of the avail is hard to swallow

[@HobieWanKenobi]

Let us know how it works out!!!

[@oslo7457]

thanks, i found it☺☺☺

[@HobieWanKenobi]

Enjoy it

[@oslo7457]

@@HobieWanKenobi what is your ald 22 brake setings, i can not get under ca 4 to not get backlash. with gekka more easy open area castings for me.

[@Cole.Outside]

I think my biggest problem is trying to use lures that are too light. 1/16-1/8oz is the sweet spot for my rods and I often forget this and try to use stuff lighter than that which just leads to frustration. My reels/line can cast those light lures but not accurately. A lot of the creeks I fish are perfect for BFS gear but the Brookies are only 6-8" and I have trouble hooking them with lures that are heavier/easier to cast.

[@HobieWanKenobi]

Cole, I too fish many streams that only hold 5-8in brook trout. I usually turn the brakes down and do a gentle cast. Otherwise, the lure kinda just wants to hang in the air. The rod is crucial here because it may not load with those light jigs. Also, something you can try is tungsten ice jigs with some small ice fishing plastics. You get a small package and, it weighs enough to cast. It will also keep your lure down better than lead if fishing current.

[@Cole.Outside]

@@HobieWanKenobi I just picked up some tungsten ice jigs not long ago. I'll have to try them. Maybe I'll downsize my single hooks too and see if that helps. The brookies will hit bigger lures, no problem as you know. Smaller hooks would help with hook up.

[@HobieWanKenobi]

I use a #10 Owner single hook. I think I would like a thicker gauge wire to keep them pinned better in current. Like having more surface area to hold them.

[@Cole.Outside]

@@HobieWanKenobi I'll have to look into those. What part number are those? All my singles are C'ultiva from finesse-fishing.com and I'm not fond of the light wire.

[@HobieWanKenobi]

Japan Tackle has a pretty wide selection of single hooks. They are about 3 bucks a pack too.

[@bosshawg_4083]

4’7 rod? Which rod is that?

[@HobieWanKenobi]

It is a rod from AliExpress. It is a Tsyuniora. It is defintetly worth the money. Sensitive, great taper and is SUPER fun. It is solid carbon instead of tubular so, it is tough as nails too.

[@bosshawg_4083]

Hobie-Wan Kenobi Is this right the one with the purple accents?

[@HobieWanKenobi]

I have a few videos on the rod. It has purple accents and is 4'7". The blank has a chameleon paint job as the call it.

[@JeramAnglers]

How much weight on the lure? 3gram?

[@HobieWanKenobi]

About 2gr. Package says 1/16oz

[@JeramAnglers]

@@HobieWanKenobi thanks, i just replace my aldebaran bfs with ammo spool. Working with backlash on flipping twitching technic. My stream water is too tide, need to practice more.

[@richarddeboer8934]

First of all nice video 👍see still snow out there, soon fish without the gloves I hope. Think you use the Aldebaran 16 bfs xg stock spool or avail, see much avails on Ali but wich one is any good ? Like your video about Bfs baitcastfishing, more people gonna fish that way in the future too Beltbag Rod Net Sunglasses up and go to enjoy this lovely way of fishing. Glad you put it on youtube so we can enjoy at home too 😍 be safe 👍

[@HobieWanKenobi]

Thanks for the support Rich. The Avail spool I use is the 16ALD15R spool. You need extra magnets to have it work. There are some aftermarket spools for the Aldebaran BFS on AliExpress. I havent used them but, I saw that there is one that weighs 4.9gr with the bearing. The spool is also ported so, there is less weight on the outer surface, decreasing inertia. I was thinking of porting my Avail spool...I am too chicken though.

[@richarddeboer8934]

Saw that spool too 4.9 grams, maybe buy it guess it will be the long waiting game now. Porting is tricky, maybe first have other light spool that works. Saw that avail 4.9 grams spool too. Porting so precise work( balance and fragile to hold steady grip too. I live in the Netherlands and fish also Bfs dropshot with flies I made works fine too Roach Perch catch almost everthing with it, most of the time use small flymaterials/silicon from Fox-rage on jigs and small cranks depending on the wind.

[@HobieWanKenobi]

Yeah. I am afraid I will make my Avail spool unbalanced

[@backtonatureitis]

I bet for this kind of casts you need a proper rod. I was trying to replicate this style with my TeamDaiwa Vertical rod and did not perform well. I'll wait for the Tsurinoya Ares to be delivered. Cheers!

[@HobieWanKenobi]

It's even better with a glass rod

[@backtonatureitis]

@@HobieWanKenobi can you recommend a glass rod please for BFS?

[@HobieWanKenobi]

@@backtonatureitis I have been using a prototype rod. Been really nice for flip casting. Spring release of a small number of rods to test the market

[@backtonatureitis]

@@HobieWanKenobi spread the word when you are ready buddy. God bless

[@CyprinusCarpioDiem]

90% of my casts are flip casts

[@HobieWanKenobi]

Flip casting is fun. It isn't for every situation though