The Perfect Match: 12 Favorite Bait Finesse Rod and Reel Combos Revealed!

[@ikashibimauler]

I know you have been using power pro but are looking to switch. Berkley X9 is the best I have found and I have used a great many braids over the years. So I would maybe try some of that if you can. 832 would be second, but that is quite thick for its strength. I had a terrible time with J braid especially with any jerkbait or topwater as it would literally come apart just jerking it. No fish. No snag. It would just break by itself when regularly snapping a jerkbait. Spooky. Also if you are looking for an American rod, I can recommend the Cashion Icon 6'10" for a bit on the power finesse side. Really great rod.

[@AaronHuntFishing]

I sued Power Pro on 1 Reel. It sucked. Currently using Sunline Siglon. I'll try the Cashion eventually. But kind of spoiled by my Kistlers.

[@bgeezus3955]

I know this video is old but I bought megajaws elite shallow spool and it is not noted on the website as having a drag clicker and the cs rep had no idea what I was talking about. I had to scour youtube and reddit for someone with the reel to answer my question. Kastking qc is junk. I have the mg12 elite and that megajaws elite shallow spool feels better by miles in smoothness and cast distance.

[@AaronHuntFishing]

Yep - KK = No beuno for me.

[@bgeezus3955]

@AaronHuntFishing absolutely can't comprehend on the mg12 elite why it would have half the brake adjustment on the knob, with no half turns it's just 1 through 10 with no in between where mje all have 1-10 with clicks in between

[@quanloikid1]

I'm surprised you haven't picked up a KUYING TETON TTC510S which is about 47g and is what I use with the Aldebaren BFS....it's a great rod. Unfortunately a year ago you could buy it on sale for $110 delivered and now it is $184 plus tax....much too expensive for CDM. Another great video!

[@AaronHuntFishing]

Exactly why I haven't. At that price there's other options. Thanks for the support.

[@JWDBSNRNOCN]

BTW, KastKing makes really good braided line. I use the Destron Camo braid. For the price it out performs powerpro.

[@AaronHuntFishing]

Pehaps. I'll never know. :) Been happy with the Sunline Siglon ADV so far this year. Suffix 832 will be next in rotation, probably starting this fall. Main downfall of the Siglon is visibility for me.

[@donniefoster7713]

I love the jenko double down if you love casting light swimming type baits it’s the deal it’s my favorite I fish for crappie and bass mostly on a 1/16 -1/8 baits I get long cast with the soloking Acura

[@AaronHuntFishing]

Agreed - amazing for crappie.

[@FounderOf4]

I came here because I think you look like Martin Truex Jr.... I am subbing for the content

[@AaronHuntFishing]

LOL. Funniest comment in a while! Welcome, glad you're here.

[@FiciousCritik]

My NRX+ JWR 802C is paired with a Conquest BFS. It's perfect for weightless Senkos; accurate, sensitive and ... _productive!_ 😜 I had to save up.

[@AaronHuntFishing]

Appreciate the input. I keep hearing great things about the NRX+. Enjoy.

[@fishinwithish]

Very cool overview of your rods. Also VERY cool to see you gettihg to work with a company to help produce some rods! Thats awesome!!!! Proof putting in the work pays off!congrats!

[@AaronHuntFishing]

Thanks man! More details on the new rod lineup in a few weeks I think.... testing the latest round of prototypes this week.

[@FishiganMilligan]

Excited for the prototype rod!

[@AaronHuntFishing]

They are available. Reviews have been great, and they've kind of ruined me on most other rods. kistlerrods.com/products/hunt-bfs-fishing-rods?variant=45512359969065&sca_ref=3753479.fd5ArXuiud

[@tristanhdh8437]

just got my first baitcasting combo. i got the slx dc xt and very happy. love this video and keep going

[@AaronHuntFishing]

The SLX DC XT is an awesome first reel. Some would say learn how to cast without DC, but I'm all for more fishing time and less bird nests! Enjoy! As far as keep going, I have so many videos planned and other ideas - i don't plan on stopping any time soon!

[@philipfalco7304]

Nice assortment Aaron! Have you tried the Dobyn's 691C for your SLX BFS yet? I use the Dobyn's 650C for my 22 Aldebaran and the 7' Sensilite with my Curado BFS. They all match and performs great for open water. I save my shorter rods for streams.

[@AaronHuntFishing]

I haven't tried the Dobyns. I often look at them and then decide on something else...

[@tommylagebro3458]

BFS or not, i kind of have the same mentality as you, i want to be able to throw smaller version of some lures even if they are heavier than 6g. being from Sweden i mostly fish for perch but hopefully also som trout. Just bought a westin w6 -15g. hoping it will have good sensitivity, probably going to pair it whit my Daiwa alphas CT70 that has a roro spool on it.

[@AaronHuntFishing]

While I am currently focused on the prototypes in the low end, seeing if we can effectively cast under 1g consitently, we started in the upper range to make sure the heavier bass-focused finesse presentations. I was confised early on, but I figure if 15g is good enough for Shimano to call it BFS, it's good enough for me. Hope the combo works out well for you - haven't heard of the westin line.

[@TheSinistral]

Regarding the KK. I hear you and that influences me to not use them. Customer service is everything. However, you said they don’t sell in the US market but I got a VE2 for about $80 and after a couple trips it has been exceptional. ( Of course, it might not be durable)

[@AaronHuntFishing]

From kastking or from an 3rd party seller like Riptide that sells it as a spinning reel called the "Hung Falcon"? :) Either way, I'm done with them. kzbin.info/www/bejne/apuQq2V-fcSgrsU

[@patrickhartman6818]

What is bad is I love my kastking valiant eagle 2 for 3.5gr and up. Im a righty that has to use left hand.

[@AaronHuntFishing]

Yeah - for those weights I can see it being a great choice.

[@josedz589]

Have you looked into Old 18 rods?

[@AaronHuntFishing]

I have - added the Kistler instead of and Old 18 for now... still on my radar though.

[@yep.fishing]

Id love a short glass and also somethijg a bit more stout for our bative freshwater species here. I have a short rod on the way from aliexpress that I havent seen people review. Im looking forward to sharong it with you guys.

[@AaronHuntFishing]

That Major Craft Finetail Glass I have is 4' 10". It's fantastic.

[@stirfrihd7044]

Could I ask if the finetail glass is able to catch small bass? I want to put my CQ 17 on something smaller but I do a lot of bass fishing as well!

[@AaronHuntFishing]

Absolutely. My PB Largemouth came on the Finetail glass - a 22 inch beast!

[@abelabner]

Thanks for sharing, able to glean useful information from your opinions!

[@AaronHuntFishing]

Glad you found something useful! I kept putting this one off, but many folks were asking for it!

[@TheSinistral]

Love your content. Only disappointing part of this video is that we can’t see the combo you are talking about except for an occasional cut. Would be nice to be looking at what you’re talking about

[@AaronHuntFishing]

Good news is I'm making an updated video of this - so I'll try to incorporate some of the comments.

[@davebonham798]

What rod do you recommend for treble hook applications for bass fishing? (Jerkbaits and Crankbaits)

[@AaronHuntFishing]

I hadn't found any I truly loved. In the past I've liked glass rods for that application, or at elast something with a slower taper. But the new Hunt BFS rods from Kistler were designed to be sensitive enough for jigs with the action to hold fish pinned on crankbaits and treble hook applications. I'd go with the 7' 3X model. The Megabass P5 Destroyers in either the F1-PopX or F2.5 Kasumi should also have the appropriate action and taper for BFS treblehook applications. And if you can find it, theere's an Abu Garcia Bait Finesse Eradicator version that is supposedly pretty sweet as well.

[@patrickhartman6818]

4months ago. I don't have any plans on buying more. Lol yea im rite there with you.

[@AaronHuntFishing]

I my defense, I think I've only bought 2 since... and both budget-friendly options. :P

[@patrickhartman6818]

@@AaronHuntFishing lol i dont have a defence

[@patrickhartman6818]

The Daiwa J braid x8 is the smoothest braid i have used, better than beyond braid

[@AaronHuntFishing]

Some folks I've fished with find it to be too smooth and hard to tie knots with, but I really like it. Probbaly spending a little more time with some Varivas lines this fall and winter. I like them better for trout for sure.

[@jacobkramer1089]

I started with an Alderbaran 22, got a SLX BFS, and put a chameleon spool in a Tatula SV TW. Setting my sights on CDM now, what's your recommendation if you were to only get one reel?

[@AaronHuntFishing]

Tried and true: Dark Wolf Ultra or Accura. Latest and greatest - maybe - Haibo Arise Air.

[@jacobkramer1089]

@@AaronHuntFishing Thanks! I've been reading about the Arise Air a bunch recently, I'll give it a try.

[@letufamily]

you have for every month one combo😅 and you just started 🙈 Great information, thank you🤗

[@AaronHuntFishing]

Thanks. It's been a fun journey!

[@xDx0xUxGx]

What rod do you recommend under $200 for a 1 pc rod around 1/16-3/8oz(ish) primarily for bass fishing?

[@AaronHuntFishing]

Probably either a Shimano or Dobyns BFS. I haven't used the Dobyns, but they get great reviews and a lot of people love them. I'll get one eventually. :P

[@christophertowsley8563]

Check out the phenixs classic bfs casting rods

[@AaronHuntFishing]

The thing about Phenix that makes me question whether they are actually making a proper BFS rod is they also make spinning BFS rods. Spinning is not and cannot be BFS. So kinda feels like they're pulling a Kastking and just jumping on the money train by slapping "BFS" on a few rods (kastking also makes BFS spinning reels, but they have been rebranding those to "SFS"). They might be good, but they will be contributing to confusion as BFS grows becasue they don't know even the basics of what it is. BFS is fished with casting reels. ultralight spinning uses spinning reels. Words have meanings... and when we don't follow them it creates confusion and makes it harder for people to learn.

[@JWDBSNRNOCN]

Too bad you are disappointed with kastking. I've never had any trouble with them. I own 3 Kistrel reels and the Mag12 and love them. Pricey but are really solid. I also own 3 Shimano reels (Curado and 2 SLX) and I have these reels paired with both Dobyns and Cashion rods. The Dobyns rods are ultralight extra fast and the Cashion rods are medium light extra fast.

[@AaronHuntFishing]

Definitely plan on trying out the Dobyns and Cashion at some point. But yeah, KK has found their way onto my "do not buy, do not discuss" list.

[@bigmikefishingchonicles9950]

Great video I wanted to see if I could get your advice/help so I have a Shimamo Sensilite the spec are ( 4-8 pound mono and power pro 4-15 lure weight 1/16 - 1/4oz power - light action extra fast I wanted to use the rod for power finesse I have a Daiwa arid 7.2.1 what would you recommend for line and reel

[@AaronHuntFishing]

Probably 8# line, Daiwa J-braid. amzn.to/435koUQ And if you wanted to stay Shimano the SLX BFS. amzn.to/3q6rxFz Otherwise maybe the Dark wolf Ultra: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_A70CYL

[@bigmikefishingchonicles9950]

@@AaronHuntFishing thanks

[@philipfalco7304]

I have my Curado BFS on my Sensilite with 7LB. Floro for Bass. it matches great and performs really well. I also have my SLX BFS on the Dobyn's 691C and that's another good match and also performs great. I use clear blue florescent 6LB. mono on that one.

[@bigmikefishingchonicles9950]

@@philipfalco7304 thanks

[@christophertowsley8563]

And the dobyns

[@AaronHuntFishing]

Every time I've looked at the dobyns I've decided on something else... probably need to try it at some point.

[@javakalle8615]

Thank you for this. Copy paste the link -> whatsapp to wife. 😅I may need few rods more after all.

[@AaronHuntFishing]

Glad to be of service! It wi ll be interersting if I make a new version next year to see how many are the same... ;P I can already tell you - it won't be many!

[@ikashibimauler]

Who else thought their monitor was dirty?

[@AaronHuntFishing]

Guess we'll see...