New ultralight question

Hey guys, question for all you bluegill fishermen. I know there's tons of rod threads already but I didnt really see what I was looking for in them. :banghead

I'm looking into getting a new ultralight rod for gills and maybe using for crappie sometimes. It's going to be a Shakespeare Micro series rod. I already have a 5'6" light power rod thats a blast to fish with, it just feels like too much rod for gills most of the time though which is why I want an ultralight. I mostly fish from the bank but sometimes I do get out in a boat. I primarily cast floats for gills, either live bait or small jigs (1/32 oz being the largest). I've seen rod options in 4'6", 7' and 7'6" for the ultralight. Would you guys go for the longest rod possible? I was initially thinking 7' would be good but now I'm wondering if the extra 6" would be worth it to get just a little extra distance, especially in the summer when the bigger gills go a little deeper.

I'd pair it with a Shimmano Sienna 500 size reel and 2 pound mono. I'm just debating on the rod length (I'm almost positive I dont want the 4'6", if I'm in that tight of a spot I'll just use my 5'6" light power). I know, just buy one and go fishing already :biggrin

I know, another rod question......but thanks for your opinions guys.

-Mike

You probably won't notice too much difference between 7' and 7.5'.

FWIW, I used to fish an 8.5-footer for what you're doing. Longer rods help when bank fishing. Why do you think fly rods are 8.5' or longer? ;)

Many associate UL rods to being short....but that is not the case. I have one short UL rod to use when I am in very tight spaces. I have several UL rods that are in the 6' 5" range to the 6' 10" range.....one at 7' 4" and I have one that is 8' 3". IMHO I would find something in the 6' 5" range to 7 foot or so to use.


Regards

6' 2"----------7' 0" JMO.

I use a 7' UL that I built and I spooled the reel with Power Pro 8-1 braid, the line gives you enough strength to pull loose snags and save some baits.

i have a 7 foot Tica ultralite that is flat out the you know what for me when i have room and or want to play with smaller fish .....but i also have a 6 foot Tica in the same weight , i also recently got a vigilante Abu i am found of in 5.5 and have even shorter rods in my arsenal . i use what i think is best for whatever situation i think i am going to get in to . rod lengths seem to be in many cases just personal preference . but one thing for certain if you match the rod to the conditions it will make it more fun to ketch fish . i was using the 5.5 the other day ( all i had with me ) and trying to fish deep under a float and it was miserable situation for me . the 7 foot Tica would have been much better for that particular episode .

A 7' foot UL rod fishing from the bank is probably as good as it's going to get. Give you the casting distance and power needed to turn those bull gills from snags when necessary. Still a lot of fun to use too. I've caught a lot of gills and crappie, both from boat & shore and actually prefer a long rod when fishing from the shore. JMO.

I just bought the 7' Light Micro Series for fishing from my kayak...on the recommendations of several guys on the Alabama board. I will probably add the 7' UL to my arsenal when I find one.

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Originally Posted by flintcreek

I just bought the 7' Light Micro Series for fishing from my kayak...on the recommendations of several guys on the Alabama board. I will probably add the 7' UL to my arsenal when I find one.

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wal-mart just had a closeout on the shakespeare micro series . I bought a 7 ft light action for 9 bucks and some change .

9 bucks is a good price. I checked online yesterday and they were still there for 16. My local store didn't have any in stock.

Sounds like the 7ft is the way to go, the extra 6 inches probably isn't going to help much.

Funny that you ask this question as I was looking at the 7 foot version last night I have the 5'6" version you are referring to and I love it six-foot would be ideal for Hookset in my opinion. I'm next purchase will be in the 7 foot version for tight quarters jigging and long-range casting


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My favorite ultra lite isn't an ultra light at all. It's a Quantum Smoke 6'3" medium light action. I throw a lot of 1/16 stuff, but never anything lighter. This rod has enough backbone that it isn't real whippy.

I like it so well that I bought a spare, and have 1000 size Lews gold reels on both of them, with 4# Yozuri hybrid line. Add a Creek spin from Southern Pro and your choice of plastic body and it's a bream killer. I caught my PB spotted bass on it while bream fishing.

http://i.imgur.com/AZoHUPW.jpg

I use a St Croix 6' light action, and a Browning Airstream 7' ultra light. Both rigged with 4lb line. I have a hard time fishing anything under 6' since I started with these. The St Croix handles 1/32 and even lighter very well, and with the Browning 7' I mainly stick with 1/16oz.

I love the 6' St Croix and it is my go to crappie and bluegill casting rod, but the 7' is growing on me, and it is the set up to cast for distance.

My 5'6" and under ultra light rods don't see much action now.

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Originally Posted by warmouth

I use a St Croix 6' light action, and a Browning Airstream 7' ultra light. Both rigged with 4lb line. I have a hard time fishing anything under 6' since I started with these. The St Croix handles 1/32 and even lighter very well, and with the Browning 7' I mainly stick with 1/16oz.

I love the 6' St Croix and it is my go to crappie and bluegill casting rod, but the 7' is growing on me, and it is the set up to cast for distance.

My 5'6" and under ultra light rods don't see much action now.

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I bought an 7ft. airstream from an individual on site here . put a pflueger president on it . It cast good . I also use a "light " action micro series from shakespeare that is 7 ft . Before trying these I was strictly an OKUMA 6'2" guy. I almost never use anything under 7 ft . now and love them .

For as cheap as they are the Shakespeare Micro Series rods are really nice. I know a St Croix would blow them out of the water but I just can't justify that much on a bluegill rod. Heck my most expensive rod overall is a Fenwick for Smallmouth fishing.

A 7ft Shakespeare Micro series Ultralight and a Shimmano Senna 500 (I would get a Pflueger President but my last reel was a Symetre and I'm kinda sold on Shimmano now) with 2 lb line should be a blast for gills and crappie. Time to check out the prices on Walmart or Amazon I think.

I fish some creeks too so I think the 5'6" light power will still see a decent amount of action.

I use 6ft St. Croix rods, they've spoiled me. I bought a few of their Pan fish series ultra lite rods and one of their Premium series ultra lite rod. They are just the perfect setup IMO. I have the President reels and a couple of Shimano Sienna 500 reels that work great. The President reel is smoother but about 25 bucks more expensive.

I purchased two of the 7'6 UL a few years ago and they are extra sensitive and for the price ($19.99) one of the best ultra light rods for gills and sacs around. My setup is the Shakespeare Micro series 7'6 with a Pinnacle Deadbolt reel loaded with Sunline Super FC Sniper 4lb. I've caught bull bluegill, huge shellcrackers, buck bass and big sacalait. The setup is so great, I've also caught small ones too LOL. If you're looking for an inexpensive package that has some durability but fun then try my setup.

shoot man I am a poor boy...but between garage sales and tackle liquidators and just out and out blowing some dough over the years I have managed to accumulate 30 or so fishing poles. I got about everything you can imagine from surf fishing rods to heavy catfish tackle to snagging rods,to a telescoping crappie pole, to spinning tackle ranging from 7.5 ft rods to 4 ft rods ....Their is nothing wrong with taking a little 4.5 ft rod out fishing once in a while. I ain't gonna take it alone but I get in on a bluegill bed at close range I might throw it a little. I am gonna have at least 3 or 4 rods with me near everytime rigged a little different. Somedays I might fish with the first pole I pickup all day or I might switch from one to another at will.

I stick with one woman at a time but I have no such limitations on fishin' poles.

LOL doggone, Ive got 10 poles right now (well two are my kids) and my wife thinks Im crazy. I can see an immediate use for at least 4 more, and 3 would be crappie rods. Fishing can be very addictive! Most of mine arent very expensive but they work fine for me.

I have about 10 rigs in my truck right now...no room on the passenger seat...never know what you may need! LOL!


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Well proud owner of the 7'. Can't wait to try it out!


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