BFS Fishing – A Complete Guide to Bait Finesse System

BFS originated for one main reason - highly pressured and finicky fish. Like many other modern bass fishing techniques, BFS originated in Japan and was later adopted by American anglers.

There are two potential ways the technique came to be:

1. Involving trout fishing
2. Involving largemouth bass fishing

The mountains of Japan contain some beautiful streams inhabited by finicky and line-shy trout. It is believed that Japanese trout anglers wanted to target these fish using casting gear to make more accurate casts, and quite simply because using casting gear is fun! However, no casting setup existed light enough to use the desired line or bait needed to fish for these trout, and thus, BFS was born.

Bass fishing, though, is also extremely popular in Japan, but there are significantly fewer places to do it there than there are in the United States, leading to extremely pressured fish that are difficult to fool with any presentation other than light lines and small lures.

Many bass anglers are also significantly more comfortable using casting gear than spinning gear. This preference to use casting gear paired with the need to finesse fish may have also birthed the technique of Bait Finesse System fishing. Preference to use casting gear isn’t the only reason BFS became popular, though. Although the same diameter line may be used on a BFS setup as a spinning setup, a casting reel typically has a faster gear ratio than most spinning reels, allowing for more line pickup and more control over a fish.

A well-dialed-in BFS outfit can also make deadly accurate casts and launch a light bait incredibly far. Regardless of how the technique came to be, American anglers have discovered and taken full advantage of it.

Bass fishing in America continues to grow in popularity every year. There are more anglers on the water than there ever have been before, and the countless legendary bass lakes all over the country become more and more pressured as more people adopt the sport. Not only that, but the incredible advancements in technology have also majorly changed the game.

With forward-facing sonar, anglers can now physically see how fish are reacting to their baits and more easily cast right on their noses. This takes all the guesswork out of knowing if you’re actually around fish and gives an angler the confidence to work their baits very slow with finesse tactics.

Damiki rigging, or fishing vertically for fish suspended off the bottom, has also never been easier thanks to forward-facing sonar. BFS outfits are ideal for this style of fishing as well as Neko rigging, dropshotting, and many other finesse tactics. It’s also no secret that many American bass anglers prefer casting gear to spinning gear, especially in southern states.

There are many southern bass anglers that don’t even own a spinning rod! However, the intense fishing pressure as of late has demanded that bass anglers have more of a finesse approach to these pressured fisheries, and BFS has allowed those who prefer casting gear to put these finicky largemouth in the boat.

This technique is not just for southern largemouth anglers though. Up north, there are many lakes with gin-clear water that allows finicky, sight-feeding smallmouth and largemouth to pick out any irregularity in even the most dialed-in presentation. BFS allows these anglers to use casting gear to target these fish.

Here’s a prime scenario where using BFS would shine for big northern bass:

• Water is gin clear and there have been many tournaments on said water body causing fish to be very wary
• You’re fishing small holes in the grass with drop shots and ned rigs
• Big bass pull you further into the grass when hooked and come off on spinning tackle
• A BFS casting setup with 15lb braid and a 6-10lb fluorocarbon leader allows you to make accurate pitches to the holes in the grass and put more pressure on the fish to increase your landing percentage

BFS doesn’t have to be for just bass either. Many American crappie and trout anglers have adopted the technique as well and are raving about it!

Let’s talk BFS gear.

Daiwa and Shimano have paved the way for developing BFS-specific products, but other companies such as St. Croix, Cashion, Lamiglas, and Dobyns have also expanded their product lines to include BFS-capable rods.

What is a BFS reel? A BFS reel is a baitcasting reel specifically engineered to handle light lines and lures. This reel is a critical component of the BFS fishing setup, providing the necessary control and precision for light tackle applications.

See our full buying guide for the Best BFS Reels