Fishing is supposed to be fun. That’s something I often have to remind myself of when I get too far down the tournament bass fishing rabbit hole and things aren’t going my way. It can be easy to just keep throwing the same old reliable baits, hoping for a bite on the same old reliable rod and reel. Sometimes, though, that’s a grind.
When I find myself in this cycle, I break out of it by grabbing my bait finesse system, or BFS, gear. Now, at first glance, you might see a lure the size of your pinky finger and wonder how on earth you’re supposed to even cast it. You’re not alone. I had the same hangups when BFS started to get more popular a few years ago. But the reality is, this is a specialized technique combining light lines, low-inertia baitcasting reels, and light-action rods that can accurately cast micro-lures under 1/4 ounce.
While that might sound cool, I’m here to tell you the best part is, those micro-lures catch a pile of fish. I’ve been playing around with my BFS setup more and more this summer, and have found two lures that get bites from bass and panfish every time I hit the water. If you want to get in on the action, here’s everything you need to know about BFS fishing for bass.
Understanding the Bait Finesse System
BFS spawned more out of need than desire. That need arose from anglers looking for a way to throw micro-lures to match small baitfish but were lacking the ability to accurately control their casts and retrieves. Sure, you could try to fish an ultra-light spinning combo and have moderate success with these micro-lures, but you’d still struggle with errant casts and feeling bites.
That’s where the BFS system shines. With a shallow-spool baitcaster that requires minimal inertia to get rolling, you can easily cast and control distance and trajectory. The same benefits you get from fishing a normal baitcasting setup with a jig versus a spinning rod setup apply for BFS techniques. The name of the game is accuracy and control, and baitcasters simply give you more of both.
The idea behind throwing these micro-lures is that everything in the lake wants to eat them. They’re perfectly sized to represent any common minnow. The action you can employ on these lures through the light-action baitcasting rods and subtle turns of your reel handle truly is something to behold. I’ve seen it fire up everything from a school of bass to a pack of perch. To me, there’s nothing better for grabbing the attention of any fish nearby.
How to Fish BFS for Bass
If you’re considering dabbling in BFS this summer, this might help you pull the trigger. You can fish for bass with BFS gear in the same areas you’d fish for bass with traditional gear. It doesn’t require some special area of the pond, lake, or river to get bites. In fact, I’ve found it triggers more bites in my traditional areas because it’s something the fish haven’t seen before.
Rather than targeting a few big bites per day with a large glidebait, you can throw a micro-glidebait and catch a pile of fish. A few of them might even be bigger fish.
The key is finding baitfish that bass are actively feeding on or staging nearby. Ideally, they’re in shallower water and on the hunt — because one downside of BFS is that it takes a lot of patience if you plan to fish deeper than 10 feet. Due to the lightweight nature of these lures, getting them to work effectively in deeper water takes a ton of patience and typically a heavier lure.
But for ponds or lakes, you can throw BFS glidebaits or twitchbaits right along the bank and get more bites than you thought possible. In rivers, targeting slack water behind current breaks seems to be a surefire way to trigger a strike.
Other places to target would be along grass lines, overtop of submerged grass, near laydowns or stumps, or along a rip-rap bank. These locations present plenty of areas for bass to ambush baitfish — and also your BFS lure as it glides by. In the end, it’s just like any traditional technique. Match your BFS bait to the baitfish in your area and you’ll be headed for success. It’s not rocket science, but it sure is a heck of a lot of fun.
The Gear You Need to Fish BFS for Bass
Picking the Right Rod
The most important aspect of BFS fishing is admittedly the reel, but the rod also plays an important role. Too light of a rod will likely lead to inaccurate casts and a bad hookup ratio. Too stiff and you’ll be picking out backlash after backlash
Thankfully, there are plenty of Goldilocks rods to choose from. My favorite so far is the Abu Garcia Zenon BFS 7-foot 1-inch medium-moderate fast rod. It’s a bit heavier than some options out there, but it rides that fine line quite well. It allows me to make long casts with ⅛ to ⅜ ounce lures and has a nice tapered tip for hooksets and the ensuing fight.
Abu Garcia Zenon BFS Casting Rod
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Picking the Right Reel
As I mentioned, the reel you choose will make or break your BFS experience. Don’t cheap out here. The technology behind these low-inertia baitcasting reels is hard to master, but when you get your hands on a great BFS reel, you’ll quickly realize how important it is.
The key is finding a reel that is plenty adjustable and allows you to make long casts without enduring a backlash every throw. Like the rods, there are plenty of options available, but I’ve found the Abu Garcia Zenon LTX BFS casting reel in a 6.8:1 gear ratio to be the best option out there. It’s incredibly versatile, easy to adjust and get dialed in depending on the weight of my lure, and I’ve rarely dealt with backlashes while firing around some ultra-lightweight lures.
Abu Garcia Zenon LTX BFS Casting Reel
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The Best BFS Lures
As with many techniques, there is no “best” lure. It’s truly a matter of personal preference. With that in mind, I’m recommending my two favorites thus far. For fishing around specific cover like laydowns or grass lines, I’ve become a huge fan of the Bucca Brand 2.5″ Lil’ Baby Bull Shad Swimbait. It’s a slow-sinking swimbait that has a subtle action that drives bass and panfish crazy. Don’t be surprised if you see 5 to 10 fish chasing this thing down before one finally bites.
My other go-to BFS lure is the Megabass Karashi Twitch Bait. At just 2.3 inches, it’s the perfect option to replicate an erratic minnow that’s been separated from the school. You can burn it across the top of the water or slowly work it back to the boat. Either way, the bass can’t resist. I’ve caught both largemouth and smallmouth on the Karashi in ponds, rivers, and lakes. It’s just flat out fun to fish with and watch the bass go crazy over it.
Line
When selecting what line to spool up with, the key factor should be selecting the right pound test. I highly recommend a good, premium fluorocarbon and a six pound test for starters. You can get away with a four pound test, but you’ll also be more likely to lose a few more lures that way. As for the fluorocarbon, I’ve found the new Berkley GinClear to offer the best quality for the price. It’s small diameter, doesn’t have much memory, and holds up to the test of BFS techniques.
Final Thoughts on BFS for Bass
I’ll be the first to say that BFS fishing for bass isn’t for everyone. Depending on my mood, sometimes it’s not even right for me. It requires patience, focus, and a little learning curve before you become proficient at casting these micro-lures. Still, it’s one of the most fun techniques I’ve fished in a long time. It reminded me why I love fishing and has been the reason for some of the most fun I’ve had on the water in recent memory.
When you finally get your BFS bait in the right area, it’s action-packed and the fish just won’t stop biting. It makes catching smaller than average fish a joy thanks to the lightweight gear, and when you are lucky enough to hook into a big one, be prepared for the fight of your life. If you’re on the hunt for a new, fun way to catch some bass this summer, look no further than BFS.
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