Torn between getting a light or ultralight

[Finessegenics]

 I’m going to take some camping trips this summer along small wadeable rivers where the main target species will be brook/rainbow trout and smallmouth bass. I’m looking at a 6’6 rod, which comes in both L and UL. UL is rated 1/32-3/32 while the L is 1/16-1/4. Lures I imagine myself throwing are: 

 

#0 and #1 mepps spinners 

F5 and F7 original floating rapalas

03 and 05 rapala countdown 

Various 1.5-2 inch soft plastics on 1/16 and 1/32 jigheads

 

I think the L is the obvious choice when looking at the lure rating of the rod versus the weight of the lures. However, I’m worried about the floating raps as they are infamously hard to cast as well as the lighter end stuff such as the #0 spinners and 1/32 jigheads. What do you think? L or UL? 

[MN Fisher]

Go with the Light. I got no issues casting even a F03 on my L/F rod, remember also the plastic adds to the weight so that 1/32 jig plus plastic is gonna be 1/16 or more total, even a #0 Aglia or Comet cast fine on it.

[Finessegenics]

11 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Go with the Light. I got no issues casting even a F03 on my L/F rod, remember also the plastic adds to the weight so that 1/32 jig plus plastic is gonna be 1/16 or more total, even a #0 Aglia or Comet cast fine on it.

Thanks. What does your line setup look like on that rod? 

[Further North]

18 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Go with the Light.

I agree.

 

That's what I used here when I wasn't throwing flies.

[MN Fisher]

4 minutes ago, Finessegenics said:

Thanks. What does your line setup look like on that rod? 

10# Hi-Vis Sufix 832, 4# Sufix Siege leader....start with 24", replace when it gets under 10"

 

[PressuredFishing]

If you are fishing the hardbaits more I'd suggest L, if the light jigs more I'd suggest UL, my humble opinion. 

 

 

[Bluebasser86]

A  light rod is going to do everything you're trying to do better than an UL will. The UL will make the fights a little more enjoyable, but a nice L rod will still be a blast playing even small creek fish. 

[GANGGREEN]

7 hours ago, PressuredFishing said:

If you are fishing the hardbaits more I'd suggest L, if the light jigs more I'd suggest UL, my humble opinion. 

 

 

 

This would be my opinion and advice as well.  I fish UL rods a LOT and catch some very big Spotted bass and Smallmouth on them (not to mention lots of other assorted fish).   I think there's a lot more than just the power of the rod to consider though.  A very fast action UL rod fishes a hell of a lot different than a moderate action rod and would probably have more "power" than even a moderate action L rod.  Lots of good choices out there.   I have at least 7 or 8 UL rods and at least 5 or 6 ML rods, but I think I only have 1 or 2 L action rods, I just don't find that I need them.

 

[Skunkmaster-k]

I’d go with the UL . Easy smooth casting makes Kevin a happy boy. 

[Finessegenics]

2 hours ago, GANGGREEN said:

 

This would be my opinion and advice as well.  I fish UL rods a LOT and catch some very big Spotted bass and Smallmouth on them (not to mention lots of other assorted fish).   I think there's a lot more than just the power of the rod to consider though.  A very fast action UL rod fishes a hell of a lot different than a moderate action rod and would probably have more "power" than even a moderate action L rod.  Lots of good choices out there.   I have at least 7 or 8 UL rods and at least 5 or 6 ML rods, but I think I only have 1 or 2 L action rods, I just don't find that I need them.

 

I’m looking at the 13 Defy Silver, it’s listed as a fast action. From what I’ve been reading and seeing on reviews, the UL fishes like a true fast which is rare with UL rods. Doesn’t mean much though because that’s subjective. Do you have experience with the rod? 

[MN Fisher]

^ Move up a little - my L/F is a Daiwa Procyon, I'm very happy with it and no plans to upgrade as of yet.

7' Light - https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Daiwa_Procyon_Spinning_Rods/descpage-PYS.html

[Finessegenics]

12 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

^ Move up a little - my L/F is a Daiwa Procyon, I'm very happy with it and no plans to upgrade as of yet.

7' Light - https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Daiwa_Procyon_Spinning_Rods/descpage-PYS.html

I was looking at the Procyon, but I’d need  a 2 piece. I know there is a 6’6 model which is 2 piece but haven’t been able to find it in stock up here. 
 

Edit: just found one, but seems a tad more expensive than everywhere else. 

[MN Fisher]

1 hour ago, Finessegenics said:

I was looking at the Procyon, but I’d need  a 2 piece. I know there is a 6’6 model which is 2 piece but haven’t been able to find it in stock up here. 
 

Edit: just found one, but seems a tad more expensive than everywhere else. 

There is a 7'0" 2 piece version of mine - PCYN702LFS (mine is PCYN701LFS)- but it's out of stock everywhere also.

[Darth-Baiter]

i went with UL.  crazy how big a trout you can battle with it.  the rod is so supple it really absorbs the shock.  i was hauling in big browns with 3lb line.  

[Buzzbaiter]

12 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

^ Move up a little - my L/F is a Daiwa Procyon, I'm very happy with it and no plans to upgrade as of yet.

7' Light - https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Daiwa_Procyon_Spinning_Rods/descpage-PYS.html

I got mine just yesterday in the 7’ 1 piece light. I haven’t used it yet (I’ll fix that this weekend), but it is the best light/ultralight rod I’ve handled so far. IMO, it’s a hair stiffer than other light power rods. That might just be because it’s a longer rod, but it’s not nearly as noodley as my other panfish rods. Again, I haven’t used the Procyon in the field yet, but I think it’d

do great with bobbers as well as slightly heavier jigs in the 1/16-1/8oz range (as well as your standard UL applications).

[MN Fisher]

2 hours ago, Buzzbaiter said:

well as slightly heavier jigs in the 1/16-1/8oz range (as well as your standard UL applications).

Mine is my Ned, Split-Shot and Hair Jig rod.

[redmeansdistortion]

I'm going to be the odd man out here, I would suggest a L at the least, or a ML ideally if you're buying a US market rod.  Trout hit much bigger baits than many think, even small brookies.  A good ML spinning rod will usually be in the 1/16-3/8 or 1/8 to 1/2 range and will throw anything from a CD03 on up easily.  The reason I say to go with a ML?  Ever have a 20"+ brown or rainbow try to lose you in the wood?  If they get to the wood, you have lost the battle.  A ML will better keep them from achieving such a thing.  A L or UL will work, but you want one with a progressive taper and not a parabolic taper as most budget priced US market spinning rods in those power categories seem to come.  

[Further North]

11 minutes ago, redmeansdistortion said:

I'm going to be the odd man out here, I would suggest a L at the least, or a ML ideally if you're buying a US market rod.  Trout hit much bigger baits than many think, even small brookies.  A good ML spinning rod will usually be in the 1/16-3/8 or 1/8 to 1/2 range and will throw anything from a CD03 on up easily.  The reason I say to go with a ML?  Ever have a 20"+ brown or rainbow try to lose you in the wood?  If they get to the wood, you have lost the battle.  A ML will better keep them from achieving such a thing.  A L or UL will work, but you want one with a progressive taper and not a parabolic taper as most budget priced US market spinning rods in those power categories seem to come.  

Well said.

Big trout eat big food - they have to, to survive.

Many big trout flies - streamers, mice, even poppers, are as big as bass flies. 

We don't fish them on 5 wt. rods.

...as an aside, I don't understand the desire to over-stress a fish by fighting on a rod that's really too light to do the job well...and honestly, I can feel every move a fish makes much better on a stronger rod. 

Obviously, wanting to use small lures/baits is a different situation from the above.

 

[redmeansdistortion]

17 minutes ago, Further North said:

Well said.

Big trout eat big food - they have to, to survive.

Many big trout flies - streamers, mice, even poppers, are as big as bass flies. 

We don't fish them on 5 wt. rods.

...as an aside, I don't understand the desire to over-stress a fish by fighting on a rod that's really too light to do the job well...and honestly, I can feel every move a fish makes much better on a stronger rod. 

Obviously, wanting to use small lures/baits is a different situation from the above.

 

Additionally, trout in general will choose bigger food over smaller insects regardless of what's hatching.  More energy gained for less expended.  My usual lures are 2" to 3" minnow style baits and they're very effective.  Even an 8" brookie will hammer a 2" minnow with #6 hooks on it.  They're hungry little buggers.

[Further North]

2 minutes ago, redmeansdistortion said:

Additionally, trout in general will choose bigger food over smaller insects regardless of what's hatching.  More energy gained for less expended.  My usual lures are 2" to 3" minnow style baits and they're very effective.  Even an 8" brookie will hammer a 2" minnow with #6 hooks on it.  They're hungry little buggers.

Yup.

Big food with less effort is programmed into them, and the fish that tip more this way tend to survive better.

[redmeansdistortion]

29 minutes ago, Further North said:

2 minutes ago, Further North said:

Yup.

Big food with less effort is programmed into them, and the fish that tip more this way tend to survive better.

 

Yep.  Browns at night on jitterbugs, man that explosion is unreal.  The torpedoes come out to play around dusk and throughout the night to eat the critters trying to cross the river.

[Finessegenics]

@redmeansdistortion @Further North

 

thanks for the input fellas. I do have a ML rod, a Mojo Bass rated 1/8-1/2 oz. I’ve found it to be a tad too heavy to really fling #1 mepps and size 5 and 7 floaters out there. I was using 10# braid to 8# mono. That being said I don’t need much casting distance in the scenario I explained above… Might try out my ML again in the spring and see how I feel. My trip is only the third week of June so I have a lot of time to think over things and experiment.
 

Also, I don’t expect to run into any big trout but one must expect the unexpected. So I’ll heed your advice. The brook trout in rivers don’t get very big here. Ive heard rainbows are pretty rare altogether in the area I’ll be fishing but they are present. 

[redmeansdistortion]

1 hour ago, Finessegenics said:

@redmeansdistortion @Further North

 

thanks for the input fellas. I do have a ML rod, a Mojo Bass rated 1/8-1/2 oz. I’ve found it to be a tad too heavy to really fling #1 mepps and size 5 and 7 floaters out there. I was using 10# braid to 8# mono. That being said I don’t need much casting distance in the scenario I explained above… Might try out my ML again in the spring and see how I feel. My trip is only the third week of June so I have a lot of time to think over things and experiment.
 

Also, I don’t expect to run into any big trout but one must expect the unexpected. So I’ll heed your advice. The brook trout in rivers don’t get very big here. Ive heard rainbows are pretty rare altogether in the area I’ll be fishing but they are present. 

I can imagine the waters you fish are very similar to what what I fish here in Michigan.  Most brookies are in the to 6" to 10" range, primarily in those streams also containing browns and rainbows.  In the streams with brookies only, they tend to get in the 12" to 15" range.  You should try doing your trip in May instead, forage for ramps, morels, and asparagus while you're at it.  You'll have one memorable shore lunch.

[Finessegenics]

1 hour ago, redmeansdistortion said:

I can imagine the waters you fish are very similar to what what I fish here in Michigan.  Most brookies are in the to 6" to 10" range, primarily in those streams also containing browns and rainbows.  In the streams with brookies only, they tend to get in the 12" to 15" range.  You should try doing your trip in May instead, forage for ramps, morels, and asparagus while you're at it.  You'll have one memorable shore lunch.

I would if I could. Sounds like a lot of fun. From what I’ve heard, the third week of June is just about the end of good trout fishing where I’m visiting. But as long as I catch any kind of fish I’ll be happy. The climate there is generally cooler because of the altitude, anywhere from 800-1200 feet. No clue how that affects the climate and the water temps. I’ll be going a few times throughout the summer so no saying how the trout fishing will be then! 

[GANGGREEN]

On 3/9/2023 at 10:33 AM, Finessegenics said:

I’m looking at the 13 Defy Silver, it’s listed as a fast action. From what I’ve been reading and seeing on reviews, the UL fishes like a true fast which is rare with UL rods. Doesn’t mean much though because that’s subjective. Do you have experience with the rod? 

 

No, I don't, but I do have several UL rods that are true fast actions, one of them being a Denali Pryme and the other being a Cabela's Tourney Trail rod.  I have several others that are likely MF action as well.