Hunt BFS Fishing Rods

"Fishing is like a form of meditation for me.  A chance to quiet my mind and become focused on experiencing nature.  To become directly connected to some of the most magnificent and beautiful creatures on earth.  To feel both the power and nuances of their existence.

It’s why I was drawn to this ultralight casting gear commonly called Bait Finesse System - or BFS for short.  It connects me to whatever species I am targeting unlike anything else I’ve tried. For me, it’s important that the gear I’m using disappears and lets me feel the joy of angling - that act of trying to deceive a predator with something artificial.  These Hunt Series BFS rods feel like an extension of my arm and transmit what the lure is doing better than anything I’ve ever used.

I was also becoming aware that with more anglers are hitting the water, the fish are becoming more pressured as well.  It was becoming harder to find those big fish, because they are seeing more presentations.  Like the old saying goes: “Big fish don't get big by being stupid.”

This is what Bait Finesse was designed for:  For targeting those fish that have pretty much seen it all.  In my first full year of exclusively using BFS gear, I landed twelve personal bests.   This is why I jokingly say that “BFS” stands for “Big Fish System.”

When you’re fishing finesse techniques, sensitivity is important.  Now imagine throwing 1/32 ounce lures and being able to feel when a fish picks it up even on slack line. Or knowing the difference between a rock and a moss-covered rock.  That’s the level of sensitivity I get with these rods.  I’ve even thrown 0.75 gram trout flies on the 4XUL!

But a quality Bait Finesse rod is more than just casting light lures and being sensitive.  While these rods will make catching smaller fish a blast, for many of us the goal is bigger fish.  A quality Bait Finesse rod must have the backbone to land the bigs.  And that is probably the most surprising part of these rods.  As a large fish puts a deep parabolic bend into the blank, it becomes progressively stronger while maintaining the ability to act as a shock absorber for light line.

This is also why the Hunt BFS series is longer than many bait finesse offerings on the market.  That longer rod length gives you the advantage of leverage against powerful fish - much like a fly rod.  I have landed several fish while developing these rods that I can't imagine landing with my previous BFS gear - or even my old spinning gear!  

I used to think I had sensitive rods until Kistler developed these blanks specifically to my dream specifications for BFS.  From the very first cast, they’ve ruined me on pretty much everything else I own.  Try one, and you’ll understand why Kistler is “The Way Fishing Should Feel.”

-Aaron Hunt, BFS Expert and Rod Designer