One of the most effective ways to catch trout is through the use of ultralight gear and baits. What does Ultralight gear and baits mean? First of all it means gear and baits that may be smaller than you’re used to. When you buy a rod and reel, you simply buy ultralight action, instead of light or medium action. Ultra light rods and reels are usually smaller and more sensitive than heavier actions. My personal favorites have always been the Quantum Xtralite series rods and reels because of both their dependability and price, but this is simply my personal preference.
When ultralight trout fishing your reel shouldn’t be spooled with line any heavier than 6-pound test. I personally use four-pound test, but six is tolerable. Anything larger is out of the question for ultralight fishing. If you’re thinking that fishing lines these sizes are too small, they’re not. I regularly hook and land trout in the 4-5 pound class using 4-pound test monofilament. If you’ve never had the pleasure of landing trout this size while using ultralight fishing gear and baits, let me tell you, it’s as much fun as can be had while clothed!
When ultralight trout fishing, your bait need to be presented in the most natural way possible. The best way to accomplish this is through the use of gang hooks. Gang hooks are simply a pair of small hooks tied in tandem, thus enabling you to present a live worm in a totally natural manner. Let me ask you a question. Which do you think a trout is more likely to bite, a worm that’s been “threaded” onto a size 4 hook and now looks like a worm ball, or a worm that’s been attached to a set of size 8 or 10 gang hooks and looks just as it does without hooks in it? The answer is that the trout is definitely more likely to bite the worm that looks natural. How do I know this? Because I have 20 years experience with gang hooks and have seen them out fish single hooks time after time.
The last thing to remember when ultralight trout fishing, is your drag. Because the gear is smaller, your drag really helps you land the trout, especially large trout. My suggestion is this: Set your drag tight for the hook-set. Then, once the trout is hooked and you feel how big or small it is, adjust your drag accordingly. Your drag is never set in one position and that’s it, especially when ultralight fishing. Your drag should be adjusted as you fight each individual fish. Doing this will result in you landing more fish, as opposed to just setting your drag and forgetting it. We’re not dealing with freakin’ chicken cooker here!
The bottom line is that the most effective and challenging way to catch trout is through the use of ultralight gear and baits. Using ultralight gear and baits gives you advantages in every way, especially when it comes to those beautiful fish we call trout. Not only that, but it makes you a more proficient angler as well. Simply “winching” in fish won’t feel right once you start using ultralight gear.
