Ultralight fishing can be taken to a whole new level if you are lucky enough to own a tournament style fishing boat. These types of power boats are generally built for speed and stability and are perfect for targeting ultralight fishing species in various waterways and dams. A tournament style power boat will be equipped with a trolling motor at the front (the bow) and an outboard motor on the back (the stern). Most tournament style boats generally can easily move through the water because they are crafted with a sleek profile that sits low in the water. Most are constructed to accommodate up to three anglers that can either stand, or sit in swivel chairs during competition.

While most tournament style fishing power boats range between 16 feet and 18 feet, there are tournament style boats that are much longer (up to 25 feet). Often fabricated out of fiberglass or aluminum, they all contain a live well that uses recirculating water to effectively keep the catch alive.

Not sure where to start? Here’s a brief look at 5 popular power boats perfect for ultralight fishing.

#1 Crestliner VT

One of the most popular tournament style power boats available is the Crestliner VT. This sleek design is available in both a 17 foot a 19 foot model. It offers top-of-the-line performance, and maximum horsepower. As an aluminum boat, it offers optimal gear storage with its enhanced quality constructed structure. It comes complete with an aerated live well (30 gallons) situated behind the cockpit. The live well is constructed with dividers to separate the caught fish.

#2 Tracker 190 TX

For the serious angler, the professional grade tournament style Tracker 190 TX has a larger deck area with significant power. At nearly 19 feet long, it offers a trolling motor, onboard battery charger, and aerated live well (16 gallon), with a Mercury outboard motor (90 hp). Its all-welded aluminum frame and trolling motor (45 pound thrust) is ideal for moving into the tightest undisturbed areas when fishing.

#3 Larson FX 2020

Using the latest technology, the Larson FX 2020 offer serious anglers a tournament style power boat. It features two aerated live wells (18 gallon-bow, 29 gallon-aft), trolling motor, rod lockers, and fish finders. This dual console boat has an integrated designed fiberglass floor that accommodates two fishing seats with six well-positioned bases.

#4 Rangers Z522 Comanche

The 22’4” Rangers Z522 Comanche is a top-of-the-line tournament style power boat design for the serious angler. It offers extended deck space, a larger fuel capacity, and lockable storage. With 300 horses, and 58 gallons of fuel, this boat can take the angler anywhere they need to go. The interior is one large superstructure crafted out of fiberglass. It has an onboard battery charger and a 26 gallon aerated live well, polished trim (aluminum), rod buckets (retractable), and a carpeted floor deck step.

#5 Nitro Z9

The Nitro Z9 is nearly 21 feet in length, with a 96 inch beam. This high level professional grade tournament style power boat is the top-selling choice bass boat. Dominating tournaments for years, Nitro offers every amenity needed on the water. It has two rod lockers with lighting, an aft folding chair and a bicycle seat located on the bow. Its trolling motor provides 80 pounds of thrust. It has an in dash fish finder and GPS, along with a re-boarding ladder (fold-down). Its two onboard insulated aerated live wells (20 gallons each) are built with continuous water circulators, oxygen generators, pump out systems and timers. This high-end, high-performance tournament style power boat has every desirable feature for the serious angler that enjoys tournament fishing.

These boats are made with the finest materials available. They offer tournament style angling with the optimal features required for competitive fishing. With wider beams, and quality features that become an integral part of the boat, anglers can have a better overall experience at a professional level. For generations, competitors have used the best fishing equipment available for fun, relaxation, practice and tournament play.

Take your ultralight fishing obsession to the next level with one of these beautiful machines!

Dams can provide great ultralight fishing experiences. For starters, a large dam will often act as a barrier that prevents fish from going any further upstream. Dams also create deep water that is full of oxygen, which is great for producing large fish. There also tends to be a lot of food for fish to eat at the base of a dam. This means that the base of a dam can be a great place to locate large fish, but dam fishing is not without its difficulties. Dams often receive a lot of fishing pressure, meaning fish might be wise to most ultralight fishing techniques and difficult to hook. Also, dams can sometimes release water very quickly, meaning that all fishermen who are near a dam should be aware of the potential of fast rises in water.

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Where to Fish a Dam

The best places to fish the base of a dam are going to be where the water is the fastest and deepest. Odds are the fish will be actively feeding in these areas. Use a fast moving bait designed for actively feeding fish, such as crankbaits, inline spinning lures and soft plastic lures. Live minnows and other baits also work well in these situations. Fish like the current because it brings them food, but they also don’t want to waste too much of their energy constantly fighting it. This means that spots that provide cover from the current but still allow the fish to access the food the current brings them are going to hold the largest lunkers. Examples of these features could include where slow and fast water meets, where a log has fallen in the water or behind large boulders in the current. Fish above, below, and next to these features to lure out the big boys. Bait works especially well in the transition zones between slow and fast water.

Other Places to Fish

Another good place to locate fish near a dam is in the first deep pool that you can find downstream of the dam. This spot provides an area of protection for fish when they are not actively feeding. You will find fish resting in these deeper pools. They can be very productive during a cold front. Because these fish are resting they will not be actively feeding, so your fishing tactics should be different. You can use a scented bait or soft plastic to encourage the fish to bite. This ultralight fishing technique requires that you allow your lure or bait to very slowly drop down into the hole. The lure or bait should slowly drift along with the current, bouncing along the bottom occasionally. You may let it sit in a single spot for a few minutes before letting it continue to slowly drift. The idea is to create an enticing food offer that sits directly in front of the fish’s face, until they can’t resist eating it. Then you hook them.

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The slow technique is often effective for getting resting fish to eat your bait or lure, but you can also create an aggressive reaction strike to get a fish to take your hook. The idea behind this technique is to present something so enticing to a fish that it provokes a reaction strike, regardless of whether or not the fish is actually hungry. You will typically use a lure that moves quickly and gathers a lot of attention from the fish. A fast moving spinner bait for example will often get a fish’s attention and cause them to strike it before they even get a chance to think about if they should attack it. They only have a second to react, and often they make the wrong choice. When they do you set the hook on them.

Dam fishing can be extremely productive and exciting for ultralight fishing enthusiasts when the proper fishing techniques are used.

Prescription Fishing Sunglasses Now With New Free-Form Progressive Lenses Made for Fishing

Prescription Fishing Sunglasses are now available with an updated lens design focused on the specific needs of an angler. The angler specific lens technology provides a larger portion of the reading corridor for near vision, like baiting a hook. The angler progressive lens is a stark contrast to a traditional progressive lens that has a focal distance that gets progressively closer as you look lower in the lens. A traditional progressive lens design provides a very small portion of the lens near vision. Designing more of the lens to focus on the specific needs of anglers allows for more head movement while keeping near objects in focus.

This fishing lens design, based on recent Free-Form Digital lens technology, recalculates the curve of a lens at every point on the back of the lens. This eliminates the peripheral distortion referred to as the “fishbowl effect”. The upper portion of a Free-Form Digital lens provides the sharpest distance vision possible, while the bottom of the lens provides a near-vision portion that is perfect for fishermen.

Oakley Prescription Sunglasses are the first to market with this new lens design. Oakley also offers the largest selection of polarized lens colors designed for a fishing environment. The Oakley Shallow Blue Iridium lens is a polarized bronze lens with an oxide coating to minimize blue light distortions. The Oakley Deep Blue Iridium lens is a polarized grey lens with the same coating. The combination of the fishing-specific prescription lens design and polarized lens colors designed specifically for fishing has made Oakley a top pick for serious anglers.

ADS Sports Eyewear is one of the first Authorized Oakley dealers to focus on the new angler-specific lenses, which are available for any of the Oakley frames you find on the ADS website. The company is optician owned and operated with a knowledgeable staff that uses and understands prescription eyewear for active people and will answer any questions you might have about the new Angler-Specific lenses.

Looking for a great ultralight fishing reel for your favorite panfishing spot or trout stream? Field and Stream took a look at the top 5 ultralight reels and this is what they found.

#1. The SORÖN STX 10 from Abu Garcia

This ultralight fishing reel is one of the newest from Abu Garcia, which is one of the world’s best producers of fishing equipment for serious anglers. This light reel weighs 8.2 oz and can hold 140 yards of 4 lb test line. Its 5.1:1 retrieve ration allows it to bring in line quickly and smoothly. It also features an amazing 11 bearings, which is more than you are likely to find in any other ultralight fishing reel. The reel’s side plate and frame are created with an anti-corrosion alloy, which probably means that this reel will last for quite a while. The Field and Stream testers rated this reel as their number one choice because it provided an extremely smooth retrieve and a comfortable casting position. The only downside reported by the testers was that the reel had what they called a ‘sticky bail’, meaning the angler had to push it over with their hand. The SORÖN STX 10 is also rather expensive at $130.

SORÖN STX 10 – Check Prices & Buy Here

#2. The Catalyst CT10PTI-A from Quantum

The reel is composed of an aluminum body and has a very thin profile. It weighs 8.45 oz and holds 125 yards of 4 lb test line. It comes with a 5.33:1 retrieve rate, a magnetic clutch and 8 bearings inside of the reel. The testers felt that this ultralight fishing reel was smooth, easy to use and that it felt great in their hands. The downsides as reported by the testers included a plastic drag knob and the potential for a slow drag, although all of the testers would recommend it to other anglers. Quantum also offers a repair guarantee that states you will get your reel back from the shop within 48 hours of sending it in. Some would say this reel is expensive. It runs for about $129.

Catalyst CT10PTI-A – Check Prices & Buy Here

#3. The Citori from Browning

This ultralight fishing reel was named for one of the company’s most popular shotguns. It is composed of strong aluminum in its rotor and frame and it features a lip that is coated in titanium to help manage the line. The testers all reported that this reel offered smooth casting and that the 5.1:1 gear ratio provided for nice retrieves. This reel features 8 bearings and can hold 120 yards of 4 lb test line. It comes with a soft rubber handle that is large in size. For $99 RRP it is a cheaper alternative to some of the top brands.

Citori Browning – Check Prices & Buy Here

#4. The Micro Lite Supreme from Bass Pro Shops

This is a much less expensive version of an ultralight fishing reel. It weighs only 6.2 oz but still has a gear ratio of 5.2:1 and 8 bearings. It can hold 105 yards of 4 lb test line. This lightweight design comes from the graphite frame, but the handle is made of aluminum for added strength. This is an extremely cost effective reel at $38. Several testers complained that the reel was difficult to prevent tangles with and that the bail was harder to flip than it should be.

Micro Lite Supreme - Check Prices & Buy Here

#5. The SS700 Tournament Ultralight Spinning Reel from Daiwa

This is a tournament quality ultralight fishing reel that is lightweight in design. It is also rather expensive at around $100 however in this case you get what you pay for! It weighs 7 oz and can hold 145 yards of 4 lb test line. It has a 4.9:1 gear ratio and 3 bearings. Its precision worm gear ensures that the line is evenly crossed wrapped during the retrieve and its roller bail trip mechanism is very reliable. The SS700 is one of the best ultralight reels available on the market and is priced accordingly.

SS700 Tournament – Check Prices & Buy Here

Water temperature plays an important role in how various species of game fish behave. Successful anglers pay serious attention to the water temperature of the river, stream, lake or pond they are fishing. Water temperature will affect the various fishing seasons, but it will also impact where the fish can be found and what they are eating on a daily basis. Learning how water temperature affects your targeted species of fish can drastically improve your ultralight fishing results.

Seasonal Temperature Changes

For most ultralight fishing enthusiasts the best times of the year to fish are the Spring, Summer and Fall. This is because the water temperatures are generally warmer during these seasons and many different species of fish are either feeding or breeding, which makes them easier to catch. Ice fishermen know that the fishing doesn’t stop during the colder months. Colder water temperatures that occur during winter change the behaviors of most types of game species. Cold water fishes, such as trout, walleye and yellow perch will remain active during these colder water temps, and can still be caught. Warm water species, like catfish, largemouths and smallmouths may slow down their body processes and are much harder to catch when the water temps are low.

Changes in Seasonal Water Temperatures

When the water temperatures begin to change as Winter turns into Spring, the behaviors of fish will often change with it. For a number of game species, warmer water temps will create an urge to spawn and the fish will move into specific spawning locations. Spawning fish will often aggressively defend their nesting sites, which can make them easier to catch on a lure. During the summer, when the water temperature is much higher, warmer water species like largemouths, smallmouths and catfish are actively hunting for food. Some colder species like Muskies will get more aggressive in the fall, when the water temp begins to drop. Knowing which fish are likely to be more active during certain water temperatures will tell you where to fish and what to fish for.

Water Temperatures Can Directly Control a Fish’s Daily Activities

Water temperatures can also affect where and what a fish does on a daily schedule. The summertime is a great example of this. Changes in water temperature on a weekly or daily schedule will cause fish to move and eat. If you can predict where a specific game fish will be and what they will be eating during these times, your chances of catching more fish will rise dramatically. For example, colder water has more oxygen in it, so the colder sections of a lake, like where the water is the deepest, is where you are most likely to find colder water fishes such as lake trout. Shallow water may warm up faster, so you may find feeding bass in the warmer shallow waters earlier in the day. Once the day gets warmer the fish may move to deeper and cooler waters. A fish’s body temperature is regulated by the water around them. So very cold or very hot water will probably not be ideal for holding fish. Find the right water temperature and you are likely to find the type of fish you are looking for. Thermoclines, or places in lakes and ponds where cold and warm water meet are often great places to locate hungry, stalking fish.

How to Determine Water Temperature

Great anglers know how to find the various water temperatures they are looking for. A water thermometer or an electronic fish finding device are great ways to find out exactly what the water temperature of a specific area is. You can also use visual clues to determine water temps. For example, deep water that is far away from the surface is likely to be colder than shallow water. Shaded water is also likely to be cooler than a spot of the lake that is in the sun.

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Ultralight fishing is not only the best way to get fish, it also means you are targeting many species which make for excellent meals. Personally, ultralight fishing allows me to target one of my favourit table fish, being the trout. I find nothing more satisfying in smoking a trout and serving it with some fresh greens and crusty loaf… YUM!

For many anglers the idea of catching and eating their own fish represents the joy of fishing. While many fishermen and women enjoy catching and releasing their fish, there is certainly nothing wrong with keeping what you catch in order to eat it when it is legal to do so. You will probably want to make sure that the fish you intend to eat is caught from clean waters with little pollution. You can check with your state to determine how safe it is to eat a certain fish caught from specific waters. If it is safe to eat then you can go ahead and enjoy freshly caught fish at dinner that night.

One of the major reasons why anglers love to eat what they catch is because it is the freshest fish you can get. When it comes to fish, freshness matters and nothing is fresher than what you have just caught. Here are some tips to help keep your fish as fresh as possible as it makes its way from the water to your dinner table.

Keep the Fish Alive As Long As You Can

You will want to keep your fish alive for as long as possible. This is especially true if you catch the fish in the morning with the intent to eat it that night. There are several ways you can help keep a fish alive. You can put it on a gill string and hang it over the side of your boat while you continue to fish. Or you can purchase a live basket that hangs over the side of your boat.

Some nice fishing boats have a live well, which aerates the water to make sure the fish doesn’t suffocate. If you hold onto your fish for a while make sure the water doesn’t lose its oxygen, or else the fish will die prematurely. You can always purchase portable bucket aerators to help keep fish alive for longer.

Transporting the Fish

Once you are done fishing for the day the best way to transport your fish home is by placing it in a cooler filled with slushy ice water. Or you can put it in a bucket full of ice. If you are unable to keep your fish alive for any period of time you should immediately put it in ice. Ice can also be used to help keep the fish alive in a cooler or bucket until you are ready to kill it.

When transporting your fish home it is essential to keep it cool, especially if the temperature outside is very warm. Don’t allow your fish to get warm as this could spoil it. Some people like to gut out the fish before they transport it home, while others wait until they get home to do this. As long as your fish stays cool it doesn’t matter when you gut it.

Cleaning Your Catch

Once the fish has been transported to your home or campsite, you should immediately begin the process of cleaning it. Remove the entrails by gutting it. A fresh fish’s flesh will return to its normal position when pressed by your finger and it will smell clean. The flesh of a decomposing fish will smell bad, be covered with a slime and will not bounce back to its original position when pressed with your finger. Gut and clean your fish right away and always use clean fresh water.

Refrigerate your catch after it has been cleaned if you are not going to cook it right away. Make sure it is fully cooked to remove any germs or parasites. Catching, cleaning and cooking your own fish can be a very rewarding experience. Just make sure you avoid any potential problems by doing it right.

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Fishing streams can be one of the most exciting and most rewarding ways to catch fish for the ultralight fishing enthusiast. Cool, clear running streams are often the best places to locate fish such as trout. Warmer running streams offer fun places to catch warm water species like smallmouth and catfish. Ultralight fishing in a stream is slightly different from fishing a pond or river. Stream fishing techniques can be both passive (where you do not actively control your bait or lure) or they can be active. Like every other type of fishing, the key to stream success is to try a number of different techniques until you find out which ones work the best for the specific fishing situation you are in.

Ultralight fishing gear is perfect for stream fishing as you will most likely be on the move regularly as you wander the banks and trying different locations.

Factors That Determine Fishing Action

There are a lot of different factors that will determine what type of fish you can catch in a stream, what you can catch them on and how many (if any) fish you will be able to catch. The first factor will be the water’s temperature. Trout and salmon are cold water fishes. They require a lot of oxygen and low temperatures to survive. Some streams will sustain stocked trout or salmon for short periods of time, usually before the summer hits and the water temperature warms up. Warmer water will have less oxygen in it. Other streams stay cold all year long. The second factor is the flow of the stream. Very shallow streams are not going to have enough space for fish to live in. You may be able to find fish in shallow sections, but a stream that is only a few inches deep is not likely to hold many fish.

The third factor is cover. Fish of all kinds need 3 things to survive. They need food, protection from predators and oxygen to breathe. Fish need to have cover to stay alive in a stream. Cover could include things like fallen logs, rocks, undercut banks, low hanging vegetation and anything else that a fish could use to protect themselves from the current and from predators. Finally, fish need to eat to live. Most of the streams you find will offer plenty of food items for fish. So the idea will be to find a part of a stream that has the right temperature for the type of fish you are trying to catch, that offers enough space for fish to live and that features cover for the fish to hide from their predators. If you locate a spot on a stream that has all of these things, odds are there will be fish present there.

Fishing Techniques

There are several ways to fish streams, including both active and passive techniques. These techniques can be performed with a spin rod or a fly rod, and you can use both bait and artificial lures or flies to catch stream fish. Some stream fishing techniques will be easier to execute with a fly rod, while others will be easier if you use a spin rod. Passive fishing means you fish either your bait or artificial lure/fly in the stream so that it appears to the fish to be a piece of food that is naturally floating along with the current. This means that you want to take steps to make your lure or bait look as natural as possible. Active fishing techniques use action to mimic a swimming bait fish or insect in the water. Both techniques can be effective for catching stream fish.

The best way to be successful at stream ultralight fishing is to do a little research to find out exactly what type of fish live in the stream you plan to fish. Then you can use the best baits, flies or artificial lures for that particular spot. Once you know what baits, flies or lures you want to use, you will have the best luck if you pick a spot on the stream with all of the necessary factors to hold fish. This means finding out where the fish are and what they are probably eating.

Photo 1: Credit “dgrice” flickr.com
Photo 2: Credit “Fish On by the_dharma_bum, on Flickr”

Unfortunately for motor enthusiasts, the American Way has been taking a dim look at motorized boats in recent years. Over 30,000 of its glorious lakes, filled with silver-bellied trout, bass and fresh water drum and perch are off limits to motor craft. However, this is not bad news to the growing teams of kayak and canoe enthusiasts who swear the only way to catch that fish is to sneak up on it with nothing more announcing your presence than the bait dangling from your hook.

Canoes and Kayaks

Canoes and kayaks are certainly the most convenient of all ultralight fishing craft. You don’t need a trailer to tote them to your fishing location, as long as you have a good carriage rack mounted on top of the family vehicle. They can slide into a truck bed with very little assistance and slide out again in the same manner. They are so lightweight, they can easily be carried down trails to slide into that favorite fishing hole. There is also something very satisfying, very peacefully harmonious about the soft, silent paddling along nature’s waterways.

The debate between kayak and canoe enthusiasts as to which water craft is best for stealing up on that worthy fighting fish will probably never end, but both have basically the same advantages. Their shallow bottoms allow them to glide smoothly through weed infested arrested areas and around rock cropping with stones just below the surface, without any structural damage. Either can be purchased within a small budget; with starting price ranges at four hundred dollars. They can both accommodate all the necessary fishing gear; including a beer cooler or snack box on the side. They can both be purchased from several different high quality materials; wood, aluminum, polyethylene; and require only minimal upkeep. The biggest difference is; kayaks have gone through a metamorphose from a highly unstable rig that took rigorous lessons in rolling before attempting a true kayak experience; to a boat so stable, there are even family kayaks with room for the kids, while the canoe, in design and function, remains a canoe.

Of all the ultralight fishing boats, kayaks are probably the number one favorite. When purchasing one, you have the advantage of choosing your fishing style; stand up or sitting down snug in the bottom of your boat. A kayak can be rigged out like a miniature, standard boat, with a fish finder, a GPS system, extra battery storage, and even outfitted with a motor – for the lakes that still allow motorized watercraft.

If you choose a kayak, make sure it is one that will accommodate all your fishing needs, or that you can customize without integral damage to the craft. Kayaks are built in a large variety of sizes, several different styles and for recreational use as well as fishing. A recreational kayak will not serve very well as a fishing vessel, as you need a boat that will allow for rod holders, fishing gear, a fish cooler, and whatever other precautions you brought along for your fishing trip.

Other Boating Options

Ultralight craft are not limited to canoes and kayaks, however. Shallow bottom, aluminum boats can weigh in at under five hundred pounds, and are large enough to carry along two or three fishing buddies. They give you plenty of legroom, the ability for stand-up fishing and will accommodate all your fishing needs, including packing in a full tent for an overnight trip. Generally, for this larger boat, you will need a motor, but for those who don’t mind the old-fashioned way, there are aluminum, easy to carry, old-fashioned styled row-boats.

An ultralight boat rarely talked about is the inflatable, one person fishing raft. It’s actually quite a marvel in modern engineering, and for the person who enjoys solitary fishing, it’s a very satisfying experience. The inflatable fishing raft only has one inflatable part; the floatation devices that bloom out on the sides of the stable runners. The seat is more like a deck chair; enormously comfortable, high enough to see into the water in anticipation of a little fish action. It is the ideal fishing craft for the fly fisherman, as there is plenty of room for arm action without rocking the boat.

Choosing an ultralight fishing boat depends largely on your personal tastes. If you like your boat stripped down to its simplest functions, you’ll enjoy owning an inflatable one person raft, or if you enjoy company; a canoe; which can hold up to five people safely, depending on size. If you want to customize your craft, you’ll probably enjoy a kayak. If you want a fishing boat that will pack down enough to carry you and your friends or family to some serious locations, or want that motorized power, a lightweight aluminum fishing boat is your best answer.

To a novice fisherman, the selection of various rods and reels the veteran enthusiast collects must seem a little confusing. Maybe one size doesn’t fit all, but just how many different rods and reels are needed to go out and catch a fish? The rod you use is dependent on two factors; the type of fishing you’re doing and the species of the fish you’re hoping to catch.

Flexibility

When you are ultralight fishing, you should always look for a rod that has some flexibility at the tip. This helps you to watch the play of the lure and allows for the wrist action needed to keep that lure looking alive. How much action you want to play into the rod depends on the species of fish you are trying to entice.

A standard choice for an all-around fishing rod that will allow you to catch just about anything from panfish to bass and catfish, is a medium light power spinning rod. Because spinning gear is so easy to use, it’s a greater starter rod for the beginning fisherman, as well as a standard addition to the veteran choice. A moderate action rod bends when you’re casting, two-thirds way from the tip. This allows plenty of control over your ultralight bait, allowing you to set the hook when fishing a plastic worm or jigging for bass.

A fast action rod bends in the last quarter of the rod. They have great casting power and are ideal for fishing bluegill, crappy and small trout. For ultralight fishing however, don’t use a short rod. They do not have the power or desired action for serious fishing. Use at least a six-foot rod, as you never know when a big one will snap your bait. Instead of going home with a story about the big fish that got away, your story will be about the rod that got away.

Versatility and Power

Experienced fishermen generally enjoy the versatility and strength of longer ultralight fishing rods. They cast farther, and are adaptable to a variety of different fish. They are useful for both casting and trolling.

The rod power lies in its ability or strength to lift weight from its tip. When using an ultralight fishing rod, check the line weight ratings. The action and power of the rod are two different things. Power is closely related to line strength. Your ultralight fishing rod should closely match the strength of the line you’re using. If the rod is greater than the test strength of the line, the line will snap easily, even giving it up for snaps in sea grass or water soaked debris. If your test line is greater than your rod’s capacity, you can break the tip of your rod when the big one snaps up your lure.

Price isn’t the real objective. If you are a novice, a medium priced ultralight fishing rod will perform just fine, giving you both the desired power and action for landing your fish. As you graduate into serious fishing addiction, you’ll begin thinking about those higher priced rods and reels as you learn the techniques and become more sensitive to your fishing rod’s action. As with any sport, your perspective of the way your equipment handles progresses as you become more familiar with how to use it.

Using an ultralight fishing rod for fish bigger than panfish or trout is enormously challenging. It takes a lot of practice and skill to land a bass meant to pull in no more than a strapping lake trout, but ultralight fishing has captured the imagination of pro fishermen for exactly that reason. Once the actual challenge of fishing is over, the hunger becomes one of challenging the fish. With ultralight fishing for larger game fish, the fisherman doesn’t always come home the winner, but the satisfaction lies primarily in the battle.

Finding exactly the right bait is always the big question when entering unfamiliar territory or when the fish just don’t seem to be biting. Ask a neighboring fisherman and he might tell you he’s been fishing all day with a soft plastic jig and the fishing couldn’t be better. Yet another fisherman might say he wouldn’t use anything but hard bodied bait. The real key is in the type of bait commonly found in the habitat. The fish go after what’s familiar to them.

Knowing Your Fish

Knowing the type of baitfish found within the vicinity can help you decide just what type of lures to use. The water conditions also play an important factor. In brackish or cloudy water, you need something that will glitter and catch the eye of the fish. For these conditions, spinners and spoons are usually the most effective.

Soft plastic minnows, worms, shad bodies and grubs are great for ultralight fishing in clear, undisturbed water. Their soft bodied, flexible texture imitate bait fish well, making them standard equipment in the pro-fisherman’s tackle box. Ultralight fishing trolls often use a combination of plastic, soft bodied and hard-bodied lures to ensure something is getting fish attention.

A drawback of using soft plastics is that minnows and other tiny bait fish will nibble at them, destroying the lure. There doesn’t seem to be much a person can do to remedy this, but fortunately, a large quantity of plastic lures can be purchased for a very low price. As long as this problem doesn’t bother you too much, they are very effective for ultralight fishing in calm water. That these lures are often attacked by bait should be reassuring as the same problem occurs when using live bait.

In recent years, manufacturers of ultralight fishing lures have created hybrids. Hard body lures, with soft body tails add a life like action and appearance that appeals to the fishing community and comes with many success stories. The closer a lure comes to mimicking a baitfish, the more likely you’ll be able to be able to come home with your fish.

Modern Developments

A recently development in the production of hard baits is the floating twitch bait. These lures are made to look like a wounded fish. When twitched, these baits dive below the water, then resurface, exactly like a fish that has been struck by prey and has become disoriented. Fish them along shallows, in shoreline and flats. These are not passive lures. They are engineered to entice the fish to strike and must be played if you want them to perform.

Surface walkers are meant to be retrieved with a constant twitching motion so the lure zig zags across the water. These hard lures are handy in any tackle box. They are called “probing bait” because they are used to locate fish while covering a lot of water.

Lipless hard body lures are used by ultralight fishermen when the water depth is greater than four feet. The lure will sink into the water column, then when retrieved, a twitching action will cause the lure to dart, flash and mimic a wounded bait fish.

Baits that feature a lip are called crank baits. They are ideal for fishermen unfamiliar with artificial lures as they do not need a lot of practice to make the bait seem life-like. All you have to do is cast out the line and start cranking it back in. The lure will do the rest.

Learn the type of bait fish commonly found in the area where you plan to fish. Use plastic lures for fishing in daylight, in calm, clear waters or as part of a combination for trolling. Use hybrids or hard-bodied lures for brackish, choppy or cloudy water, and for poor light visibility. Keep the glitter and shine happening in imitation of a live bait, so your fish is convinced what’s dangling in front of him is something good to eat, and you’ll return home a happy fisherman.

Any day is a good fishing day. That’s the hard and fast rule of the fisherman’s heart. Of course, the fish don’t always agree with the statement. A good fishing day isn’t necessarily that bright, clear morning, without a cloud in sight, and quite a large variety of fish squabble over water temperature. Warm water fish grow lazy and search for warmer water pockets when wintry chills take over their favorite feeding grounds. Cold climate fish often wait for the sky to cloud over and their river routes cool down before working up a good appetite. Usually, the best time to fish is just before a storm, when the fish go into a feeding frenzy, sensing that their favorite snacking areas are about to be disturbed.

Nor are fish necessarily compliant with that ancient philosophy, “bigger fish like bigger bait”. The truth of the matter is, those fighting warriors are just as eager to snap up bit-sized morsels as they are to swallow a full meal with a single stroke. In fact, tiny baitfish provide the most substantial part of any big fish diet.

The Battle Rages

There are other advantages to ultralight fishing. Part of the thrill in catching a fish is the challenge of the fight. When you begin fishing ultralight, you find yourself developing a whole new field of skill sets as the crank and pull suddenly turns into a major battle, and even that ten inch trout becomes a lean, mean fighting machine.

For trolling with ultralight lures, you’ll want a rod with a limber tip, so you can keep an eye on the action. As long as it’s flicking and bobbing, you’ll know that lure is doing its job, twinkling just under the water surface, enticing your prey, instead of dragging down in weeds, or scraping up mud. Just because you’re using ultralight, don’t believe a lighter test line will do. Ultralight will attract that large or small mouth bass and land-locked salmon as quickly as it will a trout. Stay prepared by using a strong enough test line to haul in the surprise entry of the day.

Keep your lures close to the top of the water column. You don’t really want to add any extra weight, and usually, just a straight lure will do, although if the fishing is slow, you might wish to add extra broadcasting by using a combination with very small flashers. For lake fishing, spoons and spinners work well on bright, sunny days when there is a bit of chop in the water. Once it turns smooth as glass, try using flies.

Crank your ultralight lures along weed beds, over rock piles, under trees, and among roots or dead logs lying in the water. Most fish relate in one way or another to structure, and do not enjoy the effects of direct sunlight. Those shadowy niches are their favorite hiding spots. Keep a sharp eye out for schools of minnows or for insect hatches. On windy days, fish in the portion of the lake where surface food is blowing and concentrating, such as insect larvae or egg clusters. Fish can also be found close to drop-offs and near inlets or outer streams where highly oxygenated water is flowing or near old river channels containing residual water flows.

Trolling Strategies

Trolling is a way of guaranteeing you’ll catch your limit even on days when fishing is slow. There is something about the trolling technique that tells fish they really want that particular bait. Maybe it’s part of the stalker-prey tradition; while you’re stalking the fish, it’s stalking your bait, afraid it will get away. When trolling, keep your motor at a low speed, unless you are using a narrow bladed troll, as it has the least amount of water resistance. You can then speed up a little, but remember, you don’t want your lure swimming so fast, the fish can’t catch up with it. Do not run a straight line, but make your path through the water a slow, lazy “S” curve. If the fish don’t seem to be striking, experiment with your lures until you hit on the right combination.

If all else fails, try jerking or twisting your line now and then to deliver a little more action. Slow down nearly to a stop, so your lure begins sinking to the bottom, then speed up, so it resurfaces to the top. The erratic movement will catch the attention of the fish, who immediately identifies it as food. Along with location, that’s the big key to catching the big fish.

I thought I’d post this video of the Rapala Ultralight Crank Bait in action. These ultralight fishing lures are a perfect choice for targeting many different species and they boast many features that place them above the competition. For starters they may be small however their design and weight makes them feel like you’re casting a lure two to three times the size. The size 3 body dives to 8′ and as you can see by the video they give an instant wobbling action which is activated at ultra low speeds. The Rapala Ultralight Crank Bait is also buoyant which means you can steer your way through structure withe ease.

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