The BEST BFS Ultralight Rods And Reels? Are They Worth It?

[@aaanglers]

What do you think of the bfs combos? What else should we look into?

[@AGuyNamedRicky]

Hey if you guys are making your own baits are you collecting used plastics? I have tons of assorted stick baits I’ll never be able to get through I’ll send em to you

[@MrSeanWesty]

I don’t need it…I don’t need it…I need it!! 😂

[@BanksOpenKayakFishing]

I have the dobyns, my buddy has the cashion. We love them. The kast king valiant eagle II is very similar to the kestrel. Another one we are playing with is modding out the tatula tw sv 70 with a bfs spool and upgraded bearings. We’ve been fishing bfs for one season and it’s a whole lot of fun. Not gonna lie, love the ned on bfs gear!

[@owenottinger5558]

How hard is it to do that? I have almost all of the Tatulas including the sv70 and I love them all but I’m always interested in making them better

[@mpell4110]

@@owenottinger5558not hard, swapping everything is fairly easy provided you have the tools to do it.

[@ryanr85]

Awsome guys! Can't wait for the video of you guys breaking em in. I'd like to see you guys get together with Ethan again for some smallies, loved those videos.

[@FiciousCritik]

In 2012 , I was calling it _"Ultralight Baitcasting"_ and I bought a Diawa Pixy-R only because it was the lightest baitcaster could find and paired it with a semi-custom 6'6" Kistler Z Bone (on sale!) I'd not heard of _"BFS"_ back then; I was tired of using spinning combos for my Ricos. Now my spinning combos are mostly for windy days and/or long casts. I still use the heck out of my Pixy/Kistler combo and recently, for light jigs, Shad Raps ... an Aldebaran BFS on a 7' Old 18 Suppressor Too much smallmouth fun! _"UB"_ fishing _"Ultralight Baitcasting"_

[@pescadordosertao4134]

BFS is trademarked by Shimano.

[@michaelm5203]

excited to see these on the water.

[@patcochran3284]

No issues with the Nako weights. I’ve used the drop shot and free rig weights in 1/8 and 1/16. Affordable for tungsten and they do the job.

[@paulglass7268]

👊🏼

[@aaanglers]

🙌

[@JerryN856]

Nice video guys. Very informative. Thanks for sharing.

[@aaanglers]

Thanks for watching!

[@weaponx122412]

The ryugi hobbit hooks are legit! Been using them for a while now. I was gonna recommend them in your other vid, but you found em!! You will be very pleased!!! 👍🏼

[@bassmedic]

I've used those nako weights and for the price they are pretty good.

[@paulglass7268]

Glad to hear it

[@aaanglers]

Nice!

[@Erudite_Uncle]

Love you guys' banter. You need to do more on--the-water content. 🎣😁

[@aaanglers]

When we can get on the water we will! Weather is finally getting better!

[@treecutter116]

Got any recommendations for a non bfs reel with good casting distance for 1/8 to 1/2 oz was looking at the Zillion or the aldabaran 30 mgl not sure if I really need bfs reel would like to get away from spinners but love my Curado dc and lews reels for heavy casting

[@aaanglers]

I’ve never heard of someone getting a zillion and looking back again lol. Id go Zillion

[@TBudgetAngler]

if your looking for UL tackle storage try looking at the TSURINOYA RX20 or 17....also the MEBAO interlocking boxes

[@DHW448]

JDM BFS is best for me. Ive got the Shimano BFS Alderberan and its so-so. A tip for it & maybe the currado. Is use braid backing. Keep the spool as light as possible.

[@Dave_Ehlers]

Some of those magnets of the Curado's brakes are removeable. Be sure to try it with those magnets removed. I like mine better with them removed.

[@aaanglers]

Will do!

[@bynumfranks226]

If you pour your own lead you can make jigs and everything with as small of a hook as you want with just the smallest heads if you look for crappie jig molds

[@Internetpilot]

I've been under a rock, so I'm just getting around to BFS, which is strange because I'm really into spinning ultralight as well as the epitome of ultralight known as Tenkara. For a BFS combo I relied on my spinning ultralight experience by choosing to go with a 7'0" Shakespeare Ugly Stik Elite Ultralight casting rod and because I have and really like the regular KastKing Zephyr baitcaster, I just went with the KastKing Zephyr BFS. A little bit of a learning curve for me, but no more or less than when using any other new baitcaster for the first time. So far i've been throwing 1/8 and 1/16 baits (and catching 0.75-1.5lb bass), and managing to cast them pretty far. I think for anything lighter than 1/16 I'll just use my ultralight spinning rods (which are much more forgiving). As for whether or not I *NEED* a BFS combo, I really like baitcasters more than spinning reels so if I can fish just that much more with a baitcaster, then for me that's (at least almost) a "need".

[@michaelm5203]

Alright, i couldn’t help myself. Had to buy some micro jigs. Can’t do the BFS thing on my budget but excited to throw it on spinning gear

[@paulglass7268]

Absolutely!

[@imjustsomeone7692]

Slam dunk of a video. Great info, good back and forth presenting…..i think keeping him off the Monster energy drinks is the key….😜

[@paulglass7268]

Hard to do

[@imjustsomeone7692]

It’s worth it… the energy drink turns you into “Cornholio” ..👀

[@aaanglers]

🤣

[@davidwilliams1805]

Another great video my friends! Appreciate you guys! Thanks for sharing and providing good information! #AggressivelyAverageAnglers rocks!

[@aaanglers]

Thank you!!!

[@nutzpwnz]

Those Nako tungsten weights are legit, and for a bonus they don't brake the bank.

[@paulglass7268]

Absolutely

[@aaanglers]

🤙

[@thequixoticangler3364]

I have everything Kk makes. The new high end stuff is legit. Like better than it's competition. MG12 is freaky. I have the Xenon by Abu, this is better for half price. That Kestrel is really good. I remember you poo pooing the old stuff, Paul. You were right. So glad you took the leap. That reel was actually designed to compete with the Aldebaran. It does. Check out The new Speed Demon Deadbolt. A power reel for the ages. No drag knob, it's designed to be run at full drag. This is a very good frogger. The Other SDE reels and the MJE and MJU all out perform their price. Check em out Paul. I promise they were just too young back when you soured on em. They got it really right this gen. They're rumored to have 1 more coming this Summer. I hope it's a new Bassinator. That's the logical next move.

[@paulglass7268]

Thanks for the details!!

[@thequixoticangler3364]

@@paulglass7268 yessir, you're welcome.

[@EASTSIDERIDER707]

Harbor Freight makes parts boxes that I use fo tackle. All are under $10.00, larger and more secure than bait shop offerings.

[@MrRednexus]

I never steer away from Gloomis and Dobyns. Nothing matches their build quality. Bass rod: shimano/gloomis conquest 7'1 paired with 2021 antares 21 DC Trout and panfish rod: dobyns sierra trout and panfish rod 7'4 paired with Daiwa 21 Legalis LT 1000 Catfish and other bigger fish: gloomis GCX 8ft heavy rod paired with 4000 shimano Vanford - these are the combo I only need for all types of fish

[@dangdang8106]

I've got a few kastking reels. I got the sharkey3 baitfeeder awesome reel. And two Sharkey spin reels

[@weaponx122412]

Daiwa steez A w/ Megabass Great Hunting craftsman pride pistol grip rods

[@MelvinKomatsu]

You have not addressed one of th most important things, The outside diameter of the spool. Most BFS spools are 30 mm and Diana had them in the early '90's, the PMF7. They had a few JDM reels which I fished for the last 25 years. Now Diawa has 28 mm diameter spools for the last 4 years. It was first in a steez. Then their alpha series, and also with a very narrow area for line on the spool. Now the very narrow spool is only available in the silver creek model for braided line, 50 yds of 8 lb. I have the older ones that hold 50 yards of mono and they cast OSP tiny blitz and lucky craft bevy pop and bevy prop. No Shimano outcast these with light lures (under 1/8 oz.).

[@gman4674]

Could you explain the difference between fast and moderate tip rods?

[@aaanglers]

it just refers to where the rod "breaks" when you fight a fish. Fast breaks close to tip and slow breaks towards the middle of the rod. Moderate is in between. The slower the action, the easier it is to handle fish with treble hooks.

[@gman4674]

@@aaanglers thanks

[@davidrauschenbach6871]

Wonder if those reels are going to come with micro birds nest?! Have fun defeating them!

[@paulglass7268]

😂

[@BadKarma.-]

Actually isn't that bad thanks to the shallow spool

[@aaanglers]

They do, but they are easier to deal with in my opinion lol

[@Jb_outdooradventures]

I have the zephyr got it for Christmas birds nested it twice one looked bad but easier to fix my only worry is snaping line🤞 doesn't happen

[@teetimeaz]

You can also limit your line to 100 feet. Less line means better casts.

[@aaanglers]

Ive heard the opposite 🤔

[@teetimeaz]

@@aaanglers the spools are made to hold less line and the number of holes are increased to decrease spool weight (mass). So take a regular bait caster with a full spool and cast a light lure. Then pull off half your line and try again. The spool eight (mass) is decreased so you will cast further.

[@mastermouaable]

BFS setups is just a luxury at this point. I’ll stick to spinning setups for my finesse fishing. Bait casting combo setups for power fishing. Don’t get caught up in trying to stay in the trend or you can go broke.

[@ballzybaits4414]

I have both Shimano and Kastking...tbh, I think the Kastking can cast lighter lures with ease than the shimano one....and no, Im not a Kastking guy. haha

[@paulglass7268]

Fingers crossed for me!

[@aaanglers]

Fair enough!

[@adwhite804]

There is no way I can rig this stuff. My hands are too big. Would hafta buy some sorta jimmy rig that helps rig those tiny hooks and baits/lures... Still cool stuff guys!

[@markraciborski4289]

This is just a type of fishing niche I'm just not willing to put a lot into, at this weight I would default to fly fishing. There are situations where fly fishing is just prohibited. Would a KastKing Zephyr be worth upgrading to high grade ceramic spool bearing? Just for something useful? Anyway to rid some of the side wobble you mentioned, or just flimsy composition all over, sum of the total? Not exactly something you will be hauling Moby Dick into the net, so wobbling, on the cheap OK.

[@aaanglers]

Not worth upgrading the reel in my opinion. It would be minimally better for maximal investment.

[@markraciborski4289]

@@aaanglers Thanks....

[@65mustanggtfastback]

Have you looked at Fly fishing hooks?

[@aaanglers]

Not yet, sounds fun

[@EddieLindsay681]

I get stuff from Digitaka for less money thab anything in the US and usualy gets delivers in 3 to 5 days. Dont sleep on JDM, 22 Aldebaran BFS is the best of the best.

[@EddieLindsay681]

Phenix new BFS is a very nice rod.

[@helotaxi]

It looks to be, but they have made rods that do fine down to 1/16 oz in the Maxim and Recon Elite lines for years.

[@Fether_outdoors]

Here I go you guys spending money again!! Thanks to all the sweet things you guys influence me with and my sheer problem with buying tackle😂😂 It's safe to say I have an addiction 🎣. Plus there's no reason not to own hooks named "The Hobbit"...💸

[@paulglass7268]

Haha no problem

[@aaanglers]

We’re here for ya!

[@RworldKM]

If you're only going to have ONE setup for BFS, and you've got the cash for it, got big on a quality rod & reel.

[@ichphan]

Curado BFS or SXL BFS in my opinion is better than Kestrel comparing to the pricing range...

[@helotaxi]

The SLX is priced way better. The Kestrel is down to $199. The Curado and the SLX are essentially the same reel, which makes the Curado overpriced in the US market. All that said, the Kestrel is more capable. I'm mostly a Daiwa and Shimano guy, but the Kestrel is legit. Enough so that I bought a second.

[@Fireside780112]

You do great videos but please if you could tell weights in grams/kilos also to help us outside the us :)

[@helotaxi]

1/32 oz is right at 0.9g. 1/16 oz is 1.8g. 1/8oz is 3.5g 1/4oz is 7g

[@Fireside780112]

Thank you, it´s just that during the video it´s hard to follow without sitting watching a transfer scale :) @@helotaxi

[@sandork.9510]

the braid you use it's way to heavy for ultra light setup, you should use 0.08mm braid instead of 0.13mm

[@aaanglers]

No idea what we used in this video because it was a long time ago. We use that diameter or less now from Varivas.

[@pescadordosertao4134]

The Curado BFS drag is a joke, if not tightened in the maximum pressure, it will release line if jerking lures...

[@willtrax71]

Ok Guys do a “side by side” comparison with the crazy expensive Shimano BS Reel and a Spinning Reel. I Don’t think a Baitcasting Reel can be beat for 99% of fishing but I ALWAYS carry a nice spinning setup with me when fishing. I think any slow meticulous Lure presentation is a finesse technique by definition so whoever started the “BFS” Baitcasting craze is just trying to fatten some billfolds lol or maybe not.

[@aaanglers]

Jury is out for now, but we for sure will compare em

[@willtrax71]

@@aaanglers Lol I’m anxious for the video Guys and it’s just my Old Ass Opinion and you know what they are like..

[@BanksOpenKayakFishing]

Don’t knock it til you try it. I was skeptical too but it’s a whole lot of fun.

[@willtrax71]

@@BanksOpenKayakFishing I would like to try one of the real shallow spools in a Baitcasting Reel, I seem to cast more accurate with a baitcaster and use lighter lures a lot.

[@BanksOpenKayakFishing]

@@willtrax71 you won’t regret it! I feel like it’s more efficient for me. Accurate casts and you can cast more frequently. I’m not ditching spinning gear yet, but it may come down to that at some point.

[@kylehd8453]

Not covering the zephyre in this video is a slap in the face to BFS history as a whole. Shame on yall

[@aaanglers]

It’s funny how this happens on KZbin. We have made a ton of vids on the Zephyr. We just don’t think it’s the best. It’s good and a good value though.

[@OhioAngler]

Why not use fly fishing equipment? Lol

[@aaanglers]

Sure, we’ll do that too

[@RUSSELLAughinbaugh]

I love how people that do these videos act or think most of us can afford $200+ for 1 fishing rig. I'm 67, and have never spent more than $100 for a rod n reel......and I've caught a ton of fish.....

[@aaanglers]

Nobody said you couldn't catch fish for less. We've made videos on cheaper combos too. BFS is just newer and lower demand, so usually more expensive. The good news is, the market is expanding and more affordable options are coming.

[@RUSSELLAughinbaugh]

@@aaanglers this is true. My son in law got me started on the BFS fishing, have always enjoyed catching fish on ultra light tackle, and I'm very excited about some of the newer rods coming out. Years ago we were limited(areas where I live) on the length of rod for UL. Usually 5'6"......now you can get 7' UL rods. Makes it more like fly fishing.

[@Ukcat24]

I just today bought my first bfs rod. It was $116 shipped to my door! Can’t beat that in my opinion. It’s a Cashion element 6”10 medium light. Made in the USA 🇺🇸

[@scottsavoca3489]

Kinda seems like you copied everything tacticalbassin said years ago is it coincidence? They are the exact combos and same comments of weight and flex identical

[@aaanglers]

Um, no. When there were like 5 total options for BFS (until we met the guys from Bait Finesse Empire) it’s not surprising that most people start with these exact combos. TB has amazing info, and we have learned a lot from them. Our BFS knowledge has been gained from our friends at BFE and Ethan aka Fish Anything. We now have quite a few more products from Shimano, KastKing, Tsurinoya, Daiwa and more.

[@phxone81]

Super dope set ups but a bit out of my price range. @Baitfinesseempire has some good jdm options I’m looking into particularly tsurinoya dragon rod and hurricane reel. Looking forward to the on the water reviews. Stay average and tight lines guys.

[@aaanglers]

🙌