1 1/2 hours @ the pond

Weather was super today for January. It was 60 degrees when I left the house and got to the town pond around 3:30.
I took my old model 5’ St Croix Panfish ULM , paired with a Shimano Sienna 500fd , spooled with some 4# Original P-Line .
Today’s agenda was to see if the 5’ UL moderate action St Croix was sensitive enough to fish a micro drop shot rig . And to try soft plastic baits again , but this time , with a size 8 Sickle bait holder hook instead of a light jig .
Everything worked great the 45 minutes or so the fish were biting . About a quarter til five , they just quit . I gave it until around 5:10 and packed it in and headed home .
Two small bass , one medium gill and one nice one . I didn’t bother with the measuring board today , since I could tell none were close to 10” .

Any day with fish caught is a good day.

First fish is a nice one, good catch.

Thanks for the ride alone. Good catch and a nice day!
Bob

Nice catch.

Regards

Glad ya got out. Conditions were wonderful down here and all I saw was windshield. The second bass looked like a fun sized one.

Great day!

Thanks guys , the little 5’ St Croix UL rod was a joy to fish with today .
As I said before , I wanted to see if it was sensitive enough to feel the thump , and it was great .
They’ll probably be a new model five footer in the arsenal in the near future .
I enjoy longer rods , but a short rod with a 500 size reel is what UL is all about IMO .

Looks like a nice day. I have the same exact rod and model, it's a great rod. I got the new 2022 version in the 6'4" light and I like it better. It's a bit of an apples to oranges comparison since they're two different lengths, powers, and actions, but I enjoy the feel of the rod. I think this is mainly due to the reel seat and handle. Very smooth and comfortable.

Gillchaser, great catch! I see the spring color on the bluegills hasn't quite come back just yet, usually darker, but good size! I'm also a bank gill chaser and you would think we could both benefit from long rod for distance casting but man, these 5' and under rods beginning to be my go to rods these day.

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Originally Posted by LVSpinfisher1

Gillchaser, great catch! I see the spring color on the bluegills hasn't quite come back just yet, usually darker, but good size! I'm also a bank gill chaser and you would think we could both benefit from long rod for distance casting but man, these 5' and under rods beginning to be my go to rods these day.

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I do a good bit of bank chasing especially this time of year , but I’m looking forward to longer days with usable daylight hours so I can get my boat out and fish something different.
I think I’ve caught some of the gills at the town pond more once .
I think my favorite length of UL rod is the 5’4” Panfish new series and the original series . I’ve also have a 5’4” Trout series that should be here tomorrow.
When bank fishing I restrict myself to just one rod , but when I’m fishing out of my boat , I’ll take four or five combos out with me .

When I first got bit by the UL bug, I had a 5’ fenwick and a 500 series Diawa. I guess I’ll always have a sweet spot for the short ones, and I thank God that actions have changed from the parabolic noodle rods of times past. I enjoy reading of y’all’s exploits and learning experiences, I pick up good info all the time. My Brother will e here for a few days this weekend and we’ll get out and try to get a few. He has a new to him Loomis I’m anxious to see him workout.

I feel the same about my old Lightning Rod 5 footer, which had become my then 8-yr old daughter’s favorite (and I made sure it stays that way now that dad’s fishing with $200 jdm…lol), so when half of the guides all banged up I went and replaced them all except top guide just in case ( now a teen) she wants to pick up where she left off. Oh pardon the lousy job and $7 guides off Basspro…lol.


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Originally Posted by LVSpinfisher1

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Here’s a quick reference of how the old rods tip look compare to today’s offspring of top tier rod technology:
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I still have my old 5’ Lightening Rod .
Another old favorite was the Ugly Stik Ultralights.
I gave my Ugly Stiks to a buddy of mine who loves them and still uses them .
I donated him a bag of UL reels and a handful of different UL rods a few years ago .
He kept what he wanted and gave the rest to his brothers that would give him heck about his only fishing ultralights.
He’s converted one of them last I heard .

That pick of the old and new side by side is a lot like the comparison of the new little rod I just got. Tip diameter is tiny! But it fights a good crappie without issue.
LV, if you were closer or didn’t mind the shipping, I could put that rod back to rights. I build my own and repair for friends, and Mudhole is a 20 minute drive.

nice day for sure :highfive

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Originally Posted by skeetbum

That pick of the old and new side by side is a lot like the comparison of the new little rod I just got. Tip diameter is tiny! But it fights a good crappie without issue.
LV, if you were closer or didn’t mind the shipping, I could put that rod back to rights. I build my own and repair for friends, and Mudhole is a 20 minute drive.

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I appreciate the offer, Skeet, and thank you. Now come to think of it, the bang up rod guides remind me of a time when it was great....my kid, her cousins all got a crack at the rod! It's like a soldier battle scar...marred but still chucking along. Cheers!

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Originally Posted by LVSpinfisher1

I appreciate the offer, Skeet, and thank you. Now come to think of it, the bang up rod guides remind me of a time when it was great....my kid, her cousins all got a crack at the rod! It's like a soldier battle scar...marred but still chucking along. Cheers!

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The offer stands if you change your mind.