Ultra Light Setup For Bass

[Cody0707]

There is a lake where I like to fish. This lake has a large amount of small bass. Most around a pound. The largest fish I have caught out of the Lake was about 5 pounds.

I am looking for an ultra light setup that won't break the bank that will make catching these little fish fun and more of a fight.

Budget $150 or less.

[I.rar]

if you will primarily be targeting bass with this set up , i would suggest getting a light power rod instead of a UL.

shimano clarus and a pflueger president would make an excellent budget rig.

[Raul]

Shimano Clarus + Shimano Sahara is an excellent set up and won´t break the bank.

[Long Mike]

I would recommend the BPS Carbonlite 6'9"' ML coupled with a Pfleuger President. It's a great rig for what you will be doing and has enough backbone to handle the occasional much larger fish. One great thing about this set-up is that it is NOT a Shimano.

[Goose52]

During the summer months, when the fish caught tend to be smaller, I often fish lighter tackle for the exact reason that you mentioned, to have a better fight. My lighter tackle (under medium-power) consists of spinning rods in UL, L, and ML powers; as well as casting rods in L and ML powers. They all have their niche, but if I was to pick one power that would be the most versatile, it would be ML. Light enough to have a pretty good fight with the smaller fish, heavy enough to take on the 5 pounders that you mentioned. Long Mike mentioned a pretty nifty spinning rig in ML that would work well.

You didn't say how open your water is....but if it IS open, then UL or L would work - but you're really adding risk factors - especially with traditional UL line like 2 or 4lb, or even nylon mono in 6lb. These lines have little tolerance for abrasion, nicks, etc, and you really have to be attentive to continually trimming back and re-tying. Nothing wrong with going UL or L in open water - set your drag properly and have fun. BUT, if you have any slop, rocks, timber, etc. you will end up with some lost fish. If you plan on using braid - then some of that risk is reduced.

If you still want UL (or L) spinning, I think a 20-size (or 25 size) Pfueger President would work well, along with the UL or L rod of your choice.

[The Brim Reaper]

Rods:

St. Croix Triumph: http://www.basspro.c...OSSSELL_PRODUCT

St. Croix Premier: http://www.basspro.c.../product/74392/

Falcon Original: http://www.basspro.c.../product/22369/

Reels:

Pflueger Trion GX-7: http://www.basspro.c...OSSSELL_PRODUCT

Pflueger President: http://www.basspro.c...OSSSELL_PRODUCT

The St. Croix Triumph is made somewhere in Mexico. If you'd prefer to buy American, you can spend a little more and get the Premier. The Falcon Original is American-made as well. Good luck putting together your setup!

[BASSHUNTER1961]

I just picked up a St Croix Premier 6' Ultralight and I love it.... Been catching tons of 1-2lb LM and crappie, what a great time, and a great rod.

[Curved]

Just got a Quantum combo myself with a Q-Vex 10 reel and QX48 5'6" light rod. I made a thread about the 50% off deal I found for it. It's not at the same level as the other recommendations here, but it's a normally $80 combo that's being agreeable to use.

Figured that I'd chime in and say I'm enjoying the lighter tackle and faster action versus my old medium composite rod.

[nwmike]

tech spec 6'10'' ml dropshot rod with a pfluger president reel.bought this combo a couple months ago and is one of my favorite combos

[NBR]

Although I have used UL tackle over the years I avoid it unless that is the solution to hooking up with some fish. Playing a fish over long period of time stresses them big time and if I remember correctly builds up lactic acid which can harm or kill the fish. I never thought about this much until a bud hooked a good sized pike (16) an ML spinning gear with 8# mono and no leader. He battled the fish for quite a long time before wecould get it into my cradle. A picture and it swam away fine.probable 5 or 10 minutes later I happened to see something floating had drawn the attention of a sea gull. We went out to see what it was and it was the pike we released.

This time we worked with her for a very long time befor she swam away. Now we get them in, get them photographed if they are real special and get them back in the water.

[Loop_Dad]

Although I have used UL tackle over the years I avoid it unless that is the solution to hooking up with some fish. Playing a fish over long period of time stresses them big time and if I remember correctly builds up lactic acid which can harm or kill the fish. I never thought about this much until a bud hooked a good sized pike (16) an ML spinning gear with 8# mono and no leader. He battled the fish for quite a long time before wecould get it into my cradle. A picture and it swam away fine.probable 5 or 10 minutes later I happened to see something floating had drawn the attention of a sea gull. We went out to see what it was and it was the pike we released.

This time we worked with her for a very long time befor she swam away. Now we get them in, get them photographed if they are real special and get them back in the water.

x2 on get them quick and let them go quick camp. It shouldn't be a problem with ML.

[new2BC4bass]

My "light" rod is now a Fenwick River Runner 7'2" 4-8# line 1/32-5/16 oz. lures. I have an older Daiwa 1500CU (which matches color surprisingly well) mounted on it. Think the rod was around $101 from a dealer in Oregon. Best price I could find. Unfortunately my luck locally is still holding....all bad.

Figured this rod would handle the occasional bass along with giving a sporting fight with panfish as well as handling lures light enough for crappies and bluegills, and lures large enough to interest the occasional bass. Matter of fact I was throwing a 3/16 oz. spinnerbait on it yesterday in hopes of enticing a bass.

I prefer the looks of the Premier over the other low end St. Croix rods. However, I would go with the Falcon Original over the St. Croix rods based solely on my experience with the Originals and a few other Falcon models.

[LgMouthGambler]

Wait!, does this mean my Curado 50E on Vendetta M and 12# YoZuri is not a UL for Bass?

[retiredbosn]

I only fished ultra light for years, here is my take.

1. Do not get a short rod the longer the rod the more leverage the fish has not you. Think back to science class a rod is a lever, your hand the fulcrum (pivot point), the longer the distance between your hand and load (rod tip) the more effort it takes on the butt. The idea that a longer rod gives more leverage to the angler is wrong.

2. Do not go under a ML, a true UL acts like a shock absorber, takes all the fight that you want to feel.

My suggestion in spinning gear a size 10 reel with at least a 6' 6" ML rod. Baitcast size 50 reel with a 6' 4" ML or light. The reason for a lighter casting rod is a ML rated casting rod is a medium spinning rod as far as ratings

[retiredbosn]

Wait!, does this mean my Curado 50E on Vendetta M and 12# YoZuri is not a UL for Bass?

No that's a weightless plastics rod. Depends on where you are fishing too, if you have big hawgs and alot of cover then it may be your ul setup. On small rivers and clear lakes that is as big as I'd go

[LgMouthGambler]

No that's a weightless plastics rod. Depends on where you are fishing too, if you have big hawgs and alot of cover then it may be your ul setup. On small rivers and clear lakes that is as big as I'd go

Yeah, my other rigs are 65# braid, 40# braid, and 20# YoZuri, but those are for my heavy fishing.

[retiredbosn]

Yeah, my other rigs are 65# braid, 40# braid, and 20# YoZuri, but those are for my heavy fishing.

I was just yankin your chain. Seriously though Murray is a pretty clear lake.

[LgMouthGambler]

So 12# and 20# YoZuri should due just fine?

[retiredbosn]

Yeah and if its negatively affecting your fishing I have three spools here. I wasn't kidding about ultra clear water, but 12lb on Murray will be fine.

[LgMouthGambler]

The 12# is clear, the 20# is low vis green. I have other line as well, what is mostly used up there? Lure suggestions? Line suggestions?

[Big John]

i will second the fenwick river runner, mine is the 6'3" (i think) ultralight (im sure). mine has some cheap walmart real on it and it has been good to me. although i will be replacing the reel this winter as its fairly worn now. one of the best times i had was a 5' shakespear ultralight with 12 pound big game and the drag all the way tight. it was an odd combo, set up for my friends 8 year old son with leftovers in the basement. i caught a few 12" smallmouth with it and it was by far the most fun i had with a fishing pole. when a smallmouth took the bait it was like a bomb went off in your hands, and the fight was like a grabbing on to a power line!

[SirSnookalot]

I've got a 5 1/2 lighting rod with an ul trion 4#, in the past I've used it with crappie jigs for mayan cichlids that can really fight hard. I don't use it anymore, when I find a needy kid I'm going to give it away. Maybe I'll use it today for a change of pace.

[bmlum415]

my personal preferance is a 6'9 dobyns savvy rod in ML with a quantum kinetic reel and 8 lb test for smallmouth and spotted bass

[Highhawk1948]

I go "light" when the catching slows down. I use old stuff though. The old 5'6" medium rods with pistol grips left over before long rods came into vogue. I have small light bait casters with 8 and10 pound mono. I throw sliders, 4" worms with 1/16 slip sinkers, and small crankbaits on them. I also throw beetle spins on a 5'6" ultra light spinning gear with 6 pound mono. Largest I have caught on the UL was a 4 pounder, what a fight! I think one day I will go strictly with light gear.

[fishking247]

I don't like UL bass fishing. the rod never has enough backbone and the areas i fish have too much cover. the lightest i go is an "L" power rod and the only time i fish that is in cold water when im tossing tiny panfish baits for bass. 95% of the time i fish "M" spinning rods with 8lb test or 15lb braid