Introducing DAIWA's PX BF70: The Ultimate Bait Finesse Baitcaster

Published: Friday, March 29, 2024 12:00 pm

DAIWA’s "pixy" PX BF70 baitcaster provides supreme performance in an ultralight, palmable package.

Just when you think you’ve tried every freshwater fishing technique, along comes something new: “Bait Finesse,” or BF.

Originating from Japan, BF has emerged from a community of hyper-techy anglers. In Japan, where bass fishing is pursued on limited freshwater resources, the pressured fish are more alert and less responsive to conventional North American bass baits like energetic spinnerbaits, aggressive topwaters, and upsized crankbaits.

To tackle these difficult conditions, the Japanese devised BF. Similar to other specialized Japanese techniques and baits such as dropshotting, spybaits, and Senko worms, BF has made its way to North American waters.

The essence of BF lies in presenting smaller, more lifelike baits with the same effectiveness as their larger counterparts. Achieving this requires downsizing gear without compromising performance, which calls for specialized baitcasting equipment.

The good news is that a dedicated BF baitcasting reel is now available stateside: DAIWA’s new PX BF70.

“It’s ninja fishing,” DAIWA Marketing Manager said about BF. “Think of those stealthy anglers who fish small lakes, ponds, streams, and canals. They travel light, and fish small and technically. BF is gaining momentum with this crowd.”

At the epicenter of Bait Finesse is a small, palmable, high-performance, baitcasting reel. “We wanted to eliminate as much weight as possible, while retaining impeccable performance,” Mills said about the design of the compact PX BF70. “The spool, for example, weighs only 8.4 grams (.30 ounces). We even used micro ball-bearings and an A7075 aircraft grade aluminum drive gear. Every little reduction in weight matters for micro fishing.”

The PX BF70’s featherweight, precision spool is constructed of the same exceptionally thin, yet durable A7075 aircraft grade aluminum and requires minimal inertia to initiate. “An exceptionally light spool is required to cast such small lures,” Mills said. How small? BF bassers throw tiny hair jigs, inline spinners, and miniature jerkbaits, like DAIWA’s 2-inch Dr. Minnow.

Mills added, “The PX BF70 also features an aluminum frame and sideplates. Aluminum eliminates even more weight while adding strength and durability.”

Casting distance and precision are vital in Bait Finesse. While casts aren’t long as they range from 20 to 50 feet, considering the lightweight lures, they feel like significant distances. The DAIWA PX BF70 was precisely designed to excel in this world, offering unmatched accuracy.

Mills talked about spooling up your PX BF70: “The reel isn’t intended to hold a ton of line, maybe 50-yards of straight fluorocarbon or a 100-yards of light braid. Rather, it’s built to manage a small amount of line with exactness.” Mills said BF calls for 4- to 10-lb. test in a superline – like J-Braid Grand x8 – with a 2- to 8-lb. J-Fluoro fluorocarbon leader.

In addition to pitch-and-retrieve baits such as micro crankbaits and inline spinners, Mills suggested that BF techniques can be applied to dropshotting, as well as Neko, Ned, and Wacky Rigging. Essentially, all your favorite preferred finesse bassing techniques can be further refined.

However, BF extends beyond bass fishing. Trout anglers passing over pond banks and wading streams have also adopted the system. As an alternative to spinning gear, some trout anglers appreciate the feel, control, and casting distance offered by BF baitcasters.

And it doesn’t end there… The opportunities for panfish are limitless. Targeting large spring spawning crappies among timber demands precision. The same goes for pursuing bluegills in weed pockets. You get the idea…

The new PX BF70 includes other signature DAIWA technologies:

T-Wing System (TWS)

The groundbreaking system tackles the limitations of traditional line guide/level-wind structures by incorporating a T-shaped line guide that is larger, wider, and less restrictive. TWS enables the line to exit the spool smoothly, minimizing line angle and friction, thus reducing line noise and backlash while facilitating more precise and extended casts.

Ultimate Tournament Drag (UTD)

A drag system that combines low inertia with maximum fish stopping power. UTD utilizes advanced carbon washers, alloy, and stainless steel drag plates, accompanied by specially formulated grease for unmatched smoothness.

Zero Adjuster

Fine tuning the factory setting is effortless with the Zero Adjuster, offering precise control over spool tension. With a simple dial on the non-handle side, it accommodates various lure weights and fishing conditions seamlessly.