Ultralight Rod - 6'6" vs 7'?

[biggiesmalls]

If you were purchasing an ultralight rig, would you go 6'6" or 7' length? Going to be buying a BPS Micro Lite for my Pflueger Trion, used to target panfish, we have some monsters swimming around the ponds around here, I've seen a redear I am 100% confident was over a pound and fairly confident would've been nearly 2 lbs. 

 

Just wondering whether 6'6" or 7' would be the better length here. 

Also, will 4 lb mono be okay? Or will 2 lb give better results as far as not spooking large sunfish? Haven't had a ton of trouble with that, unless they see you onshore it seems. 

 

Take care,

Drew

[68camaro]

I just bought a finesse spinning rod for 4lb line and went with 6'8", I would have gone 6"6" if I found one that size that met my other needs. Ultralight I don't cast real far so lenth not a big concern, but I do skip 'em like crazy and smaller size helps alot with accuracy.

[biggiesmalls]

25 minutes ago, 68camaro said:

I just bought a finesse spinning rod for 4lb line and went with 6'8", I would have gone 6"6" if I found one that size that met my other needs. Ultralight I don't cast real far so lenth not a big concern, but I do skip 'em like crazy and smaller size helps alot with accuracy.

Awesome thanks for the reply. Do you fish from shore with yours? 

Thanks

Drew

[68camaro]

8 hours ago, biggiesmalls said:

Awesome thanks for the reply. Do you fish from shore with yours? 

Thanks

Drew

Yes and from kayak, in my local ponds i like to parallel skip as close to shore and under the bushes as I can get and short rod helps alot, I also get a lot of hang-ups but worth it. I do have one area a couple hundred feet long but narrow that I can skip across the pond and under bushes on opposite side. It's sometimes a trick not getting backcast to hit anything but I found muck boots that get me of a foot or two off shore really helps. I end up skipping or casting into bushes quite a bit also but again, this is where big ones are so really worth it.

[Crestliner2008]

You never stated what your budget is for this rod? I'm a big fan of B n' M panfish rods. Well built rods and many in the ultra-light to light actions. I favor the 7' Sam Heaton Super Sensitive. Have 3 of them now and will be getting more as this season progresses. Best thing is that you can get these rods for around $50.00.

[biggiesmalls]

15 minutes ago, 68camaro said:

Yes and from kayak, in my local ponds i like to parallel skip as close to shore and under the bushes as I can get and short rod helps alot, I also get a lot of hang-ups but worth it. I do have one area a couple hundred feet long but narrow that I can skip across the pond and under bushes on opposite side. It's sometimes a trick not getting backcast to hit anything but I found muck boots that get me of a foot or two off shore really helps. I end up skipping or casting into bushes quite a bit also but again, this is where big ones are so really worth it.

Gotcha, I'll be fishing pinds mostly from shore but also occasionally from a kayak. Not a ton of brush here, though. Few large concrete drain pipes that we drop baits in but that's about it. 

1 minute ago, Crestliner2008 said:

You never stated what your budget is for this rod? I'm a big fan of B n' M panfish rods. Well built rods and many in the ultra-light to light actions. I favor the 7' Sam Heaton Super Sensitive. Have 3 of them now and will be getting more as this season progresses. Best thing is that you can get these rods for around $50.00.

Decided on the BPS Microlight rod already, they're $60 on sale right now for $40. I'm just trying to decide on a 6'6" or 7' length now. 

I'm fishing ponds from shore for the most part, without much brush. 

 

Drew

[ratherbfishin1]

A friend of mine has a Micro Lite but I've noticed it's a pretty heavy rod(weight not power).  Now i'm used to my st. Croix UL which is crazy light but his just feels really heavy.  Just something to keep in mind.  Good Luck!

[tkunk]

Longer rods will increase your casting distance, especially for light lures. I fish super clear water for smallies, and it's important that they don't see me, so I use an 8'6" rod for 1/16 oz hair jigs. I'd go longer if I could fit it in my boat.

[biggiesmalls]

Thanks for the replies. 

I think I need to decide what it is exactly that I'll be fishing for these bluegill. I've got a dough bait which works well, but picks up lots of smaller fish too. 

I think the majority of my fishing though - will be with simple float rigs for crickets, and with Road Runner jigheads (1/32 or 1/16 ounce). From shore with minimal structure around. 

 

Drew

[haggard]

14 minutes ago, biggiesmalls said:

Thanks for the replies. 

I think I need to decide what it is exactly that I'll be fishing for these bluegill. I've got a dough bait which works well, but picks up lots of smaller fish too. 

I think the majority of my fishing though - will be with simple float rigs for crickets, and with Road Runner jigheads (1/32 or 1/16 ounce). From shore with minimal structure around. 

 

Drew

 

My rec would be 6'6 for an UL.  I actually use a 5'6 UL/F spinner for panfish from shore and yak. I find too long gets too noodly/whippy on an UL, and the short length seems more controllable (accurate). Occasionally I wish it was longer when casting from the bank, but a plus is that it doesn't catch nearby tree branches as often as a longer rod could. The shorter length is also helpful in the yak.

 

99% of the time I use a 1/16 oz crappie magnet with it. Bluegill, crappie, perch are so much fun to catch on the UL setup, and that occasional larger bass is a blast (the one in my avatar I got from the yak using this setup).

 

 

[biggiesmalls]

35 minutes ago, haggard said:

 

My rec would be 6'6 for an UL.  I actually use a 5'6 UL/F spinner for panfish from shore and yak. I find too long gets too noodly/whippy on an UL, and the short length seems more controllable (accurate). Occasionally I wish it was longer when casting from the bank, but a plus is that it doesn't catch nearby tree branches as often as a longer rod could. The shorter length is also helpful in the yak.

 

99% of the time I use a 1/16 oz crappie magnet with it. Bluegill, crappie, perch are so much fun to catch on the UL setup, and that occasional larger bass is a blast (the one in my avatar I got from the yak using this setup).

 

 

I think I'll end up with a 6'6" ultralight rod here in a few days. I'll probably use it from a kayak occasionally, and I really don't mind not having that extra length on the rod.

 

thanks everyone,

Drew

[Falkus]

I have this 6'6 travel rod for trout fishing which I love. 

 

PRESSO ULTRALIGHT SPINNING RODS

http://www.daiwa.com/us/contents/rods/presso_ulight/index.html

 

[fishmount]

I fish all the time for the giant Bluegills and Redears that we have here near me in Southern California.  I bought a 7 ft ultralight rod to use with 2 lb test, and for me it is just too long.  You can cast a little bit farther with the longer rod, but with the 7 footer, I keep hitting the tip on everything in my garage and house.  It's hard to go thru doorways with it.  I still have several short 5 and 5 1/2 foot ultralights that I've had for a long time,  but just in the past couple of years, I've bought longer rods because we do a lot of slow trolling and it's easier to see your line and keeping it away from the boat, plus being able to cast the little jigs out farther.

[Hulkster]

longer the better. casts light lures better. more shock absorption when you get a big fish on.

 

I use suffix siege 4 pound mono on my UL rig, which is a G. Loomis TSR791 with a sustain FE 1000 reel.

[Bankbeater]

I like the 7'0" length because I can cast a little farther and flip farther. I spool the reel with 6 pound mono, and I've never had a problem with sunfish being line shy.

[JDV]

I've got a 6'9" ultra light st. croix and love it, and I'd say I could go 3" either way so it would be a preference thing.  If casting distance is paramount, then maybe go 7'.  If not, maybe 6'6" for convenience and working under cover, etc...  I'd suggest 4lb, only bc 2 lb will give you very little margin for error on tying a great knot, and knicks or line abrasion.  I really don't think the difference between 2 and 4 is going to spook bluegill and it's more a difference in margin for error.  I've fished straight braid in semi clear water and still caught bluegill.  I've caught a handful of ~2 lb bass on the ultralight with 4lb line with only 1 breakoff when I was lazy about retying after noticing a knick in the line.   I still get good casting distance with a 6'9" ultra light and 4lb line with 1/16-1/8oz lures and a bit of piece of mind on the line strength in case something bigger than a trout or bluegill hits.

[Brad in Texas]

I have several different rods. For kayaking, a short rod is my great preference. I pull right up next to a dock or boathouse and can cast into the shadows for best action. And, general casting accuracy is so much better, so is leverage with the shorter lever. For long casts from a bank or dock, I have the St. Croix 6'9" pan fish rod. It is very nice.

 

Everyone should try Sufix Nanobraid in 2 lbs. test. Not to be confused with Berkley Nanobraid, a different line. Nanobraid in 2 lbs. is listed as .001" in diameter, almost seems like casting spider silk. As often happens, I go out for pan fish, end up with a few bass with my ultra-light gear. So far, the 2 lbs. has brought in a bass at close to 4 lbs. a few catfish the same size. It claims to be 3X as strong as others in its class. I believe it. Brad

[desmobob]

My problem with finding a good, long ultralight rod is action.  I like a crisp, fast-action rod and it seems that the vast majority of affordable UL rods I've tried over 6' were whippy, wobbly noodles.  

 

Longer rods that I like the actions of are the St.Croix Panfish Series (6', 6'9" UL Fast; about $120).  They are crisp, fast and strong.  I like to spool my UL reels with Berkley's Fireline Crystal braid in 4 lb. test.  Its actual breaking strength is way over four pounds.  I use a five or six foot leader of 2 or 4 lb. fluorocarbon.

 

Tight lines,

Bob

[Fried Lemons]

I prefer 6'-6'9 UL rods. I fish 2lb test which I find handles light baits much better than 4. However with line this light you need to tie solid knots and cast accurately. Longer rods will get you more distance but you lose accuracy.

 

For the people who don't like noodles I'd recommend looking into rods built for "light rock fishing". These are made to cast tiny lures for small saltwater species and have much crisper actions than your typical UL sold in the states.

[Jonas Staggs]

i have a 4'6" UL rod and a 7ft rod. My smaller UL rod is great for fishing areas with lots of bushes. The 7ft rod is too noodly IMO. 

[Eric 26]

If you can afford it I bought a bps pro panfish elite series rod in 6’-8” ultralight and plan on buying the 6’-2” light model. All of my fishing is currently on the bank at retention ponds. They are fantastic rods at $80.00 and they’re available in multiple lengths and either ultralight or light power. I find it easier to cast the lighter baits with a 6’-4” light powered rod but prefer the 6’-8” for bobber fishing.

[Tuchifabz]

UL rods usually tire the fish out to much and when you think the fish is revived you release it and the current is to strong usually and the fish will get pinned and drown or belly up, I've seen happen to many times, so I went to a light 6'4 fast action panfish series rod from st criox 1pcs and haven't seen it happen yet. Now with that being said st criox has upgraded there rods and made the rods stronger in the back end so could now probably go to there new Ul rods trout or pan fish, I like the panfish a little better. 

[bulldog1935]

Traditional short UL rods and pretty much all casting and spinning rods are parabolic taper.  This is what makes traditional UL noodle-y and feel like the fish is turning you instead of vise-versa.  

With a good progressive taper "finesse" rod, longer should have a fast mid, which solves noodle-y 

I can't report on the BPS rod, but I've fished salt XUL and UL a dozen years now.  

If you look at Japanese small game (rockfish) rods, typified by Major Craft, a longer rod gets a longer fast mid section and a heavier butt section.  These are designed for casting from shore (that's the rocks in rockfish).  What you gain with a longer rod is casting distance, the ability to turn bigger fish, and the ability to throw heavier lures without changing the light end.