Project: Black Max BFS

How small is your rod and how light is your line? It's not about the size of your tackle, but how you work it. Come share your Ultralight and Bait Finesse System (BFS) fishing success here!
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LowRange
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Project: Black Max BFS

Post by LowRange » Fri May 08, 2020 7:08 pm

A few years back I bought an Aliexpress spool for my Black Max 3 and made my own Black Max 3 BFS. It is actually a great caster once the spool bearing had been upgraded to Ray's Studio DIY micro ceramics. The linear mag brakes and 34mm 8.7 gram spool with new bearings works really nicely. The reel itself is pretty compact and almost identical to an Alphas/Pixy in size.

I have had it on a Kuying Teton 662L but have the reel is capable of casting much lighter than the rod is able to throw and the Teton is a noodle. I happened to come across a Black Max series of rods on Aliexpress. They appear to be much, much better than the junk Black Max rods we have as combos in the US. They're actually nice looking rods and they come in a casting 6 foot UL. The temptation to run a full red and black Black Max BFS combo is too much and I now have a rod on the way along with a cheap carbon handle.

Time to tune up the Black Max 3 and see what this combo can do.
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Re: Project: Black Max BFS

Post by LowRange » Fri May 08, 2020 7:16 pm

Plugging our friend Bootytrain (reel test) with a Black Max 3 BFS video. He is using a newer version of the spool I have but it is only slightly lighter.
https://youtu.be/eeqeobDYvIU

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Re: Project: Black Max BFS

Post by Knotty » Sat May 09, 2020 7:27 am

What’s the lure rating on the AE Black Max rod?

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Re: Project: Black Max BFS

Post by LowRange » Sat May 09, 2020 8:43 am

Knotty wrote:
Sat May 09, 2020 7:27 am
What’s the lure rating on the AE Black Max rod?
1-7 grams

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Re: Project: Black Max BFS

Post by Knotty » Sun May 10, 2020 5:19 pm

LowRange wrote:
Sat May 09, 2020 8:43 am
Knotty wrote:
Sat May 09, 2020 7:27 am
What’s the lure rating on the AE Black Max rod?
1-7 grams
Thanks. Had no idea Abu made a BFS rod.

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Re: Project: Black Max BFS

Post by piscamaniac » Mon Jul 06, 2020 11:13 am

Knotty wrote:
Sun May 10, 2020 5:19 pm
LowRange wrote:
Sat May 09, 2020 8:43 am
Knotty wrote:
Sat May 09, 2020 7:27 am
What’s the lure rating on the AE Black Max rod?
1-7 grams
Thanks. Had no idea Abu made a BFS rod.
Do Abu have any idea this rod exists? I saw something called a vendetta plus in the piscifun shop the other day, cool looking rod, but I doubt its genuine Abu, I mean they claim 24 ton carbon, how could that be a plus?

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Re: Project: Black Max BFS

Post by LowRange » Mon Jul 06, 2020 12:28 pm

piscamaniac wrote:
Mon Jul 06, 2020 11:13 am
Knotty wrote:
Sun May 10, 2020 5:19 pm
LowRange wrote:
Sat May 09, 2020 8:43 am
Knotty wrote:
Sat May 09, 2020 7:27 am
What’s the lure rating on the AE Black Max rod?
1-7 grams
Thanks. Had no idea Abu made a BFS rod.
Do Abu have any idea this rod exists? I saw something called a vendetta plus in the piscifun shop the other day, cool looking rod, but I doubt its genuine Abu, I mean they claim 24 ton carbon, how could that be a plus?
There a ton of rods that exist from familiar brands that do not exist in the USDM. Look at the Lightning Rods or Cherrywoods on Aliexpress.

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Re: Project: Black Max BFS

Post by piscamaniac » Mon Jul 06, 2020 1:49 pm

LowRange wrote:
Mon Jul 06, 2020 12:28 pm
There a ton of rods that exist from familiar brands that do not exist in the USDM. Look at the Lightning Rods or Cherrywoods on Aliexpress.
Yes, and I've personally bought everything from an abu fantasista akai to a yabai, but I've never seen anything like this on my travels. Not in korea, japan, taiwan, malaysia, europe. All I've ever seen black max rods as was part of a combo. In fact, the only place I've found these rods for sale is aliexpress - try googling it yourself. I like the way you tricked out the black max, btw. Those ray's bearings are great, I was using a set in my revo elite the other day, made a massive difference compared to the stock bearings for lighter baits.

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Re: Project: Black Max BFS

Post by hotdogin » Tue Jul 07, 2020 6:24 am

Any idea if there is a bfs spool for the Black Max 2? Have one that's just collecting dust and thought it might be a fun way to try and revitalize it.
just hotdogin it

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Re: Project: Black Max BFS

Post by LowRange » Tue Jul 07, 2020 8:10 am

Not sure about the Black Max 2.
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Re: Project: Black Max BFS

Post by piscamaniac » Wed Jul 08, 2020 4:45 pm

Any weight saving from the carbon and eva grips?

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Re: Project: Black Max BFS

Post by LowRange » Wed Jul 08, 2020 6:28 pm

piscamaniac wrote:
Wed Jul 08, 2020 4:45 pm
Any weight saving from the carbon and eva grips?

Yes. The stock handle and knobs were exceedingly heavy for their size. The handle is a $13 Aliexpress handle. It is actually very nice for the money but the bearings in it are garbage. The carbon handle part is very well made for the money. I think it is better built than my Ray's carbon handles. None of them look this well layered.
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Re: Project: Black Max BFS

Post by LowRange » Sat Aug 01, 2020 8:55 pm

Well here it is. The red on the rod is more pink that I was anticipating. It's also not a spigot a ferrule type 2pc either. Sort of a disappointment in those regards but otherwise it fits the bill. It's not kuying build quality but it is decent and far far better than the build quality on the BM rods we have here as part of a combo. The guides are all straight.
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Re: Project: Black Max BFS

Post by LowRange » Sat Aug 01, 2020 8:57 pm

hotdogin wrote:
Tue Jul 07, 2020 6:24 am
Any idea if there is a bfs spool for the Black Max 2? Have one that's just collecting dust and thought it might be a fun way to try and revitalize it.
The MB2 MB3 use different spools. At one point Amo/Momo has a BM2 spool. This is from their site
http://www.momostudio.net/teamview_1017885.html

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