| Are you even aware of what ultra light | | | | enables the angler to use lures and bait that |
| fishing is? Many anglers seem to think it's | | | | are smaller. While these lures are smaller |
| using fishing gear that's small enough for | | | | than most people are accustomed to, ultra |
| landing minnows, but this simply isn't the | | | | light lures are actually the size of the prey |
| case. In my view, ultra light fishing is | | | | the fish are used to. This fact is a big |
| actually closer to what we describe as | | | | advantage for the angler. |
| regular fishing. Foe example I was watching | | | | |
| the FLW tour on television the other day and | | | | The size of your gear - Again, this is where |
| some joker caught a 1 ½ pound largemouth | | | | ultra light fishing seems different, because |
| bass on eight pound test, and the announcer | | | | the rods and reels that are used are much |
| kept commenting on how that line was to light | | | | smaller than many anglers are accustomed to. |
| for bass fishing. In reality, the angler was | | | | And again, I think the size of ultra light |
| simply ultra light fishing for largemouth | | | | gear is much more in line with the type of |
| bass. He was using gear that was matched to | | | | fish that are being fished for. For example |
| what he was fishing for. This type of thing | | | | I use a five foot ultra light rod for most of |
| is seen as taboo among most bass anglers who | | | | my small river and stream fishing. When the |
| consider ten pound test to be "light line". | | | | water's really high, I'll use a six foot six |
| Do you realize that ten pound test will hold | | | | inch ultralight rod for added sensitivity. |
| ten pounds of weight before breaking? That's | | | | My fishing reel remains the same. I land |
| what ten pound test means. | | | | fish that are quite large (in the 5-6 pound |
| | | | class) with gear this size and people think |
| The bottom line is that to me ultra light | | | | I'm nuts. To me it's much more sportsmanlike |
| fishing actually means using line and lures | | | | to use fishing gear this size for fish in |
| that are matched to what you're fishing for | | | | this size range. Obviously if I'm Steelhead |
| without going into the range of overkill. | | | | fishing, I upgrade my gear to something |
| Whatever the definition of ultralight fishing | | | | heavier, because the fish that are caught are |
| is, there are some tips that can help you. | | | | so much bigger. |
| | | | |
| The weight of your line - As mentioned | | | | In my opinion, the bottom line is that ultra |
| earlier, you want the pound test of your | | | | light fishing is the most effective way to |
| fishing line to match the size of fish that | | | | catch fish. Especially in Small River and |
| you're trying to catch. For example, when I | | | | stream situations. Ultralight gear and baits |
| fish for trout in my favorite river, the | | | | are all I use in such situations (unless of |
| biggest trout I would ever encounter would be | | | | course Steelhead are the goal.) Many anglers |
| six pounds (and that would be a once in a | | | | think that large fish can't be landed on |
| lifetime giant). Therefore I use four pound | | | | ultra light gear, but this simply isn't true. |
| test monofilament. This diameter line is | | | | And I've said in this article, I catch large |
| more than enough to land the fish I will | | | | fish all the time. The other great thing |
| catch, even big ones. I've caught five pond | | | | about ultra light fishing is that you become |
| trout on four pound test many times. | | | | a better angler. Ultralight gear forces you |
| | | | to play your catch, the way God intended, |
| The size of your bait - This is where | | | | rather than just winching the poor fish out |
| ultralight fishing is different. Because you | | | | of the water. Remember, fishing is supposed |
| use line matched to you're fish, this them | | | | to be a "sport", not a job. |