New Finesse/BFS reel for salt water

Reels are the hottest topic for TackleTour. Everyone wants to know what the latest and greatest is and how they compare to the old guard. What's the best for light stuff, or what's your suggestion for heavy cover. Do we really need different retrieve ratios? It's all in here.
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Re: New Finesse/BFS reel for salt water

Post by Slary » Fri Nov 25, 2022 8:47 am

Yes, Craiger writes correct. Compromises are allways compromises.

I am quite sure, you don't regret if you buy Black Knight 2 from alibaba. It is good BFS reel, I have it left handed, so it don't even work like Shimano has designed FTB. But, that is not problem, it is very, very good with 3-5gram lures. I can say, it throws very well.
1 summer behind, no troubles with reel.

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Re: New Finesse/BFS reel for salt water

Post by dragon1 » Fri Nov 25, 2022 9:13 am

Dalleinf wrote:
Fri Nov 25, 2022 12:01 am
Welcome.
For saltwater fishing mostly 5-10 gram lures - and in order of preference with ties, I would be happy with:

Round reels:
1. Shimano Conquest bfs (perhaps with deep Avail spool)
1. Shimano Conquest 101 DC (if 5+ gram)
2. Daiwa Millionaire CT with aftermarket spool (e.g. Ktf, hard to get).
2. ABU Ambassadeur 1601/2601 with high gear ratio set and aftermarket spool
3. ABU Ambassadeur 4601 with Aftermarket/Avail Spool

Low profile:
1. Shimano Aldebaran bfs 22
1. Daiwa Alphas Air TW
1. Daiwa Gekkabijin
1. Almost any 34 mm Daiwa, e.g. 21 Zillion with aftermarket spool, preferably zpi or ktf
2. ABU Alc BF7
- for all low profile reels you can get nice aftermarket spools, but they are not mandatory for what you want to do.

These are all reels that I own
Excellent arsenal!
"It is like a finger pointing away to the Moon...don't concentrate on the finger, or you will miss all of that heavenly glory."

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Re: New Finesse/BFS reel for salt water

Post by Dalleinf » Fri Nov 25, 2022 1:09 pm

I have the jdm version, which is great but not bfs (zillion standard)

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Re: New Finesse/BFS reel for salt water

Post by DrSteveBrule » Sat Nov 26, 2022 10:07 am

Only Alphas sv tw 800H available and can't find the shallow spool version in my country. Is that the standard model?

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Re: New Finesse/BFS reel for salt water

Post by jvelth74 » Sat Nov 26, 2022 12:21 pm

Site Sponsor Japan Tackle seems having it on stock. Please click sponsor link on top of page, this site gets some funding acc. to clickings... I think 'S' is special model and it's usually not sold in Scandinavia. I looked differences from Japan Takcle..:
- Alphas 800: for 3.5-7g, 1/8-1/4oz rigs, 0.285mm(US10lb)-90m(100yds)
- Alphas 800S: for 2-5g, 1/16-3/16oz rigs. 0.235mm(US6lb)-80m(90yds)
800XH = 8.1:1, 800SXH=8.5:1

I didn’t found more differences between those than std. 800 has 65% more spool volume and a little difference in XH gears.

Btv, obviously GekkaBijin Air wouldn't be bad choise with deep spool from Ali... :http://www.tackletour.net/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=88844
I love my GekkaBijin and it seems like I must order this spool from Ali...Ordered it. It was cheap. Picked that SV style spool.
'Long cast spool'.jpg
'Long cast spool'.jpg (12.34 KiB) Viewed 2126 times

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Re: New Finesse/BFS reel for salt water

Post by dragon1 » Sun Nov 27, 2022 4:26 pm

jvelth74 wrote:
Sat Nov 26, 2022 12:21 pm
Site Sponsor Japan Tackle seems having it on stock. Please click sponsor link on top of page, this site gets some funding acc. to clickings... I think 'S' is special model and it's usually not sold in Scandinavia. I looked differences from Japan Takcle..:
- Alphas 800: for 3.5-7g, 1/8-1/4oz rigs, 0.285mm(US10lb)-90m(100yds)
- Alphas 800S: for 2-5g, 1/16-3/16oz rigs. 0.235mm(US6lb)-80m(90yds)
800XH = 8.1:1, 800SXH=8.5:1

I didn’t found more differences between those than std. 800 has 65% more spool volume and a little difference in XH gears.

Btv, obviously GekkaBijin Air wouldn't be bad choise with deep spool from Ali... :http://www.tackletour.net/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=88844
I love my GekkaBijin and it seems like I must order this spool from Ali...Ordered it. It was cheap. Picked that SV style spool.
'Long cast spool'.jpg
Let us know your thoughts on this spool after you have some time with it on the water. 8-)
"It is like a finger pointing away to the Moon...don't concentrate on the finger, or you will miss all of that heavenly glory."

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Re: New Finesse/BFS reel for salt water

Post by jvelth74 » Fri Dec 02, 2022 7:24 am

dragon1 wrote:
Sun Nov 27, 2022 4:26 pm
jvelth74 wrote:
Sat Nov 26, 2022 12:21 pm
Btv, obviously GekkaBijin Air wouldn't be bad choise with deep spool from Ali... :http://www.tackletour.net/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=88844
I love my GekkaBijin and it seems like I must order this spool from Ali...Ordered it. It was cheap. Picked that SV style spool.
'Long cast spool'.jpg
Let us know your thoughts on this spool after you have some time with it on the water. 8-)
Sure! But it's ice-age in here Finland by now, so probably I will test it on spring...

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Re: New Finesse/BFS reel for salt water

Post by John G » Fri Dec 02, 2022 1:26 pm

Have I missed it? I'm not sure of what rod you are going to use.

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Re: New Finesse/BFS reel for salt water

Post by dragon1 » Sat Dec 03, 2022 5:59 am

jvelth74 wrote:
Fri Dec 02, 2022 7:24 am
dragon1 wrote:
Sun Nov 27, 2022 4:26 pm
jvelth74 wrote:
Sat Nov 26, 2022 12:21 pm
Btv, obviously GekkaBijin Air wouldn't be bad choise with deep spool from Ali... :http://www.tackletour.net/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=88844
I love my GekkaBijin and it seems like I must order this spool from Ali...Ordered it. It was cheap. Picked that SV style spool.
'Long cast spool'.jpg
Let us know your thoughts on this spool after you have some time with it on the water. 8-)
Sure! But it's ice-age in here Finland by now, so probably I will test it on spring...
Stay warm my friend.
"It is like a finger pointing away to the Moon...don't concentrate on the finger, or you will miss all of that heavenly glory."

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Re: New Finesse/BFS reel for salt water

Post by jvelth74 » Tue Jan 17, 2023 7:06 am

dragon1 wrote:
Sun Nov 27, 2022 4:26 pm
jvelth74 wrote:
Sat Nov 26, 2022 12:21 pm
http://www.tackletour.net/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=88844
I love my GekkaBijin and it seems like I must order this spool from Ali...Ordered it. It was cheap. Picked that SV style spool.
Let us know your thoughts on this spool after you have some time with it on the water. 8-)
Received it on today. Tested it in a reel. Tolerances are really high. A little bit hard to get it installed. Inductor felt a little bit sticky in the other direction. Also freespool was not too good. I guess this bearing is overgreased and also in inductor is some grease or oil. Has to be cleaned...But anyway I'm happy with this spool.

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Re: New Finesse/BFS reel for salt water

Post by dragon1 » Tue Jan 17, 2023 9:04 am

jvelth74 wrote:
Tue Jan 17, 2023 7:06 am
dragon1 wrote:
Sun Nov 27, 2022 4:26 pm
jvelth74 wrote:
Sat Nov 26, 2022 12:21 pm
http://www.tackletour.net/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=88844
I love my GekkaBijin and it seems like I must order this spool from Ali...Ordered it. It was cheap. Picked that SV style spool.
Let us know your thoughts on this spool after you have some time with it on the water. 8-)
Received it on today. Tested it in a reel. Tolerances are really high. A little bit hard to get it installed. Inductor felt a little bit sticky in the other direction. Also freespool was not too good. I guess this bearing is overgreased and also in inductor is some grease or oil. Has to be cleaned...But anyway I'm happy with this spool.
Nice! Yeah, I'm seeing lots of bearings with either too much oil or grease and gears being a bit dry the last few years. A quick flush and drop of oil should help. Also did you get the SV or fixed inductor?
"It is like a finger pointing away to the Moon...don't concentrate on the finger, or you will miss all of that heavenly glory."

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Re: New Finesse/BFS reel for salt water

Post by jvelth74 » Tue Jan 17, 2023 9:28 am

It is sv style. There was something wrong in the activation ramp, but it just needed some forth and back movements. Now it moves smoothly.

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Re: New Finesse/BFS reel for salt water

Post by LowRange » Tue Jan 17, 2023 3:38 pm

All that I can add is that for the weighs you listed I also would want more capacity than your average BFS spool and also because it will be used in saltwater I would want no porting of any kind. Thats a path to the spool bearings and pinion support bearings as well as gearing.

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Re: New Finesse/BFS reel for salt water

Post by dragon1 » Tue Jan 17, 2023 7:18 pm

LowRange wrote:
Tue Jan 17, 2023 3:38 pm
All that I can add is that for the weighs you listed I also would want more capacity than your average BFS spool and also because it will be used in saltwater I would want no porting of any kind. Thats a path to the spool bearings and pinion support bearings as well as gearing.
Good points and agreed.
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Re: New Finesse/BFS reel for salt water

Post by DrSteveBrule » Wed May 03, 2023 8:40 am

Went with the Daiwa Alphas Air SV TW. I feel like it was the best pick for an all arounder and it will show me the direction where I want to go next. At first I liked the feel of Curado BFS in my hands more but once I attached multiple reels into my rod the Alphas felt best.
Price was also easily justified for someone whos been mainly fly fishing the past 10 years.

Thanks for help everyone! [-o<

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