Ultralight Fishing Tips
What is Ultralight Fishing?
Ultralight fishing is any form of angling that uses light weight tackle to catch sport fish. For example, imagine the difference between catching a four pound smallmouth bass on a medium action rod and 10ib test, and catching the same fish on an ultralight rod and 4ib test. As you may imagine the latter would be difficult. However the pros far outweigh the cons when it comes to ultralight fishing.
Ultralight Fishing Tackle
When it comes to ultralight fishing, small rods and reels are the name of the game. Now small does not mean short and weak by any means. Most of the finest ultralight fishing rods are up to six feet in length, and feature sturdy backbones toward the rod handle for handling larger fish. As for the reel, the spinning reel is the dominant type of fishing reel used in ultralight fishing. Many of these small, yet sturdy fishing reels include most if not all the same features as full sized models. Always be sure to match your fishing line to both your rod and reel, as mismatched fishing line can hurt casting distance and overall performance.
Ultralight Fishing Lures
Once the rod and reel have been properly matched and line seated, it's time to consider lures used in ultralight fishing. As ultralight fishing targets a vast array of sport fishing species, summing up all the different fishing lures would be impossible. But here are a few of the more popular choices:
- Small Crankbaits/Stickbaits: These tiny lures resemble small bait fish and can be very light weight in floating models. As many predatory fish, such as smallmouth bass and various species of panfish, in small streams and ponds don't usually grow over a few pounds, small baits such as these are the perfect size to target them.
- Small Jigs: This encompasses a wide variaty of lures, but as a rule most don't exceed 1/16oz for ultralight fishing. Small jigs are great for imitating crayfish and other bottom dwelling prey items. Consider trying the marabou jig on your next fishing trip. These use of these small jigs is one of the greatest fishing tips for panfish, as they work consistently on every species in the sunfish family!
- Spinners and Spoons: These are classic ultralight fishing lures. Spinners and spoons feature spinning blades, either spinning around a central shaft or on their own,that make heavy vibrations in the water that many fish find irresistible.
Yes
No
Flag
Comments
I love fishing with ultralight tackle, especially in small creeks and streams. Even a sunfish can put up a good fight when he turns sideways in the current. Also, nothing beats an ultralight for fishing from a canoe or kayak. They are much easier to handle in a small space.
I've always used ultralight rods for fishing panfish. I started using an ultralight rod, with a little heavier line (6 pound) for walleyes this year. It's a lot more fun.
You must be logged in and verified to post a comment. Please log in or sign up to comment.