$50 L powered (BFS?) rods?

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LowRange
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$50 L powered (BFS?) rods?

Post by LowRange » Sat Jun 13, 2020 11:58 am

I'm trying various sub $50 Aliexpress rods to find a cheap versions of my Volkey BFS' so I can stop taking them out on my Kayak since they irreplaceable at this point. Something I don't mind leaving at the bottom of the pond if something happens. Plus it is just fun to try different rods and tapers to see what I really like.

I'm looking at this thing on Aliexpress and it seems like a really good deal. Fuji reel seat and guides on a $50 rod. Kyorim Carza II. Blank diameter looks pretty close to my Volkey 682L BFS. I'll probably pick this one up.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3305026 ... 9976%23361

I have this thing on the way in the light power. Lure weights make no sense on it but whatever.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001021 ... 9976%23361

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Re: $50 L powered (BFS?) rods?

Post by adam lancia » Sun Jun 14, 2020 3:07 am

I have this one https://m.aliexpress.com/item/32812998743.html and it's been pretty good so far. It's true to its weight rating, the reel seat is comfortable with an Alphas, the taper doesn't have any big flat spots in it even though it's a 3 piece rod.

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Re: $50 L powered (BFS?) rods?

Post by jvelth74 » Sun Jun 14, 2020 5:30 am

Not chepar than $50, and not Ali product, and not L rod, but i have tried Shimano Trout One UL. I think it was shortest one version. It's quality product and really nice rod. It's much more backbone than Ali Kuyings Tetons, which I like very much. But still Trout Ones has good ability to cast light lures. If possibility, try those. Those can be found something $160, and those are available so those are replaceable. Those are variable lengths and slightly different powers. I'm not suggesting directly buy, but try, if posible.

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Re: $50 L powered (BFS?) rods?

Post by LowRange » Sun Jun 14, 2020 6:52 am

I'm looking for bass (BFS) rods. Trout rods are too noodlely for what I want to do. My Volkey L had a lot of back bone and power similar to a medium powered bass rod but a soft tip secfion that allows it to cast small baits.

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Re: $50 L powered (BFS?) rods?

Post by jvelth74 » Sun Jun 14, 2020 9:10 am

Yes, I understand. I think St.Croix Mojo Bass Plastics is bass rod? But not BFS rod. In my opinion action of Shimano Trout One is actually close to Mojo Bass Plastics, but it's much lighter, UL rod = BFS.

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Re: $50 L powered (BFS?) rods?

Post by LowRange » Sun Jun 14, 2020 2:41 pm

jvelth74 wrote:
Sun Jun 14, 2020 9:10 am
Yes, I understand. I think St.Croix Mojo Bass Plastics is bass rod? But not BFS rod. In my opinion action of Shimano Trout One is actually close to Mojo Bass Plastics, but it's much lighter, UL rod = BFS.
UL =/= BFS. There is a reason Majorcraft has separate Trout UL and L powered casting rods and BFS series of rods. The two are completely different. BFS sticks have a lot a backbone and power for fishing for bass around cover. UL rods are different animal. We label things "BFS" that are not actually BFS at all.

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Re: $50 L powered (BFS?) rods?

Post by LowRange » Sun Jun 14, 2020 8:02 pm

adam lancia wrote:
Sun Jun 14, 2020 3:07 am
I have this one https://m.aliexpress.com/item/32812998743.html and it's been pretty good so far. It's true to its weight rating, the reel seat is comfortable with an Alphas, the taper doesn't have any big flat spots in it even though it's a 3 piece rod.
Thanks, that was one I was eyeing in casting. I like the price but couldn't get past the "Johncoo" branding. One of those and their reels seems like a great budget sub $100 combo.

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Re: $50 L powered (BFS?) rods?

Post by jvelth74 » Mon Jun 15, 2020 12:46 am

https://www.finesse-fishing.com/bait-fi ... ystem.html

Obviously it's not known / not clear which was first; lightest baitcasting setups for mountain stream / trout or lightest baitcasting setups for Largemouth bass..

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Re: $50 L powered (BFS?) rods?

Post by LowRange » Mon Jun 15, 2020 7:16 am

jvelth74 wrote:
Mon Jun 15, 2020 12:46 am
https://www.finesse-fishing.com/bait-fi ... ystem.html

Obviously it's not known / not clear which was first; lightest baitcasting setups for mountain stream / trout or lightest baitcasting setups for Largemouth bass..
BFS is not about casting the lightest baits but about a casting light baits, hooking fish and moving them away from cover. BFS rods are built completely different from normal UL or L powered rods. This is why we don't see BFS lettering on the Majorcraft stream and area trout rods but we do on their bass line of rods. This is why when someone buys an actual UL BFS rod they are perplexed as to why it is so stiff for an UL. People think BFS just means "casting rods that cast light baits well" but that is not accurate and often times a BFS stick will actually cast lighter weight offerings worse than a similar power normal rod due to having such a large diameter blank and backbone they do not load as deeply as normal UL and L rods.

My rule of thumb is that it needs to have "BFS" or "bait finesse" written on the rod. If it doesn't then it is gamble whether or not the rod will have enough backbone to be a BFS rod. Typically these are going to be a series of rods within a line of freshwater
or seabass rods. Volkey and Volkey BFS, Zodias and Zodias BFs ect. What "BFS" actually means I don't know but is is only found on what we would call bass lines of rods. When UL and L powered rods for trout are offered by the same manufactures they drop the BFS wording for some reason. This is helpful however because it is useful in identifying what type of UL or L powered rod it will be given how completely different they are.

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Re: $50 L powered (BFS?) rods?

Post by adam lancia » Thu Sep 03, 2020 5:42 pm

LowRange wrote:
Sat Jun 13, 2020 11:58 am
I'm trying various sub $50 Aliexpress rods to find a cheap versions of my Volkey BFS' so I can stop taking them out on my Kayak since they irreplaceable at this point. Something I don't mind leaving at the bottom of the pond if something happens. Plus it is just fun to try different rods and tapers to see what I really like.

I'm looking at this thing on Aliexpress and it seems like a really good deal. Fuji reel seat and guides on a $50 rod. Kyorim Carza II. Blank diameter looks pretty close to my Volkey 682L BFS. I'll probably pick this one up.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3305026 ... 9976%23361

I have this thing on the way in the light power. Lure weights make no sense on it but whatever.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001021 ... 9976%23361
Have you used that rod yet? What do you think of it...?

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Re: $50 L powered (BFS?) rods?

Post by LowRange » Thu Sep 03, 2020 6:01 pm

adam lancia wrote:
Thu Sep 03, 2020 5:42 pm
LowRange wrote:
Sat Jun 13, 2020 11:58 am
I'm trying various sub $50 Aliexpress rods to find a cheap versions of my Volkey BFS' so I can stop taking them out on my Kayak since they irreplaceable at this point. Something I don't mind leaving at the bottom of the pond if something happens. Plus it is just fun to try different rods and tapers to see what I really like.

I'm looking at this thing on Aliexpress and it seems like a really good deal. Fuji reel seat and guides on a $50 rod. Kyorim Carza II. Blank diameter looks pretty close to my Volkey 682L BFS. I'll probably pick this one up.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3305026 ... 9976%23361

I have this thing on the way in the light power. Lure weights make no sense on it but whatever.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001021 ... 9976%23361
Have you used that rod yet? What do you think of it...?
Its here. No use yet. It seems very well built for $35. It is a little softer that my Volkey 68L BFS and is much heavier. Sensitivity seems great for $35. Made of Japan. No regrets.
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Re: $50 L powered (BFS?) rods?

Post by Slazmo » Thu Sep 03, 2020 6:04 pm

LowRange wrote:
Mon Jun 15, 2020 7:16 am

My rule of thumb is that it needs to have "BFS" or "bait finesse" written on the rod. If it doesn't then it is gamble whether or not the rod will have enough backbone to be a BFS rod. Typically these are going to be a series of rods within a line of freshwater
or seabass rods. Volkey and Volkey BFS, Zodias and Zodias BFs ect. What "BFS" actually means I don't know but is is only found on what we would call bass lines of rods. When UL and L powered rods for trout are offered by the same manufactures they drop the BFS wording for some reason. This is helpful however because it is useful in identifying what type of UL or L powered rod it will be given how completely different they are.
The S is the impertinent letter of BFS, its the System of it all.

No point having the rod, the line, the reel, the bearings, the spool and then launching a 10gr lure into lower earth orbit and bragging about it.

My Benki BF is that weird in the middle spot... But strangely is far softer and lighter than my Volkey BFS rod.

Either way when I get the chance to use them it's equally enjoyable.

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Re: $50 L powered (BFS?) rods?

Post by adam lancia » Fri Sep 04, 2020 3:51 am

LowRange wrote:
Thu Sep 03, 2020 6:01 pm
Its here. No use yet. It seems very well built for $35. It is a little softer that my Volkey 68L BFS and is much heavier. Sensitivity seems great for $35. Made of Japan. No regrets.
Do you figure it's lighter powered or has a more moderate taper? Guess you probably won't know until you get it out for a shakedown, eh?

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Re: $50 L powered (BFS?) rods?

Post by LowRange » Fri Sep 04, 2020 6:29 am

adam lancia wrote:
Fri Sep 04, 2020 3:51 am
LowRange wrote:
Thu Sep 03, 2020 6:01 pm
Its here. No use yet. It seems very well built for $35. It is a little softer that my Volkey 68L BFS and is much heavier. Sensitivity seems great for $35. Made of Japan. No regrets.
Do you figure it's lighter powered or has a more moderate taper? Guess you probably won't know until you get it out for a shakedown, eh?
It's no budget Volkey 68L replacement as far as I can tell. It's is not as crisp and has less backbone but a similar tip. It is like it has the back half of my Volkey 65UL with the tip of the 68L. The rod also comes in a UL so maybe the two share a back half? Who knows. Sensitivity seems good and I swear that weird cone for a rear gip does something to resonate vilrations. I mainly bought it to test that out. For $35 it will keep the Volkey out of the Kayak. That's what it is there to do. I didn't buy he other rod but am considering it because it might be lighter and more crisp. My Obei stick pictured above next to the $35 is a great M powered $16 rod. I wish those came in a L BFS taper.

Another one to try is a Seaknight Falcon UL/L casting rod with two tips. That might be a good buy. They sell a ton on aliexpress and it is very popular. That is usually a good sign.

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Re: $50 L powered (BFS?) rods?

Post by LowRange » Fri Sep 04, 2020 6:36 am

For $35 it is hard to find a fault but if the quest is to find a 2pc Volkey 68L BFS budget stick then I would pass and spend a little more. Not a bad buy if you want to try out this whole carbon cone for a grip thing. Trulinoya has some interesting looking sticks that may make for a decent Volkey clone at a reasonable price. I owned an older Trulinoya Elite at one point that was a copy of a Volkey. It was $100 though. Got my 1st BFS and 1st ned rig fish on that rod pictured below
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