5 Best BFS Lures (Hard Baits)

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BFS (Bait Finesse System) fishing has becomes super popular in recent years. A lot of guys find that BFS fishing makes finesse fishing easier and more fun.

I have found that it allows you to fish more hard plastic lures rather than traditional, finesse soft plastics.

Whatever the reason is, if you are trying to get into BFS fishing, here are the best BFS lures to focus on.

Read this First!

When it comes to BFS lures, you need to understand that they are essentially just smaller, lighter versions of traditional lures.

There are certain brands and lure companies that make “specialized” BFS lures. But let’s be honest, the only difference in those baits is the name.

So I have found that you don’t need to spend the extra time and money looking for the perfectly designed “BFS Lures”. Just get smaller versions of the existing lures.

1. Micro Chatterbait

Micro chatterbaits absolutely shine as BFS lures. Their compact size and lightweight design pair perfectly with BFS reels and finesse rods, allowing for surprisingly long and accurate casts with light line.

The signature chattering blade still provides enticing vibration and flash, even in a smaller package, making them irresistible to a variety of fish in different cover and conditions.

Plus, they’re just plain fun to fish with on light tackle. Fish the micro chatterbaits when fishing around shallow grass or stained to muddy water.

The chatterbait has always shined as a grass lure and the vibration of the blade will help fish find the bait in low visibility water conditions.

2. Finesse Crankbait

Since we were little kinds, we’ve all fished really small crankbaits. Part of the reason for that is that they get tons of bites and are very easy to catch fish on.

The more subtle wobble and cranking action is great for catching finicky bass, panfish, trout, and more.

And because these finesse crankbaits still have two treble hooks, you catch almost every fish that bites. These mini crankbaits really excel in creek or small river fishing.

These moving bodies of water generally have smaller baitfish forage and a hard rocky bottom.

Crankbaits are really designed to be fished around a rock bottom. So anytime I am BFS fishing in a small river or creek, a finesse crankbait is my first choice.

3. Twitch Bait

I was introduced to this technique by watching some of Tactical Bassin’s BFS videos. The twitch bait category has been around for a while, but has taken off with the emergence of the Bait Finesse System.

I like to think about these twitch baits as a shallow water jerkbait. They don’t suspend, but they sink slowly enough that it is easy to keep them in the same water column.

And as you lightly twitch them with your rod tip, they dart and forth much like a jerkbait. I have found that it is very difficult to use these lures on spinning tackle, which is one of the reasons that they are so good for BFS fishing.

Not many fish have seen this presentation before, and it catches huge numbers of fish.

4. Finesse Underspin

Underspin fishing has always been a fantastic technique. And a smaller, finesse underspin is one of the best lures you can use, especially when fishing up North in clear water.

They don’t put off a ton of vibration, but the subtle flash is absolutely fantastic for clear water fishing.

I have caught tons of species on a finesse underspin, but it has been most productive for smallmouth fishing. There is just something about the compact, flashing profile that drives smallies crazy.

5. Mini Lipless Crankbait

This is my go-to deep water BFS lure. And by deep water, I am really talking about 8+ feet of water. In terms of BFS fishing, anything over 8 feet is generally considered deep water.

It is really the only BFS lure that sinks fast enough to get down and stay down in the deeper water.

I mostly fish these mini lipless crankbaits with a yo-yo retrieve either on the bottom or just off the bottom.

In this deeper water, the visibility is going to be lower. But the lipless crankbait has enough sound and vibration to still attract fish in the darker water.

Advantages of BFS Tackle

Since a BFS allows you to mimic the effects of a spinning reel, you might be wonder, “Why not just use a spinning reel?”.

And this is a great question.

While spinning reels still serve a major piece is bass fishing, there are some unique benefits of a BFS.

Control

Once you have used a baitcaster, it can sometimes be hard to switch back to spinning gear because you lose a lot of control over your line and lures.

When casting with a BFS reel you can thump the line and get the lure exactly where you want it with a very small splash in the water.

While working in the lures, you have much more control because of the compact and short handle design of casting reels.

BFS reels just give you more control and influence over your lures compared to spinning gear.

Sensitivity

Because of the very compact and linear design of casting reels, a BFS gives you better sensitivity when fishing baits on the bottom.

You can feel exactly what your bait is doing and detect bites a bit easier.

Now this doesn’t make a huge difference compared to the proper spinning setup, but it definitely is noticeable.

Jerking Style Retrieves

Some lures such as poppers, twitch baits, or walk the dog lures require a jerking on slack line type of retrieve.

Spinning reels don’t handle this type of retrieve as well because there isn’t a direct connection from the line to the reel.

Spinning reels will sometimes get your line tangled or looped if you reel in too much slack with these retrieves.

But a BFS has all the same effectiveness of a regular casting reel, and is much better at working these lures.

Enjoyment *

I put an asterisk next to this because it completely depends on the angler.

But some guys just prefer using baitcasting reels more than spinning.

Personally, I think I fall into that camp.

There is just something about wrapping my hands around the rod and reel together while feeling the line with my thumb that feels great.

But at the same time, I have been using spinning gear since I was about 5 years old, so they are very nostalgic and I certainly feel comfortable feeling the line on my index finger when using a spinning reel.

So this comes down to personal preference. If you prefer the feel of a baitcasting reel, than you are going to have a lot of fun and enjoyment with a bait finesse system.

Reeling this In

Bait Finesse System fishing has carved out a significant niche in the angling world, offering a fresh and engaging approach to finesse techniques.

By scaling down traditional lures, anglers can achieve enhanced control, sensitivity, and enjoyment, particularly when employing hard plastic baits.

Whether it’s the enticing chatter of a micro chatterbait, the subtle wobble of a finesse crankbait, or the erratic darting of a twitch bait, BFS opens up new possibilities for targeting a variety of species in diverse fishing environments.

So, if you’re looking to elevate your finesse game and experience the unique advantages of a baitcasting setup with lighter lures, diving into the world of BFS fishing is definitely worth considering.