[earthworm77]

What is your set up? What do you like about it/or not like about it? What in your opinion is the most critical trait of a UL set up?

I have three UL bass rigs:

1- 5ft Cabela's Tourney Trail IM7 spinning rod with custom Match guides, Tica SB500, Yo-Zuri 4lb hybrid or 6lb Sea King Braid.
The rod has backbone...I'd say it feels like a MH despite being listed as a UL. This rod is almost 10 years old. I actually designed my MMJ's to be fished on this set up. I used custom small diameter match guides for two reasons.....first, I was skipping and didn't want the line to slap all over the place when the rod was low to the water. Next, the small guides keep the line from hitting the blank on the cast increasing distance and control.

2-5ft Bionic Blade UL, Tica SB500, 6lb Cobra X-Tex.
This rod is a little whippier although it isn't a pussy wand. It has enough backbone to keep the big bass honest yet makes every fish seem fun. I throw a ton of wacky rigs on this one early on in the year

3-5ft Galyan's Titanium Rod, Tica SB500, Yo-zuri 4lb
As you can see I like the Tica a bunch. It is the best UL reel around bar none. I know because I've tried them all at one time or another. The Titanium rod is a very limber number. I like to fish small cranks on it like Honey B's or CrickHoppers. It is a lot of fun to fish. I took a 4lber on it Nov. 4th and I had my hand full! Yes one hand.

 

[joe p]

I got no UL rigs, for 2 reasons. One is, there is no place and no time for UL rigs in tournament bass fishing, IMHO. And the other reason is, simply because Im a power fisherman. Even when fun fishing, I like big baits and big lines.

But, Im game if the bite calls for light stuff, which for me , is a wacky rig, the Original Jersey Worm.

I throw this bait on a 5-6 St Croix Premier PS56LF. Its a mean little devil. It has the tip to throw lite baits, but the action is more like a medium, a combination that can handle big fish. I pair the rod with a cheap but reliable Shimano Spirex 1000, spooled with 6 lb P-line Floroclear.

I have 2 of these setups and thats my lightest rig.....

Joe

 

[got_A_way]

I have two UL rods

I have two identical UL setups. I started bass fishing from a very small 8' boat. I have a 20 yr old Shakesphere 7' spin cast rod Med. I found this hard to manage on such a small boat. As a beginner I went to Models and found a 5' Ugly stick with reel for $15. A week later I went back for another.

I have used generic mono, Spider Wire mono 4lb, but I like the FireLine 4lb or 6lb on these rods. I throw alot of plastics. I have had great success with 4.5" Culprit worm ( appleseed ) and tiny split shot. I now toss senkos and clones, small spoons and jigs.

I got a 4lb LM last spring, that towed the boat for a while. On this rod it felt like a Whale .

I an not overjoyed with the shakesphere reels - but they are not bad.

I like that I can throw very light weight baits, and I am deadly accurate with these casting or skipping.

I also like that I can hand one to a beginner and they can learn to cast without taking my head off. I taught the girlfriend in 5 minutes and together we won the ( amature fish club contest with largest fish 3.2 lbs ). Also if it goes overboard its only $15.

Reading the board all summer, upgrading the boat, and upgrading my knowledge about bass fishing has allowed me to catch bigger fish so I have upgraded my tackle to 7' spin casting rods.

The most critical trait would be ability to cast light baits accuractly, and enough backbone to handle occassional brutes.

I enjoy your many challenges, questions, instructions , opinion pols Earthworm. Keep it up.

Bob

 

[HookUp]

UL

That's all I USE to fish ... now I've stepped up a bit.

Bought 2 Shimano 5'6" Sensilite Rods and 2 Shimano Spirex 500 reels.

One rod/reel combo has less that 5 hours on it. The other, 8 years of HARD fishing.

Nothing like getting rough thumbs from 2#+ bass on UL. Teaches one the virtures of back reeling real quick.

Landed a 7-8# catfish on this rig earlier this year. The catfish hit a 4" Yamamoto Grub. You figure???

 

[HugeFish4]

Joe, I have a couple of Spirex 1000's as well. The only think I hate about them is the excessive amount of backward rotation in the handle with the anti-reverse on. If your hand isn't on the handle it will go backwards on a hookset....very annoying.

 

[TheOleRobbie]

1- 5ft Cabela's Tourney Trail IM7 spinning rod

dude!
that's my river rod! give it back. oh yeah, it's yours. that is the one you lent to me right????

my birthday and christmas are coming up though. i love that little setup. backbone for days and a real quick tip. river smallie fun rod.

robbie

 

[earthworm77]

No, the rod you're talking about is a BPS 5-6 Extreme. And yes, I may be able to part with it.
As far as my Tourney Trail.......... I never......I mean never ever lend my Tourney Trail out......ever. Can't replace it....they changed it several years ago.

 

[Bass Rat]

4'6" St. Croix Premier- Shimano Stamina 2000- P Line 6#.

 

[Lpbassman]

I have only one ultra-light rig which is a 5'6" Bionic Blade with a very old Shimano Custum X Speedmaster reel spooled with 6# Yozuri. I use it primarily for fishing Case Helgramites for smallies.
My other lightweight reel, a Stradic 1000, spooled with 6# test, is completely negated by the rod it sits on. A 6'6" MH Bionic Blade. This is my SLIDER rig and has all the sensativity you could ask for and all the back bone you will ever need.

 

[Guest]

Not sure if this setup qualifies, (maybe I should ask JohnG ), but, 7ft Scott rod Tenesee Handle, Diawa Capricorn 1500, spooled with 5.9 Tectan. Not too sure what qualifies a setup as ultra-light?

To answer some of your questions:

What do you like about it/or not like about it?

I like the Scott Rods solid backbone and the fast tip on this rod. At 2.3oz, it is super light in your hands yet it has enough backbone to fit MY needs. I love the fact that I can tape my reel to the handle but, I just wished it didn't have that stupid little line holder where my fingers are wrapped around the blank:cussing: .
I like the length of the rod for the amount of line I can pick up and for the leverage it gives me when fighting BIG fish. The guides on the rod are smaller than usual and it prevents the line from slapping the blank resulting in longer casts.

I have had some great experiences with this setup including landing some GIANT carp. Conversely, I have had a few bad experiences that have made me question the rods workmanship. I will add that their customer service has ALWAYS stepped up to the plate when needed. ( I just wish I had never had to use them) I do think that they are great buys for the $$$ and when I got mine, I bought a few in case they were ever discontinued.


The Capricorn is a flawless instrument in my opinion. I love the large diameter spool. It allows me to make longer casts with less line twist from a smaller diameter spool. Less coils. It is ultra smooth and the only drawback to me is that the reel handle doesn't fold down. You must loosen the other side of the handle. Why? is that important to me. Well... I fish off a kayak most of the time and when you are paddling from place to place, your rod and reel sits on the deck of the boat(handle facing up). Your paddle tends to hit the reel handle .

I use the same setup when I am wading, though, I jump down in rod size to the 6.5 ft Scott rod due to the areas that I wade. At 2.0 oz this rod still shines in weight and I can still tape my reels where I want. I wade some tight areas and I just need a smaller rod so that I don't keep getting caught up in the jungle.

Can I bring up my bail- less Cardinal's w/o hearing nonsense?

 

[earthworm77]

Andy, did you get over the broken rod problem? Can you recommend those Scott rods with confidence. They look sweet but I'd hate to break one.....I know that has been a problem.

 

[Guest]

Andy, did you get over the broken rod problem? Can you recommend those Scott rods with confidence. They look sweet but I'd hate to break one.....I know that has been a problem.

I can only answer that with what I had said before,

Conversely, I have had a few bad experiences that have made me question the rods workmanship. I will add that their customer service has ALWAYS stepped up to the plate when needed. ( I just wish I had never had to use them) I do think that they are great buys for the $$$ and when I got mine, I bought a few in case they were ever discontinued.

I think they stood behind their product and I am not sure I have "gotten over it". I can tell you that I have landed very big fish with that set-up and I believe that, I have never fished with a better setup. I will also add that I haven't tried too many other rods that were mentioned either! I only know what has worked for me. Gun to my head? I can confidently say that I have landed big fish and I just bought two more, so yes. If it is good enough for me, than I think it is good enough for others :beerchug: If you'd ever want to borrow mine, just ask

 

[Guest]

I got no UL rigs, for 2 reasons. One is, there is no place and no time for UL rigs in tournament bass fishing, IMHO. And the other reason is, simply because Im a power fisherman. Even when fun fishing, I like big baits and big lines.

Lighten up Francis

 

[earthworm77]

I got no UL rigs, for 2 reasons. One is, there is no place and no time for UL rigs in tournament bass fishing, IMHO. And the other reason is, simply because Im a power fisherman. Even when fun fishing, I like big baits and big lines.

Joe, I believe I've had pretty good tournament results using lighter set ups than most. My first full season...2002, I didn't use heavier than 6lb test. While not UL, definately lighter than almost everyone else throws on a regular basis. This season I fished a bit heavier but to disprove your theory, there absolutely is room for light tackle in tournament situations. It will open up more bites for you and don't get caught up in that power fisherman jive, be more versatile. It will pay off.
I subscribed to the get my limit theory this season. I wanted to get my limit first than spend time looking for a big bite. I got my limit in 10 of the 10 events that I fished. I praise light tackle for that.

 

[joe p]

well...6lb and a wacky is light enuff for me....nothing under 6 lbs....

Joe

 

[Gregg]

The only true UL setup I have is a Diawa 5 1/2' rod and spinmatic 500 reel with 4lb mono line. The rod doesn't have great backbone but if you reel down well and use the whole lenth of the rod you can get a solid hook set. I do enjoy light line on two other setups a BPS Extreme 6' light action rod with stradic 1000 keep 4lb line on one spool 6lb on the other. Also a 6'6" light action G.Loomis GL2 SRJ721, Stradic 2500FH 6lb line.

 

[Guest]

Ako

The last time I heard from your buddy you were not thrilled with the Scott Rod due to breakage...
Did you go with the US Reel purchase as well...noteing you have MULTIPLE Scott rods? If so...What is your take on the reel?

Why the sudden change of heart?
Woody

 

[Hookpoint]

Man you guy's live on the Line strength and your gut's......hmmmmm....I use 3 spinning Rod's.

5.6 a 6 and a 6.6 all have 6lb McCoy on them in which I have various setup's on them. I use this line size everywhere with the exception of Clearlake, California. I don't have the gut's to use anything less than 10lb on this water column. California Delta I'll use 6lb line only to Drop-shot with tho and open water.

Rich

 

[Guest]

Did you go with the US Reel purchase as well...noteing you have MULTIPLE Scott rods? If so...What is your take on the reel?

No! Quite pleased with my Capricorn. I have heard of the US Reels but, I haven't found a need to change. BTW- Have they even hit the market yet? Anyone fishing with a US Reel???

 

[Guest]

The last time I heard from your buddy you were not thrilled with the Scott Rod due to breakage...

Why the sudden change of heart?

I feel like I am on the stand here ! Who could be pleased with a broken rod? Not me either! Nothing worse than faulty equipment. I accepted the fact that something must have gone wrong in manufacturing. I will reiterate, I have brought some very big fish to hand with that setup. It has worked for me. Without going custom, I haven't found other rods with the same specs as the Scott rod and believe me, I am open for suggestions . I still am not "thrilled" my rod broke but, I am pleased that they (Scott) took care of the problem fast and "no questions asked".

Woody, if you ever get a chance to fish with the Scott rods, I think you would feel the way I do.