Stan1295 Loc: Southeastern CT

I’m just wondering what the trout fishermen in the crowd recommend for an ultralight spinning rig—rod (and length), reel, and line. I’m planning on purchasing a new rig after the holidays and would benefit from your expertise! Budget: $100 to $400 for everything.

Capt. Lou Loc: PA

The ultra lights I prefer are 6.6 Phoenix ,rated 2-4 lb , UL power 1 piece !
I use @ 1000 Daiwa Ballistic reel !
I’ve taken thousands of trout on this set up to 10#’s , loved it so much bought one as backup !

Stevearino Loc: SE Pennsylvania

Hey Capt. where do you fish?

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

Welcome to the Forum, Stan. Well,,,,,,,,,,,,, first you are going to have to answer a few questions. Are you fishing from shore or a boat? Are you fishing lake or stream, if you are fishing a stream, is the stream side brushy, is the lakeshore brushy? Can you wade in the middle of the stream? Can you walk in the water on the lake shore? How big are the trout? Are you going to use this rod for panfish too?

Stan1295 Loc: Southeastern CT

Thx Capt Lou- I confess I’m leaning toward Daiwa myself at this point, but have an open mind! I just bought my wife and son BG 3000s for Christmas. My turn next!

Stan1295 Loc: Southeastern CT

This would be used fishing from lakeshore or wading in river/stream. When I’m in my boat I’m usually trolling and have equipment for that. I fish small lakes/rivers/streams in Connecticut.

Capt. Lou Loc: PA

Pa, NJ & ME. For stream trout !

Capt. Lou Loc: PA

I believe Daiwa offer the best features for the $$$$

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

The reason that I asked if the streamside or lakeside was brushy, I was concerned about your backcast. You do not want a long rod if you will have problems with the brush on your backcast But you do want a longer rod for the distance that you will need. Go as lite as you feel comfortable with but as heavy as the biggest fish that you will catch. I make my own rods so I have no idea of who makes the best rods. I know that G. Loomis and St. Croix make good rods.

Stan1295 Loc: Southeastern CT

Yes rod length seems to be a double-edged sword. Either you must take two rods, or compromise on performance/convenience and settle on one length.

Capt. Lou Loc: PA

Rod length is important as is the taper and power of an UL rod !
The longer UL powers allow you to load lighter lures easier and cast them more accurately . The longer blanks allow for more shock absorbency and this feature protects the light line from breaking on bigger tough fish especially in faster water !
Casting a longer blank is much easier with a wider weight range of lures .
There is very little back cast room required the rod loads very easily thus a simple forward stroke is all that’s required to load n cast this style rod !

Stan1295 Loc: Southeastern CT

Capt Lou,

Would you say 7’ is the maximum length for a ul rod?

Capt. Lou Loc: PA

Yes unless your steelhead fishing in some capacity where very light lines are requires then many go to 9’ + !
Stream trout 7’ max I use , however my 6’6” get most use .
If I was fishing bigger stream with a higher flow then 7’ then 4-6 lb line rating would be my choice !

woodguru Loc: El Dorado Ca

6'6" is where I've settled after a couple dozen rods, I have slightly shorter ones leaning toward stiff enough to not mush out on a cast if that makes sense, they have to have a enough rigidity with their thinness to bend and pop a lure, yet do it with smaller lures you'd use in smaller rivers. Some of the 2-4lb can be too soft, the 2-6 seems to have a faster feel. I have to feel rods in a store to know what I'm getting.

One of my all time favorites is a Japanese Ryobi 6ft, they list at $300, I was buying higher end rods and reels on ebay and selling them locally, I got the Japanese seller to sell me 10 rods at $80 each, there was a bait casting version for bass, and an ultralight so I got six spinning ones and four bait casting ones. They were so nice I gave my wife one for trout as well as keeping one for myself.

We were fishing at the Topaz Lake outflow when my wife got snagged, she was trying to pull her lure free, and as she reached up to grab the tip to pull I yelled NO, she pulled and the tip snapped off, I was pretty bent out of shape but what are ya gonna do?

When you get the right UL they can cast smaller lures unbelievably far.

I'll add this, I didn't before because the money is sort of excessive, but I used a Japanese Shimano Stella 1500 on it, I distinguish the Japanese versions because Japan plays a one up game on rods and reels, they always have a better version than the export version the US gets. For example the Japanese Stella has extra ball bearings that the US one doesn't....and they cost more as well, $800 for the Japanese. The seller I bought a lot of stuff from sold me mine for $380, another cheaper model they called a Twin Power at about $250.

panther Loc: Northern California

I use 7' 6" Phenex Elixir Rods, paired with a 1000 series Daiwa Aird. Daiwa no longer makes the Aird, but I would still use other Daiwa reels. The St. Croix 7' 0" Avid is also a great ultra light rod.