Ultralight And Trout Magnet

[Big John]

So I am hooked on ultralight fishing. I purchased a trout magnet kit and crappie magnet kit at the beginning of summer, and have been using the crappie magnets since then. Recently I tried the trout magnets, but could not get any distance. Some details about my setup... Cheap 5' ultralight combo (shakespear ?), p-line cxx 4lb, and a trout magnet ( 1/64 oz jig with small rubber body). I have even tried with a small splitshot about 12" above the lure with no luck. I recently ordered a fenwick elite tech river

runner, 6'8" ultralight. I have heard that a longer rod casts farther and is able to protect the line better than a shorter rod. So my question is, what can I do to maximize my casting distance with this setup. I have considered trying sufix 832 in 6# test ( 2lb dia) because smaller diameter line casts further correct? I recently tied on the remaining 10lb test fireline i had (4lb dia) and I think that may have been part of my problem. It was a somewhat windy day, with old braid that was coiling up pretty bad, even after being sprayed with KVD conditioner. Should i stay away from braid and stay with the p-line cxx? I have had good luck with it, but I dont want to rule out the braid being that the braid i tried was somewhat old. I fish for bass (love smallmouth fishing!), crappie, panfish, really anything that will bite. I fish on lake champlain in vermont, as well as the winooski river and lamoile river, both are good size. Smallmouth is mostly what I am after though, so if anyone has any general smallmouth on ultralight tackle suggestions too, I am all ears. Thanks.

[Gatorbassman]

That new rod should help you but fireline never will. You shouldn't group fireline with most other braided line because most other braid doesn't coil up like fireline does. I would never use it in a UL application.

I know how hard it is to cast a Trout Magnet. I've been fishing them since a few months after they came out on the market. This was a dozen years ago. The Trout Magnet wasn't ment to be cast out. It was designed to fish down stream of the angler. You let line out and shake your rod tip as you are working back and forth and slowly walking down stream. Any 1/64 oz lure will be hard to cast no matter what you do. But if you want to get the maximum distance out of it then you need to go as light as you can, and use line that has very little memory like 6lb FINS Windtamer or PRT Braid or 4lb Izorline XXX or YoZuri Hybird.

[Big John]

ok, i think i will give the 832 in 6 pound test, 2 pound diameter a try. I guess I should save the trout magnets for when i can drift them, and use the crappie magnets when i need a little more distance.

[J Francho]

I use trout magnets under a float to get distance.

[Big John]

I had been using it with a float, and was not terribly impressed. I also tried a split shot too, but didnt have much luck. I think my biggest problem was having WAY too much line on my reel. I wanted to use the rest of my fireline so I didnt waste it...well i ended up wasting it. I fished them again today using the p-line cxx I have been using and did a little better. I think I will stick with the cxx for now because it is cheap, and I only broke it once, but it was my fault. I hooked in to a roughly 4 pound largemouth and reached down to loosen the drag because I had been catching rock bass all morning. For some reason I turned up the drag instead of down, and as soon as the fish jumped and shook, he snapped the line. Oh well, lesson learned. I may even try the 2 pound test, but Im not sure. I will try what I have now when my longer ultralight arrives and see how I like it. I also need to learn to set my drag and leave it alone...