BFS or Bait Finesse System styles of fishing were developed in Japan to help catch highly pressured fish…Largemouth Bass in particular. It soon morphed over into the Trout world in regards to both Area and Stream fishing. This method uses specially made rods and reels to cast lures down to sub-1 gram weights. Using 2# test line on a BFS baitcaster has become pretty commonplace for those who use this type of gear.
I was intrigued by the method but having never really spent any time using a baitcaster, I was pretty intimidated. There was a definite learning curve for me to become somewhat comfortable using this gear. My Dad tried to get me into it back in the 80’s but for some reason I couldn’t use a right-hand wind reel very well. Fast forward to the past few years, and in Japan you will find every reel made today comes in a left-hand reel version.
For me…this style comes into its own when you pair a BFS reel with a fiberglass rod. It is a lot of fun. The accuracy is better, the speed is better and it really shines when you have limited casting space.
Practice, practice, practice! I did just that…casting my baitcasters in as many different scenarios as possible. Standing in the driveway, standing in a boat, standing waist deep in a lake or stream. They all require some subtle nuances that are different enough to affect casting. Adjust the braking system and spool tension until you get to where you are comfortable casting. And it will change with different weights.
And I’ll be honest…2.5 grams is the lightest I have felt comfortable casting so far. I have had my fair share of bird’s nests to date and some have required cutting line off and re-spooling. But keep in mind that I came to baitcaster’s rather late in life ( around 50yrs ) so I am still learning to master this technique. For me, throwing minnow type lures with a baitcaster seems to be the best method and that was why I got into BFS.
Velox Seeker 