The fishing world has seen a remarkable shift in recent years with the introduction of Bait Finesse System (BFS) reels to North American anglers. While Japanese anglers have been enjoying this specialized approach for years, the technique has remained somewhat elusive to Western anglers until recently. The Shimano Curado BFS represents a significant milestone as the first true BFS reel from a major manufacturer released widely in the US market, bringing finesse baitcasting to the masses.
For those unfamiliar with BFS fishing, imagine having the accuracy and line control of a baitcaster with the ability to cast ultra-lightweight lures previously reserved for spinning tackle. It’s a game-changer for those situations where finesse techniques are required but you desire the direct connection and precision of a low-profile reel.
During this review, I’ll share my experiences with the Shimano Curado BFS over eight months of rigorous field testing on some of north Alabama’s most legendary bass fisheries, including Lake Guntersville and Smith Lake. This reel represents an evolution in light-tackle technique, and I’m excited to break down exactly what makes it special, where it excels, and how it might transform certain aspects of your approach to bass fishing.
Unboxing the Curado BFS immediately reveals its purpose—this is not simply a standard Curado with a different badge. The reel looks and feels different from traditional Curado models, with a more compact frame and noticeably shallower spool that gives away its specialized nature. The black and green aesthetic follows Shimano’s traditional Curado color scheme, maintaining the family resemblance while clearly establishing its own identity.
At 6.2 ounces, the Curado BFS is lightweight but doesn’t feel fragile or toy-like as some ultralight specialty reels can. The Hagane aluminum body provides reassuring rigidity and durability that reminds you this is still very much a Curado, designed to handle real-world fishing conditions and the occasional inevitable abuse that comes from hard use.
My initial palm test revealed the reel fits comfortably in medium-sized hands, with the familiar ergonomics that have made the Curado series popular among bass anglers. The double paddle handle knobs offer good purchase even with wet hands. The only control that felt somewhat undersized was the magnetic brake adjustment dial, which requires a fingernail to adjust—a minor issue, but one that would become more noticeable during on-water testing.
The reel’s 8.2:1 high-speed gear ratio is a thoughtful design choice for a BFS reel, allowing quick retrieval of smaller finesse presentations and maintaining better line tension when fishing light line in windy conditions or around structure—areas where the BFS concept would typically be deployed.
I paired the Curado BFS with a 7’2″ medium-light BFS-specific rod from Dobyns Sierra Ultra Finesse lineup to create a balanced system truly capable of the finesse techniques this reel was designed to handle. For line, I experimented with several setups before settling on 10lb PowerPro Super8 Slick braid with an 8lb Seaguar Tatsu fluorocarbon leader for most of my testing, though I also ran straight 8lb fluorocarbon at times depending on water clarity conditions.
My testing grounds primarily centered around Lake Guntersville and Smith Lake in north Alabama, two distinctly different fisheries that would push the reel in different ways. Guntersville, with its abundant grass, shallow flats, and scattered standing timber, would test the Curado BFS’s ability to work around cover and extract bass using finesse techniques when the famed lipless crankbait and heavy jig bites weren’t producing. Smith Lake, with its crystal-clear waters and deeper structure, would challenge the reel’s casting capabilities with ultra-lightweight presentations needed to trigger notoriously finicky spotted bass.
Over eight months, I fished this reel in all conditions—blazing summer heat, cool fall mornings, windy spring days, and even a few winter outings when air temperatures dipped below freezing. This comprehensive testing regimen allowed me to evaluate how the reel performed across seasonal patterns and in a variety of conditions that Alabama bass anglers typically encounter.
Among the many techniques I employed, I focused extensively on Ned rigs with 1/8 oz heads, weightless Texas-rigged Senkos, 1/8 oz shakey heads, small swimbaits on lightweight jigheads, micro-jerkbaits, and small inline spinners. The goal was to push the limitations of what this reel could handle in terms of lure weight while maintaining fishable casting distance and control.
At Smith Lake on a particularly challenging mid-summer day when bass were suspended and inactive near deep creek channels, I experienced what I consider the defining moment for this reel. After hours of limited success with traditional power techniques, I switched to a 2.8″ Keitech swimbait on a 1/8 oz head. Using the Curado BFS, I could cast this lightweight presentation nearly 45 yards with remarkable accuracy, reaching suspended fish that simply wouldn’t come up to hit a heavier offering. This resulted in catching a 4.2 lb spotted bass that had rejected every other presentation I’d offered that morning.
The success continued at Lake Guntersville during a tough post-frontal period in early fall. While other anglers struggled with traditional techniques, I was able to skip 1/8 oz Ned rigs under docks with surgical precision. The ability to cast these lightweight presentations with a baitcaster rather than a spinning setup allowed me to extract bass from tight cover with greater control than I could have achieved with spinning gear. This advantage became even more apparent when I hooked a solid 5-pound largemouth that immediately dove into a maze of dock pilings. The direct line control of the baitcaster format allowed me to keep tension while working the fish out—something I’m not sure would have been possible with spinning gear in that scenario.
The most important attribute of any BFS reel is its casting performance with lightweight lures, and this is where the Curado BFS truly shines. The shallow, lightweight S3D spool (just 8.8 grams) represents a dramatic departure from standard baitcasting spools, requiring significantly less energy to initiate rotation. This translates to the ability to cast lures as light as 1/16 oz with practice, though I found the sweet spot to be in the 1/8-1/4 oz range for both distance and control.
At the heart of the Curado BFS’s casting prowess is Shimano’s Finesse Tune Brake (FTB) system, which differs significantly from traditional SVS or brake weight systems. The FTB system moves the braking mechanism from the spool itself to the palming side plate, allowing for an even lighter spool while maintaining control throughout the cast. This system works dynamically, applying braking force when it’s needed early in the cast and then reducing it as spool speed stabilizes.
On the water at Smith Lake, this translated to consistent 40+ yard casts with 1/8 oz Ned rigs even in light crosswinds—distances I simply couldn’t match with a comparable spinning setup. More impressive than raw distance was the accuracy; the direct contact of thumb to spool allowed for precise placement around laydowns and rock structures where spotted bass often held tight.
The braking system is adjusted via a small external dial with settings from 0-10. Through extensive testing, I found that settings between 3-5 offered the best balance of distance and control for most lighter presentations. With lures under 1/8 oz, settings of 5-7 were necessary to prevent backlashes, while heavier lures in the 1/4-3/8 oz range performed well with settings of 1-3.
The only downside to the brake adjustment system is the dial itself—it’s small, tight, and requires a fingernail to adjust. When fishing in cold conditions with gloves, this became particularly cumbersome. I would have preferred a larger, more tactile brake adjustment dial similar to those found on Shimano’s DC reels.
Super Free Spool technology further enhances casting by reducing friction on the spool shaft during rotation. This was particularly noticeable when making repeated casts with ultra-light lures, as the spool maintained consistent performance cast after cast without developing the “stickiness” that can sometimes plague budget-oriented BFS-style reels after extended use.
Equipped with Shimano’s X-Ship and MicroModule gearing system, the Curado BFS provides a remarkably smooth retrieve experience that belies its specialized nature. Many specialty reels compromise on retrieve quality to achieve their primary function, but the Curado BFS maintains the same smooth, refined feel that Curado users have come to expect.
The 8.2:1 high gear ratio (with 32 inches of line recovery per handle turn) proved ideal for the finesse techniques most suited to this reel. When fishing small swimbaits in Lake Guntersville’s expansive grassbeds, the high-speed retrieve allowed me to quickly pick up slack and maintain constant tension when a fish suddenly changed direction—a common occurrence when dealing with the lake’s aggressive largemouth population.
Shimano’s MicroModule gear system features smaller, more precisely formed gear teeth that mesh together with minimal noise and friction. This was particularly apparent when slow-rolling lightweight presentations along deep ledges at Smith Lake, where the smooth retrieve helped maintain the subtle action that proved crucial for triggering bites from pressured spotted bass.
While the retrieve doesn’t match the absolute silky smoothness of Shimano’s higher-end offerings like Bantam or Metanium, it’s impressively close—especially considering the price point. After eight months of heavy use, including several dunks in water and exposure to sand and grit, the gears showed no signs of developing play or roughness, a testament to Shimano’s engineering and quality control.
The 7+1 bearing system contributes to the overall smoothness, with strategically placed bearings supporting crucial contact points. While more bearings don’t necessarily translate to better performance, the placement and quality of these bearings clearly enhance the overall user experience and durability.
One of the most distinctive features of the Curado BFS—and one that many anglers will either love or hate—is its audible drag clicker. Reminiscent of a spinning reel’s sound, this feature provides excellent feedback when a fish is pulling drag. During a memorable session at Lake Guntersville when sight-fishing for bedding bass in spring, this audio feedback proved invaluable, alerting me to subtle takes when my focus was divided between watching the bed and managing boat position.
The maximum drag rating of 8 pounds is considerably lower than standard Curado models (which typically offer 11-12 pounds), a concession to the finesse applications this reel is designed for. This lighter drag is perfectly matched to the lighter line and hooks typically used with finesse presentations. However, it does require an adjustment in fighting technique for anglers accustomed to setting hooks with a locked-down drag.
During my testing, I found that setting the drag to approximately 25-30% of line strength (about 2-2.5 pounds of pressure when using 8-pound test) provided the optimal balance between hook-setting power and fighting capability. This setting allows enough resistance for solid hooksets while providing adequate cushion for the sudden runs and head shakes that big bass are known for.
When I hooked a 6-pound largemouth along a riprap bank at Lake Guntersville in late fall, the Curado BFS’s drag performed flawlessly, smoothly releasing line when needed but maintaining consistent pressure throughout the fight. Even when the fish made a powerful dive toward a submerged tree, the drag remained smooth and responsive, allowing me to tire the fish rather than attempting to horse it away from cover.
The Duracross drag washers provide exceptional smoothness and consistency, even during extended runs. Unlike felt washers that can compress and become inconsistent when wet, the Duracross material maintained the same pressure from the beginning of a fish’s run to the end, an important consideration when fighting larger fish on lighter tackle.
For most bass fishing applications, the 8-pound maximum drag proved more than sufficient. However, when fishing around heavy cover, I occasionally found myself wanting a bit more stopping power. In these situations, lightly thumbing the spool provided the additional resistance needed without compromising the drag system’s smoothness.
The overall ergonomics of the Curado BFS reflect Shimano’s decades of experience in creating user-friendly baitcasting reels. At 6.2 ounces, it strikes an excellent balance—light enough to prevent fatigue during all-day fishing sessions but substantial enough to provide the necessary stability and durability expected from a Curado.
The reel’s compact profile and low-sitting spool allow for comfortable palming—a critical consideration when making repeated casts with finesse applications. The double paddle handle provides good leverage for both power and finesse retrieves, with the paddle knobs offering secure grip even in wet conditions.
During summer on Guntersville when temperatures soared into the 90s, I appreciated how the Hagane body dissipated heat effectively, never becoming uncomfortably warm to hold even after hours of continuous use. Likewise, during winter fishing at Smith Lake, the metal components didn’t become painfully cold to touch as some reels can.
The only ergonomic weakness I encountered was the aforementioned small magnetic brake adjustment dial, which proved difficult to manipulate with cold, wet hands or while wearing gloves. Additionally, the numbers on this dial are small and difficult to read in low light conditions, making quick adjustments challenging at dawn or dusk.
When paired with an appropriate BFS-specific rod (mine was the Dobyns Sierra Ultra Finesse 722SF), the overall balance of the system was exceptional. The light weight of the reel complemented the lighter-action rod perfectly, creating a setup that could be fished all day without fatigue while still providing the backbone needed to control and land quality bass.
One particular technique where the Curado BFS absolutely excelled was Ned rig fishing—an approach that has revolutionized finesse bass fishing but traditionally been dominated by spinning gear. With 1/8 oz Z-Man Finesse TRD setups, the Curado BFS allowed me to achieve casting distances comparable to spinning gear while maintaining the superior line control and hookset leverage of a baitcaster.
During a particularly tough mid-summer day at Lake Guntersville, I located a school of quality largemouth holding on a subtle creek channel edge in 12 feet of water. These fish were completely ignoring traditional power presentations but would reluctantly bite a Ned rig if presented precisely. With the Curado BFS, I could make repeated accurate casts to the sweet spot, feeling the subtle tick as bass picked up the bait on the fall.
The 8.2:1 gear ratio proved perfect for this application, allowing me to quickly take up slack when a fish bit and maintain direct contact throughout the fight. The reel’s superior line management prevented the annoying loops and twists that often plague spinning setups when fishing this technique, especially with braid-to-fluorocarbon leader combinations.
Most impressively, the direct line control allowed me to steer hooked fish away from nearby brush piles much more effectively than I could have with spinning gear. This advantage became crystal clear when I connected with a solid 5.2-pound largemouth that immediately dove for a nearby brush pile. The ability to apply side pressure through the baitcasting setup allowed me to turn the fish’s head and guide it away from the cover—something that would have been much more challenging with the less direct connection of a spinning setup.
This experience crystallized for me just how valuable this reel can be in an angler’s arsenal. While the Ned rig has become a go-to technique for many anglers, fishing it with a properly designed BFS setup elevates the presentation to new levels of control and effectiveness. This could represent a significant competitive advantage when targeting pressured fish in clear water situations.
(Ratings Key: 1 = terrible : 2 = poor : 3 = lacking : 4 = sub par : 5 = mediocre : 6 = fair : 7 = good : 8 = great : 9 = excellent : 10 = unbelievable!)
Construction/Quality – 9: Consistent with Shimano’s reputation for excellence, the Curado BFS exhibits outstanding build quality. The Hagane body feels substantial and durable, while all moving parts operate with precision. After eight months of heavy use, the reel shows minimal signs of wear beyond cosmetic scratches.
Performance – 9: As a specialized tool for finesse baitcasting, the Curado BFS excels in its intended application. Casting performance with lightweight lures is outstanding, and the smooth drag and retrieve enhance the overall fishing experience. The only factor preventing a perfect score is the slightly cumbersome brake adjustment mechanism.
Price – 8: While not inexpensive at $209.99, the Curado BFS delivers performance that justifies its cost. Compared to premium JDM BFS reels costing twice as much or more, it represents a reasonable value for anglers serious about finesse baitcasting.
Features – 8.5: The Finesse Tune Brake system, audible drag clicker, and specialized spool design all contribute to a feature set that perfectly supports the reel’s intended purpose. The high gear ratio and smooth drag are well-matched to finesse applications. Only the small brake adjustment dial prevents a higher score.
Design (Ergonomics) – 8: The reel balances well on appropriate rods and remains comfortable during all-day fishing sessions. The double paddle handle provides good control, and the overall shape fits naturally in the hand. The brake adjustment dial is the only significant ergonomic shortcoming.
Application – 9: For its intended purpose—finesse baitcasting with lightweight lures—the Curado BFS is nearly perfect. It dramatically outperforms standard baitcasting reels for this specific application while offering advantages over spinning gear in terms of line control and precision.
Total Score – 8.6
The Shimano Curado BFS represents a significant evolution in fishing technology for North American bass anglers. By bringing dedicated BFS design to a widely available, reasonably priced package, Shimano has democratized a technique that was previously accessible primarily to those willing to import specialized JDM gear at premium prices.
After extensive testing across a variety of conditions and techniques on north Alabama’s premier bass fisheries, I’m convinced this reel has earned a permanent place in my arsenal. Its ability to cast lightweight presentations with baitcasting accuracy and control opens up tactical options that simply weren’t available before. For tough fishing conditions where finesse presentations are required but the control of a baitcaster is advantageous, the Curado BFS delivers exceptional performance.
What impressed me most throughout my testing was not just how well the reel performed its specialized function, but how it maintained Shimano’s high standards for quality, durability, and refinement. Unlike some specialty reels that sacrifice overall quality to achieve their niche performance metrics, the Curado BFS feels every bit as polished and well-built as its standard counterparts.
The reel isn’t without limitations—most notably the somewhat awkward brake adjustment dial, limited line capacity, and modest maximum drag. However, these compromises are understandable given the specialized nature of the tool and its intended applications. As long as anglers approach the Curado BFS with appropriate expectations—understanding it’s a precision instrument for specific techniques rather than an all-purpose workhorse—they’ll likely be thrilled with its performance.
For tournament anglers facing high-pressure situations on clear water fisheries, weekend warriors looking to expand their technical repertoire, or anyone who appreciates the tactical advantages of baitcasting but needs to throw lightweight presentations, the Curado BFS offers an excellent mix of performance, quality, and value. It successfully bridges the gap between spinning and conventional baitcasting gear, creating a new category that many anglers will find indispensable once they’ve experienced its capabilities.
If you’ve ever found yourself wishing you could cast that 1/8 oz Ned rig with the precision of a baitcaster, or wanted more direct control when fighting a quality fish on finesse gear, the Curado BFS might just transform your approach to those challenging fishing scenarios where finesse meets technical precision. In a market increasingly dominated by specialty gear, this is one that genuinely delivers on its promises and opens up tactical opportunities that were previously unavailable to most anglers.
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Discover how the Shimano Curado BFS brings finesse baitcasting to the U.S. market, offering ultralight lure performance with baitcaster precision. After months of testing on top Alabama fisheries, this reel proved to be a game-changer for technical anglers. Curious if it’s right for your setup? Read the full review to find out.
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