Ultra lite fishing, What a blast!!!!

[hankll]

I finally got to get out on the water with the boat FINALLY getting out of the mechanix shop(another forum). My wife and I got out on Old Hickory Lake this morning and while she was using crickets, I was using ultra lite lures. We were hitting Bream mostly, but she caught a couple of LM fingerlings. But what was more fun than anything was the feeling of having the little guys fighting me on that ultra lite gear. It felt like I had a huge fish on. The rod was bent down and the line was singing. All this time I've used medium/heavy rod and not less than 8# line and thought I was having fun. Wow! 4# line, ultra lite rod and reel, Hey I'm sold on it. I was amazed at how easy it was to cast those little 1/16 oz lures. And while I usually do the minnow routine, I decided to try spinner and buzz bait lures. I was so surprised when I had a hit on the buzz bait lure, I thought I had hung up at first. Then the line started moving and then I started reeling it in and loving it, with the rod bent down like that. What a blast! YA'LL NEED TO TRY IT!!!

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Ultra lite fishing, What a blast!!!!

Welcome to the world of ultralight fishing. A lot of us have been doing it for years now.

A couple of weeks ago, I landed a 30" Northern Pike on 4# test line. Took a little Mepps spinner I was using to catch bluegills and crappies. That was a blast, except that I didn't have a net in the boat, and had to carefully lift the tired guy up by his belly.

Spend some time getting your drag adjusted just right. Adjust it with a pull on the line after it leaves the rod. Not too tight, either. Let the fish tire itself out, working against the action of the rod, then pump and reel to bring him to the boat.

One day, you'll be out there fishing for little panfish, and some big-bellied bass is going to take your little lure. You'll be glad you paid attention to the drag then.

 

[mobyjaws]

Re: Ultra lite fishing, What a blast!!!!

Bluegill are a lot of fun to catch on ultra-lite tackle. A 2# bass feels like a hawg! I thought I was the only one left using 4# mono. I don't use it for everything of course. I still haven't gotten into the super-braids yet. Check out www.andemonofilament.com. E-mail them and ask for their free knot book. It's really handy. I've been using their line for over 30 years and love it. It's hard to find in stores away from the coast. It's pretty easy to find online. A 1/4# spool of 4# test holds 2800yds of line for about $12. That's a bunch of line changes. I'm not knocking any of the other lines but I like the most bang for my buck. CATransplant is right. Drag is especially important with the light stuff. I usually pull out a little line out after every cast (if possible) to make sure it didn't get bumped or something. Good fishing! MJ

 

[rndn]

Re: Ultra lite fishing, What a blast!!!!

I always try to use four pound for most anything as long as it's not too heavy of a cover.

 

[mobyjaws]

Re: Ultra lite fishing, What a blast!!!!

I always try to use four pound for most anything as long as it's not too heavy of a cover.

Most of my reels have a spare spool with 6# or 8# (some 2#) just in case. Make sure your rod is rated for it. MJ

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Ultra lite fishing, What a blast!!!!

Bluegill are a lot of fun to catch on ultra-lite tackle. A 2# bass feels like a hawg! I thought I was the only one left using 4# mono. I don't use it for everything of course. I still haven't gotten into the super-braids yet. Check out www.andemonofilament.com. E-mail them and ask for their free knot book. It's really handy. I've been using their line for over 30 years and love it. It's hard to find in stores away from the coast. It's pretty easy to find online. A 1/4# spool of 4# test holds 2800yds of line for about $12. That's a bunch of line changes. I'm not knocking any of the other lines but I like the most bang for my buck. CATransplant is right. Drag is especially important with the light stuff. I usually pull out a little line out after every cast (if possible) to make sure it didn't get bumped or something. Good fishing! MJ

I like Trilene XT for my 4 lb. uses. It doesn't seem to take as much of a set on the spool as the regular monofilaments. I've noticed, too, that my casts are a lot farther with it than Ande mono.

I used to use 2 lb. on all my ultralight stuff, but my old eyes just can't see that stuff well enough to tie good knots in 2 lb. test.

One other thing to remember with ultralight fishing. Knots are hugely important. Learn to tie a clean Trilene knot and use at least six turns. Always lubricate the knot (I use spit) and pull it tight slowly and evenly. A poor knot will fail on this tiny diameter line quickly, and the extra turn will keep the knot from pulling out.

 

[rndn]

Re: Ultra lite fishing, What a blast!!!!

Good point about the knots on small diamter fishing line. The small line doesn't leave much room for error.

 

[licketdsplit756]

Re: Ultra lite fishing, What a blast!!!!

i aim for the walleye myself. ultra like 5ft berkley rod 6 pound test.bringing them up from 25 feet down is not much of a chore. but hang on the last 5 ft. watch that ultra lite bend in half on a 6 pound walleye is a blast. i dont land them all. but what a fight. ultra lite is not for the amature fisherman. there is no room for horseing those big ones.

 

[stclairriverblaster]

Re: Ultra lite fishing, What a blast!!!!

I like Trilene XT for my 4 lb. uses. It doesn't seem to take as much of a set on the spool as the regular monofilaments. I've noticed, too, that my casts are a lot farther with it than Ande mono.

I used to use 2 lb. on all my ultralight stuff, but my old eyes just can't see that stuff well enough to tie good knots in 2 lb. test.

One other thing to remember with ultralight fishing. Knots are hugely important. Learn to tie a clean Trilene knot and use at least six turns. Always lubricate the knot (I use spit) and pull it tight slowly and evenly. A poor knot will fail on this tiny diameter line quickly, and the extra turn will keep the knot from pulling out.

try spider wire.
they have many thicknesses. like currently i have the diameter of six lb and its the strenght of 20lb. i love the stuff even though its a bit expensive. 20 bux a spool.. but hey you gotta pay for performance. you can get 1.5 lb diameter but 8lb test strength.

this is the only fishing line i use and i stand by it.

 

[bouttime007]

Re: Ultra lite fishing, What a blast!!!!

For 15 years Ive used 5' or 5'6" ultra light or light action rods with 6lb Stren lo-vis green, and only had minimal problems. Ive landed countless 4-5 lb smallies with light gear and it is just unreal the fight you get. Only last year did I buy a 6' med-heavy rod to use with crankbaits, but I still load the boat with a few light rigs when I go. Stren 8-10lb lo-vis is spooled on all my other reels. Nary a problem with the line and will never switch to any other.

 

[pecheux]

Re: Ultra lite fishing, What a blast!!!!

Normaly used Medium rods with 10 to 12 pound lines. Now switched to Light action with 6 pound test Stren High vis and getting more trill pulling out those 28 inches pikes.

I can imagine the fun of Xtra lite .... my next move.

Cheers

 

[DufferJim]

Re: Ultra lite fishing, What a blast!!!!

Probably the greatest time I've had so far in 30 years of fishing was with an ultra lite rig. I was shore fishing for smallmouth at Russel Station in Rochester with 6lb green like bouttime007 above uses. A 38lb carp hopped on my line and I wrestled with him for over half an hour, moving up and down the embankment in a 200' stretch to keep from running out of line. The pole nearly snapped the one time I had to turn him hard at the end of my reel. Thankfully the few other guys there were very cool about pulling in thier lines and cheering me on.

 

[mobyjaws]

Re: Ultra lite fishing, What a blast!!!!

I caught a 3# Largemouth yesterday on 4# test. He spent more time in the air than the water. A ballet danced to my singing drag. Gotta love it. MJ

 

[bouttime007]

Re: Ultra lite fishing, What a blast!!!!

Probably the greatest time I've had so far in 30 years of fishing was with an ultra lite rig. I was shore fishing for smallmouth at Russel Station in Rochester with 6lb green like bouttime007 above uses. A 38lb carp hopped on my line and I wrestled with him for over half an hour, moving up and down the embankment in a 200' stretch to keep from running out of line. The pole nearly snapped the one time I had to turn him hard at the end of my reel. Thankfully the few other guys there were very cool about pulling in thier lines and cheering me on.

I wish I coulve seen the look on your face when the drag started singing!!!!
I couldnt imagine ...38 pounds WOW

 

[Scoop]

Re: Ultra lite fishing, What a blast!!!!

Wow, some nice small light tackle fishing. I love it too. When I was fishing Rainy Lake, I had a 5' rod with 6lb test and hooked a fat 24 1/2" walleye. It was a great fight. When I thought it was done and ready to be netted, it took one last big dive. My pole bent way over, but I got the walleye in.

The next cast, my pole broke in half. Great fish and then I had a reason to buy an even better replacement pole.

 

[bouttime007]

Re: Ultra lite fishing, What a blast!!!!

I have a 5' Shakespere Microspin ultralight rod that has been just plain shocking with landing 5-6lb smallies. I keep expecting it to snap in two every time it doubles over, but it keeps on tickin. The things damn near indestructable.