Looking for a new UL rod

[Jkring]

I'm looking into getting a new UL rod. Im leaning more towards st croix but unsure on what to get. Also if you could include what size that would be helpful as well.

[I.rar]

What's your budget? 

I'm, shorter rods for more accurate casting and limited casting space. Longer rods for pitching small jigs and long casts. 

 

[CenCal fisher]

what is your price range? I picked up a Fenwick river runner elite tech that in pretty excited about. Trout season opens up here next weekend, can't wait to use my new rod. It's a 6'9" fast action rod. 

[desmobob]

The St. Croix Panfish series rods I have are the first affordable UL rods I've ever used that have solid backbone.   I liked the 6'9" UL/F so much, I bought a second one.  Another rod I really like is the Kistler KLX 6'3" UL/F, but it's about twice the price of the St. Croix.

Tight lines,

Bob

[Jkring]

I was looking at the panfish, probably what I would like to go with, and I was looking at the 6'9 too haha.

Unfortunately my local shops don't have any so I would have to buy online. Do you think the rod is too thin for a larger bass? I heard someone say they were kinda thin at the tip and it broke for them the first day out, I'm guessing they just didn't know what they were doing. But I've also heard that it's a great rod from a lot of other people. What do you think?

I don't really have a price range but would like to keep it under $150. 

[I.rar]

At that price, I would go with the Fenwick river runner. They can be had for under $100 in fleabay.  I've caught many pan fish as well as largemouth and peacock bass on the 6'9 ul 2 piece without issues. I was using braid and had no issues setting the hook with 4" gycb cut tail at the end of a long cast.

Good luck

[Jkring]

Thanks for all the help guys I really appreciate it. 

Anyone have an opinion on gloomis trout and panfish series? I got a line on a 791-1 for a decent price I think. I've never had a g loomis how do they compare to say a st croix quality wise? 

[Klebs01]

I have a 6' Avid ULF that is a great rod.  really fun for pan fish, and it can handle bass.  A 1 to 2 pound bass feels HUGE on it.  Its a lot of fun and a great rod for float and fly fishing.  If you are willing to spend $150, it might be worth looking for an Avid.

[BassThumb]

Another vote for the St. Croix panfish series. I'd say bang-for-your-buck-wise, St. Croix is equal to G. Loomis as a whole, not just for panfish. You'll get what you pay for with each company.

I've used an ultra-light from the Panfish series, but I cannot recall which one. I think it may have been the aforementioned 6' 8" UL/F, and I liked it, but wanted a little more backbone.

I purchased two of the St. Croix Panfish 7' L/XF this winter and have been using them for panfishing this spring. I'm very happy with it thus far. It'll be useful for finesse-fishing bass, too, with 1/8 oz. dropshots, 1/16 oz darterheads,  and 1/15 oz Ned rigs, yet I can cast even tiny crappie jigs quite far and still have fun fighting them.

[bassh8er]

I didn't think it got better than my St. Croix Premier 6' UL so I bought another.

 

This spring I picked up a 6'9" St. Croix Panfish Series UL and paired it with the new Pflueger President 6920 LE reel and this is by far my new favorite setup; bass or panfish.

[crypt]

I had the same dilemma,so I ended up making my own rod. used a kit i got from mud hole.  love it.

[desmobob]

11 hours ago, BassThumb said:

I purchased two of the St. Croix Panfish 7' L/XF this winter and have been using them for panfishing this spring. I'm very happy with it thus far. It'll be useful for finesse-fishing bass, too, with 1/8 oz. dropshots, 1/16 oz darterheads,  and 1/15 oz Ned rigs, yet I can cast even tiny crappie jigs quite far and still have fun fighting them.

I have that rod as well and it's an excellent tool for the money.  I was using mine today and caught two gigantic freshwater drum on a Ned Rig... what a hoot!

Tight lines,

Bob

[Attila]

For the last year I've used a 7'6" Daiwa Presso matched with an Abu Garcia Cardinal STX5.  I run 10lbs Power Pro w/ a 4lbs Seaguar InvisX leader and have made incidental catches of walleye up to 4lbs, bass up to 3lbs, and a 10lbs musky on it.  The rod handled flawlessly and was very sensitive to the changes in structure that my lures were running over.

I've been using light gear for a lot of years since an injury to the tendons in my hand, including running ML and light action rods for smallmouth while presenting lighter lures up to 1/4 oz in size and the Presso is the most sensitive rod I've had the pleasure of using so far.  I used it for 2 applications this past weekend; one throwing a small xrap and the other being slip float fishing some soft plastics for some pan fish and it worked well for both of these applications.

Perhaps the most important thing to consider in UL fishing is a real with a smooth drag that can handle the strain of a larger fish which you may come into contact with during your fishing exploits.  A longer rod, such as a 7'6", will also place less strain on the line that you use which makes fighting bigger fish easier when matched with a reel with a good drag system.

Sorry for going deeper than just the rod...I love UL fishing and can't seem to stop talking about it.

[blckshirt98]

A bit over your budget but the Phenix Elixir ULs are amazing!  I use an FX 802 as a dedicated dropshot rod and it's one of my favorite rods to fish.

[IAY]

Loomis TSRs are  also something you should look at.