BFS Beyond Trout

There's no doubt bfs is fun.
Light lures, technical casts and finesse-sized gear make every catch a bit more rewarding.

But let's be honest. It may not be the tool that wins a bass tournament. An 8 lb largemouth under heavy mats or around pilings on Clear Lake, deep structure for a 6 lb smallie, a five-fish limit against the clock. Heavier rods and lines still rule the tournament scene.

So where does bfs really shine? Small moving water. Current makes bfs far more effective than still water does. It helps hide your approach, so you don't have to keep your distance the way you do on still water. And in moving water, fish gather around structure you can actually see: rocks, logs, seams and undercut banks.

“Where bfs becomes ultra effective”

Wild trout. Originally a bass finesse method, bfs found its true calling in mountain streams. This is where it turns from fun to ultra effective.
Our founder began exploring bfs in the US back in 2011 and quickly learned that on big lakes and rivers, finding the right water to fish matters most. That's where bfs falls short, with its shorter casting range and smaller, less visible lures.

Wild trout are spooky. One shadow, one heavy footstep, and the fish darts out of range and gets lockjaw. They hold in tight spots: the pocket behind a rock, the shade under an overhanging branch, the seam along an undercut bank. And they decide in a second or two.

• A light minnow lands within their striking range
• Thumb control stops the lure an inch from the bank
• A short rod swings easily under the canopy
• Direct lure control in current: twitch, drift and pause exactly where the fish holds
• Moderate blank action keeps a barbless hook pinned through head-shakes and jumps

Spinning gear can do some of this. With bfs, you get all of it, cast after cast, plus the extra fun of casting a baitcasting reel.

The first cast counts, especially with large wild trout, and bfs makes it count.

“Other species bfs suits”

Same game, different fish. Clear creeks and small rivers all across the country hold unique bass, and nearby ponds and lakes hold panfish. Both are a perfect fit for trout bfs, even in states with little or no trout water.

Creek smallmouth

The prime target beyond trout. Smallmouth bass are native to the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence drainages and much of the Mississippi River basin, including Kentucky, and were introduced into rivers far beyond. Ozark streams in Missouri and Arkansas, Appalachian rivers in Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania, and countless creeks across the Midwest hold wild smallmouth. You'll even find them in rivers in central and northern California.

Most creek smallmouth run 10 to 14 inches. Over 3 pounds in small water is a real trophy.

They live exactly where trout bfs shines: clear riffles, current seams, rock ledges and the deep pocket at the head of a pool. They hit a twitched minnow like a train, then jump, run and jump again.

We've caught smallmouth now and then while trout fishing with bfs. Moving-water smallmouth definitely deserve a trip of their own.

Native creek bass

The South holds several small, beautiful and unique bass that live almost only in clear flowing water. Most are under 2 pounds, and they're some of the most colorful, strikingly patterned bass in fresh water.

Suwannee bass: native to a handful of spring-fed rivers in Florida and southern Georgia, such as the Suwannee, Santa Fe, Ichetucknee, Wakulla, Wacissa and Ochlockonee. Moderate to swift current over limestone. Adults show bright turquoise on the cheeks, breast and belly. One of the most beautiful bass anywhere. Usually under 12 inches, and the Florida record is just under 4 pounds. Some rivers have special harvest rules, so check before you go. We first learned about Suwannee bass back in the late '90s, and they're still on our bucket list today.

Redeye bass: red eyes and red-tinted fins. Native only to the Coosa River system in Alabama and Georgia, in rocky runs and pools of creeks and small rivers. A small bass, usually under a pound, in water that looks like a mountain trout stream.

Shoal bass: the heavyweight of the group, with tiger-striped flanks. Native only to the Apalachicola–Chattahoochee–Flint river basin in Georgia, Alabama and Florida, living on fast-moving shoals. They can grow past 20 inches, and dams and siltation have taken much of their habitat.

Guadalupe bass: the state fish of Texas, found only in the cool, clear Hill Country rivers and creeks, such as the Guadalupe, South Llano, Pedernales and Blanco. Small, but full of attitude. Decades of restoration work brought pure Guadalupe bass back after hybridization with stocked smallmouth nearly wiped them out.

Several of these are species of conservation concern with small ranges. Treat every one like the treasure it is.
Our purpose with this Note is to share opportunities with anglers who live far from trout water, not to add more pressure to vulnerable species.

Panfish next door

• Pumpkinseed: orange belly and turquoise-streaked cheeks, in clear, weedy ponds and lakes across the northern US and southern Canada
• Longear sunfish: electric orange and turquoise, in clear streams from the Ozarks to the Great Lakes
• Rock bass: red-eyed brawlers that share smallmouth creeks and hit small minnows hard, and a blast in Minnesota
• Bluegill and redear sunfish: popular nationwide, and the big ones pull far above their weight

Black crappie, north of the border

Black crappie are a popular catch in parts of Canada. In Ontario they live throughout the south and in the northwest, in warm, clear, weedy lakes and slow rivers. Most run 7 to 10 inches. They're aggressive, too. The metallic sheen on every scale makes this species special to us, just as it is to many Canadian anglers.

Traditional crappie fishing means long rods, tiny jigs and vertical presentations, and many anglers troll. With bfs, it's a different game: accurate casts to docks, brush and weed edges, with small minnows worked through the cover. Crappie have famously thin mouths, and a soft glass blank should help keep the hook from tearing out.

We haven't field-tested this yet, so take it as an exciting idea, not a promise. North of the border, a lot of quiet water is waiting. Black crappie are a must on our next trip north.

“Choosing your gear”

Small-water bfs is a game of balance. Rod, reel, line and lure all have to work together.

Rod length: shorter is easier in tight water. Around 4'10" to 5'2" for overgrown creeks, around 5'6" for all-round streams, and around 5'10" for wider rivers, longer casts, wind and kayak fishing. Keep in mind that landing a fish from a kayak makes it harder to avoid high-sticking.

Power: choose the lightest power that can handle the fish in your water. L for most creek fish up to around 16 inches, M when 20-inch-class fish are possible, MH for bigger fish, heavier lures and windy days. Power ratings on bass bfs rods differ from ours, so compare using the lure and line ratings in our chart.

Action: moderate to moderate fast. A rod that bends deep absorbs head-shakes and keeps a barbless hook pinned. Too stiff, and small fish simply bounce off. A single barbless hook isn't an everyday choice for most non-trout anglers, but it dramatically reduces harm to the fish. With proper C&R, even a 100-fish day has minimal impact on the environment.

Lure weight: most trout bfs minnows and small spinners weigh about 3 to 7 g (around 1/10 to 1/4 oz). Very small panfish and crappie jigs under 2.5 g won't cast well on bfs rods, so 1/8 oz jigs, small spinners and small minnows are the sweet spot. Each species has its own appetite, and solving that puzzle is half the fun.

Line: PE 0.6 to 1.0 (Japanese size) with a nylon or fluorocarbon leader of 4 to 8 lb covers most creeks. A fluorocarbon leader handles rocky bottoms and smallmouth teeth better, but a nylon leader stretches more and keeps fish pinned on a single barbless hook noticeably better.

Reel: a shallow, light spool lets the lightest minnows fly with a gentle flick. You don't have to invest in a high-dollar bfs-specific reel to start. Avail makes Microcast spools and magnet brakes for many popular Shimano and Daiwa baitcasting models.

A spool swap alone gives you about half of the full potential, depending on how the reel's original brake system works. Replace the brake with Avail's too, and the spool and brake work together as one. That completes the full bfs tune, and the reel you already own becomes the ultimate bfs machine. Check that the parts fit your exact reel model first.

Whatever you choose, stay within the line and lure weight ratings printed on the rod. Our specs for every model are in the chart on each product page.

“They fight differently”

Even rainbow and brown trout fight a little differently from each other. Bass and panfish are different again, and our rods are designed for wild trout. A few simple rules keep the rod and the fish safe:

• Keep the fight short and steer fish away from snags early. Less exhaustion means a healthier release
• Do not use bfs rods to pull big largemouth out of heavy cover
• Set your drag to match your reel, line and hook wire gauge

Breakage from line heavier than the rating, or from a drag set above it, isn't covered by our Rod Warranty.

“Plan your new adventure”

Start close to home. Your state or province fish and wildlife agency usually has stream maps, public access points and species info. Many good creeks run right through towns and parks.

Spring before the spawn and early fall are great for most of these fish. In summer, go early in the morning and wet wade.

Pack light: one rod, a small box of minnows and spinners, pliers, a rubber mesh net, polarized glasses and good wading shoes.

Check the water before you step in. Creeks rise fast after rain, and rocks are slippery. Your safety always comes before any fish.

Single barbless hooks, wet hands, quick photo, fast release. Same care, every fish.

Minimizing the Harm
Single Barbless Hook
Field Etiquette
Wild Trout Closer Than You Think

Trout bfs grew up in mountain streams. The skills it teaches work on any small, clear, moving water.

That little creek you drive past every day? Something beautiful lives there, and it has probably never seen a bfs minnow.

Go find out :D

*Species ranges, sizes and seasons vary by water and by year. Some species and waters have special protections, size limits or catch and release rules. Always check local rules and conditions, and fish within your own limits.