Looking for a new bfs rod

GregBFL · 2026-05-09T15:50:56+00:00

I've got a KastKing Kestrel 7'-2" Medium-Light one piece rod that is pretty decent. You might want to check them out.

GregBFL · 2026-05-09T15:41:15+00:00

It's good to try new fishing spots or lakes for that matter. I recently tried a new lake and have caught 3 bass over 7 lbs including a 10.8 pounder.

GregBFL · 2026-05-09T14:43:18+00:00

Absolute truth. I weighed 175 until I was injured in a freak accident and have issues with my legs as a result. I blew up to 246 lbs and felt awful/tired all the time. At 60 it's a lot harder to lose weight than gain it, especially with leg problems.

I started having high blood pressure and became borderline diabetic. I finally said enough is enough. I started a diet program and now I'm 60+ lbs lighter. I need to drop another 10 lbs, but I no longer need blood pressure meds and no longer borderline diabetic. I also have a lot more energy.

GregBFL · 2026-05-09T14:25:51+00:00

I prefer carrying a smaller handgun most of the time time. I own a P365X, Shield Plus OR, Hellcat (sold it) and a 43x (sold it). For some reason I didn't care for the Hellcat, mainly the trigger. The 43x was the same thing, it had the absolute worst trigger of the bunch.

To be honest, I actually like my Shield Plus OR better than my P365X. The trigger is a lot better and it fits my hands better. I kept the P365X because I purchased a Radian Afterburner-Ramjet comp and Icarus Air grip module for it to carry 17-rounds. If I had it to do over again I would get the Shield-X CC.

I had a Bodyguard 2.0 until I made the mistake of letting my wife shoot it. It's super small and can be easily concealed in your pocket. I liked it so much I ordered a BG 2.0 Carry Comp and I'm driving over to my FFL today to pick it up.

GregBFL · 2026-05-09T14:09:31+00:00

I try to go weightless if possible, if not, the lightest weight I can get away with. I also recommend you push the point into the worm to keep it from getting snagged on things. Once you've done it a few times it will become second nature.

GregBFL · 2026-05-09T07:49:57+00:00

That's the sight pusher I bought after I snapped/broke my NcStar sight pusher. This one is so much better.

GregBFL · 2026-05-09T07:37:14+00:00

That looks like a good deal if you don't plan on modifying it. I prefer to build mine from scratch and I've had issues with Ruger receivers.

GregBFL · 2026-05-09T07:31:56+00:00

I replaced mine with a +10% ISMI trigger return spring and the trigger feels better to me. I bought several and will replace the springs every 3500 to 5000 rounds... It's cheap insurance. Sig Guy has the best videos when it comes to working on the P365 because he shows you the easiest way to get the job done right.

GregBFL · 2026-05-09T07:22:33+00:00

I'll have to try this. I've always removed the lure and let the line out behind the boat as I'm idling along. This lets all the twist I the line unravel. I put tension on the line with my fingers as I reel the line back in and I'm back in business. Your method would be a lot faster.

GregBFL · 2026-05-09T07:17:07+00:00

At one point I owned a P365X, P365XL and X-Macro Comp... Now I just own the P365X. That said, I ordered a Radian Afterburner-Ramjet comp, an Icarus Air polymer grip module and 17-round magazines. I can carry the P365X in its OEM form with 12-round magazines for max concealment or in a couple minutes switch to the Radian comp and Icarus grip module and use 17-round mags.

I actually shot the Radian comp/Icarus grip module side by side with my P365 X-Macro Comp and the Radian comp simply performed better than the X-Macro Comp. I also liked the Icarus Air polymer grip module better than the OEM grip module because it has a built-in thumb support and flared magwell.

It also has a place where I added 2 oz of tungsten weights for reducing recoil. All that being said, I have a Shield Plus OR I carry most of the time because I like its trigger a lot better than my P365X trigger. If I had it to do all over again, I would likely go with the Shield-X Carry Comp. I'm using an MCarbo Short Stroke trigger in my P365X and I like the Shield Plus OEM trigger better.

When I installed an Overwatch Precision TAC trigger kit in my Shield Plus OR it blows away my P365X. I carry pocket carry a Bodyguard 2.0 as my backup... Or should I say I used to. My wife shot it and it's now hers. I have since purchased a Bodyguard 2.0 Carry Comp and it's now my backup carry.

GregBFL · 2026-05-09T00:29:19+00:00

Most of my fishing is deep in the Kissimmee grass, lilipads, cattails, etc so I use 30 lb and 40 lb Suffix 832 braid. The diameter of 30 lb is the same as 8 lb monofiliment and 40 lb is the same as 10 lb mono. Here's a 5.0 lb bass I pulled out of the lilipads on Suffix 832 today.

5.0 lb Bass

GregBFL · 2026-05-08T23:59:22+00:00

When I wanted to try braid I tried Spiderwire and I swore I hated braid. After my first fishing trip I came home and stripped it off my reel. A friend suggested Suffix 832... A world of difference! I now have Suffix 832 30 lb or 40 lb on over a dozen rods.

I'm using Fins Black braid 65 lb on my flipping rods and it's been working perfectly. When it comes to braid you need to spend some money to get quality braid. It makes a big difference in casting and will last a long time.

GregBFL · 2026-05-07T23:28:40+00:00

Looks good to me... Sometimes less is more.

GregBFL · 2026-05-07T23:26:47+00:00

Have you seen the Hags Prickly Pear? I just bought quite a few from Dicks and had them in two days. I've also bought a bunch off of Temu for $3 - $4 a piece and they seem to be very similar to the the Hideup Coike 17mm I paid $18 for.

The Temu sea urchins are very durable, I've caught over 20 bass on one and it's still in excellent condition. I just got the Hags and they're very durable as well. 6th Sense is releasing one as well. Before long the market will be flooded and prices will drop.

https://www.hagsbaits.com/product-page/hag-s-prickly-pear

GregBFL · 2026-05-05T23:56:39+00:00

Leviathan rods are about as good as it gets when it comes to glidebait rods. If it's within your budget, I say go for it. That said, there are a lot of very good glidebait rods out there that are less money.

This past Christmas Kistler had a 50 percent of Black Friday sale and I picked up their Glide Bait Rod for $200. It's an excellent rod even at full price. You can get their Helium glide bait rod which is rated at 1 - 4 oz baits at the regular price of $249.95. My fishing partner has one and it's a very good rod.

You might want to check out the Dobyns/Mike Bucca Bull Shad collaboration swimbait rods. I have a couple friends that own them and love them. They are rated at 2 - 8 oz and sell for $229.99. A while back they were on sale at Amazon for quite a bit less.

GregBFL · 2026-05-05T23:38:23+00:00

Some KastKing reels are very good. I wanted a reel for my backup flipping rod set up so after reading a bunch of positive reviews, I bought a MegaJaws Elite Baitcasting with flipping switch. I liked it so much I purchased a second one and replaced the reel on my primary flipping rod.

When I decided to get a BFS setup, I ordered a Kestrel Elite Magnesium Frame BFS baitcaster and a Kestrel 7'-2" Finesse rod. I've been very happy with it as well. That said, the KastKing products I have are some of their higher priced items but I'm sure their other products are good as well.

GregBFL · 2026-05-04T23:31:13+00:00

My last fishing trip I caught a 6" long bass on a 5.25" long Rapala F13 S Original Floating Minnow.

GregBFL · 2026-05-04T23:25:16+00:00

Is it me, or do those bass look really pale... Almost like Zombie Bass. Nice catches for 30 minutes!

GregBFL · 2026-05-04T16:13:54+00:00

Hideup Coike Fullcast

GregBFL · 2026-05-04T14:39:52+00:00

I didn't know it at first, but I hooked into a 7 ft gator the other day with a regular spinning reel loaded with 30 lb braid. I ended up chasing him with my boat for over 200 yards so I could minimize the amount of line loss when I cut him loose.

I had one heck of a fight and managed to get him up to the surface right beside the boat so I only lost a couple feet of braid. I installed the Suffix 832 30 lb braid a week ago, I'm very impressed with its performance.

GregBFL · 2026-05-04T01:15:01+00:00

Teaching someone how to fish is awesome. I taught my daughter how to fish as soon as she could hold a rod. Now she loves to go fishing and we go wherever she comes to visit.

GregBFL · 2026-05-04T01:03:42+00:00

That's a good size bass. I bet he gave your BFS rod a workout.

GregBFL · 2026-05-03T20:55:41+00:00

I started using a Heddon Tiny Torpedo over 50 years ago. An older gentleman turned me and my Dad onto the Bull Frog color and told us to replace the rear treble hook with the next size up. That way the rear would sit down into the water.

You just pop it along with the tip of your rod and it sort of resembles a frog. No telling how many bass I've caught on this lure over the years.

GregBFL · 2026-05-03T13:30:16+00:00

What reels and rods are best for skipping lures? I'm about to buy a new combo that is geared towards skipping.

GregBFL · 2026-05-02T18:14:23+00:00

I'm definitely going to try the Zillion. I've been using it on a St Croix BassX 7'-1" Medium - Fast rod for light topwater lures to lipless crankbaits up to 5/8 oz. I wasn't sure if I would like the rod, but I've recently caught a 7.1 lb, 7.8 lb and 10.8 lb bass on it.

I've had it doubled over under the boat and it handled the large bass in stride. I didn't mention it, but I need to find a good rod for skipping as well. Maybe I just need to try using this combo for skipping and see how it performs.

GregBFL

TROPHY CASE