[Iestyn Jones]

Hi gents, looking to kit myself up for ultralight fishing and have got my eye on a rod

it is 7` with a 1-5grm rating (ultra slim blank with fugi concept guides and fuji reel seat) and it falls nicely in my price range!!!

question is.......is this going too light? i think if it was a 5-10grm rod it would be a done deal!!!!

 

[Alex Jordan]

Personally a bit too light for me - my low end will most likely be a 5-15gm rod ...

 

[Tim Griffin]

That is super light Iestyn. I'll bring my 3-12g rod at the weekend so you can have an idea if you like?

 

[Iestyn Jones]

is that the firefly silouhette Tim? looks fantastic for the money but would prefer a 7 footer!!!

 

[Tim Griffin]

Yes it is - I know what you mean about 7' but for my budget I couldn't say no!

 

[Iestyn Jones]

there is another rod ive also got my eye on (a bit more money) that is 7-14grm (1/4-1/2oz) very tempting!!!! also 7 foot

 

[Mark Sleep]

I am on 3-14g and really wish I'd gone lighter. 0.5g-5g would be perfect what what we've been doing.

 

[Nick Phillips]

Personally a bit too light for me - my low end will most likely be a 5-15gm rod ...

I have several ultralite rods that I use for troot etc but in the salt I wouldnt go lighter than 3-12gms.

Saltwater fish have more 'BHP' than freshwater fish.

 

[Mike Kennard]

I think it depends on what your expectations are. A rod casting up to 5gm isn't going to be very powerful, but depending on what the rod is and how well made it is it could be a lot more capable a fish fighting tool than a cheaper rod rated up to a higher weight limit.

A lot of the rods the guys are using in the CI are comfortably dealing with pollack to 1.5lb or so and they are in the same casting range as the one you describe. Provided you are not trying to catch wrasse or fish in strong current for bass etc the rod will likely be ok. The important thing is that you understand its limitations and don't push the boundaries too far.

In the other UL thread I put up there is a picture of a silver trevally of about 4lb caught on UL tackle. Anybody who has caught any of the jack family will know how hard they pull, and on UL kit they are mental. So if you should hook a bass or pollack of similar size then you should be able to get them out ok. Provided all your knots are tied properly and your drag works when needed you will likely surprise yourself how little problems you come across landing most fish.

 

[Iestyn Jones]

cheers guys for your replies. As i said if it were a 5-10grm rod it would be a done deal!!! the 1-5grm maybe a little light and i felt the "heavier" upto 15grm rod was a little heavy!!!!! lol. nightmare!!! build and blank quality are as you would expect with Loomis - awesome!!!!

 

[Mike Kennard]

Iestyn,
which rod are you looking at? Sometimes, the casting weight doesn't tell the whole story and it depends what the rod is designed for.

 

[Iestyn Jones]

its a new range of bass/crappie/walleye rods that Loomis are currently testing so lots of length options and casting weights. I have an account with Loomis from a company I used to work for who had sole uk distrubution and when i went self-employed/sub-contractor as a guide but still do a little consultancy work for them and through my previous company! The fishing estate also has an account with them and I usually deal with ordering/supplies/customer services etc!!!

 

[Mike Kennard]

I have owned quite a few different Loomis casting and spinning rods in the past and most will comfortably surpass their stated casting weight. I still have six of them. It will be interesting to see what these new ones are like. If you are after a proper LRF type rod then I would think it would be ok, it just depends on what you want to use it for.

 

[Iestyn Jones]

Id say at least 75% of my rods are loomis, either rods that have been marketed or samples/pre-production rods that have gone into production!! even some that "never made it" due to the high costs involved and a small limited niche in an even smaller specialised market!!!

anyways I think im gonna see if i can get a 5-10grm rating 7 footer and maybe get a sample rod at the same time in a different rating!!!

 

[Keith White]

I've got a 1 - 10g rod now. subdues fish to 2 1/2lb with the right drag setting and care without undue stress.

try firing a 0.5g and it's not a problem. casting isn't the issue. I can cast a SSG on my supermix 270.

However:

Try to detect a bite on the mix270 with an SSG at 1.6 g and it's quite simply, a no go.

People need to stop confusing jig weight and ratio with casting weight and feel.

If we are fishing for stuff like we are now, averaging 1.5lb then a 1 -5 g rod with a 1" lure is perfect.
Hook the occasional big fish, so what, just play it out.

Start seeing the stamp go up, gear increases proportionally to that.

Its a balancing act because a 5lb Pollack still might want a 1.5" lure on a 2g head.

Move up to the Injection powered rods and yes, the better rods will show a fair percentage of the takes.
Cheaper rods might not, nor in fact, protect the lighter braids or lines against sudden bursts.

We are nailing fish here on stuff that most people a few months ago would have baulked at.
Most of those people are basing their replies upon perceived wisdom. We are basing it on actual fact.

My next LRF rod will be solid tipped, 0.5 - 5g, armed with 0.4 PE braid and 6lb leader spooled on what I hope will be the new Shimano Rarenium 2500.

We are getting some dinky little lures guys. One of them only 1.2 gram. smaller than an SSG shot. Bib an all. Can't wait.

Of course...

Someone not used to light rods, light line and playing fish should choose something maybe 5 -25g HRF and 3 - 12 for their first LRF. Arm that with PE #1.5 and #1 respectively.
That is still way thin and light compared to most people's perception of gear. Saying this...

Me and Kev are seriously considering a high quality PE 0.8 for our general Bass plugging this season. They can still clock in at 10 - 12lb.
Who needs more, it's not like 10lb fish are exactly common place is it. Average size of fish is what ? 3lb if you are lucky.

Anyone really seriously considering parting with green folding stuff should just book a flight and come here. Try some stuff, get some experience. Learn some tricks and then go home armed with a damn sight more idea than any reading and perceived wisdom will ever give you.

Come on guys, the fish are here waiting to bend your arm.

 

[Mike Kennard]

I agree.
The Loomis rods I have tried are very different to your normal spinning rods. The top end ones are at least the equal of Tenryu when it comes to the blanks they are just a bit dated with their build these days. The drop shot rods I have played with are incredibly sensitive.

I am working on getting over there!!! It is driving me nuts keep reading your reports....

 

[David Sharples]

I'd love one of these outfits..
http://www.tackletour.com/reviewnoriesstream63.html

So long as you don't have to keep a fish out of the bricks then light braid and a shock leader will subdue most lure caught UK fish. I use the lightest Daiwa Fuego 1/8-3/8 spin stick and a Luvias 2004 with PE0.8 and feel over gunned on all freshwater fish over here so that UL stick is perfect, totally agree that you can't fish light lures properly unless everything is balanced.

To those guys that have UL sticks already do you prefer a fast or slower taper to fish small plastics? A lot of the jap trout rods are a slower taper to stop hook pulls but i think I'd prefer something faster to feel the takes on plastic.. Thoughts?

 

[The Squid]

I'd love one of these outfits..
http://www.tackletour.com/reviewnoriesstream63.html

So long as you don't have to keep a fish out of the bricks then light braid and a shock leader will subdue most lure caught UK fish. I use the lightest Daiwa Fuego 1/8-3/8 spin stick and a Luvias 2004 with PE0.8 and feel over gunned on all freshwater fish over here so that UL stick is perfect, totally agree that you can't fish light lures properly unless everything is balanced.

To those guys that have UL sticks already do you prefer a fast or slower taper to fish small plastics? A lot of the jap trout rods are a slower taper to stop hook pulls but i think I'd prefer something faster to feel the takes on plastic.. Thoughts?

Looked at Nories website a couple of days ago, and some of his rods look very good indeed.

 

[David Sharples]

Don't you just love the match with the Exist Native Custom...

 

[Keith White]

To those guys that have UL sticks already do you prefer a fast or slower taper to fish small plastics? A lot of the jap trout rods are a slower taper to stop hook pulls but i think I'd prefer something faster to feel the takes on plastic.. Thoughts?

Don't get me started on tapers. its possibly the least understood part of any rod and, isn't, on the face of it, easy to comprehend.
Thankfully, I've had contact with some fine blank designers over the years and i will refrain from going off on one. But, you ask a fantastic question.

I'd prefer a compound taper that has

A slow taper tip, medium taper upper mid section and a 2 stage fast taper butt with a fulcrum point just under the reel seat.

Never found a rod that is like it but...

You never know.