BFS baitcaster shootout, a personal journey

[IAY]

A really informative thread although my experience has been a bit different. I started with the Scorpion 1000XT and the avail 915R spool and like it a lot, but having limited funds and hoping for even better performance with 4 gram weights, I bought a Revo LTX. What my yard casting tests have shown is with the Scorpion that I get 75 feet with a 4 gram casting plug and 80 feet with the Revo using the identical rod and line. I also have found that, once dialed in, I get no backlashes with the Revo and an occasional one with the Scorpion. No, the Revo isn't half as aesthetically pleasing as the Scorpion, but for me it has a functional edge and can be had at a lower price than the Scorpion-Avail combo. Just my two cents worth.

I am pretty sure the LTX has better bearings than the Scorpion, since its kinda made for this purpose d:

[Professor-Jay]

Hi All,
Correction to my previous post: I got a Revo LTX not a LTZ. Brain cramp or wishful thinking I guess....

[Martin Lo]

Hi All,
Correction to my previous post: I got a Revo LTX not a LTZ. Brain cramp or wishful thinking I guess....

IMO, you're not missing much.. I manage to break my LTZ about 6 times in a year.

If you have the opportunity get it serviced with attention to tightening up the levelwind wobble, the clutch linkages, And replace the piece of composite on the palm side of the spool shaft, under the bearing.

[slicksouthpaw]

ltz going on 2 years strong. not a single problem unless it was something i messed up trying to service it.

[slicksouthpaw]

even caught a 50lb pelagic ray with it

[Martin Lo]

I wasn't so lucky.

[TommyG]

Took my Revo LTX out for the first time, 8lb mono and 1/4 oz swimbait, wow, I was impressed, very easy to cast,and really good distance,I'd guess 25-30 yards, I'm not really a BFS guy but can see the possibilities.

[africanbass]

Thought I would post this here as it is a collection of finesse reel experiences.
SLP Works now offers 2 specialized inductor tuning options for the AIR finesse spool(T3 Air/SS Air )
1-Small trout stream tune
2-small crank 'shad' tune/info sketchy but sounds like a slower 6:1 gear set.
Offer unique braking profiles for the above intended applications
Just thought I would inform those 'Air' spool owners on TT

[Martin Lo]

Thought I would post this here as it is a collection of finesse reel experiences.
SLP Works now offers 2 specialized inductor tuning options for the AIR finesse spool(T3 Air/SS Air )
1-Small trout stream tune
2-small crank 'shad' tune/info sketchy but sounds like a slower 6:1 gear set.
Offer unique braking profiles for the above intended applications
Just thought I would inform those 'Air' spool owners on TT

Cool! Got a link for that??

[slideaction]

I've been able to do pretty good on 2.6g on an aldebaran mg stock with 10lb pline flouroclear. Going to check how it does with the older avail 929 spool and lighter line and used abec7 ss bearings

[Pen3]

Those shad cranks look nice, anyone know what brand are those?

[africanbass]

Thought I would post this here as it is a collection of finesse reel experiences.
SLP Works now offers 2 specialized inductor tuning options for the AIR finesse spool(T3 Air/SS Air )
1-Small trout stream tune
2-small crank 'shad' tune/info sketchy but sounds like a slower 6:1 gear set.
Offer unique braking profiles for the above intended applications
Just thought I would inform those 'Air' spool owners on TT

Cool! Got a link for that??

http://www.sl-planets.co.jp/home/workst ... -stbc.html
http://www.sl-planets.co.jp/home/workst ... index.html

[Schlag]

Nice find on the SLP small trout stream tune. I noticed they mention "immobilization inductor rotor" for 2 - 7g lures (Google translation). I'm assuming they're modifying the spool to have a fixed inductor rotor. This would offer less casting distance, but more control for light lures.

Got to get a couple of those D-Shiner 55SP cranks.

http://all.daiwa21.com/fishing/item/lur ... /d_shiner/

[John G]

I can't explain it but I found the 928RR casts easier than the 915.

By casting easier do you mean more distance, less overruns etc? I just ordered the ALD0915R and for the time being, I will be using it for Bitsy Minnows. On my scale, the Bitsy Minnows are 2.44 grams and I am using 6# Floroclear, CR721IMX and AldMG7 with a Yumeya Spool. My CNQ50's are down at the moment but the CNQ50 with Avail CNQ5026R Spool makes throwing the little Bitsy Minnows a much easier task than when using the Yumeya Spool. I am hoping the ALD0915R, which is lighter and holds less line than either the Avail CNQ50 or Yumeya Spools do, performs even better because it will eventually be used for unweighted soft plastics on the CR721.

[Patex]

Further update to my first post.
I started using both the Scorpion XT1001 with the ALD0915 spool and the Zonda with the BFS spool with 6lb Sunline fluoro. The ease and the distance of casting improved on both. I still think that with very light weight (sub 3gr total for example 0.9g jighead with 2" Rattlesnake Quad tail grub) the Avail spool has the edge but when casting into wind the Zonda is more controlled due to the magnets, whereas the Scorpion tends to overrun.
I also got my hands on an Aldebaran MG with ALD0928 spool I used it with 10lb Sunline Fluoro, but I am not impressed. I am not sure why yet, but I have a lot of overruns, even with 4 brakes on. Also I don't like the hollow feeling of the Aldebaran compared to the solid feeling of the Scorpion or the Zonda.