Testing Dynamic Braking on KastKing Zephyr BFS Reel

[@Larseyful]

Maybe you could flush the bearings on both the sharky sideplate and the zephyr sideplate, take them both with you and cast them side by side with the same lure, it is super easy to swap sideplates on the fly, and you eliminate all unsertain factors...

[@rawrfishing]

Yep! It was... left in the car lol

[@lanecalaway6733]

I currently have 2 Zephyrs on BFS. One is on a Kuying Teton UL and the other is on a Bass Pro ML CarbonLite. I can't complain about either setup. I've found that i can cast just about anything 3.5 or heavier consistently. I can't do much lighter though. I love my ML CarbonLite setup with the Zephyr. I use it for weightless fluke style plastics, Ned rigs, and Micro Texas rigs. I can throw stuff a great distance consistently, and the rod has the power to get a bass's head up off the bottom. It's very fun and I highly recommend it. My Teton setup is what I use for 1/8oz jerkbaits and Chatterbaits. The rod has a ton of play to it so casting can be tricky, but fish stay pinned super well. I agree the zephyr leaves a little to be deserved, but I have to say it works well for the price!

[@rawrfishing]

Very nice! Have you tried swapping to micro bearings for some lighter lures? Some folks who have great skills have said they can do trout magnets. But 1/16th is the lowest I can personally go with my Rods. Don't think I wanna push to the 1 gram level tho for this reel.

[@lanecalaway6733]

@@rawrfishing so I recently got in contact with a guy on Reddit who has offered to tune my zephyr, including the bearings. I will eventually take him up on it. I've tried taking casting reels apart and I'm not particularly confident in my ability to reassemble them. He is going to service my stock Fuego and then I will send him a zephyr. You have probably seen him on the BFS sub. He has all the Abu-Garcia stuff and has a nice looking workshop. Once again, thanks for all he info you share! You really have taught me a ton about BFS.

[@rawrfishing]

changing bearings on this reel is really easy. you don't take much apart other than the side plate with the magnets. u pull the spool out and use a tool to pop a pin out. then on the side plate, u take the clip out. two is all you need to change :P fuego tho.. that u probably need to take the whole thing apart for the bearing at the tension knob side LOL.. welcome to the bfs world ;)

[@InfamousFishing]

This is a a cool modification! I am steel waiting on my max steel. Great video

[@rawrfishing]

Thx man! U gotta see all the bfs stuff i got lol. My table is a mess

[@pacman_17]

Great to see you fishing on open water again.

[@rawrfishing]

Nothing but dead fish there tho lol

[@pacman_17]

@@rawrfishing The largies will be out of their winter mood soon. I was fortunate to catch a few big striped bass this year. A few 4-5lbers and one 8lber to calm my fishing anxiety.

[@rawrfishing]

nailed 20 fish today :)

[@ivogomes2653]

For me the neste reel rod combo! Props from portugal

[@rawrfishing]

Thanks man

[@dagger281]

My new favorite Ned rig reel 🤙😁👌

[@rawrfishing]

Sweet man

[@smartiejl]

I think KastKing did see your video. There is a new BFS reel named “Kestrel Elite” that came out at their spring product presentation at Shenzhen in April, which features an ultralight spool (5.6g), a magnesium alloy chassis, and a new braking design called the “Flyout Arc Finesse” or “FAF” system. The new brake is supposed to significantly reduce the chance of backlash, and so far some Chinese users’ feedback even think the braking system worked TOO well. KastKing (for their Chinese market anyway) is apparently organizing their reel products into 5 different usage categories - BFS, long casting/general use, heavy fish/frogging, competition and portability. According to Tate, there will be 3 product tiers in each of the BFS, long casting and heavy fish categories. The BFS category will have Valient Eagle II, Kestrel, and Kestrel Elite, the latter two I suspect will replace the Zephyr as their higher-end BFS reels.

[@rawrfishing]

Sweet! I email Tate from time to time to provide feedback and suggestions. I am glad to see more things coming out. Don't think Zephyr would be replaced, but he did say he would make a higher end bfs reel. Long casts were something I have suggested as well and glad to see a few being sold on aliexpress. I can't wait to try the new reels! Thank you for sharing the news! I appreciate the insight as I don't get to hear about this until later.

[@smartiejl]

@@rawrfishing From what he presented last month, the 3 long-cast reels are going to be the Sharky III, Megajaws (presumably the upgraded version), and Megajaws Elite. The 3 heavy fish reels are the Spartacus II, the new Verus (Assassin?), and Crixus (ArmorX I guess). I think the competition category will still be carried by the Royale Legend II and Speed Demon Elite. The portability category will be the Blackhawk II, Compass and (Chinese market only) the Max Steel 4-pc Travel Rod. I think CEO Tate is using the Mainland China market (which is very cut-throat competitive, nickpicky and sometimes downright toxically negative) as a testing site before bringing to North America and the international market. Hopefully his efforts will pay off.

[@rawrfishing]

Yes, a lot of the products released in the US were sometimes launched earlier in the Asia market to test. Sometimes they do revisions before bringing it over to the States. I am familiar with that as i used to be part of KastKing Ambassador team :) Tate must be busy lately... he haven't responded to my email yet as I am inquiring about the new bfs stuff lol

[@smartiejl]

@@rawrfishing Apparently their new Kestrel Elite has sold out completely within a week, and the 1st round backorders cannot be fulfilled until mid-June earliest. I tried to get one off a third-party Taobao vendor (because KastKing China don't do direct sales outside of China) and got my order refunded as the waiting period is too long. I really hope the Kestrel series turns out a great success. Can't wait to try my hand on a BFS reel that is reportedly only 126g (4.44 oz) in weight and 37mm (1.46 in) in height.

[@matyasabkarovits]

Kastking should do a "bfs tank"... Alu frame, drag clicker, more lighter spool, with ceramic hibrid bearings.... And a dynamic braking system...

[@rawrfishing]

I think they will when they master BFS first. Their last release wasn't good 😕

[@intensity.density2208]

"uncle Jimbo has uploaded a new video" Me: "OooOOOOoooo! I see the Zephyr in the thumbnail"

[@rawrfishing]

no fish day tho T_T

[@mikeustan494]

I think a micro centrifugal brake would be pretty neat.

[@rawrfishing]

Probably but i don't have much experience to know. If i try.. it would be shimano stuff. I have interest in the mgl 30 and 50 for finesse ... so maybe in the future? Hmm

[@travisbruno1988]

Ill tell you what shimano and kastking needs to know jimbo put the bfs setup in mine and all my friends hands forever fooor eeeveeer. Lol thanks for the vid kastking always has a good product up there sleeve

[@rawrfishing]

That's awesome! I hope the bfs scene will blast off soon!

[@Fishingmissions827]

Very cool dude been watching a ton Of you vids this is very interesting. What other reels have the same frame from kastking?

[@rawrfishing]

I think the megajaws and crixus will work interchangeablely

[@ronaldyeater3322]

Sup Jimmy. Great video, very interesting! And they dredged some of the pond, here in ri they dredged 2 state ponds, supposed to clean pond as well as make deeper? I know they are testing to stock trout in these ponds. Never really know what they are up to lol. Ty tc

[@rawrfishing]

when dredging, it supposed to make the water quality better as in oxygen levels. however, it's also going to make the water VERY dirty for a while. the sediments gets kicked up and alot of things are really toxic. this is why it's expensive to dredge as all the dirt is considered as toxic wastes. think of all the things people put in their lawns (commercial and residential) and those gets washed into the creeks/drains and into the man made lake. ton of dead carps and snakeheads in there. very sad. but i am very hopeful that once the season kicks back up and plant matters grow back, things will get back to normal in a season or two. the question is.. did the lake really get deeper? paddling around shows me that this lake wasn't done well and i think the contractors are taking more money than they deserve. just my opinion..

[@ronaldyeater3322]

@@rawrfishing yea saw the water after dredged 2 ponds, was closed to fishing then even ice fishing. Didn't know why now I do. I'm sure companies price gouge. Just hope some good comes from it? RI has already announced these ponds will be stocked with trout once. Here depending on pond or lake is if get 1, 2 or 3 trout stockings. As with government we can only wait and see unfortunately. 👍

[@rawrfishing]

not sure why they closed it, but they closed only areas of the lake where it was dredging in progress. the boat ramp is totally closed, so it's a kayaking dream :) fishes bite well on the other side of the deeper/bigger lake. i was at the dead arm of the lake unfortunately, but it was easier to launch when going solo. any how, without the government, there wouldn't be stocking! let's look at the bright side of things... there's always other places to fish!

[@ronaldyeater3322]

@@rawrfishing true the Robertson piptten act(close enough on spelling lol) puts 10% of all money spent on fishing, hunting and shooting ect, plus our licences and stamps. back into our wetlands and waterways, should've said contractors used put higher cost from government. Know they do in forestry, we had happen at club. I still don't know why closed ponds, even to ice fishing? Thought what you said made sense? But maybe because was about to become trout waterway? DEM(department of environmental management) posted signs and they patrolled it often? I will see an officer April 30th could ask? Or could call? Some nice bass and crappie in one we fished

[@Fishing_for_Fishies]

I've been waiting this one, thanks for delivering. You didn't seem too thrilled about the performance. I guess it's hard to judge considering the bearings were stock, but did you feel like the new brakes actually provided any benefit over the zephyr brakes?

[@rawrfishing]

It gotten better towards the end. Which is why I am now curious for micro upgrades. I think it have potential. Perhaps need some tuning from kastking.. but I guess I need to take it for a land trip and test distance and accuracy is the only way to find out more details

[@Fishing_for_Fishies]

@@rawrfishing Yeah would be pretty interesting. I recently got a 2017 tatula ct100 and the magforce brakes really are a game changer over static brakes. Casting hard with low brakes I can feel the dynamics brakes kicking in to prevent backlashes in the initial part of the cast. I'm trying to decide whether to get the Chameleon DIY shallow spool that you've rated highly in your tatula 100 videos. It looked quite thin and fragile. Do you think it would hold up to medium sized fish?

[@rawrfishing]

@Fishing for Fishies - Sydney all about tension management! So pick the right rod and drag setting and u will be fine. Have not warped it yet

[@Fishing_for_Fishies]

@@rawrfishingGood to know

[@BassManStrikes]

could you put the spool from the Zephyr in the Sharky 3?

[@rawrfishing]

Perhaps! I would have to dig it out

[@rencalamba3344]

Nice! I'm using a KastKing Zephyr BFS on a Dobyn's Sierra UL rod. Finally got it dialed in but yeah the braking system in it leaves a lot to be desired. I like this upgrade idea. So after a bit of working with it, do you like the braking system of the Sharky III on the Zephyr? If I do this upgrade I have to buy the reel off ebay as it looks like KastKing doesn't sell them on their site (at least in the US).

[@rawrfishing]

It's too early for me to say. As mentioned in the video. Windy conditions on a kayak and stock bearings will throw off any testing. Hopefully If more people express interest, I can try again. But aliexpress is where u wanna go! They have a store front there (like Amazon) and they have it there. Thats where I have purchased it

[@rencalamba3344]

@@rawrfishing Excellent. I think you're on to something here. That 3rd set of magnets on the braking system should make a difference. Haven't upgraded my bearings yet so I may do that soon. I'm still fairly new to BFS.

[@rawrfishing]

@Ren Calamba it's super interesting indeed and I hope KK will spend time on it

[@rawrfishing]

@Ren Calamba the bearings are good if u wanna do sub 2.75 gram stuff! It's amazing

[@rencalamba3344]

@@rawrfishing Awesome. Now, just need Roro to get back in stock with the 1054 ceramic I need lol. They should definitely help tremendously with the 1/16 and 1/32 lures... right now I steer clear of them.

[@manigoharinezhad1311]

Hello i wanted to buy a rod and I'm wondering if i should buy the kastking zephyr rod or the kastking max steel

[@rawrfishing]

Let's Start with what u wanna do! Both are pretty similar in action and handling. The twintip isn't really rated accurate either. Feels more like super UL and UL rather Than UL and L.

[@TheAusherGuy]

Bow can i get the sharky 3 dynamic braking system side plate??

[@rawrfishing]

You go on Aliexpress and buy the shark 3 long cast reel and swap. But to let you know.. There isn't any real improvements. Zephyr bfs reel is also a bit outdated. Seems like people are into the UL bfs reels and this reel does better L and up. I would suggest the Tsurinoya dark wolf ultra instead... Even tho I helped kastking make and launch the zephyr!

[@draidt]

Do you know if the side plate bearings are the same between the Zephyr and Sharkey III

[@rawrfishing]

Nope, sorry! Didn't think the swap did much... So i won't be exploring it. But you can ask Kastking. They know all of their products.

[@joshbecker1323]

Why don't you swap out the brakes on the plates, so they aren't mismatched? Looks to me like three screws hold it in, and now you have the best of both worlds

[@rawrfishing]

Because I'm testing, not a permanent thing. Feel free to do so if you want to, but it doesn't work that great anyway.

[@joshbecker1323]

@@rawrfishing I am hit or miss with Kastking. I only have one at the moment with a megajaws elite on the way, and the two are around 6 years apart. I had the original mega Jaws when it first came out, but promptly returned it due to poor cast quality

[@rawrfishing]

They are hit and miss sometimes indeed. The Zephyr is a good reel at least... Since I helped make it... I made sure it was good :p

[@rogersmith9547]

What rod are you using with the baitcaster on this episode

[@rawrfishing]

KK max steel UL

[@eddiecrawford659]

Could you please tell me what rod that is?

[@rawrfishing]

mmm, i believe i have said it in the video. it's the KK Max Steel

[@WadeOntheLure]

Micro bearings verdict?

[@rawrfishing]

Didn't do it. Felt like the braking didn't match up right with this reel. Can't just swap things around and have it work flawlessly 😂

[@gatovipfitness3215]

Here you go again making me buy this sweet looking reel, to bad the rod is not on amazon

[@rawrfishing]

Lol. The rod is at aliexpress! Kastking store front. It's amazon of Asia.. but they do global.

[@gatovipfitness3215]

@@rawrfishing dude i know, but it arrives until may!!!

[@rawrfishing]

may is better than never! ya? :P

[@gatovipfitness3215]

@@rawrfishing yeah i guess lol... If you would pair it with another rod, what would you use??

[@rawrfishing]

given zephyr isn't like a mercades reel. i'll settle for some cheap Bass Pro Shops UL/L rods

[@litonhamedliton3386]

Nice ❤

[@rawrfishing]

Thx, not a good swap, but it was good to see

[@joepicasso69]

What rod is that your using on the Zephyr reel?

[@rawrfishing]

I'm pretty sure I have said max steel in the video

[@travisbruno1988]

They took er jerbs

[@rawrfishing]

Classic South Park

[@travisbruno1988]

@@rawrfishing you know it