Ultralight Fishing Basics

Most people define ultralight fishing as a child's pastime, only going after easily caught fish such as sunfish and occasionally small bass. This could not be further from the truth! Ultralight fishing is one of the best and most rewarding ways to catch any number of game fish, even big game! Just imagine battling a citation size smallmouth bass, now take away that medium action rod with 15ib test line and replace it with an ultralight setup with only 4ib test. You can feel every twist and turn of the fish as it battles against you, hear the drag as it screams in protest. This is ultralight fishing.

Ultralight Fishing Equipment

Rod:

A basic ultralight setup consists of a rod in between five and seven feet in length with a fast action and is designated as "ultralight" (This information is usually located at the base of the rod near the handle). A longer rod can increase casting distance and tend to have a stiffer "backbone" which really helps when trying to horse a fish away from cover, but can be a detriment when casting room is at a premium. Shorter rods tend to be better in tight areas or when after smaller fish. No matter what size you choose I suggest buying only one piece rods. The lack of storage convenience is more than made up for in sensitivity and control.

Reel:

The reel, like any fishing application, must be properly matched to the rod. Look for reels that are advertised as "ultralight" or simply look for a reel who's line capacity does not exceed 6ib test. The three most common reel types you will find for ultralight are spinning, spincast, and closed face. Many stores sell already put together rod/reel combos. If you are just starting these can be a good value but make sure to buy quality. That $25 combo may look like a good deal but remember, you get what you pay for.

Tackle/Misc:

As far as terminal tackle, lures, general gear, etc, these are all dependent on where you are fishing, the conditions you are fishing in, and what species you are pursuing. But as a general rule I try to have the following:

• A fishing vest. These can hold an incredible amount of tackle out of harm's way and keep it right at your finger tips. While many anglers associate the fishing vest with fly-fishing or wading, all fisherman can benefit from them.
  

• Pocket Size Tackle Boxes. This is pretty self explanatory. These small boxes keep the many small lures, hooks, weights, and bobbers well organized and even fit in the aforementioned vest!
• Hemostats. Very important. Ultralight fishing can utilize some pretty small lures that fish tend to swallow whole. A good pair of hemostats can save your lure, and the fishes life.

Ultralight Fishing Target Species

Bass

Largemouth, Smallmouth, Spotted, all can be taken on ultralight fishing gear. Smallmouth bass tend to be a more common target species when ultralight fishing due to their smaller average size and choice of habitat. I would not recommend fishing for striped bass however as they grow much too large.

Sunfish

All sunfish species are a joy to catch when ultralight fishing. Special mention must be given to the crappie, as it is the most sought after of the sunfish. A very overlooked species of panfish that is a joy to catch on ultralight fishing tackle is the rock bass.

Trout

Not just for fly-fisherman anymore! Rainbow, brooke, and brown trout can all be taken (sometimes easily) on ultralight fishing gear. Anglers fishing for trout with an ultralight setup often use small jigs and spinners.