We all know the expression: "Small, but distant." Today it is very useful, because our conversation will be about this type of spinning fishing, like ultralight. Let's see how ultralight fishing has earned such popularity and what is its uniqueness.
What is ultralight
Ultralight, or, as it is briefly called, UL, literally translates as "ultralight." Belonging to UL is primarily determined by spinning and bait. The rod should have an upper limit of the test no more than 7-8 grams. It would be logical to think that if the bait has a weight in the same limit, then you can safely write UL on it. But this is not entirely true, because a 10-centimeter wobbler can have a weight of 8 grams, and this is a completely different fishing. Therefore, to the "ultralight" you can still add "ultrafine".
Why do you need ultralight
This type of fishing usually comes in two ways. The first is satiety, when you are tired of catching huge quantities of a bloodthirsty large predator and you want something more sophisticated, fascinating and complex. The second way - on the contrary, the lack of catches for more familiar gear. When there are a lot of anglers in the pond, or the fish is too capricious, or the pond is small, ultralight can be a good way to go fishing.
Spinning
As already mentioned, the rod should have an upper limit of the test no more than eight grams. Most popular in our latitudes are models with a test of 0.8-3 g and 1-5 g. The former are used for fishing on turntables No. 00 and No. 0, and the latter - for wobblers and small jig. As for the length of the rod, here everything is not as fundamental as in any other type of fishing, the rod may have different lengths. Nevertheless, too long ULs, as a rule, are not used, since they have no practical advantages. Thus, spinning rods from 1.6 to 2.4 meters long were most popular. The shorter ones work well on streams, while longer ones are good for fishing from a boat or in places free of vegetation.
Real UL rods are quite expensive. A good "Japanese" or "American" will cost the fisherman from 100 to 500 dollars. For beginner anglers or those who do not want to spend extra money, there are cheaper options: for example, the ultralight spinning "Shimano" will cost about $ 500. Moreover, it works no worse than famous competitors.
Of course, there are rods for 10-20 dollars, but they are considered "pseudo UL." Such instances are made, roughly speaking, from a light-test rod (with a test up to 25 grams), from which the tip is sawn off (15-20 cm) and another one is glued in its place - monolithic from carbon fiber, up to 40 cm long. These are the fishing rods sold at the lowest prices. Budget ultralight is rather heavy in comparison with more expensive specimens, and it is not suitable for thin woods. But in principle, you can start with such "sticks".
Coil
Ultralight fishing involves the use of lightweight reels. The first reel requirement is sufficient spool capacity. Otherwise, everything depends on the budget and personal preferences. Since thin fishing lines are used, the usual "thousandth" is quite enough. However, if fishing is carried out in a wide body of water, and there is a chance to catch large prey, then the fishing line is taken thicker and more authentic, which means that you may need a "two-thousandth".
The power of the coil in the ultralight is not particularly important, since the fishing line is more likely to tear than the reel mechanism will get an extra load. As for the multipliers, they are only suitable for Heavy UL. The fact is that even the most expensive and well-tuned multiplier does not work properly to throw baits weighing up to 5 grams. Coils made of lightweight materials have proven themselves well, which balance light spinning perfectly. Only now the price of such masterpieces is painfully great.
Ultralight fishing requires that the reel has good friction clutch with fine adjustment. Professionals recommend the front brake, as it is more finely tuned. A good budget option, with good friction, is the Shimano Stradic GTM 1000 coil, which is characterized by durability and reliability.
Fishing line
As a rule, fishing with diameters larger than 0.15 mm is rarely used when fishing for ultralight. However, there are times when you still have to put thicker fishing lines or cords. When a large strong fish, for example, asp or salmon, acts as the intended catch, and fishing is done with light fishing rods, then a fishing line width of 0.15 mm will definitely not be enough. Of course, there are cases when a 5-pound pike is pulled out onto a monofilament with a diameter of 0.14, but this is rather the exception. If there is clean water in the pond, there are no snags and grass, then with a supply of fishing line, in principle, you can overcome any fish. But when around the edge of the reed or driftwood, you need to fight with prey quickly, and with thick fishing line. Thus, we can conclude that the thickness of the fishing line is not a determining factor in ultralight fishing. It all depends on what prey the fisherman is aiming for. However, it is worth considering the fact that a soft UL rod dampens fish jerks better than a solid one, so you can take a fishing line a little thinner.
Monolesk or braid?
This question arises before everyone who decided to find out what ultralight fishing is. A cord with a diameter of 0.06 withstands about the same loads as a fishing line with a diameter of 0.12, and the bait flies with it much better. But the cord has quite a few drawbacks. Firstly, due to zero extensibility, fighting with the cord comes out very tough, and as a result, gatherings often happen. Secondly, the cord is often tangled in beards, especially when rafting down the river. Thirdly, he quickly rubs against stones. Well, the last drawback - the cord is more noticeable for fish than a monolesk. For some, the last argument does not seem to be an argument at all, they say, when should we consider fishing line in spinning fishing? However, there are situations when you have to hold the bait almost motionless and play along only with the tip of the spinning rod. In this case, especially when clear water and not “crazy” fish, the fishing line is more than noticeable. Nevertheless, many self-respecting anglers use braid for ultralight. In general, it is a matter of taste. You need to try both options.
Ultralight: rating of lures
In ultralight fishing, bait is of particular importance. Perhaps, only when fishing with a track, the bait is also very important, as in our case. If in a jig, for example, the angler’s talent is much more important, then in UL the bait and skills of the angler play an equally important role. Of course, as in other types of fishing, a lot depends on the place of fishing, fishing and other things, but getting a small bait to work beautifully is much more difficult than doing the same with a heavy bait. A small bait should look and work perfectly, and it doesn’t have to be branded at all. The UL kit is virtually identical to the standard spinning kit. It consists of:
1. Turntables (with front loading or with a rod sinker).
2. Oscillators (ordinary or with variable thickness).
3. Wobblers.
4. Jigs.
5. Flies.
6. Poppers.
There are also baits that do not fall under the usual classification, but show themselves very well in practice. Among these can be noted: micropop torpedo with a propeller, from the company Heddon; microspinnerbates made on a small offset offset hook ; compound oscillations; a fly with a propeller on the forearm of the hook; wobbler beetle and many other unusual lures.
Of course, every angler has his own set of lures, but there are general recommendations. Beginners should first of all collect a collection of turntables, oscillators and microjigs. Those who intend to hunt for pike will not be disturbed by such ultralight baits as poppers and wobblers. Wobblers for pike are not quite UL, so a couple of lures will be enough, just in case. Those whose prey is trout, you need to stock up, except turntables, special wobblers and flies. Catching grayling ultralight involves the use of flies, since it does not always feed on fish. In general, for each fish and certain conditions, there is a set of lures. Let's look at what this or that predator pecks in different habitats. The choice of bait, depending on fishing conditions, is presented in the table.
Fishing conditions | Kind of fish | Lures |
Quiet water, with depths from the lowest to 3 meters | Small perch | Catching perch on ultralight in such conditions is considered the most simple in terms of the choice of bait. The main contender for success is a pinwheel with a rod weight, but front-loaded sometimes work. All other lures are less catchy. The only thing still really worth a try is microjig. However, mastery of gear is needed here. |
Current, and depth up to 3 meters | "Half-predators" (Chub, dace, ide) | Turntables with front loading work well here. Weighted flies are also sometimes effective. And if the fish is large, you can try wobblers. |
Stream | Grayling and trout | Ultralight fishing on a small river is considered the most diverse in terms of the choice of lures. All types of baits have worked well here, with the exception of poppers and jigs. Front-loaded turntables work on pits. Ultralight trout fishing involves the use of large lures. Unlike trout, grayling sluggishly reacts to large baits (swings and wobblers), but in cold water it can also be caught on them. A practically win-win option for grayling - ultralight fishing on a fly or a classic turntable. |
Still water, shallow depths, fishing along vegetation or in windows | Pike | Wobblers, oscillators and poppers proved to be quite good here. If there is too much grass, unhooked poppers come to the rescue. They walk well on any grass, except filamentous algae, and lure a predator. Well, wobblers and oscillators do an excellent job in clear water near the grass. |
Windows in the grass and a reed | “Half-predators” (mainly rudd) and perch | Here you need a jig mounted on a simple jig head. In such fishing it is important to clearly get the bait out the window, otherwise you will find an annoying hook. |
Thresholds | Salmon (large trout, trout) | Large, relatively heavy lures: wobblers, oscillators and turntables. Moreover, the effectiveness of oscillators and wobblers depends on the need to make long casts. The farther the cast, the more chances they have. Well, turntables are needed heavy, with rear loading. |
Depths over 4 meters | Any predator | The jig works. Here, fishing is on the verge between UL and Light. The fact is that at a depth of more than six meters, it is difficult to cope with a jig easier than 5 grams. By the way, in addition to jig, at depths of up to 4 meters, you can try the “front” turntables. |
Experimenting with a new (for you) bait, and especially with a new type of bait, try a new product in fishing for different prey. Here it’s worth throwing away all prejudices and just checking that the fish loves. No need to abandon even those baits that do not seem promising at all. Fishing always needs experimentation.
Spinning fishing lures are consumables. But some of them are very expensive. Therefore, it is worth taking care of a solid installation. Many recommend using a winter clasp. It is very easy to use and compact enough not to affect the game of the bait. It is worth giving preference to fasteners made of thick and hard wire.
Fishing technique
Ultralight was originally developed for shallow reservoirs and rivers. Such fishing should be as aimed as possible. Having decided on a promising place, it is worth catching it for several minutes. If for 5-10 minutes, the fish didn’t react at all to your efforts, and the bait is well selected, you need to look for the next place. If you are still sure that the production is in one place or another and do not want to leave it, try to make your wiring not so fast.
Carrying out the first cast, try not to frighten off the predator, but to attract it. To do this, you need to carefully send the bait near the place of fish standing. When posting, you should whenever possible periodically change its horizon. This is done using various rod manipulations. Predator ultralight can also be carried out in areas. This method is especially relevant when fishing at high water levels. In this case, the main thing is to hold the bait as close to the bottom as possible.
These are general recommendations, the rest depends on the type of fish you intend to catch, its habits, fishing conditions and bait.
A bit of philosophy
Ultralight fishing is done by those who are not interested in “pouring blood on the shore”, catching a bag of fish and leaving. They don’t go to it to “recapture” money for tackle or a pond (if it is paid). Usually, fishermen who have switched to such fishing practice two principles. The first sounds like: “Caught - let go,” and the second: “Better is one meaningful little fish than a whole cage caught by chance.” UL fishermen not only release fish into its natural environment, but also take it very carefully. Ultralight is not so much fishing as a way to relax and feel your connection with nature. To conquer such thin gear and understand how they work, you need to "eat a pound of salt" on spinning fishing. Therefore, not all are adherents of ultralight. To agree with such principles or not is a personal matter for everyone. But one thing is to be understood for sure: too much mining UL will not bring.
Conclusion
So, we met with you such an exciting kind of fishing as ultralight. As the "dry residue" we recall the main thing. In this fishing there should be lightness in everything and everywhere: a light rod, a light reel and the same lures. In addition, the bait should also be small. The thickness of the fishing line is not of fundamental importance - it all depends on the size of the desired fish. However, given the elasticity of the tackle, you can take the fishing line a little thinner than under all other similar conditions with a heavier fishing rod. The coil for ultralight must have a friction clutch with fine tuning. The fishing technique and selection of the bait depends on the reservoir and fish that the angler intends to catch. In general, ultralight lures are not much different from other spinning lures.
Do not think that ultralight is the lot of the rich. Here, as in any other form of fishing, there is gear for any wallet. Normal, for example, reel and spinning "Shimano" can be purchased for quite reasonable money. The same applies to lures, many of which can be made independently.