Ultra-Light Hookset Tips

[BigMinnow]

Hey everyone,

 

So a few days ago Fenwick finally mailed me back my replacement ultra light spinning rod (that I ordered in April ?) and I was finally able to get out and use it this morning. I took it to the Scioto river this morning and took my spool off of the rod I've been using lately, got my line rod all set up and tied on my ned rig, outfitted with the hulastickz zman plastic as well as a 1/16 oz. white zman mushroom head jig. I was so psyched to get out, this setup always decimates the fish in my area, I literally never go more than 15 casts without getting a bite on this rig, and today was no different. Bites left and right, but I was having a terrible time on my hookset today. My rod is a 7'2' medium fast ultralight spinning rod and I was using small hooks and 4lb fluorocarbon line (I don't know if that matters) but almost every other fish was popping off today. I caught tons of dink smallies but anything over 12 inches would fight for 5 seconds, maybe jump once, and then pop off before being anywhere remotely close to landing them. I felt like I was keeping tension on the fish and I gave a solid hookset each time but still couldn't land more than half the fish today. Any tips you guys can give me? Now that I think about it I've had this problem in the past too. I just cant seem to set the hook correctly with an ultralight. 

 

 

 

Aside from the hookset dilemma today I caught my first common carp and strangely enough it was on this ned rig setup. It was a 2lb fish, but with current and an ultralight rig it was an awesome fight! I was able to land it and I think it was really only because carps have really gummy mouths and the hook definitely wasn't coming out of that mouth anytime soon. I never expected a carp to take my ned rig though so that was a sweet treat for today.

[WRB]

4 lb line means you can only put about 2 lbs of hook setting force to the hook point without knot failure for sudden impact called impact strength and FC has low impact strength compared to premium mono for example.

My guess is the jigs you bought aren't as sharp as the should be and/or the hook wire is too big in diameter to penetrate the basses mouth tissue with the hook set you apply.

1. Hone the hook points until they are as sharp as possible.

2. Set the reel drag at 2 lbs, this is max for 4 lbs line, 1 1/2 lbs is safer margin of error.

3. Don't snap set with FC line, reel and firm rod sweep until the drag slips.

Tom

[islandbass]

WRB pretty much covered what I would suspect as the culprits with regard to maybe slightly dull jugs or perhaps not the appropriate wire size. 

 

The rod you described is something I think suits my fishing style has piqued my bait monkey radar. Can you tell me the model number and is it two piece?

[BigMinnow]

21 minutes ago, islandbass said:

The rod you described is something I think suits my fishing style has piqued my bait monkey radar. Can you tell me the model number and is it two piece?

Fenwick® Elite Tech™ River Runner Spin

Model#ERR72L-MFS-2

 

It is two pieces, I love this rod. Just a tip for you if you consider buying this rod, twice now I've had the rod tip break off, both were completely not fish related. Once it got caught in my front door hinge and another it got caught in the corner of my dashboard and my windshield. Fenwick did replace my rod each time but Fenwick is TERRIBLE at answering emails and having prompt customer service. They ~have~ always manage to replace my rod when it breaks but not until after I have some very frustrating and redundant email conversations with them. Buyers be warned if good customer service is important to you.

1 hour ago, WRB said:

1. Hone the hook points until they are as sharp as possible.

2. Set the reel drag at 2 lbs, this is max for 4 lbs line, 1 1/2 lbs is safer margin of error.

3. Don't snap set with FC line, reel and firm rod sweep until the drag slips.

Tom

Going out again tomorrow, I will definitely have to try some sweep sets instead. I have no way of measuring poundage for drag but maybe I don't have it set tight enough. It does seem to slip on my hooksets, but my hooksets are snapsets so maybe that's why. I'll try tighten it down a half turn and see if that helps. Thanks for the tips! 

[islandbass]

Thanks, I really appreciate it. I actually live within spitting distance of Fenwick Lake, for which the company chose its name. The bait monkey is rattling his cage. 

 

I just found out that my current UL, an Okuma Celilo rod, perhaps my favorite and most productive rod in my arsenal, has a damaged top guide. I think it was my fault, as I remember not too long ago I banged it into something metallic putting it away in the trunk and in the dark. I didn’t realize until this morning upon seeing the damage to put 2 and 2 together that my actions were the cause. I’ve had this rod for at least 9 years I think, and I plan to fix it, but it sure wouldn’t hurt to have another UL weapon added to the arsenal. Thanks again. 

[everythingthatswims]

Ultralights will never be able to set the hook as well as a medium action spinning rod, plain and simple. No matter what you do, you're going to lose some fish due to not being able to drive the hook home hard enough with an ultralight. Even with a small open hook on a ned rig or drop shot, the amount of force applied with that rod won't get the job done consistently.

 

That being said, typically when you fish an ultralight for bass, it is for the enjoyment of it, not because of the suitability of the rod for the job. The best way to combat the limber rod would be sharp hooks, and fishing a zero stretch line like braid, accompanied by a leader of FC or mono.

[WRB]

1 hour ago, BigMinnow said:

Fenwick® Elite Tech™ River Runner Spin

Model#ERR72L-MFS-2

 

It is two pieces, I love this rod. Just a tip for you if you consider buying this rod, twice now I've had the rod tip break off, both were completely not fish related. Once it got caught in my front door hinge and another it got caught in the corner of my dashboard and my windshield. Fenwick did replace my rod each time but Fenwick is TERRIBLE at answering emails and having prompt customer service. They ~have~ always manage to replace my rod when it breaks but not until after I have some very frustrating and redundant email conversations with them. Buyers be warned if good customer service is important to you.

Going out again tomorrow, I will definitely have to try some sweep sets instead. I have no way of measuring poundage for drag but maybe I don't have it set tight enough. It does seem to slip on my hooksets, but my hooksets are snapsets so maybe that's why. I'll try tighten it down a half turn and see if that helps. Thanks for the tips! 

Put 2 1 pint plastic drinking bottle of water in a plastic grocery bag, 1 pint (8 oz of water) weighs 1 lb. hook the bag with the pints of water and lift, be carefull with a UL rod and adjust your draggy slip when lifting the weight. 1 and 1/2 pints would be 1 and 1/2 lbs and more appropriate for UL rod. Sharp hook point easily sticks and scratches your thumb nail.

Tom

[Raul]

You DO NOT SET THE HOOK when fishing with UL gear, you use light wire razor sharp hooks and let the fish hook itself by keeping the line tight.

[FishDewd]

I never understood ultra light. I can throw the same lures with a medium-light to medium powered rod with the proper tip. Today I fished a mepps anglia #3 with a medium, fast tipped lews tp1 and I was throwing it nearly across my pond. Hook sets? Flick my wrist upward with 6 lb Cabela's fluorocarbon leader, or use a side sweep. Caught the teeniest perch in the whole pond with that, used the perch as a trailer for a jig, then caught a catfish with it on my medium-heavv baitcasting setup lol. Non-conventional for catfishing but I enjoy the challenge!

[Jig Man]

I fish a lot of Ned rigs in the spring.  One of my setups is a Fenwick rod similar to yours but shorter (6').  I have tried several different hooks from various sources.  I did not like the Zman hooks at all.  I ordered some from a company in KS that were better but still not what I wanted so I bought the Ozark Finesse Jig mold and 1000 1/0 Gammy hooks and now make my own.

 

The 1/0 hook does a lot better job than the smaller hooks.  As far as hook sets go I swing hard but always have a light drag whether it is on one of my spinning setups or my Ned bait casting setup.  I am using 6# fluorocarbon line instead of 4.  I fish around brush and rocks so 4# would drive me nuts.

 

Keeping the rod tip lowered toward the water helps keep the fish down and fewer of them get off.  Some days it is nearly impossible to get them to the boat especially if they are in shallow water but that keeps it interesting.

 

My main bait is the Z man TRD.  All colors catch fish.

[govallis]

9 hours ago, FishDewd said:

I never understood ultra light. I can throw the same lures with a medium-light to medium powered rod with the proper tip. Today I fished a mepps anglia #3 with a medium, fast tipped lews tp1 and I was throwing it nearly across my pond. 

+1. I use medium action rod for everything including tiny perch. I can cast as far as a UL, thus no point to have a UL rod except for fighting fun.

[FishDewd]

That's true. The fight could be a lot of fun.

[Black Hawk Basser]

14 hours ago, WRB said:

Put 2 1 pint plastic drinking bottle of water in a plastic grocery bag, 1 pint (8 oz of water) weighs 1 lb. hook the bag with the pints of water and lift, be carefull with a UL rod and adjust your draggy slip when lifting the weight. 1 and 1/2 pints would be 1 and 1/2 lbs and more appropriate for UL rod. Sharp hook point easily sticks and scratches your thumb nail.

Tom

8 oz of water is not a pint...8 oz of water does not weigh a pound.  A pint (16 oz) of water is pretty darn close to a pound.  8.34 pounds per gallon of water.

[WRB]

1 hour ago, Pickle_Power said:

8 oz of water is not a pint...8 oz of water does not weigh a pound.  A pint (16 oz) of water is pretty darn close to a pound.  8.34 pounds per gallon of water.

Right, 1 pint, don't know why I added the incorrect ounces, never did that before when suggesting using pint of water for a pound weight to set drags without a scale.

Tom

[islandbass]

5 hours ago, govallis said:

+1. I use medium action rod for everything including tiny perch. I can cast as far as a UL, thus no point to have a UL rod except for fighting fun.

That is why. You nailed it.  The absolute fun of it.

 

The challenge is also fun because you  get to battle the fish on a less imbalanced playing field. Your chances of losing are typically greater on bigger fish,which proportionately increases the reward in landing that fish.

 

Ever hook into a 4lb smallie on a UL? Indescribable feeling. You’ll act like iaconelli saying, “it’s a giant,” lol.

 

You could take out a bear with a high powered rifle (regular gear) or go toe to toe against the same bear with a crossbow or bow and arrow (UL gear).

 

For the latter, you had better make your shot count, or you might be break the record for the 100 yd dash, lol. 

[FishDewd]

I catch so few bass though that I'd rather have equipment that can handle the bass lol. I often keep my drag looser than needed to simulate that battle feeling, but at least then I know I can increase it if I hook into more than I bargained for. For me, I like the lighter stuff for when I am specifically targeting panfish and the like. I have a few light spinning rods that I use for finessing for panfish, etc. But if I ever find a hot area with lot's of bass that I can catch more regularly, maybe then I would dabble in UL for bass cause I could see that being pretty fun.

[greentrout]

Use 5'6' light spinning rod with Shimano Sieanna 1000FE with Rebel ultralight lures...primarily in creeks/streams...catch red bellies, bluegills & spots and lmb...not big but fun...4 - 6# test...little Beetle Spins are great too...

 

great results...

 

recommend...

 

good fishing...

 

 

 

 

 

[WRB]

So you all want to convert the OP instead of helping him use his ultra light tackle and fish like you do.

Tom

 

[Bluebasser86]

3 hours ago, WRB said:

So you all want to convert the OP instead of helping him use his ultra light tackle and fish like you do.

Tom

 

Not sure it's really a matter of trying to convert, it's a matter of his gear being too light for the job. I fish a Ned rig a ton with a ML spinning rod and could easily do it (and have) with a L/F spinning rod, but as you stated yourself, an UL rod with 4lb test allows for such little force to set the hook there really isn't much the OP can do if he chooses to fish the UL rod other than accept that he's going to loose a lot of the fish that bite. 

 

OP, I love UL fishing, I use mine with tiny jigs down to 1/80oz to catch all kinds of sunfish and creek fish, but even a tiny Ned rig hook might as well be a 5/0 worm hook with your setup. Your best chance is to reel into the fish like a madman with the rod pointed at the fish and then lift, not snap or setting hard, and keep reeling. That should drive the hook and hopefully it will work into the barb during the course of the fight. 

[thinkingredneck]

Sharp hooks.  Braid line.  Sweep set.

[Black Hawk Basser]

I think braid would help.  Having line that stretches and a really limber pole would definitely put you at a disadvantage.

 

Having said that, I also like to battle bass on light gear.  I have a B&M 8 foot crappie rod that is a blast to fish with for bass and walleye.

[Brad in Texas]

I think WRB, others, have it sorted out pretty well.

 

I had to go back to the original post to see what sort of target fishing you were targeting, not sure you ever mention species all that clearly, then I saw "jump" and knew you very likely are speaking of bass. Bluegills and most ultra-light target species down here in Texas (panfish) don't jump. Not certain about perch and other northern species.

 

So, to me it is rather simple as a UL angler, personally, when I go out equipped that way, I'll invariably catch a few LMBs looking for a snack on my tiny offerings. The deal is that unless those smaller hooks find some bone to lodge in to hold fast to, it just takes a lot longer to land a fish on spinning gear (especially ultra-light spinning gear) versus casting gear. This, I mean, if you are doing it "according to the book" and using the rod to work the fish, using the drag and reeling down on the line repeatedly. 

 

> Time = heightened # of fish lost.

 

So, in a manner of speaking, you just aren't using the optimal gear to land bass. You are simply under-sized, really in almost all categories: the tiny Ned Rig, line, the soft ultra-light powered rod.

 

But, I'd suggest that your skill set will vastly improve in time. And, isn't it a hoot catching small bass on UL? I love it! 

 

If you are targeting bass altogether, and I am not trying to convert you, I think you are dialed down too low on the rod power rating to optimize results.

 

Brad