BFS Training Line
BFS Training Line
When learning BFS, birds nests are to be expected. So instead of spooling up with high priced JDM mono, I use Trout Magnet SOS 2#. A 350 yard spool is under $10 and at .16mm, the diameter is similar to 4# JDM. After the line gets damaged from picking out nests, just pull it off and respool for only pennies. I have some nice JDM stuff waiting in the wings but my Aldebaran won't see it until my skills improve.
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Re: BFS Training Line
Very good advice.
Re: BFS Training Line
I went the other way and found that using 15lb J-Braid (.19mm) worked well to learn on as it was thin enough to still cast well but was thick enough that I could almost always pick a backlash out with a blunt-tipped needle. As braid does not get damaged by my little accidents I rarely had to replace it.
I also got really good at picking out backlashes. Really good.
I also got really good at picking out backlashes. Really good.
Re: BFS Training Line
Also a good option but with one caveat. The micro guides on many BFS rods don't tolerate the braid to leader knot well. I was originally using 10# braid with a lighter leader and an FG knot was the only one which didn't get caught on the guides with any frequency. In general I prefer braid over mono or flouro and like you noted, the nests are easier to pick out.Houndfish wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2019 7:29 pmI went the other way and found that using 15lb J-Braid (.19mm) worked well to learn on as it was thin enough to still cast well but was thick enough that I could almost always pick a backlash out with a blunt-tipped needle. As braid does not get damaged by my little accidents I rarely had to replace it.
I also got really good at picking out backlashes. Really good.
Re: BFS Training Line
I use straight braid 0.10-0.12mm (10lb), no leader. No issues whatsoever.
The fish I target are very shy but thin braid does not seem to matter. Leader may be needed in areas where abrasion is a big issue.
Because BfS spools are so shallow with little line capacity, the birdsnests that I get are typically very small and easy to pick out.
The fish I target are very shy but thin braid does not seem to matter. Leader may be needed in areas where abrasion is a big issue.
Because BfS spools are so shallow with little line capacity, the birdsnests that I get are typically very small and easy to pick out.
Re: BFS Training Line
Yea, I gave up on leaders for that reason. On my UL trout/panfish combo I settled on 8lb braid. It's so thin that I am not worried about line visibility and nothing that I target (stocked trout, panfish, white perch) seem to care much about line in any case.
For my bass BFS combos I stepped up to 10lb Sniper from the 7lb I was using. Casting distance suffers a bit but I think it's worth the line damage forgiveness and ability to more confidently lift a larger bass up with the line if I have to.
Re: BFS Training Line
Just found what is possibly an even better mono choice than SOS; Stren Crappie Mono in high-viz gold. Available down to 2#, .15 mm. Provides the much needed visibility that SOS lacks. Normally when I want a visible, light test mono for spin casting, I use Seaguar Yellow Hunter JDM fouro but I have to order from Japan and a spool costs more than double the Stren and has half as much line. In other words it’s more than 4X the price/length. Still a good product for fishing deeper in still water but I doubt mono vs flouro matters much in shallow streams.
So now there’s a line inexpensive enough to learn BFS on w/o needing to upgrade to JDM when you become more proficient. Of course you may still want to.
So now there’s a line inexpensive enough to learn BFS on w/o needing to upgrade to JDM when you become more proficient. Of course you may still want to.
Re: BFS Training Line
Same here. The 7# Seagar Finesse Fluorocarbon seemed really fragile to me. I have much more confidence with 10# Sniper. For my real shallow UL bait finesse spools I use 8# Nanofil green. No complaints.Houndfish wrote: ↑Tue Aug 20, 2019 5:48 amYea, I gave up on leaders for that reason. On my UL trout/panfish combo I settled on 8lb braid. It's so thin that I am not worried about line visibility and nothing that I target (stocked trout, panfish, white perch) seem to care much about line in any case.
For my bass BFS combos I stepped up to 10lb Sniper from the 7lb I was using. Casting distance suffers a bit but I think it's worth the line damage forgiveness and ability to more confidently lift a larger bass up with the line if I have to.
I also no longer use leaders with any of my BFS rods. I lost my 1st rod to a breakage caused by swapping the reel on it to one with a higher pound test line and a tighter set drag. I ended up blowing thr spool of light braid up on the Haibo Smart so I swapped in an Alphas SV with 14# from my 72M Zodias which is a really powerful medium rod. That poor Trulinoya Volkey 65UL knockoff broke in half on hookset trying to get a monster come up bit and away from the dense weedbed. It came to the surface after the rod broke and the line went slack and threw my bait and was gone forever. I'll never forget that. 2.8 Crazy Flapper on a 1/20 ned head.
Re: BFS Training Line
I wish I had a way to test the strength of 10lb Sniper, it seems a good bit stronger then it’s diameter would indicate.
Re: BFS Training Line
It is a great line in 10# and has turned me on to FC as mainline. I use the 10# on my Steez SV w ZPI NRC001m and it is great (also for BFS). I will have to try thinner FC on my more dedicated BFS reels (Conquest BFS and Alphas ASC, Revo BF etc). Have found some good prices on Invizx and Hi-Seas 100% in 6# and hope they perform as good as Sniper...
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Re: BFS Training Line
The only issue I have had with thinner fluoro is how easily it is damaged by even the mildest of backlashes. If I were more skilled at casting and less likely to try and push my limits I don't think thinner fluoro would have any issues.Dalleinf wrote: ↑Tue Aug 27, 2019 4:07 pmIt is a great line in 10# and has turned me on to FC as mainline. I use the 10# on my Steez SV w ZPI NRC001m and it is great (also for BFS). I will have to try thinner FC on my more dedicated BFS reels (Conquest BFS and Alphas ASC, Revo BF etc). Have found some good prices on Invizx and Hi-Seas 100% in 6# and hope they perform as good as Sniper...
Re: BFS Training Line
I have been training myself with 24 lb / 0.12 mm Spiderwire Stealth Smooth 8. I haven't lost any inch of line because this line is very manageable and easy to solve out of bird nests and it's stong (for BFS). And I have lost 0 lure with this line.
Re: BFS Training Line
The older Trulinoya Elite. I think I jammed the ferrule into the top section too hard and weakened it. This was my 1st ned rig and 1st BFS fish. I was testing the BFS waters with the Elite 65UL and Haibo Smart.
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Re: BFS Training Line
The Sniper breaks close to the IGFA ratings based on my decade or so of fishing it, and the articles that I have seen. USDM lines tend to break much higher unless it is rated as an IGFA line.