One of the quickest ways to get out onto the water and begin enjoying ultralight fishing is to find an ultralight combo that is already put together for you and comes balanced from the manufacturer. You can find high quality ultralight combos for less than $60 as long as you know what you are looking for. To help you decide on the perfect rod and reel combo for where you intend to fish the most, I’m going to cover a few basic aspects of what you need to pay attention to when you are ready to make the purchase.
Ultralight Combos: (See Prices or Buy Here)
Reel Selection
Arguably the most important part of every ultralight combo is the reel. In order to make sure that you are getting the best reel, you are going to need to look at the amount of bearings that it comes with, as well as how much it weighs, and how much line it is capable of holding. A high quality ultralight reel is going to contain at least 5 ball bearings, to help it operate smoothly, with higher end models containing up to 9, or even 10 separate ball bearings.
You want to ensure that the reel you’re selecting is capable of holding at least 60 yards of line, while a reel that holds up to 100 or 120 yards of 4lb or 6lb test is even more preferable. A lighter reel is going to be much easier to cast for longer periods of time, so you want to try to find a combo that features a reel that weighs less than 10 ounces, or so. You should also avoid purchasing a combo that has a reel built with plastic parts.
Rod Length
The rod length is determined by where you are going to be spending the majority of your time fishing at, and under what conditions. If you are going to need to make long casts over open water, you will want to try to find a longer rod in the 5’6″ or 6’0″ lengths. However, if you are going to be fishing in brush choked streams, or areas where super-long casts are not going to be required, you may be better suited to a shorter rod in the 4’6″” or 5’0″ length.
Rod Action
Most UL anglers prefer their rod’s action to be from fast to extra fast. This makes for better casts and super sensitivity to even the lightest bites. Also, you get much better hook sets than you would from a slow action “wet noodle” rod. So, when choosing an ultralight combo, select rods that are on the faster action side. I wouldn’t go slower than moderate-fast action. Here are a few recommended ultralight combos under $60.
