Best Bait Finesse Combo: My Top 16 BFS Rod and Reel Combos for 2024

Hey there! My name is Aaron Hunt, and I’m a bait finesse fisherman—some might even call me a BFS addict. My wife often wonders, “Who needs this many fishing rods?” Well, I do! Over the years, I’ve accumulated quite a collection, and today, I want to share the 16 Best Bait Finesse Combos I regularly use throughout the year. I hope this gives you some ideas for your own BFS setups. Let’s dive in!

Ultra Finesse Combos

1. Dark Wolf Ultra on the Lemoren Windshadow

The Tsurinoya Dark Wolf Ultra paired with the Lemoren Windshadow is my first and favorite ultra finesse combo. This setup is perfect for casting light baits down to 1 gram and is ideal for trout and panfish in small streams. I have a sentimental attachment to this combo as it was my very first bait finesse setup, and it continues to perform flawlessly after 2.5 years.

Check Prices on the Dark Wolf Ultra
Check Prices on the Lemoren Windshadow

2. Mavllos Plume with the Flight Feather Kingfisher Reel

The Mavllos Plume and Flight Feather Kingfisher reel combo is lightweight and perfect for casting baits under 5 grams. This setup is excellent for trout and panfish. While some find the design of both the rod and the reel polarizing, I think they look good together and I appreciate its ability to handle ultra-light weights. At around 185-190 grams total, it’s one of my lightest combos.

Check Prices on the Mavllos Plume

Check Prices on the Flight Feather King Fisher Reel

3. iFishband Tendershoot on the Kistler Hunt BFS 4XUL

As the designer of the Kistler Hunt BFS rods, I love pairing the iFishband Tendershoot with our Kistler Hunt BFS 2X. This prototype rod casts down to 1 gram with ease and has a fantastic backbone. We experimented with some unique guides and a different reel seat on this prototype, and while the production rods are more refined, I still enjoy having this prototype in my collection.

We have some traditional design cues in our game-changing rods, so the round reel vibe is just a cool way to further blend the modern with the traditional. Rumor has it the Tendershoot is now out of production, so if you want a great budget round reel, grab one while you can!

Check Prices on the iFishband Tendershoot
Check Prices on the Kistler Hunt BFS 4XUL

4. Shimano Aldebaran BFS on the Kistler Hunt BFS 4XUL

The Shimano Aldebaran BFS reel on the Kistler Hunt BFS 4X rod is another favorite. This setup offers a moderate action with plenty of backbone, making it perfect for light baits and bigger fish. It’s the combination of smooth casting and a sturdy build that makes this setup irresistible.

The Alde can cast sub 1 gram, but it can also handle larger lures up to around 15 grams or so, so it’s at home on just about any BFS setup. It is one of the best BFS reels on the market today.

Check Prices on the Shimano Aldebaran BFS
Check Prices on the Kistler Hunt BFS 4XUL

5. The Best Bait Finesse Combo for 1 gram casting: Daiwa Gekkabijin on the Kistler Hunt BFS 4XUL

My go-to trout rod is the Daiwa Gekkabijin reel paired with the Kistler Hunt BFS 4X. This combo has caught some of my biggest bass this year and continues to impress me with its performance. The reel is incredibly smooth, and the rod’s action keeps me coming back to it time and again.

The combo can also throw down below 0.75 grams – I’ve even caught trout using a wooly bugger fly on this combo! Add int he fact the Gekka is saltwater-rated and optimized for braid, and there’s a case to be made that this is the best all-around BFS reel money can buy.

Check Prices on the Daiwa Gekkabijin
Check Prices on the Kistler Hunt BFS 4XUL

6. Ace Hawk CU Double with the Doviello / Soloking Acura

The Ace Hawk CU Double and Doviello Acura combo is my top budget recommendation. This setup is incredibly affordable and fun to use, making it a great starting point for anyone new to bait finesse fishing. With both components available for $40 or less each, it’s a fantastic value.

Check Prices on the Ace Hawk CU Double
Check Prices on the Doviello Acura

Standard Bait Finesse Combos

7. Major Craft Fine Tail Glass with the Daiwa Silver Creek Air TW Stream Custom

This 4’10” Major Craft Fine Tail Glass rod, paired with an appropriate reel, is phenomenal for trout and larger fish. It has a good backbone and performs well in tight areas. Despite not being rated for ultra-light weights, it handles various situations effectively.

I originally paired it with the Daiwa Silver Creek back in 2022 because they looked so good together, but they’ve also performed extremely well as a combo. Multiple trout PB’s, plus what was at the time my PB Largemouth for length and weight (and it’s still the longest Largie I’ve caught!)

Check Prices on the Major Craft Fine Tail Glass

Check Prices on the Daiwa Silver Creek Stream Custom

8. Handing Miracle Bass with the Pure Lure Silver Feather

The Handing Miracle Bass rod and Pure Lure Silver Feather reel combo is perfect for small jerkbaits and topwater lures. This combo has become very popular, and for good reason. It was an excellent deal when I picked it up for $40, but prices have since increased significantly.

Check Prices on the Handing Miracle Bass
Check Prices on the Pure Lure Silver Feather

9. Abu Garcia ALC BF7 on the Kistler Hunt BFS 3XUL

The Abu Garcia ALC BF7 reel on the Kistler Hunt BFS 3X rod is a smooth, versatile setup that I often use. Despite its age, the reel performs exceptionally well. This combo is great for a variety of fishing conditions and remains a favorite in my arsenal.

The ALC_BF7 seems to cast farther than any other reel I own, it’s got a smooth drag and a highly customizable mag-trax style braking system. I keep it paired with he prototype of the Hunt BFS 3XUL rod – the colors and the performance characteristics are simply very well matched.

Check Prices on the Abu Garcia ALC BF7
Check Prices on the Kistler Hunt BFS 3XUL

10. The Best Bait Finesse Combo for Every day use: Shimano Calcutta Conquest BFS on the Kistler Hunt BFS 3XUL

The Shimano Calcutta Conquest BFS reel paired with the Kistler Hunt BFS 3X rod is a great all-around combo. It can handle light baits and offers smooth performance. This combo is a joy to use, combining power and finesse beautifully.

The “CQ BFS” reel is as much a work of art and engineering as it is an extremely capable reel to use. If I had to choose just one reel to use the rest of my days, this might be the one.

As a bonus the silver machined finish matches the silver accents in my Signature Kistler BFS rods, so it is usually on my everyday 3XUL model.

Check Prices on the Shimano Calcutta Conquest BFS
Check Prices on the Kistler Hunt BFS 3XUL

11. Kistler Hunt BFS 7ft 3XUL with the Curado BFS

The Kistler Hunt BFS 7ft rod with the Curado BFS reel is a solid performer for topwater and buzzbaits. It’s reliable and versatile, perfect for various fishing conditions. Although it doesn’t handle ultra-light weights as well, it’s a dependable workhorse.

Check Prices on the Shimano Curado BFS
Check Prices on the Kistler Hunt BFS 7ft 3XUL

Power BFS Combos

12. Handing M1 with Prototype Kistler Reel

The Handing M1 rod paired with a first Generation prototype Kistler reel offers excellent sensitivity and fast action, perfect for topwater and Whopper Ploppers. It’s a great option for power BFS fishing. This combo handles larger baits and big fish with ease.

Check out the full review of the Handing M1 Rod here.

While we have improved on the design of this original Kistler BFS reel prototype, it continues to impress even after a year of regular use and abuse. As of this writing, the ETA for launch is still yet to be determined.

Check Prices on the Handing M1

13. Kistler Hunt BFS 2XUL with Daiwa Tatula TW 80

The Kistler Hunt BFS 2X rod and DAA Tatula reel combo is perfect for wacky rigs and larger baits. This setup offers great casting distance and sensitivity. I often use this combo from my kayak, making it a versatile tool in my fishing adventures.

While the Tatula TW 80 is not technically a BFS reel, it is easily converted by simply dropping the Gomexus shallow spool int he reel. No other changes are needed! And I always forget it’s a converted reel because it performs so well!

Check Prices on the Daiwa Tatula 80 TW
Check Prices on the Kistler Hunt BFS 2XUL

14. Kistler Hunt BFS 2XUL with the Kistler BFS Prototype Reel

This is probably the best bait finesse combo for Power BFS in my arsenal. Which is a little unfair because the Kistler reel hasn’t been released yet. But I really enjoy using it in the power BFS situations.

15. Kistler Helium with Shimano SLX BFS

The Kistler Helium rod paired with the SLX BFS reel is an amazing setup for paddle tails and crankbaits. This rod provides exceptional sensitivity and a smooth fishing experience. It’s what started my relationship with Kistler, and it never fails to impress me.

Check Prices on the Kistler Helium
Check Prices on the SLX BFS

16. Bone Voyage BFS with Daiwa Tatula

The Bone Voyage BFS travel rod paired with the DAA Tatula reel is a versatile and convenient combo for on-the-go fishing. This setup is perfect for anglers who travel frequently. Its portability doesn’t compromise its performance, making it a reliable travel companion. It is probably the best bait finesse combo for those who are on the go via planes and such.

Check Prices on the Bone Voyage BFS
Check Prices on the Daiwa Tatula

Conclusion

These are the best bait finesse combos I use regularly throughout the year. Whether you’re looking for ultra finesse setups, standard BFS combos, or power BFS rods, there’s something here for everyone. Remember, fishing is all about having fun and finding what works best for you. So the best bait finesse combos for me may not be the best for you. And, I often switch up the combos to try out different pairings. I hope you found this guide helpful and that it inspires you to explore new fishing setups.

Don’t forget to check out the full video below for more insights and to see these combos in action!

Tight lines, and happy fishing!

Aaron Hunt

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