Intrigued by the BFS thing, is it another gimmick?

[dan hufferd]

15 hours ago, Quillback said:

Gotta fight to keep the old man out.  Keep fishing and hunting!

I try really hard to talk about things that I am currently involved in, and less about things I use to do. And I try to not talk about my infirmities.

I hope I can keep experiencing things.

It's funny how fishing talk leads us down these roads🤔

 

[gramps50]

I had never heard of BFS until I started reading this thread. I do a lot of finesse fishing but with spinning equipment. What if any is the advantage of using a BFS setup?

[Dutch]

I typically am more accurate with casting vs spinning setups but I have gone to it because of a shoulder issue and I am trying to avoid surgery.  I just put a Shimano Curado bfs reel on a Gloomis 6’9” ml Bronzeback rod.  I am amazed at the casting distance that I am getting with a light weight Ned rig.

[rps]

1 hour ago, gramps50 said:

I had never heard of BFS until I started reading this thread. I do a lot of finesse fishing but with spinning equipment. What if any is the advantage of using a BFS setup?

That depends on what kind of fishing for which you use it. If you fish flat banks with a Ned or finesse jig, the spinning reel is great. If accuracy is important, the right rod with a bfs reel can place your finesse bait more accurately. If you are like me, and you dislike spinning reels, a casting rod with a bfs reel will let you fish Neds among the dock wires. I am selling an equivalent of a Bfs reel, and I am keeping one for the rod I built to throw 1/16 Neds.

 

[dblades]

Closest setup to BFS I have is a upgraded Curado 100 (lighter spool, better bearings). On an 8 ft St Croix, saltwater tapered rod, great for free lining shrimp. Works down too about 1/16 as long as the wind cooperates. Got the bug from seeing RPS's setup a few years ago. 

[gramps50]

I wouldn’t mind trying BFS but want to invest $500 or so into equipment to try it. Is there a good place to find a decent BFS setup other than FB marketplace, I don’t do FB.

[Quillback]

16 hours ago, gramps50 said:

I wouldn’t mind trying BFS but want to invest $500 or so into equipment to try it. Is there a good place to find a decent BFS setup other than FB marketplace, I don’t do FB.

You could check the classifieds at the Texas Fishing Forum and Bass Boat Central.  Every once in a while, I'll see some BFS stuff for sale there.   

[Dutch]

I just mounted my second Shimano Curado BFS reel.  I put it on an Ark Rod 7’6” m.  It casts a 3/32 head on a TRD a country mile with 10# line.  I got it at the Tackle Warehouse sale for $188.  I’m busting a gut to try it out on the water.

[Quillback]

41 minutes ago, Dutch said:

I just mounted my second Shimano Curado BFS reel.  I put it on an Ark Rod 7’6” m.  It casts a 3/32 head on a TRD a country mile with 10# line.  I got it at the Tackle Warehouse sale for $188.  I’m busting a gut to try it out on the water.

I have personally witnessed Dutch throwing a Ned rig on his BFS setup - the distance he was getting was impressive.

[dan hufferd]

On 6/15/2025 at 1:31 PM, Dutch said:

I typically am more accurate with casting vs spinning setups but I have gone to it because of a shoulder issue and I am trying to avoid surgery.  I just put a Shimano Curado bfs reel on a Gloomis 6’9” ml Bronzeback rod.  I am amazed at the casting distance that I am getting with a light weight Ned rig.

That sounds like a really nice set-up.

How far do you think you are throwing the ned? I did some measuring in the yard yesterday with the ned, I can get around 70' sometimes 80'  I think I have reached the max for my cheap-o reels. 

The weird thing is braided line size didn't seem to matter, I have some old 50# dacron, it casted as good or better than the 10# stuff.