For those who fish ultralight....

[DaveT63]

What type of tackle do you use?  I've got some small crankbaits, a couple small chatterbaits and spinnerbaits, and some poppers.  Any other recommendations?

And can I fish a small worm rigged wacky with ultralight equipment, or do ultralight rods lack the backbone to set the hook properly?

Thanks,

Dave

[Bassin_Fin@tic]

3 inch senko wacky rigged,zoom finesse worm wacky,tiny swimbaits such as cream spoiler shad. 8-)

I haven't tried the tiny x-rap 6 yet. I am thinking it may work as well.

EDIT: Geez I almost forgot about the berkley realistix power minnows. They sell them in a clam pack now with 2 jigheads. The tiny 2 inch ones come with a matching 1/16 oz head and the 3 inch come with an 1/8. We nailed the crap out of the crappie this winter on them with a clip on spinner attached. Beware though 2 lb bass will nail those things all day as well.

[Big Bait Fishing]

What type of tackle do you use? I've got some small crankbaits, a couple small chatterbaits and spinnerbaits, and some poppers. Any other recommendations?

And can I fish a small worm rigged wacky with ultralight equipment, or do ultralight rods lack the backbone to set the hook properly?

Thanks,

Dave

i feel that any time you are using an open hooked bait , you can reel set the fish , just like you do crankbaits . i think it is very possible to catch bass on ultra lights . i catch 2-6 lb. rainbow trouts on ultra light setups every fall , i think a 6 lb. trout fights harder than a 6 lb. bass .....

[weekendfisherman]

What type of tackle do you use? I've got some small crankbaits, a couple small chatterbaits and spinnerbaits, and some poppers. Any other recommendations?

And can I fish a small worm rigged wacky with ultralight equipment, or do ultralight rods lack the backbone to set the hook properly?

My wife fishes an ultra-lite all of the time and I will sometimes use it for trout, crappie, and bass at the river...I've never had a problem with hook-sets on it. (Ours are set up with 10# Power Pro braided line which only has a 2# diameter. We will sometimes use a flouro leader in super clear water.)

In addition to spinners, top-waters, small jigs, etc we also use wacky rigged worms and finesse baits with no problem. We have had great luck with maribu jigs, Radrunners and best of all 2-3 in. gulp minnows! We will even rig the gulp minnows wacky style, or nose hooked through the side of the head (instead normal) so that it comes through the water on it's side. This rig just plain kills! The braid cast like a dream and it has never broken!

[Paul Roberts]

Has everything to do with matching line strength to hook size -or make that wire diameter.

[DaveT63]

Thanks for the input, everybody!  Looks like I need to pick up a few more things and head out for some fun!

[dday07]

funny i just caught a 3lb bass on my friends little sunfish pole on a zoom finesse on 2 lb test.it slammed it right when it hit the water so i didn't really have to set the hook.but what fun it is to catch them on a lite rod and line!

[islandbass]

Basically, I will throw just about anything in the ultralight weight class.

Don't forget about the tiny little spoons and spinners (eg rooster tails, beetle spins, kast masters, etc.)

UL fishing is a blast. I have caught a few 3lb bass on my and it feels like I'm battling a behemoth. One of the coolest things I like about UL fishing that I will never tire of is watching the rod flex into that parabolic u-shape to fight the fish and simultaneously protecting my light line. Now that is flat out awesome.

[bilgerat]

Try this, it's deadly:

Rig a 1.5" to 2" piece of a senko style stickbait (preferably the tapered tail end) straight on a 1/16 oz ball jig head. Cast it and reel it in. Yo yo the retrieve, straight retrieve, whatever. It kills crappie, large 'gills and I've gotten quite a few decent sized bass on it. It's a good way to get some more fish out of torn up stick worms that can't be rigged any longer.

I do the same with plastic craw trailers that have had the claws bitten off.

Yum makes a 2" Vibra King tube, which is a solid body ribbed tube with tentacles. A good bait rigged on a 1/16 oz jighead also. Black/blue is the color that works best for me.

Ultralight is a blast, and you will often hook into decent sized bass when they're in the mood for the small stuff..

[JigMe]

Have you guys tried to fish a 4-5 inches senko with ultra light? Would it work?

[bilgerat]

Have you guys tried to fish a 4-5 inches senko with ultra light? Would it work?

It's possible, but IMO would be too much weight. 3" is as big as I would go.

[bigfruits]

what are the ratings on your UL rod?

small rapalas

beetle spins

rebel wee craws

snap beans cranks

small inline spinners

small jigheads w/ small plastics (depends on rod)

t-rig finesse worms

slider head w/ worm

crappie and panfish baits

im using a rogue rod (forgot model), symetre 1000, 4lb yo-zuri US

[Crestliner2008]

It appears to me that most of what you are trying to fish with, doesn't really come under the classification of "UL". I think you'd be better served with a quality "Light" action spinning rod instead. This class of rod action is very responsive, yet still has enough backbone to do what I think you are trying to do.

UL rods can be used for catching anything. It's just that they may not be "the" right tool for the job. If you are dead set on UL, look at the B n' M rods. The Sam Heaton's Super Sensitive in 7' length would surely fit the bill and are quite impressive when it comes to landing the occasional LM caught while crappie fishing. 

[bilgerat]

BPS's Micro Lite series of rods are a good choice for UL rated rods. They're available in the 6' to 6 1/2" lenghths, which many manufacturers don't offer. Most offer 5' to 5 1/2' in ul, which is fine if you're in close to trees and brush on a small stream. I like the longer casting distance with a longer rod.

[brophog]

My favorite UL rod is definitely Shimano's Compre in the 7ft model.

Very few manufacturers tend to want to sell rods in the 6'6"-7' range, which I find a shame. I much prefer a longer (but not ungainly long) rod for casting the tiny stuff. For me, it definitely outperforms the far more common small UL rod offerings.

[PondHunter]

I have a Gander Mtn UL rod that is 7' and it is a really nice rod. One of the most important things in achieving good hooksets is sharp hooks. Light wire hooks penetrate easily, and when touched up with a diamond file are insanely sharp.

[The Guy]

You may want to check out the Storm hopper popper.  I have had some great days on those and they are cheap.

[.dsaavedra.]

Have you guys tried to fish a 4-5 inches senko with ultra light? Would it work?

It's possible, but IMO would be too much weight. 3" is as big as I would go.

i catch little bass <10" from a pond at school on a 5" wacky rigged senko using my UL and a 2/0 hook. i've also caught then on t-rigged baby brush hogs on the same setup.

but its hard fishing soft plastics with the UL because the backbone isn't there to set the hook. you always have to tex-pose at the least. wacky worming is pretty easy though.

UL's really excel for fishing small crankbaits/topwater (treble hook baits) and inline spinners if you ask me. also fishing little jigs suspended under a bobber for bluegills.

that rebel crickhopper popper is a great bait!!

[webertime]

Tiny Torpedos, Zara Puppies, Road Runners with Marabou or 2" & 3" curly tails.  3" Yo-Zuri Pin's Minnows (my all time favorite)

I've been using a 5' and 5.5" UL rod with a Shimano 500 sized reel for more than a decade to catch Smallmouths up to 5.25lbs and Largemouths to 6lbs.

I prefer to use my UL gear when the Smallmouths run out of Lake Champlain up the smaller rivers to spawn.  (Lewis Creek, LaPlatte river)

[DaveT63]

Thanks for all the replies, everybody.  I've tried several of them so far.  The best of them for me has been a wacky rigged finesse worm.  I have caught a number of small bass and crappie, and then on Friday, got a 5lb 14oz largemouth.  Talk about some fun!!!  I am really liking this setup!!!