Ultra Light Setups? 2025
AdamsEye reply :
Sup fish pimps, I got some questions for some of the ultralight guys. I have a ultra light rod that is very old (15-20), and missing the top 4" or so. Tip broke off in the bed of a pickup truck. Its a quantum micro im6 model ms-60sulg. This rod is some what of a med heavy fast action rod. It will cast 1/64 pretty well, and I can not for the life of me find a rod that some what matches this rod. I used to really enjoy casting some super light baits and esp a 3" slugo on it.
I used this rod originally for trout fishing small streams, but now that I am a father, and have a 2 1/2 year old son I was looking to get another rod like the old one to have a blast with my little guy. I got a BPS Micro light 2 years ago in preparation for the times ahead. ML60LS model number. Bass pro is pretty far, and I had a few gift cards so I just ordered it. Needless to say it falls short of the old quantum I have.
I have looked around for a while unable to find a new ultralight with a bit of backbone like my old Quantum. Anyone have any ideas or directions to point me in. I could cast a 1/64 hair jig, and I could set a 1/0 hook with a 3" slugo with this rod.
Thanks for the help in advance!
poisonokie reply :
I have 2 6'6" microlites. One UL and one ML. The UL is great for trout and panfish and the ML is awesome for 1/4 oz cranks. I don't know that I'd use either for weightless slug gos. You need more backbone than any UL rod will give you. I also have a Daiwa Lexa 7'2" ML and I use it for weightless plastics all the time . I wouldn't let it ride in the bed of my truck though.
poisonokie reply :
You might be interested in either the 6'3" or 6'11" ML Tatula spinning rods. They have the specs you seem to be looking for. Check Amazon.
FishTank reply :
You might take a look at a St. Croix Panfish rod or a trout rod. They have some UL rods that have nice back bone and work great for light weight baits. They usually run about $100.
I Pflueger Supreme 25 or Shimano Symetre 500 or 1000 would pair nicely with these rods.
AdamsEye reply :
I no longer put my rods in a pickup bed lol, it would have been fine if we didn't get cut off. Driving in NJ is a health hazard to EVERYTHING lol.
The Tatulas seem like they fit the bill based on the stats, I am gonna see if my Local Dickssports has them in stock so I can compare it to my older rod. I am pretty sure I have looked at the St. Croix rods a while back, but I will have to revisit them.
Poison the older rod I have is perfect, I just can't find a ultralight today that carries the same ability and it isn't the same with out the tip lol. I was thinking at first it was just a fast action, and it could be that is the difference, but my micro light in fast can't compete at all with the old rod.
I was hoping to keep the cost down, but if I got to spend for the Tatulas I gotta spend. This is a rod I have been looking to replace for quite some time, just can never find a proper replacement.
I was thinking of going with another Okuma Stratus, I like the one I have now. But I will look at the Pfluegers too!
Thanks for the input guys!
desmobob reply :
I just picked up a new St.Croix Panfish Series 6'9" ULF. At first, I thought it was the best ever. Now that I've fished it a while, I still really like it, but am finding it isn't quite as sensitive as I'd like. On the other hand, it was fairly inexpensive as far as quality rods go, and it casts and fights fish very well. It has plenty of backbone and a nice, fast tip. I'd buy another one. (I have a Shimano Symetre on mine.)
Tight lines,
Bob
Comfortably Numb reply :
You say ultralite but seems to me you are really looking for a lite or ml. I dont see any "true" UL setting a hook in a bass' mouth but i also dont see a ml casting a 1/64 jig either
I think you will need to see and feel a rod in person to see what you want/need. Specs might be deceiving.
I have an old Quantum 6' lite that will sort of do both. I mainly use it for 1/8 cranks
Dont go too long or they get real whippy
CeeJay reply :
I've fished for bass UL and L for pretty much my entire angling "career" 
Indeed a true UL rod can easily hook a good bass, either that or my UL rods and the bass I catch are lying about their true power ...but the problem comes when a rig has the hook buried in a soft plastic, as it will snap the line on a hard hookset. So to compensate for that I learned to "texpose" my senkos and worms, etc. For me now that's the only way to rig those baits with 4-6 lb mono line.
I had a very good 6'6" Quantum UL that was my primary rod for a long time. Unfortunately it was stolen during my time off from fishing.
So this year I decided to see what's out their in the UL world, and ended up buying two...a 7'6" and a 6'6" BPS Micro Lite Glass (not graphite) rods. A good test of a UL is to see how far you can cast a 1/64oz jig on 4 lb mono. Both of my Micro Lite Glass rods cast them much further than my late great Quantum ever did (which was graphite). They are stunningly great rods for $20 each.
The 7'6" is my primary float rod, the 6'6" my general purpose UL.
I had ignored the potential of fiberglass rods in the past...but they excel when throwing tiny lures. They sacrifice sensitivity compared to graphite, but once I adjusted my casting to the glass it's now silly how far they'll toss the tiniest lures I own.
Good luck my friend. Bass can't be beat on UL tackle...tons and tons of fun.
Murrica reply :
The Okuma SST series ultralight is a great all around rod. It's 7ft and I have 2 of them. They have caught everything from perch, trout and crappie up to a 4lb smallie and 25 inch steelhead. It's a great rod and pair it with a great reel and for around $140 you can build a fantastic combo.
Comfortably Numb reply :
I have used UL Ugly Sticks which are glass. Too heavy in weight and way too whippy for me.
I currently use a Gander Mountain brand UL. Nice sensitive graphite but not a lot of backbone down low above the reel seat. A size 10 reel and I love 8# Power Pro braid. I was catching 2-3# bass Sat morning that were schooling and bustin shad on the surface. 1/8 oz crank like a Super Teeny wee R works great and tons of fun with loose drag
Max of $50 invested. Tips are too fragile too put over $100 into it.
Kyle46N reply :
If you have a Dicks Sporting Goods near you, go check this out. It's the Field and Stream Tec Lite, 6 ft, UL rod. It's green. I've fished panfish and ultralight for 30 years, tried so many different rods, some good, some bad. And this Tec Lite is hands down one of the best, if not the best. Perfect combo of backbone (for an ultralight), and flex to cast small jigs.....1/32, 1/16th, etc. I'm in the process of buying multiple....they are 49 bucks, so not dirt cheap for an UL, but I want to have nothing but these in the next year or so. I have an "arsenal" of 8 or so UL rods. I fish jigs for crappie ALOT....bream too. Oh, and fish this rod with light braid, and you would be surprised at how you can set the hook on bass.
AdamsEye reply :
I am gonna head out to Dicks sports tomorrow, and try and get my hands on some of these rods. The trick is gonna be not buying more than one hehe! I am gonna bring my old rod with me to compare the actions, I think that will be my best bet.
Thanks for all the help, now I just hope my family will allow me and have the patience to deal with me in the fishing department lol!
CeeJay reply :
On 7/20/2015 at 10:32 AM, AdamsEye said:I am gonna head out to Dicks sports tomorrow, and try and get my hands on some of these rods. The trick is gonna be not buying more than one hehe! I am gonna bring my old rod with me to compare the actions, I think that will be my best bet.
Thanks for all the help, now I just hope my family will allow me and have the patience to deal with me in the fishing department lol!
Awesome.
Remember to go with your first choice/instinct when comparing two new rods at the store that seem about the same. And if you really want a UL try to resist the temptation to get an L....they are not quite the same
Good luck my friend.
WIGuide reply :
I think we sometimes forget how easy it can be to set a small hook into a bass. In college I used to fish a small lake a few blocks from my rental house that had a pretty good population of undersized bass. I bought a 6' UL Quantum Tenton Trout rod and spooled it up with an ice fishing reel and some 6lb mono. I'd fish 4" rubber worms with a small weight and a small bullet weight. Despite it being pretty whippy, I never had an issue sticking a fish with a 1/0 ewg.
CeeJay reply :
On 7/21/2015 at 4:33 AM, WIGuide said:I think we sometimes forget how easy it can be to set a small hook into a bass. In college I used to fish a small lake a few blocks from my rental house that had a pretty good population of undersized bass. I bought a 6' UL Quantum Tenton Trout rod and spooled it up with an ice fishing reel and some 6lb mono. I'd fish 4" rubber worms with a small weight and a small bullet weight. Despite it being pretty whippy, I never had an issue sticking a fish with a 1/0 ewg.
I totally agree.
AdamsEye reply :
On 7/21/2015 at 4:33 AM, WIGuide said:I think we sometimes forget how easy it can be to set a small hook into a bass. In college I used to fish a small lake a few blocks from my rental house that had a pretty good population of undersized bass. I bought a 6' UL Quantum Tenton Trout rod and spooled it up with an ice fishing reel and some 6lb mono. I'd fish 4" rubber worms with a small weight and a small bullet weight. Despite it being pretty whippy, I never had an issue sticking a fish with a 1/0 ewg.
I agree with you, I just prefer the faster/stiffer action for working those baits over a whippy rod. I don't like trying to twitch or hop baits with a whippy rod, and I am really just being particular for that action. I throw weightless 4" worms on a 6'6" m spinning gear with great results so I don't need to fill that void. I would say I miss phrased it, and the action to twitch a bait is more important then the hookset.
I think the deal is my older rod was never really a 6' rod, I got it out and ready to go to the store with me. It is a good 18" shorter then my 6' micro light. It only lost 4" from the tip top to the first guide. No way that thing comes close to 6'.I figured it was a 6' based on the model number, but I think that is were the difference is coming from. I might have to go to a 5'6" rod to match it better.
When I shake my old rod and the micro light, the old rod stops moving and goes still like 5-7 times faster then the microlight. That is what I am looking for more so then power, but it's the only way I know to describe it.
Definitely appreciate all the feed back, thanks!
WIGuide reply :
On 7/21/2015 at 5:37 AM, AdamsEye said:I agree with you, I just prefer the faster/stiffer action for working those baits over a whippy rod. I don't like trying to twitch or hop baits with a whippy rod, and I am really just being particular for that action.
No doubt, I can understand you being particular to what you want. My response was directed a little more at comfortably numb who was saying he doesn't see any UL being able to get a hook into a bass.
I.rar reply :
On 7/21/2015 at 8:56 PM, WIGuide said:comfortably numb who was saying he doesn't see any UL being able to get a hook into a bass.
Hmf. I'll have to dig up some of my older posts....
desmobob reply :
On 7/19/2015 at 5:02 AM, desmobob said:I just picked up a new St.Croix Panfish Series 6'9" ULF. At first, I thought it was the best ever. Now that I've fished it a while, I still really like it, but am finding it isn't quite as sensitive as I'd like.
I think I need to retract my comment above. Since replacing the light spinning rig I used to use for weightless wacky Senkos and finesse baits with a Daiwa PX-R and a Kistler KLX Finesse Worm bass casting rod, I've been using nothing but braided lines on all my bass rigs.
When I bought the newly-released St. Croix Panfish Series spinning rod for my ultralight panfishing, I spooled it up with 4 lb. Trilene XL. It's the first time I've used mono in a while, and it's very light mono at that. I forgot how much 4 lb. mono stretches until I spooled up that rig with 4 lb. Fireline this weekend. Now, I have no more complaints about the sensitivity of that rod.
The ability of your older rod to stop moving and go still quickly is referred to as "dampening." In my experience, higher quality rods have better dampening, which makes them cast more accurately and feel better all-around when working lures and fighting fish.
I still recommend the St. Croix Panfish Series PFS69ULF... I think it's a great rod for the money.
Tight lines,
Bob
AdamsEye reply :
On 7/21/2015 at 8:56 PM, WIGuide said:No doubt, I can understand you being particular to what you want. My response was directed a little more at comfortably numb who was saying he doesn't see any UL being able to get a hook into a bass.
Yea, no. I never had much problems setting a 1/0 with even a whippy ultralight or a 3' ice rod for that matter. I fished a med action 5' rod with mono for years setting 2/0 hooks, the rod had three maybe four guides lol.
On 7/22/2015 at 9:49 AM, desmobob said:I think I need to retract my comment above. Since replacing the light spinning rig I used to use for weightless wacky Senkos and finesse baits with a Daiwa PX-R and a Kistler KLX Finesse Worm bass casting rod, I've been using nothing but braided lines on all my bass rigs.
When I bought the newly-released St. Croix Panfish Series spinning rod for my ultralight panfishing, I spooled it up with 4 lb. Trilene XL. It's the first time I've used mono in a while, and it's very light mono at that. I forgot how much 4 lb. mono stretches until I spooled up that rig with 4 lb. Fireline this weekend. Now, I have no more complaints about the sensitivity of that rod.
The ability of your older rod to stop moving and go still quickly is referred to as "dampening." In my experience, higher quality rods have better dampening, which makes them cast more accurately and feel better all-around when working lures and fighting fish.
I still recommend the St. Croix Panfish Series PFS69ULF... I think it's a great rod for the money.
Tight lines,
Bob
I went out to dicks and was dissapointed in the amount of rods they had, it's like they got rid of a few racks and haven't ordered more since. Everyone of the rods I seen, was more whippy then my oldie. I seen a St.Croix trout rod, I think it was 6', wasn't quite there with the dampening.
I don't think that my old rod ran to much, maybe $75 tops. I seen a few tech lite rods too and they were just to whippy at the tip too. They didn't have the Tatulas to look at there either.
I am gonna take a ride to the larger dicks sports this week and see if they have a bigger selection to get my hands on, I have even emailed Quantum but still waiting for a reply.
SirSnookalot reply :
On 7/19/2015 at 11:33 AM, Comfortably Numb said:I have used UL Ugly Sticks which are glass. Too heavy in weight and way too whippy for me.
I currently use a Gander Mountain brand UL. Nice sensitive graphite but not a lot of backbone down low above the reel seat. A size 10 reel and I love 8# Power Pro braid. I was catching 2-3# bass Sat morning that were schooling and bustin shad on the surface. 1/8 oz crank like a Super Teeny wee R works great and tons of fun with loose drag
Max of $50 invested. Tips are too fragile too put over $100 into it.
I like this approach, my set up is slightly different. I have an inexpensive 5'6 Berkley ul with the backbone of an over boiled noodle, that's what puts the fun into it. The reel is a trion 20 old style about 8 years old, I swear it's my smoothest reel too, not crazy about the wood knob. I use a light braid fish only open water ponds, use a top water close to 90% of the time. Pictures can lie so I won't post about 15 I caught that were over 22-23", I would never have thought a bass could pull out that much line, this coming from a tarpon fisherman. Given the choice 5# bass on ul or 10# on mh gear, the ul wins 100% of the time.
bitsandbass reply :
On 7/19/2015 at 7:50 AM, CeeJay said:I've fished for bass UL and L for pretty much my entire angling "career"
Indeed a true UL rod can easily hook a good bass, either that or my UL rods and the bass I catch are lying about their true power
...but the problem comes when a rig has the hook buried in a soft plastic, as it will snap the line on a hard hookset. So to compensate for that I learned to "texpose" my senkos and worms, etc. For me now that's the only way to rig those baits with 4-6 lb mono line.
I had a very good 6'6" Quantum UL that was my primary rod for a long time. Unfortunately it was stolen during my time off from fishing.
So this year I decided to see what's out their in the UL world, and ended up buying two...a 7'6" and a 6'6" BPS Micro Lite Glass (not graphite) rods. A good test of a UL is to see how far you can cast a 1/64oz jig on 4 lb mono. Both of my Micro Lite Glass rods cast them much further than my late great Quantum ever did (which was graphite). They are stunningly great rods for $20 each.
The 7'6" is my primary float rod, the 6'6" my general purpose UL.
I had ignored the potential of fiberglass rods in the past...but they excel when throwing tiny lures. They sacrifice sensitivity compared to graphite, but once I adjusted my casting to the glass it's now silly how far they'll toss the tiniest lures I own.
Good luck my friend. Bass can't be beat on UL tackle...tons and tons of fun.
Good info, thanks. I was thinking about buying one of these Bass Pro Micro Lite glass rods;
http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-Micro-Lite-Glass-Spinning-Rod/product/36946/
Seems like the 6'6" is the way to go.
Is this rod the same blank?
http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-MicroLite-Plus-Spinning-Rod-and-Reel-Combo/product/2327453/
Would this setup be any good? Thanks.
Darren. reply :
On 5/17/2017 at 9:47 AM, bitsandbass said:
Good info, thanks. I was thinking about buying one of these Bass Pro Micro Lite glass rods;
http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-Micro-Lite-Glass-Spinning-Rod/product/36946/
Seems like the 6'6" is the way to go.
Is this rod the same blank?
http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-MicroLite-Plus-Spinning-Rod-and-Reel-Combo/product/2327453/
Would this setup be any good? Thanks.
This is a thread from a couple years ago. When it is this
old, it is fine to start a new thread
That said, I have a three BPS Micro Lite rods, one older
model, and two newer. They are all great, sensitive.
onenutinthewater reply :
G Loomis 842 GLX
Master Bait'r reply :
It may be the slight fever and medication but I just spent a good couple mins laughing about "fish pimps"
*pulls up bass*
"WHERE'S MY MONEY!?"
*slaps bass twice*
"GET BACK OUT THERE AND GET WORKIN"
*gronks bass back in the water*
What were we talking about again??
BaitFinesse reply :
The Kuying Teton has good backbone for an UL rod yet will cast UL with ease.
Lures'n'Liberty reply :
My UL's are heirlooms. I have a 4'6 7 eye super lite that was custom built for my grandfather who loved to crappie fish. It's a spectacular rod and I still use it with caution if I go out. Combo w/ nice Daiwa reel, although I'd love to find a quality vintage reel for it.
Second on the list is a vintage baby blue Daiwa 5'0" UL that my dad bought me before my first trip to trout camp with the guys at age 12 in 1994. It has exactly the backbone as described above, and is my trout go to for streams and creeks. It's still paired with the original Daiwa reel, which is due for a rebuild.
Third is a light action 5'6" ugly stik with a rear drag Shimano with a trigger on the bell housing that mom bought me for Christmas when I asked her for a noodle rod. Was a pretty good mistake, It's pretty much the throw it in the truck fish anywhere rod. Taking the kids to catch bluegill? Yup. Going to catch bluegill before catfishing in the dark and forgetting there's a bait rod in the truck? Yup. It's also the backup trout rod (primary when I need another sinker) and always seems to come on every fishing trip.
Oddly, still haven't gone out and bought a noodle rod.
Bankbeater reply :
I don't care for true UL set ups. I like a little more muscle in the rod. I have a cardinal spinning reel on a 5'6" light action lightning rod, and a president spinning reel on a 7'0" ML rod. Both are great for crappie and bluegill.
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