Of all manners of fishing my favorite by far is ultralight fishing. It's interesting to me because the term "ultralight" in many ways is a misnomer. In my opinion ultralight fishing should be the way that everyone fishes in most situations. In my mind ultralight fishing is fishing and the key to this manner of fishing is your ultralight fishing tackle.
Whether you're fishing for 20 pound catfish, 10 pound bass, or 5 pound trout it should and can be done using ultralight fishing tackle. To most people this type of tackle conjures up images of tiny little rods and reels and line light enough to be used by spiders to make their webs. Although for some people this may be somewhat true, for most of us ultralight fishing means matching our rods, reels, line, bait, and hooks to the type of fish that we're fishing for.
In my experience most anglers use fishing tackle that's much too heavy for the type of fish that they are intending on catching. For example, I've seen many trout anglers on various rivers using light to medium action rods spooled with line as heavy as 8-10 pound test! I've also seen many normal bass anglers geared up with heavy action rods spooled with 15-20 pound test line. Both of these scenarios are complete overkill and take much of the sport out of fishing in my opinion. Not to mention the fact that using fishing tackle that's too heavy ends up costing a ton of bites.
The key to ultra light fishing is to match your tackle to the fish that you're fishing for. I think it's also important to understand something about fishing line. Did you know that the pound test of your fishing line is the amount of dead weight that line will hold without breaking at its weakest point? This means that six pound test will hold six pound of weight without breaking. And this fact obviously doesn't take into account the bend of your rod or the drag of your reel for taking tension off of the line. My point is that many anglers are using line that's entirely too heavy.
Your fishing rod & reel should be purchased after thinking about the type and size of fish that you intend to catch and then obviously matching these to the line you intend to use for the same reasons. When it comes to fishing hooks smaller is normally better as well. A great way to start using smaller fishing hooks is to use gang hooks. When it comes to ultralight fishing tackle gang hooks are a must for the ultralight fisherman that uses bait. Especially if that bait is worms, either live or synthetic.
The key to ultralight fishing success is to match your fishing tackle to the fish that you're fishing for. We should all stop acting like the pro bass fishermen (who catch fish for money) and thus need to "winch" them in, and bring the sport back to fishing. After all the fun of the fight is the reason we like fishing in the first place, right?
 NIB Celsius 2 BB Ice Fishing Ultralight Spinning Reel CEL 210 CP Aluminum Spool  US $9.95 |  Vintage 2pc Daiwa III Ultra Light 5 Spinning Fishing Rod Pole Nice US $8.99 |
 The Fairy Ultra Light A 6 1 2 2 pceOnly 62 Grams US $79.99 |  st croix avid ultra light avs70ulf spinning US $100.03 |
 Max 31ft Ultra Light Gold Mini Pen Fishing Rod Fish Pole Reel Line Set New US $1.17 |  Shakespeare Alpha Ultra Light Rod with Synergy Reel For Backpacking Trout 5 Pc US $34.95 |
 Vintage Mitchell Garcia 309 Ultra light Spinning Reel left hand US $22.50 |  Vintage Garcia 3800 Ultra light Spinning Reel Gear Ratio 511 RH US $19.99 |
 4 Vtg UltraLight NIP Tiny Fishing Lure Lot Rebel Mister Twister Heiland Fling US $5.99 |  Vintage Ryobi V Mag 3 Ultra Light Weight Baitcast Reel Collectible US $19.50 |
 LOT OF 6 ULTRA LIGHT FISHING LURESHEDDONBAGLEYARBOGASTBILL LEWIS NIP US $12.99 |  HEDDON TEENY TORPEDO ULTRA LIGHT TOPWATER CRANKBAIT LOT OF 1 NEW US $3.99 |
 12 MISTER TWISTER BIGYSMAL CRANKBAITS ULTRA LIGHT SERIES CRAPPIE BASS US $24.99 |  8 MISTER TWISTER BIGYSMAL CRAWFISH CRANKBAIT FISHING LURES ULTRA LIGHT US $16.99 |
 CHOOSE ANY 6 NEW RAPALA Ultra Light Shad ULS 4 fishing lures baits crankbaits US $32.99 |  NEW ULTRALIGHT SPIN REEL INFINITE ANTI REVERSE 6 BB US $19.95 |
 South Bend 5 Ultra Light Telescopic Spin Fishing Rod APR 1 US $12.83 |  DAIWA 5 FT ULTRA LIGHT SPIN ROD 2 PIECE LOOK US $12.95 |
 Vintage Shimano Mark ULS Ultralight Spinning Reel Extra Spool Paper 025 size US $30.00 |  SHAKESPEARE AGILITY ULTRALIGHT SPINNING REEL US $5.50 |
 SHAKESPEARE MICROSPIN ULTRALIGHT SPINNING REEL US $3.50 |  SIMMS waders Ultralight fishing shirt Mens Medium NO RESERVE US $10.50 |
 NEW Shimano Ultralight Fishing Reel TX 500FA Great Fishing Reel US $39.00 |  Alcedo Micron Ultra Light Reel US $35.00 |
 EXCELLENT JjORGENSEN 6 ULTRA LIGHT SPINNING REEL US $2.99 |  ZEBCO RHINO ULTRA LIGHT ROD AND REEL FISHING US $20.00 |
 Cork handle Fenwick Ultra Light Fishing Rod FS55 5 6 LG 1 16 1 4 oz Lure US $51.00 |  FISHING ROD 2 PC SOUTH BEND 0112 SPINCAST ROD 4½ ULTRA LIGHT ACT US $15.99 |
 Shakespeare Wondereel 20 Ultralight Reel US $4.99 |  Shimano Clarus Ultra Light 2 piece CSS56UL2B Rep Sample US $59.99 |
 SALE ONE DAIWA US 40XA ULTRA LIGHT SPINCAST REEL FRONT DIAL NICE US $8.97 |  G LOOMIS SR 6010 5 ULTRA LIGHT GL2 SPINING ROD NEW 258 US $107.50 |
 Abu Garcia REVO MGX SHS Alloy Frame ULTRA LIGHT Baitcast Fishing Reel 1239022 US $233.50 |  SALE ONE SHAKESPEARE MICRO SPIN ULTRA LIGHT SPINCAST REEL NICE US $4.97 |
 VINTAGE GARCIA MITCHELL 308 ULTRA LIGHT SPINNING REEL US $20.50 |  DAIWA MINICAST GOLD VINTAGE ROD REEL COMBO SEIKO ULTRALIGHT FISHING POLE 45 FT US $44.13 |
 Series 92 AT 524 Ultra Light 5 spinning fishing rod US $8.99 |  PENNULTRA LIGHT ACTIONPOWER GRAPH 5 6 SPINNING ROD US $19.99 |
 Shakespeare MicroSpin MSSP46 1UL Ultra Light 46 spinning fishing rod US $8.99 |  Vintage Zebco UL3 FeatherTouch cast control ultra light casting reel USA US $9.99 |
 2 New HT Black Royal 4ft 6in Spinning Rods Ultra Light Action US $16.99 |  NIP 4PK RAPALA ULTRA LIGHT MINNOW ULM 4 LURES MIXED COLOR US $22.50 |
 VINTAGE PENN 716 ULTRA LIGHT SPINNING REEL W BOX SPOOL US $76.99 |  NEW Rapala Lure Ultra Light Shad ULS 4 w CUSTOM FIBER OPTIC EYES Clown Crankbait US $7.99 |
 Scarce Ryobi SX1 Ultra Light spinning reel new in box US $14.99 |  Fenwick HMXS 49 UL 4ft9inch Ultra light rod US $30.00 |
 ABU Garcia ultralight spinning rod model ULT 56 UL for panfish or trout fishing US $12.62 |  Vintage Garcia Conolon Companion 2500 5 Ultra Light Spinning Rod US $18.50 |
 2 Fly Boxes full of flies for Shad or Panfish fly fishing or ultralight spinning US $10.60 |  VINTAGE QUANTUM MICRO MSC SPIN REEL MICRO ULTRA LIGHT US $9.99 |
 REBEL CRICKHOPPER BIG HOPPER SHALLOW ULTRA LIGHT CRANKBAIT LOT OF 1 NEW US $1.99 |  Shakespeare Ultralight 5 Foot Ugly Stick SP 1102 2 6 Test Line US $18.00 |
 Falcon FES UL 156 Ultra LIght Spinning rod Made in the USA US $36.00 |  Set of 4 Rebel Ultralight Lures US $5.55 |
 ABU GARCIA CARDINAL 3OO ULTRA LIGHT 5 1 2 SPINNING ROD US $22.00 |  VINTAGE HORROCKS IBBOTSON MOHAWK 1405 ULTRA LIGHT FIBERGLASS FISHING ROD H I US $9.99 |
 ORVIS RiverGuard Ultralight Wading Boot with EcoTraX Sole Size 11 Retail 8 US $69.99 |  MITCHELL SPINNING REELS ULTRALIGHT AND MED HEAVY FISHING REELSQUANTUM US $29.90 |
 PFLUEGER Part MICROSPIN ULTRA LIGHT SPOOL for Ultra Light Spinning Reel US $5.50 |  DAIWA Minispin Ultralight Spinning Reel and Rod Combo in Hard Carry Case NEW US $41.00 |
 G Loomis 561S TJR GL2 trout spinning rod new 48 fast ultra light US $91.00 |  RAPALA ULTRA LIGHT MINNOW ULM 6TR BROWN TROUT US $4.58 |
 HEDDON PRO WEIGHT MARK 1420 ULTRA LIGHT ROD VINTAGE US $.99 |  VTG Creek Chub Pikie Tiny Spinweight Fishing Lure 3 16 Oz 2 1 4 UltraLight EXC US $4.99 |
 New Featherlight Eagle Claw UltraLight Casting Fishing Rod US $15.99 |  ALCEDO MICRON ULTRA LIGHT SPINNING REEL Blue green made it Italy Exc plus US $76.00 |
 Shakespeare Ugly Stick 5 Ultra Light New US $29.99 |  SHAKESPEARE ULTRA LIGHT 2500 ULX BALL BEARINGS FULLY FUNCTIONAL US $9.99 |
 ST CROIX Wild River ultra light rod US $60.00 |  VTG Creek Chub Pikie Spinweight Tiny Fishing Lure 3 16 Oz 2 1 4 UltraLight EXC US $4.99 |
 VINTAG PENN ULTRALIGHT 716 SPINFISHER SPINNING REEL RIGHT HANDED US $20.99 |  Vintage Daiwa 100x Spinning Reel Nice Working Order Ultra Light or Light Reel US $17.50 |
 Fishing Rods NEW BROWNING SUPERLITE 52 1PC ULTRALIGHT SPIN ROD US $36.99 |  ORVIS 50 A ULTRA LIGHT SPINNING REEL US $49.99 |
 Pflueger Trion GX Micro with 1 Yumbrella Ultralight Tripod US $9.99 |  Quantum ST1F Snapshot very smooth Ultra Light spinning reel LK US $14.95 |
 Abu Garcia Cardinal Gold Max Ultra Light Reel LK US $35.95 |  Vintage STCroix Ultralight Fishing pole Rod NOS original case Tube very Nice US $26.18 |
 Daiwa Spinmatic “S 500T” Ultra Light Spinning reel LK US $14.95 |  Abu Garcia Revo MGX SHS L 791 Left Hand Ultra Light Baitcast Fishing Reel US $228.50 |
 Very RareOriginal Fenwick Special Production 58 ultra light spinning US $50.00 |  Zebco Ultra Light Classic Fishing reel US $.99 |
 Simms Fly Fishing Ultralight Tropical Flats Guide Shirt Light Green XXL US $32.00 |  Garcia GK 200 Ultra Light Frame and Gears Parts Lot US $.99 |
 ABU GARCIA CARDINAL CUL S3 ULTRA LIGHT SPINNING REEL US $4.99 |  Vintage Browning Silaflex Fishing Spinning Ultra Light Rod US $11.50 |
 Vintage Fishing Lure Great Used Rebel Crickhopper Ultra Light Floater Old Beauty US $4.99 |  Daiwa Mini Mite Ultra Light Vintage Spinning casting Fishing Reel 6 US $20.50 |
 Shimano Axul S ultra light spinning reel 512043 US $7.00 |  Shimano AX ULS Ultralight Spinning Reel Fishing freshwater US $15.00 |
 Mitchell Garcia 308 Ultralight Spinning Reel US $15.02 |  DAM Quick 110 Ultralight Spinning Reel US $12.49 |
 Spinning Rod and Reel Daiwa 5 0 Ultra Light Crappie Trout and Panfish US $31.49 |  Two New HT OPT101S Spinning Reels Crappie Ultra Light US $4.25 |
 Custom Batson Ultra Light IP840 Spinning Rod US $99.99 |  Custom 56 ultra light graphite rod US $5.99 |
