Ultralight Rods 2024

Josh Smith reply :

Hello,

I'm looking to replace my ultralight rod.

Actually, I've replaced it with a 5' IM6 Quantum. I like it well enough, but it was only a $20 rod bought mostly to see how I liked the length. (The previous one was a 4'6" Berkely I bought maybe 20, 25 years ago. I wanted the old reel to go on it.)

This Quantum feels heavier than it should, and slightly too whippy. I'm looking for a lightweight rod of 5' to 6', not so whippy.

The reel I have is the smallest President that Pflueger makes. It's light, and a rod that balances with it would be nice.

I could use some thoughts on UL rods. I'm about 20 years out of date with regard to these.

Thanks folks,

Josh

hatrix reply :

I have no idea really as I don't ever see or hear much about UL rods. I do know the last UL rod I bought is a 6'6" and a Quantum. I don't like a short rod even for UL and I like 6' or more personally. Your best bet might be to go to a actual tackle shop and see what they have.

MickD reply :

In my opinion you are looking at rods that are much too short. Casting distance and hook sets will improve dramatically if you get into the 7 foot range. Since you didn't mention building I assume you looking to buy completed rod. I am not familiar with the commercial offerings in completed rods, but I would be looking for a rod rated for lures starting at about 1/8 oz and line starting at about 4 # test. Since you don't like "whippy," look for moderate-fast or fast actions. Graphite, not glass. This would be an easy one to build for, but not sure that most commercial outfits appreciate the advantage of length in ultra-lights.

MickD reply :

Here is what you're after. Not sure the price will agree with your budget, but this is the type rod that makes sense based on your comments:

http://www.tackledirect.com/st-croix-pfs69ulf-panfish-series-spinning-rod.html

I haven't been able to find another similar rod at a lower price. They are all too short and don't give specs that look like anything other than the "whippy" UL you don't like. Or they are crappie rods designed for rod holders.

The St. Croix would be a great rod , IMHO.

EvanT123 reply :

What are you using the rod for? I think a st croix light power rod might be overpowered for panfish but under powered for bigger bass. It's a nice compromise.

hatrix reply :

It is hard to find a UL that actually has some length to it. It's easy to find rods in the 5' range but anything over 6' seems to be few and far between.

desmobob reply :

I've been looking/shopping for a new UL rod myself.

I have a St. Croix Panfish Series UL rod in my shopping cart and will probably make the purchase this weekend. Judging by what I've read, it seems to be a rod I'm willing to try... it's the 6'9" UL F rod mentioned in MickD's post above (model PFS69ULF). I'll be putting a Shimano Symetre reel on mine.

If I change my mind on that one, I'd probably grab one of the TFO Gary Loomis Signature rods; the TFG SSS 601-1. It's a 6' UL F rod. I have one of that series in 7' L F and like it a lot.

Tight lines,

Bob

BASSPATROL247 reply :

I fish with 4'6",5',5'6" ,6' and a 6'6" UL's certain lengths for certain presentations..all UL's feel whippy to me but thats good for papermouths, i also have a 6'6" quantam ml i throw small cranks on and its perfect for 4-6lb test

ChrisD46 reply :

Best value in my book are the BPS Microlite Series : I have a 6'6" L action matched with a Trion 10 and Seaguar #8lb. Kanzen and love it !!

You can find rods in the above series from 5'6" to 7' in UL and L actions <$50 ... I find the L action to have more all - around potential than the UL action (UL too whippy for my tastes - but might be ok with #2lb. ~ #4lb. line and treble hook lures) - Either way you can't go wrong !

WIGuide reply :

I'm not sure if you're really looking for an ultra-light. You don't want it to be whippy, but the power or lack there of, is going to make it whippy. You might be looking more for a light action rod. Otherwise a St. Croix Panfish Series rod might be what you're looking for, but I'm not sure if that's in your price range.

Josh Smith reply :

Thanks guys.

I prefer shorter rods in UL. Actually, I prefer 6' rods for general bass fishing.

The UL is for light presentations and maybe panfishing now and again, but mostly for bass and weightless worms, etc.

Josh

Josh Smith reply :

On 7/1/2015 at 8:37 PM, WIGuide said:
I'm not sure if you're really looking for an ultra-light. You don't want it to be whippy, but the power or lack there of, is going to make it whippy. You might be looking more for a light action rod. Otherwise a St. Croix Panfish Series rod might be what you're looking for, but I'm not sure if that's in your price range.

Yeah, it is. I've used ultralights most of my life. In my mind a good ultralight should be fairly stiff but of small diameter. Not whippy, but easily bent if that makes sense.

The one I have feels like fiberglass. It's not; it's IM6.

Problem is that IM ratings vary with manufacturers, and based on this Quantum, it looks like I'd want an IM8 or even an IM10 if there's such a critter.

I expect such a thing would be fragile. I'd be willing to make that tradeoff.

Thanks!

Josh

buzzed bait reply :

i had about the exact rod you mention a while back. i bought it as some pflueger combo at BPS, had a trion reel on it. AWESOME rod. Well the moron typing this out left it in the back of the truck after a camping trip (tailgate down) and got home to realize no rod in the back of the truck. Needless to say i was ticked at myself, but was only slightly happy because i had taken the reel off and put it in my backpack that morning so only the rod was lost. it had a little bit of backbone and not too whippy and was either 5'4" or 5'6" can't remember.

i recently bought a st croix panfish model 5'4" and it is a little softer than i was hoping, but it will work. i also got it for a great deal so i can really make it work!

OntarioFishingGuy reply :

The 6' UL Panfish series is not whippy at all. I use it for trout, bass and Panfish and it works great for all three.

Jig Man reply :

The Fenwick HMG rods may be what you want. I have a couple of their bitty rods and love them. I have caught all kind of fish on them using finesse baits.

Turkey sandwich reply :

As for the talk about length.... What are you going to be using it for? Will you be casting from a boat/wading/shore? If you're on shore/wading, will you be fishing tight, brushy areas? Lots of trees overhanging? Small streams?

General rule - if you have the room/will be in a boat, the longer rods have all the benefits mentioned above. If you're in tight quarters, a 6'6" or 7' rod can leave you feeling like you're trying to cast in a phone booth. Shorter rods make a lot of sense when you're fishing cramped quarters and need to place accurate casts.

MickD reply :

Good points on where you will be casting, but if from a boat, if you haven't tried a 7 foot UL, you don't know what you're missing. The St Croix UL should be fine for all panfish and won't be "whippy." I use a American Tackle 7 1/2 foot 3 wt fly blank finished as a spinning rod and love it. Would like it a little faster action and that's what the St Croix would give. That St Croix blank costs about $80, so a completed rod that costs $120 on that blank is a real bargain. . . if it is what you want. With it you will cast farther, set hooks better, and in fact will have the power in open water to handle quite large fish. I've caught 20 in walleyes and 19 in largemouths on my 3 wt/UL spin.

Drew03cmc reply :

Falcon makes their Original series from 4'6" to 6'6" for under $90.

I.rar reply :

Fenwick river runners are Excellent. Since I got into BFS, I downgraded to a previous model Daiwa procyon with fuji components. An excellent value but is a true fast and not whippy like the Fenwick was.

The Daiwa cam be found on eBay for around $50.

DaveT63 reply :

You don't mention your budget, but the St Croix Avid UL comes in lengths from 4'6" up to 7'. I've had the 5', 6', and the 7'. I found the 5' to be too short for me, and the 7' was a bit too whippy for my likes, but the 6' hit the sweet spot perfectly. YMMV. I've hauled in a number of 5+ lb bass with it, and would recommend it to anyone.

Kevin22 reply :

Hop up to a 6'6-6'9. I used to fish with 4.5-5' ul and thought they were great, until i tried a longer rod. Much easier to cast, and way easier to control the bait and fish.

I suggest the st. Croix panfish 6'9ULF. Its the last UL you will ever buy. Ill never go panfishing without it.

k3bass reply :

Bass pro used to make a great ultralight spinning rod called the Wally Marshall signature series crappie rod. I have 3 of them in the 5'6" ultralight model. Great little rods, not whippy at all. They were only like 28 bucks new if I remember right.

blckshirt98 reply :

It's a little pricey but the Phenix Elixir FX802-1X is arguably my favorite setup to fish. It'll work for panfish, trout, I've landed a 6 lb LMB on it, and a lot of guys in SoCal even use it in the surf. It's an 8' telescopic so it has the noodle pedigree to haul in the larger fish as an UL, but also the characteristics of an UL for finesse techniques and lighter lures for trout and panfish. If I could only have one fishing setup for finesse, this rod would be it (I have it paired up with Fuego 1000A, spooled with 8lb Nanofil).

WRB reply :

Look at trout rods, the short lengths are often call brush rods for stream fishing. A medium action 4-6 lb test trout rod is a ultra light to a bass angler.

Tom

John G reply :

Check out the Shimano Clarus. I have an older 6' UL that I love.

the reel ess reply :

On 7/1/2015 at 9:50 AM, Josh Smith said:

I'm about 20 years out of date with regard to these.

Thanks folks,

Josh

That's OK, my light rod is more than 20 years old. El Cheapo Eagle Claw out of the bargain bin in Walmart bought for one weekend of crappie fishing when i was a teen for $8. I still use it regularly. Not that I don't see the purpose of a quality L or UL rod, but if I'm going to put myself at a disadvantage with the fish for the sport of it, I'm gonna do it CHEAP.

Klebs01 reply :

The UL and L avids are great rods. The wife has a 6' UL and I have a 6'6" L. Very light and sensitive. Not at all limp noodles. They are a blast with panfish or while wading for smallies in the river by our house.

hatrix reply :

On 7/8/2015 at 9:24 AM, the reel ess said:
That's OK, my light rod is more than 20 years old. El Cheapo Eagle Claw out of the bargain bin in Walmart bought for one weekend of crappie fishing when i was a teen for $8. I still use it regularly. Not that I don't see the purpose of a quality L or UL rod, but if I'm going to put myself at a disadvantage with the fish for the sport of it, I'm gonna do it CHEAP.

I am also not one for dropping a good chunk on a UL rod. Line is so light and is the rod it's doesn't take much for it to be fairly sensitive. I just went Friday with my brother and he bought a new UL rod since his got into a fight with a car door and lost. He ended up getting a Eagle GT and it's pretty nice and not overly expensive. It's just a little short for my taste at 5'5"

A UL reel is somewhat of a different story though. You have to make sure you have a smooth drag and that reel will be peeling drag more then any other reel you own.

Josh Smith reply :

The Reel Ess,

I don't know that I'm putting myself at a disadvantage. My goal is to be able to give certain presentations to finicky bass.

Josh

tomustang reply :

Grab a quantum xtra lite combo for $40 at cabelas or dicks

If you want to spend a little more money pick up a 6' croix premier ULF (F=fast) I say that because some people tend to buy the M (moderate) models and then complain that they are too wimpy.

Kevin22 reply :

On 7/10/2015 at 10:32 PM, tomustang said:

Grab a quantum xtra lite combo for $40 at cabelas or dicks

If you want to spend a little more money pick up a 6' croix premier ULF (F=fast) I say that because some people tend to buy the M (moderate) models and then complain that they are too wimpy.

My premier 5'ulm is a broomstick. Ive used it to vertical jig 1/4 walleye jigs. I would not suggest it at all. In fact i had a buddy redo the rod with a new reel seat and light wire guides and i still hate it.

desmobob reply :

On 7/4/2015 at 12:37 AM, Kevin22 said:

Hop up to a 6'6-6'9. I used to fish with 4.5-5' ul and thought they were great, until i tried a longer rod. Much easier to cast, and way easier to control the bait and fish.

I suggest the st. Croix panfish 6'9ULF. Its the last UL you will ever buy. Ill never go panfishing without it.

I received my new St. Croix Panfish Series 6'9" ULF and used it this weekend. NICE! It's easily my favorite UL spinning rod of the four I have and I think it was a bargain.

Tight lines,

Bob

hawkoath reply :

What exactly are you throwing Josh?

I agree with a previous comment about the Shimano Clarus if you can buy the old lifetime warranty one new, then that's the rod that will give you the best value for your money. It's also very stiff for an ultralight rod.

Other ideas might be Phenix rods, Loomis TSR and the St. Croix Avid and Legend Elite ultralights, but these rods are also probably more expensive than what you could get the Clarus for.

Josh Smith reply :

On 7/14/2015 at 2:33 PM, hawkoath said:

What exactly are you throwing Josh?

I agree with a previous comment about the Shimano Clarus if you can buy the old lifetime warranty one new, then that's the rod that will give you the best value for your money. It's also very stiff for an ultralight rod.

Other ideas might be Phenix rods, Loomis TSR and the St. Croix Avid and Legend Elite ultralights, but these rods are also probably more expensive than what you could get the Clarus for.

I throw anything from light weightless worms (about 1/10oz) to jigs and such for panfish. Been playing around with tube jigs here lately as well.

Regards,

Josh

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