TackleTour Product Insight : BFS Shallow Spool Challenge #BFSreels #BFSspools #shallowspools

Product Insight - BFS

Peeling it Back - The BFS Shallow Spool Challenge (continued)

Are BFS Reels Created Equal? : However, the next question I had is would all my reels equipped with finesse shallow spools all begin go peel line at 0.1g? I'd actually need some variance if this test were to be of any use. Unfortunately, the only way to find out was to go through with the tedious task of testing of all the reels I had in the arsenal. I'd rather be fishing but lab work comes with the territory here at TackleTour HQ.

Peel Weight Spool Test (Lined w/ Spro Finesse Braid PE #0.8)
Manufacturer	Model	Spool	Spool Wt (grams)	Load (grams)
Abu Garcia	Revo4 EXD	Stock	11	0.2*
Abu Garcia	LX992Z	Stock	9	0.1*
Abu Garcia	Ultracast BF8	Stock	12	0.3*
Abu Garcia	Zenon MG-BFS	Stock	12	0.2*

ARK Fishing	Gravity BFS	Stock	6	0.2*

Daiwa	Alphas (Original)	Stock	16	0.4
Daiwa	Alphas (Original)	SLP Works	13	0.3
Daiwa	Gekka Bijin	Stock	9	0.1*
Daiwa	Millionaire CT SV70	Stock	10	0.2*
Daiwa	Pixy (Original)	Stock	14	0.2*
Daiwa	Pixy (Original)	ZPI CP-301	12	0.4*
Daiwa	PX68L SPR	Stock	12	0.1*
Daiwa	'12 T3 Air	Stock	9	0.1*
Daiwa	'22 SilverWolf	Stock	13	0.4*

Megabass	Monoblock Grigio Stone	Stock	15	0.3
Megabass	Monoblock Grigio Stone	Roro MX30	6	0.1*

Shimano	'13 Aldebaran BFS	Stock	11	0.2*
Shimano	'18 Aldebaran MGL	Stock	12	0.4
Shimano	'22 Aldebaran BFS	Stock	6	0.2*
Shimano	'17 Conquest BFS	Stock	8	0.2*
Shimano	Scorpion 1000	Stock	14	0.3

*Shallow Spool AVG	--	--	10	0.2

Well, as it turned out, the peel weight for the majority of BFS reels I had on hand did vary and ranged from 0.1g to 0.3g. Most were in the 0.1 - 0.2 range. The average of the 16 or so reels I tested and would consider BFS capable was 0.2g of weight.

The '13 Aldebaran BFS on the other hand, remains among my favorites

With the exception of the Gekka Bijin, the reels needing only 0.1g of weight, were, in the back of my mind some of my better performing reels, Abu Garcia's LX992Z, Daiwa's forgotten PX68 SPR, and that Megabass Monoblock with the Roro spool. All of the reels that tested in the 0.1g to 0.2g range are all models I'd reach for if I needed a reel to pair with a rod I was testing or just flat out needed to put a finesse combo together. Of course, that's also why I still own the reels, so there's that.

Daiwa's '12 T3 Air also sits near the top

My most disappointing discovery was the Original Pixy's stock spool took less weight to get moving than the ZPI CP-301 aftermarket magnesium spool. However, this merely reinforced up my on the water impression of that aftermarket spool. Great for looks, not very impressive in performance - at least for me. Just the same, I hold onto my orange Pixy reels more for nostalgia at this point.

Outdated and surpassed, Daiwa's original Pixy is a legend nonetheless

Conclusion(s): What did any of that even mean? In my usual round about way, my curiosity over the effectiveness of a shallow versus deeper spool is satisfied. It certainly takes less weight to get a shallow spool to rotate versus a deeper one. Spool weight, of course can be misleading because bearings and length of the internal shaft will affect overall weight readings, but not necessarily have anything to do with performance because what really matters is the weight at the outer edge of the spool plus the line (i.e. rotational weight). Spools that are heavily ported versus solid, it stands to reason, will perform better due to less rotational weight out of the box.

Daiwa's Millionaire CT SV70 is kind of a tweener but still very finesse capable

For these tests, and likely when casting finesse baits, the type of line matters. Braid with no exterior finish will perform best because coatings can get sticky and affect how much energy is needed to get that spool moving. Case in point, a couple of reels I wanted to test still had line on them. Line I didn't want to waste, so I ran the test with that line on the reel with surprisingly bad results. Like zero movement even with 0.4g of weight with a reel I know performs very well. So then, I swapped line on those reels and test results were more in line with what I expected.

The '17 Shimano Japan Conquest BFS - classic in form and function

Out on the water, the reel is just one part of your combo. In a finesse casting combo, it is a very critical piece because not all reels are equipped to hold and handle super thin diameter fishing line let alone the tiny baits you might use. What I've demonstrated here today is while not all shallow spools or reels that are so equipped are created equal, they're closer than I had thought. Aftermarket spools certainly add value and extend the utility of reels worthy of the upgrade, but it has to be the right spool. In the end, this "peel-test" exercise got me through the early part of 2024 with some data points that may or may not prove interesting in future reviews, and that's what it's about here at TackleTour testing tackle both in the lab and out on the water.