Best UL rod for $50

fast14riot

fast14riot

Joined
Oct 27, 2010
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OK, title pretty much explains it all. I've got a Ulysses note and am looking for the lightest (physical weight), most sensitive, 6' UL fast action spinning rod. I'm not out to buy a North Fork or St. Croix this time around (have those) but am looking for a higher performance rod for pan fish and small river trout.

I haven't been involved enough in the industry to really have a solid grasp on the offerings out there, so I ask for your help. Line weight of no more than the 2-10# range and lures of 1/64 to 1/8 will be commonly used, so this easily falls into the UL category. I commonly used 4# line with 2# leader. Just spooled up a new reel with 5# tonight too.

Rod is for primarily bank or float tube fishing, casting floats or drop shot rigs in still waters. Possibly the occasional spinners.


-Xander
 
I use a steelhead fly rod that's 9'6" but supposed to be 10'; someone broke off the last eyelet but it works perfectly fine.... found it at a auction house along the road in Missouri... still had plastic covering the cork handle... $15 out the door! I use spyderwire monofilament and a small spin cast reel with it. I've caught bass up to 26" on it, and never been broken off. Last spring was a 24" prego bass, and a 22" bass here already this march. I just caught a 18" bass with it today! 2 Piece fits in the extended cab of my truck inside nicely! I can cast small lures further than anyone else and get them big bass to bite! My favorite rod/reel combo. Been using it for over 6 yrs now. :)

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The problem with most of those types of rods is the action, it's more parabolic and harder to cast light lures, let alone cast accurately. They tend to have a mushy feel and need more weight to load them properly on back cast. It's also too long for much bank fishing when casting. If I was jigging or just dropping floats, I'd get a 12'-14' BnM rod, but I don't fish like that.

Nice catch!


-X
 
I dunno but it may be easier to buy a blank and wrap it yourself. more options that way.
 
For 50 bucks that is a real stretch on the lightest most sensitive. Also most UL and Light rods are mod fast actions to get the whip and launch the lure. Here are my two cents, The best UL fishing rod I ever held is a loomis GL2 had 2 different friends with them both the 6' model, the action will be the fast, check out american legacy or other places for a used model....that said if your not willing to pay it, I would point you to something in the 50 range. I would look at the No. 8 Tackle Hell Bender, Allstar Rods from Academy Sports, Or Falcon Rods they have the HD model which runs 65 and is made in china, or the Original which runs 79-89 and is made in USA.
 
Rather than UL, go Light with a fast tip. I think you can cast better and more accurately.

The Bass Pro Micro Lite series isn't bad for a $50 range UL. I have a 5 ft with Tennessee handle that works just fine. You don't get some of the more expensive touches like ceramic guides, but pretty good rod choice none the less.

GL Loomis was mentioned above. Certainly not $50, but they are just about my favorite light spinning rods. Since Shimano bought G Loomis out, there is a new line of rods made by Loomis.... Gary Loomis (?). Handled one in a store about a month ago. Not bad and certainly not priced like the general G Loomis line.
 
I don't know much about fishing, but just thought I'd mention that when I was searching for strong string, I discovered that the Sufix Nanobraid line is made in 6 pound test strength, that is only 0.04mm (0.0016") thick. That's half the thickness of a human hair! I don't think it's marketed in America though- you have to search on Ebay for sellers in Europe. And of course, it ain't cheap.
 
Off the beaten path here. but small river trout, and panfish options are plentiful of course, if you're interesting in getting away from your spinning setups there is NOTHING even close to as light, compact and built for this situation than Tenkara setups... But fly style fishing isn't for everyone of course, just an option to throw out there for everyone to think about.
 
Check Shimano fishing rods, they have different grades of rods with some of them in your price range.
 
Thanks for the suggestions guys. A couple I have been looking at are the Ugly Stick Elite 6'6" UL, the B'n'M Sharpshooter SIX UL and possibly stretching just a little bit more for a Lamiglass X-11 (though $75 is pushing it for a bream rod).

I've got a new set of guides coming for an older St. Croix rod I'm redoing, but building my own for under $50 isn't easy.

-X
 
The Bass Pro Micro Lite rods are nice. The new graphite model comes in one or two pieces and in lengths from 4' to 7'6"; all are right at your price.

Mine is the older IM6 model. Those were recently on closeout for $34 but seem to be sold out now.
 
fast14riot said:
Just spooled up a new reel with 5# tonight too.
Click to expand...

Only slightly OT, what lightweight reel do you have? For his birthday I'm taking my boy to Bass Pro to pick out a new rod and reel. I'm hoping he goes for the Shimano Spirex with rear drag. The UL model will fit his hands well.
 
Bob W said:
Only slightly OT, what lightweight reel do you have? For his birthday I'm taking my boy to Bass Pro to pick out a new rod and reel. I'm hoping he goes for the Shimano Spirex with rear drag. The UL model will fit his hands well.
Click to expand...

I like the Okuma SV-25. 8+1 bearings, front drag, zero stop anti-reverse. Smooth little reel for a great price. The SV-10 is the smallest and loses one bearing, due to size but most of the specs are still the same.


-X
 
Bob W said:
Only slightly OT, what lightweight reel do you have? For his birthday I'm taking my boy to Bass Pro to pick out a new rod and reel. I'm hoping he goes for the Shimano Spirex with rear drag. The UL model will fit his hands well.
Click to expand...
For the same price I would look at the Pflueger President. I've been fishing one for a few years and never had any issues. A new rod & reel is a great birthday present no matter what he chooses.
 
I had a Plueger President for my first UL reel. Sold it here on the forums after a week because it lacked a trigger release.
Except for really cheap reels, the Spirex is the only reel left on the market with a trigger and rear drag. There is also the Shimano Syncopate (front drag only) and the IX (cheap).

The boy's first reel is a Quantum Snapshot that also has a trigger release. It was a very inexpensive WalMart UL combo and is ready for replacement.
My everyday reel, and all-time favorite, is an old Shimano TX120Q. It's a graphite model but nothing like the cheap ones they sell today. Mine from the 1990s wore out a bit after 20 years, so thankfully I was able to find a NIB replacement on eBay.

The only thing I don't like about the Spyrex is the double crank handle. I'd like to buy a replacement handle from a different model and see if they're interchangeable.
What I don't like about front drag reels is line tangles. Get a bit of loose line that flops in under the spool, pop the spool off to clear it, and parts can fall out. It's also inconvenient for swapping spools with different lines.
 
Well Diawa and Mitchell both make real drag models but I don't think they make trigger bails. My boy has a Zebco 33 on his rod and it's working just fine for him, I have a matching one too.

Spool size and line type go a long ways to avoid line loops, also adding a swivel inline helps. The Okuma reels have proven a good value to me and seem to last. Sticking to a 1500 size rather than an UL size makes casting smoother with a larger spool.


-X
 
Trigger bails... ? Shimano used to have triggers on at least some of their reels. I guess it just depends what you've gotten used to. I sort of got into a rut with their reels once I purchased my first Shimano Stradic spinning reel. Really like them, but they are expensive to me.
 
The Spirex still has a trigger. I'm not a fan of the trigger bails myself, but that's why they make more than one type of reel ;-)

Well, I picked up an inexpensive set of guides to rebuild an older rod for the time being. I thought I had ordered black tip top, but I guess I didn't. Oh well, the fish won't care.

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Also, Bob, there are no more hassles with loose drag discs, pawls or anything other than the spool and cap when you pull it off. That pentagonal clip in the spool keeps everything captive, same goes for the cap.

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-X
 
22-rimfire said:
Trigger bails... ? Shimano used to have triggers on at least some of their reels.
Click to expand...

They still do, three of them. But one is a very low-end model and another is front-drag only, leaving only one choice, the Spyrex. I don't care for the double handle crank but otherwise it's a very good reel. Available in front drag too for those that prefer.

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