Many people enjoy fishing holidays. Even if you have very little experience in this activity, everyone can take the advice of avid fishermen and choose the right gear. The success of the entire enterprise, as well as the good mood of its participants, depends on this.
When mastering the basics of fishing, you should not purchase too expensive gear. A budget spinning rod “light” is simply ideal in this case. This type of rod is very popular. And this is no coincidence. With its help, many fishermen were able to get a significant catch. How to choose this type of gear needs to be considered in more detail.
general characteristics
The light spinning rod is a universal fishing tool. This explains its popularity. It is thin and light. This allows you to fish in almost any body of water. The pleasure from the process is difficult to describe. The baits of this gear can be of almost any variety. “Light” tackles can vary in structure and length. The test of a rod of this class is also very diverse.
When purchasing, you should understand that the presented class of gear can be narrowly targeted (for example, a jig spinning rod) or universal. If the conditions of the reservoir are familiar to the fisherman, you can choose more specific gear. However, being an insufficiently experienced fisherman or poorly knowing the conditions of future fishing, it is better to choose a model of broad specialization. To ensure that the purchase process does not drag on for a long time, you should understand all the intricacies in advance.
Rod length
The best “light” spinning rods are selected based on the conditions of the reservoir. The length of the rod is an important criterion when purchasing. This class of gear includes fishing rods from 1.5 to 3 m. In this case, it is necessary to assess how overgrown the shore is, whether there are trees or shrubs nearby.
If the river is narrow, you should not fish with a long spinning rod. Especially if its banks are overgrown with dense vegetation. A spinning rod no more than 2.1 m long is suitable here. On a wide, open river or lake it will be more interesting to use a long rod. The casting will continue. In order not to be confused about the size of the fishing rod, it is necessary to consider the main subtypes of this product.
Comparison of the best ultralight spinning rods
For a more clear comparison of the ultralight spinning rod models presented above, I suggest using the following table.
Model | Test, g | Length, cm | Material | Weight, g | Price, rub |
Shimano Catana CX 210 UL | 1-11 | 210 | geofiber | 104 | from 2,568 to 3,226 |
Sl Rods Atria Trout 602SUL | 0.4-3 | 183 | carbon | 74 | from 5,109 to 6,020 |
Crazy Fish Perfect Jig 76-UL-SS | 0.5-5 | 230 | carbon | 91 | from 7,958 to 8,886 |
Lucky John Anira Micro Jig 662ULF | 0.7-5 | 198 | T40 | 86 | from 5,499 to 6,263 |
Zemex Impressive S-732UL | 0.3-5 | 221 | carbon | 75 | from 20 480 to 22 112 |
Kosadaka Absolut Bass Special 204UL | 1-7 | 204 | carbon | 108 | from 4,308 to 4,990 |
Kosadaka Starlight 210UL | 1-7 | 210 | carbon | 103 | from 3,200 to 4,099 |
Maximus High Energy-X 24UL | 1-7 | 240 | HME | 125 | from 3,870 to 4,339 |
Kosadaka Lighting 7UL | 1-6 | 210 | M.C. | 92 | from 6,870 to 7,719 |
Maximus Fish Poison 23UL | 1-8 | 229 | HMN | 103 | from 7,098 to 7,942 |
Varieties
There are several varieties of spinning rods of this class. These include “ultralight” and “light”. They need to be considered in more detail.
“Ultralight” spinning rods are designed for the lightest baits. Their advantage is higher sensitivity due to the thinness of the rod. This class includes gear with a length of 1.6-2.1 m. They are most often used in reservoirs with slow currents. With the help of such devices, small and medium-sized fish are caught. Thanks to the high sensitivity of the rod, catching even small rudd or perch brings a lot of pleasure.
If the reservoir is characterized by a stronger current, and its banks are not overgrown with bushes and trees, it is better to give preference to the usual “light”. It will allow you to catch small and medium-sized fish in river bays and shallow reservoirs.
Originally, the length of a spinning rod was measured in feet. This tradition has been preserved to this day. Therefore, the length increases every 30 cm. The most common products have a length of 180, 210, 240 cm. A short rod is easier to transport to a reservoir, and a long one is intended for longer casts.
Construction of light forms
The action of a fishing rod is an indicator that characterizes its response to load . To determine which action a particular fishing rod belongs to, the tip should be secured, and the angler himself, holding the handle, should make smooth movements with the rod up, down and to the sides.
There are three main classes of light spinning rods based on their structure:
- Fast build. For these spinning rods, bending under load begins at the top. These poles are most suitable for fishing with heavy baits, such as jigs. They are also considered the most sensitive and tough.
- Medium build. This action is also called parabolic, since, under load, these rods bend in their upper half. These forms make it much easier to make accurate casts. They withstand jerking loads better, which is important when fishing for trophies. Various baits can be used with them. For beginners, it is better to choose light spinning rods from medium action rods.
- Slow build. Such fishing rods, under the influence of load, bend almost evenly along their entire length. It is advisable to use them when catching large fish, since this system provides the best strength of the blank under jerking loads. To cast long-distance and accurately with such a spinning rod, the angler must have sufficient experience in working with such equipment.
You can also find rods of mixed , medium-fast action, but only some advanced spinning anglers prefer to take them; they are not widely used.
Rod test
When planning a fishing trip, you definitely need to evaluate the fishing conditions. The rod test depends on the weight of the fish and bait. If the total weight of the equipment falls within the range of this indicator, the likelihood of product failure is much reduced. The test is 2 digits. The first of them talks about the weight of the bait, which can be cast correctly using this spinning rod. The second number characterizes the maximum permissible weight of the equipment.
“Light” spinning rod, the test of which is acceptable in modern fishing conditions, ranges from 0 to 15 g. If this indicator has an upper permissible weight limit of 7 g, it is “ultralight”. But the test up to 15 g is classified specifically in the “light” class. The easier the test, the more convenient and sensitive the gear. But to catch big fish in fast currents, you need to give preference to a high test value.
Features of light spinning rods
The future fishing device must be chosen correctly; how to choose a spinning rod is of interest to many novice fishing enthusiasts. The question arises about what to choose: ultralight or light spinning rod, what is the difference between ultralight and just light.
Light spinning rods are a universal device for fishing for predators in all weather conditions
Such devices belong to the light class: you need to pay attention to the quality of the gear
Features of ultralight spinning rod:
- fishing with light bait;
- durable reel.
For a light spinning rod, the weight of the equipment must fit into the range determined by the weight of the bait and the maximum permissible weight of the equipment.
The lighter the class of spinning rod, the greater sensitivity it has.
Rod length
It is recommended to select a light spinning rod taking into account the conditions of the reservoir
Factors to consider when inspecting a pond:
- how overgrown the shore is;
- Are there trees and bushes nearby?
In deep water, spinners choose longer rods. This rod allows you to make good casts.
Test
The test is the weight parameters of the bait, it is indicated by two numbers. The first value is the minimum weight, and the second is the maximum.
The light class is spinning rods, the upper value of which is 15 g. For popular models, the test is 7-5 grams, the form is quite serious if its test value is in the range from 0 to 15 g.
Build
The action characterizes the reaction of the rod to the load. To determine the spinning system, you must perform the following steps:
- secure the tip of the spinning rod;
- holding the handle, move the fishing rod up and down, left and right, with smooth movements.
The fast action spinning rod will begin to bend at the top. This device is suitable for heavy baits. Spinning of this system is considered sensitive and tough.
Slow action spinning rods bend evenly along their entire length. They are suitable for catching large fish.
Manufacturing materials
The material affects the following spinning indicators:
- rod weight;
- strength;
- elasticity;
- cost of the form.
Materials from which light class spinning rods are made:
- fiberglass is a heavy, durable and inexpensive material that is easy to maintain;
- carbon fiber - light, durable and elastic, requires special care after each use;
- Composite materials are strong, inexpensive and resilient.
Spinning rod handle
Material for making the light spinning rod handle:
- Cork is a material that is impervious to water. The front part of the handle is screwed on, the cork is pleasant to the touch and helps to hold the spinning rod securely in your hands. This natural coating helps your hands freeze less.
- Neoprene.
- Combination of cork and neoprene.
Types of equipment for light spinning rods
A reel for a light spinning rod should be inertia-free, small in size 1000-1500-2000 mm, smooth running, with a finely tuned friction brake.
The diameter of the fishing line should be 0.15−0.18mm, and the cord should be 0.04−0.1mm.
The fittings used should be light and elegant, with high-quality clasp numbers 0 and 00.
Lures used:
- pinwheel with core No. 1, 0 and 00;
- mini-wobbler, wobblers weighing from 2 to 7 g;
- oscillating spoons that are light in weight, 1.5-5 g;
- micro jigs.
Rod build
Another important indicator of a light-class spinning rod is its structure. He talks about how the tackle reacts to the load. There are varieties with fast, medium and slow tuning. The choice of the right equipment depends on the fishing conditions, as well as the preferences of the fisherman.
Fast action is characterized by bending only the tip. The rod remains level when loaded. This class includes, for example, a jig spinning rod. They feel the movement of the bait well.
The mid action bends when loaded in the middle. It is also called parabolic. It is more convenient when casting than the previous option. Slow tuning is marked by bending along the entire length. This option has advantages when casting and fishing for large fish. It is better to choose bait in the form of an oscillating or rotating spoon.
Some fishermen find it more convenient to use a mixed system - regal. It is not as common as previous options. But this spinning rod has the properties of both fast and medium action.
Choosing a spinning rod Light
Having decided to buy a Light spinning rod, it is tedious to understand the conditions of its use and choose a rod model for them. If you are a beginner or are considering different methods of catching predatory fish, then it is better to stick to a universal model. However, you still have to choose from different characteristics, which are discussed below.
Rod length
On the market you can find Light spinning rods in the length range of 1.5...3 m. Which one to buy depends on many conditions:
- strong thickets on the shore, the presence of trees in them; small width of the reservoir: in such conditions, the best option would be a 2.1-meter long form;
- an open, wide river or lake allows for long casts; here you can use a much longer rod.
Types of rods
The Light class includes two subgroups of fishing rods: “light” itself and “ultralight”. The latter are 1.6…2.1 m in length; their forms are thin and therefore very sensitive; Suitable for bodies of water with slow flowing water. Used for catching small and medium-sized fish.
“Light” is suitable for bodies of water with a current speed greater than average. They are good at spinning in areas of river bays and shallow waters. The catch of this subgroup of spinning rods is at most medium-sized fish. The length of “lights” can be 1.6…3 meters. But more often, fishermen use forms with a maximum of 2.4 m.
Test form
The maximum test for a light rod is 15 g, the minimum is 0 g. Blanks with a test range of up to 7 g are considered ultra-light. Above - light. The smaller the test, the more sensitive the gear. But if you are hunting for large fish, then you need to use a rod with a large test, that is, a light rod.
The rod test itself is indicated by two numbers that determine a certain weight range. The smaller of them indicates the minimum weight of the bait, which can be used on a spinning rod without any problems with casting. Large determines the maximum weight of all equipment, which is recommended to be used for a particular form. Exceeding it threatens to increase the likelihood of the rod breaking when casting.
Spinning rod structure
Light spinning rods are produced with different responses to load, that is, with different action. The latter can be slow, medium, fast. Which one to choose depends on your fishing preferences and fishing conditions.
With fast action blanks, only the tip bends under load. The rest of the form remains flat. This rod is suitable, for example, for jigging.
A spinning rod with a medium action bends in the middle when loaded. Such forms are called parabolic. They are easier to cast than the previous ones.
For slow action forms, the load causes bending along the entire length. Such spinning rods are superior to previous ones both in terms of ease of casting and retrieving prey. For such spinning baits, spinners and spinners are more suitable.
There are Light spinning rods with a mixed action (regal). They have a tuning between fast and medium. Such forms are not common on the market.
Rod design
To make Light spinning rods easy to transport, manufacturers produce them folding. On the market you can find plug-in and telescopic light and ultra-light models.
Plug-in spinning rods are considered more reliable and stronger. They usually consist of two parts, and therefore have a significant size when folded. The latter is much smaller for telescopes that have forms consisting of 5...6 bends.
Passing rings
This element of spinning rods is important as it affects the durability of the fishing line
You especially need to pay attention to the inner material of the rings - it must be hard. Usually there are inserts inside the rings
The most expensive and reliable of the latest ones are ceramic. Inexpensive models use aluminum oxide (dark brown in color) and glass-ceramic cement (purple in color) for inserts. These inserts are also quite solid and reliable.
Rod material
The cheapest Light spinning rod models are made of carbon fiber (carbon, graphite). The material is light, hard, but fragile, and therefore requires careful handling.
Forms are produced from fiberglass. They are heavier than carbon fiber, but stronger and more flexible. Plus they cost much more. The golden mean for fishermen can be considered rods and composites. They have good characteristics, and the price is more acceptable for most fishermen. All of the above determines their greatest distribution among spinning players.
Rod handle
This element of the Light spinning rod is also important, as it affects the comfort of using the rod. It is best if the handle is made of cork. It’s good if the handle’s coverage area is large, even better if it’s all covered with cork.
Transportation
Transporting gear to a pond should be convenient. Therefore, manufacturers make it possible to fold and transport the spinning rod without problems. There are telescopic and collapsible varieties.
When purchasing everything for fishing, you need to pay attention to this feature. Composite varieties usually have two parts. They are stacked together. This is a very popular principle. However, this device is somewhat more expensive.
Inexpensive spinning rods usually have a telescopic folding principle. This design is heavier than the previous one, as it has about 5-6 joints. It is also less reliable. But when assembled, the size of the gear is very compact. This captivates many fishermen. For beginners, this option will be more acceptable. Without subjecting the rod to serious loads, you can be sure that a cheap “telescope” will last quite a long time.
Rings
It is important to pay attention to fishing line rings when purchasing. Poor-quality elements for equipment will tear the thread. There will be little pleasure from such fishing. The inner material of the guide rings must be very hard.
When choosing everything for fishing, you need to pay attention to the inner surface of the rings. It usually has inserts made of various materials. Expensive models have ceramic inserts. However, such products are most often chosen only by professionals.
Inexpensive spinning rods of good quality can easily make do with inserts of passage rings made of aluminum oxide and glass-ceramic cement. In the first case they have a dark brown color, and in the second they have a purple tint.
Rod material
When choosing a “light” spinning rod, the price of which would be reasonable, you need to pay attention to the material of the rod. There are several varieties.
Carbon fiber spinning rods are considered the cheapest. The starting price of this gear is 1,500 rubles. Fiberglass is an expensive material. Tackle from it will cost about 9-10 thousand rubles. Between both types of materials, the product is made of composite. The cost of the rod is about 5-6 thousand rubles.
Carbon fiber (graphite, carbon) is a more rigid and brittle material. It requires careful handling and care. The advantage of carbon fiber is its light weight. Fiberglass adds mass to the tackle. But it is more durable, but flexible. The composite is made from these two materials. This is the most common type of fishing rod.
Rod blank
Modern manufacturers of fishing products use high-modulus graphite to make blanks. The advantages of the material are its flexibility, strength and light weight. The disadvantage of such rods lies in their price tag. Not every spinning player can afford products from well-known Japanese and American brands.
Read: Which spoon to choose for pike fishing? Tips from the professionals
There are also more budget models, the form of which is made of less durable material. Composites are especially popular among beginner spinning rods - rods containing carbon fiber mixed with other elements. Such “sticks” are visually thicker because they have a relatively small margin of safety.
Based on the type of tip, rods are divided into two types: solid and tubular. The first one is actively used in microjig and jig fishing. Solid is a spinning rod with a soft colored insert instead of a whip. This model makes it easier to work with miniature silicone attachments, giving them high-frequency animation. In addition, the bright tip makes it possible to track the bite at dusk, which is very convenient. A tubular is a monolithic form, without any inserts. It is used for fishing in currents, fishing with wobblers, oscillating and rotating spoons.
Handle material
When choosing a suitable light spinning rod, you need to look closely even at such a small thing as the material of the handle. The comfort of fishing depends on this element.
Cork is best suited for this purpose. The front part of the handle can be screwed on. Good models have a fairly large girth area and are completely covered with cork. This material is pleasant to the touch. It will allow you to hold the tackle firmly in your hands. In winter, thanks to the natural coating, your hands will freeze less.
Cheap but inconvenient varieties have a plastic handle. There are models coated with a special ribbed material. It is more convenient than plastic, but gets dirty faster. It is quite difficult to clean it. But synthetic material is more pleasant to the touch and can prevent your hands from freezing.
Rating "lights"
Experts have compiled their rating of “light” spinning rods, which can be used by both professionals and amateurs. Avid fishermen can purchase gear that is quite expensive. They are able to appreciate all the advantages of such products. For beginners, “lights” of the budget category are suitable. It is not practical for them to purchase expensive rated varieties.
Professionals prefer manufacturers such as the elite series Daiwa, Shimano, and St. Croix, Lamiglas, G. Loomis. When purchasing such gear, you can be sure of the high quality of the products. These are brands with a good reputation, proven over years of conscientious service of the gear. They are most often used by professionals at sports competitions. Beginners will find it difficult to control such spinning rods.
What to catch on the rift?
The very name “light” indicates that we will fish with light tackle. You can also use a traditional spinning rod with “heavy artillery”, but the catches with it will be almost half as much, and besides, we are not going to look for easy ways! Believe me, there is nothing better than fishing with weightless tackle, feeling the crazy drive of this type of fishing. To begin with, we will need a spinning rod with a dough of up to 10–15 g and a length of 2.1–2.4 m.
Usually you can use a longer spinning rod, and there are some nuances here: a good spinning rod with a test weight of up to 10 g and a length of 2.7–3 m is not easy to find, and it is not cheap. In addition, we are mainly going to fish by wading, mainly on narrow rivers, so long casting is not an end in itself. Although, if promising places are located at a considerable distance, then you need to think about something longer.
If you are planning to buy a spinning rod from famous brands such as St.Croix, G.Loomis, Lamiglas, Shimano and Daiwa elite series, then just go and buy it without paying attention to all the above and you will not go wrong. If your wallet is not bursting your pocket, you will have to go shopping and choose the best option for the amount allocated for the purchase of the fishing rod.
During my fishing experience, I had several spinning rods that fell into the “light” category: unknown Chinese, Mikado Feeling 2.4 m and Salmo Diamond Excelence 2.7 (test 5–15 g), Flagman Avanger 2.1 m (3– 15) and St.Croix Premier 2.18 m (test 7–18 g). This spring I accidentally purchased a Salmo Diamond Super Light 3 m spinning rod (test 10–23 g). To be honest, I wanted to buy something for catching pike from the shore. I decided to try the spinning rod in action, to test it out, so to speak, and it turned out to be quite good for fishing with miniwobblers.
Judge for yourself - a 4-gram bait flies 30–40 meters. In addition, a chub bite feels like a tug, unlike St. Croix, where a bite is perceived as a sharp blow; moreover, a large fish can tear the spinning rod out of your hands if you don’t hold it tightly. Do not take all of the above as advertising, I just shared my observations and impressions regarding the rods.
Currently I’m fishing with the last two and they’re enough for now. I won’t get too excited about the coil. The basic requirements are known - an easy “velvet” ride and a gear ratio of 1:5 - 1:6. Another important requirement is high-quality winding of the fishing line, without humps and dips, because this can become a big problem, and it will be unrealistic to cast light baits. The reel should hold 100 meters of 0.2 mm fishing line; it works well not only with fishing line, but also with thin braids. My favorites today are Ryobi Excia and Salmo Elite mini, the first one, however, was recently purchased, and I heard only positive reviews about it, which is why I bought it. Until now, I was fishing with the inexpensive Line WinerEU 2000, so I can recommend that too, but it is advisable to choose a reel with a front drag - it is somewhat lighter and its brake is more sensitive. I usually use mono 0.15–0.18 mm fishing line, and 0.08–0.1 mm braid. The main requirement for a fishing line is tensile strength; for a braided line, it must be soft, round in cross-section and invisible in the water.
Reviews of spinning rods for beginners
Experts advise beginning fishermen to pay attention to medium-cost gear. Cheap Chinese products that are at the bottom of the rating can only bring disappointment and discourage fishing in the future. Therefore, it is better to give preference to middle-class rating models.
Korean spinning rods (for example, NordicStage), as well as products from domestic manufacturers (for example, Flagman) fully meet the requirements of an amateur fisherman or a beginner. They are quite reliable, but their cost does not exceed 6 thousand rubles. Experts also advise purchasing budget models from well-known manufacturers ShakeSpeare, Salmo, Cormoran, Daiwa. This is a good option for spending a weekend near a pond.
Advice from experienced fishermen
In addition to the generally accepted classical characteristics, there are more figurative properties that are sometimes used by experienced fishermen. They are based on personal feelings and preferences. An experienced fisherman will distinguish Korean spinning rods from Japanese or domestic varieties by their “ringing” or “viscosity”. However, these are more subtle sensations of the gear.
The “ringing” of a spinning rod means that it more clearly conveys the slightest vibrations of the bait. The term “viscosity”, accepted among fishermen, characterizes the product by its ability to conceal and muffle the blows of fish at the moment of fishing it out of the water. When a person begins to fully feel his spinning rod, such subtleties will matter when choosing the right model. But this comes with experience.
Light fishing from a boat
When choosing a spinning rod whose price would meet the fisherman’s needs, experts recommend taking into account the fact whether fishing will be done from the shore or from a boat. In the first case, it will be enough to take into account all the recommendations listed above.
If you plan to fish from a boat, you should pay attention to a few more tips. A rubber boat, which is not very stable, will not allow you to fully fish for fish using a spinning rod that is too long. Here preference should be given to models in which this figure does not exceed 2.1 m. Their weight is quite light.
If the boat has more spacious dimensions and its stability is higher than the previous option, “lights” up to almost 3 m in length are suitable. In such conditions, you will be able to fully perform long casts and get the average fish out of the water.
The safety of people on the boat depends on the correct choice of gear. Beginner fishermen are advised to initially try out unusual gear on the shore. Once accustomed to it, a person can use it on a boat. It is allowed to use several spinning rods simultaneously.
Having familiarized yourself with this type of gear, such as a light spinning rod, you can choose the best option for yourself. Taking into account the fishing conditions and considering the reviews of experts and experienced fishermen, it will not be difficult to make the right decision in the purchasing process. A day off spent at the pond will give you a lot of positive emotions. The catch will be the envy of everyone!
Features of fishing with a light-class spinning rod on a reservoir
Every fan of catching predators knows where to use a spinning rod of one class or another. With sticks with dough of 10-40 grams they are caught on rivers with currents and depths of over 10 meters. Light class spinning rods with a load of 3 to 15 grams are used in the coastal strip, on lakes and small rivers. And “spinning aesthetes” like to fish with ultralight gear with a range of thrown baits from 0.5 to 7 grams.
Since I fish from a boat on a large reservoir, where a characteristic feature is the presence of depths, I use the appropriate gear: a rod with a test weight of 10-42 grams, a reel with a spool measuring 2500, a braided cord with a breaking load of up to 13 kilograms. This would have continued until a fisherman I knew advised me to use a light-class spinning rod, citing big catches. I do not have a negative attitude towards this type of fishing and have light and ultra-light sticks in my arsenal. But I fish with these spinning rods mainly in bays, near reed thickets, in quiet places. True, I didn’t even think about trying my luck on the fairways with these tackles. But after talking with a person who practices this type of fishing, I decided to try it. Moreover, you won’t have to spend money on new purchases, since everything you need is already there.
What did the kit consist of? A fast action spinning rod with a length of 2.28 meters and a cast of 4-16 grams. Inertia-free reel size 1500. Braid with breaking load (attention) up to 3 kg and thickness 0.6 mm! A thin cord allows you to make longer casts and better control of the bait in wind and waves. Despite the declared strength, the tackle can withstand heavier loads, since the flexibility of the rod and a properly adjusted drag help cope with large fish.
The average weight of cargo that has to be used on large rivers during the season varies from 26 to 40 grams. But with a light spinning rod 14-18 will be enough. On the thinnest cord, the weight reaches the bottom without any problems. Considering the strength of the current, you can cast both against the traction and along. The wiring technique is standard - two or three turns with the reel handle, then a pause. A light bait hangs longer between falls to the bottom and seems to “lick” the edge that we are fishing. Often, the predator really likes this style of play, and an attack follows. It’s a pleasure to work with such tackle, the bites are clearly transmitted to the hand, and the caught fish, when played, gives a lot of thrills.
I’ll tell you about my first fishing trip using light tackle. The weather this year turned out to be quite windy, and on weekends, as luck would have it, it got worse. This could not continue indefinitely, and as soon as it was a calm day, we managed to get out to the pond. For the sake of the experiment, along with the new testing gear, I took with me a standard set (spinning rod with 10-42 grams of dough and a size 2500 reel).
I left at five o'clock in the morning - it was dark, but I had to do everything in time. Without thinking for a long time, I drove to the fairway and anchored at fifteen meters. The task was to fish the nearest drop, where an 8-meter ledge smoothly turned into depth. I started fishing on a rod with a big test. Having supplied him with a Cheburashka, he began to methodically fish the point. I changed the bait a couple of times, but to no avail. Now is the time to try the lighter weight option. I was immediately surprised that where during normal fishing I had to work with a weight of 36 grams, on a thin cord 16 was enough. On the second retrieve, during a bite, an unfortunate cut of the cord occurred. I installed a fluorocarbon leash. I continue to fish and after a few turns of the reel there is a blow.
The light spinning rod bent into an arc. The clutch squealed. The realization that the breaking load of the braid was only 3 kg added a lot of thrills. This is definitely a pike! Sharp jerks from side to side left no doubt. But how big it was was unclear. I was afraid to tighten the clutch so as not to break the thinnest “thread”. I had to fiddle around for a while, and when a huge fish appeared on the surface, the landing net took it into its arms (as it later became known, it was a pike weighing almost five kilograms).
My hands were shaking, and for a long time I could not understand how such a specimen was lifted from the depths with light tackle.
Having caught my breath, I again began to fish a promising area, and caught another toothy weighing 1.5 kg. It was no longer difficult to catch such a pike.
I realized that thin tackle gave me the opportunity to fish where I could not catch fish in the standard way. The main thing was to adapt to the strength of the current and the presence of wind. The wattle with a diameter of 0.6 mm, of course, tore when hooked, but I was able to work with lighter weights, and the process of catching and retrieving itself added adrenaline.
During the next retrieve, the bite is clearly transmitted to my hand, as if I was fishing not somewhere out there, at a depth of more than ten meters, but right here, nearby. This time a pike perch bit, which I easily brought to the surface. The pike perch bite is different from the pike bite. An experienced fisherman senses this immediately. I note that a spinning rod with a length of 2.28 meters turned out to be very convenient for working from a boat, because with such a length it is comfortable to take fish into a landing net or pick up small specimens with your hands.
Test fishing was successful. Afterwards there were several more trips to deep water, in which heavy and light class spinning rods were used for comparison. And every time I never ceased to be surprised - where there was no bite with heavy weights, with the light version I always managed to get away from zero.
In conclusion, I will give some useful tips. If you don’t have a ready-made set of gear, like I do, then first buy an inexpensive version of a spinning rod with a reel. Use high-quality braided fishing line with a breaking load of less than 5 kilograms (for most American and Japanese manufacturers this is a diameter of up to 0.1 mm). The thinner the line, the lighter weights the bait can be used. A Cheburashka with a double is preferable to a jig head with a fixed hook. I would like to note that foam fish in bright colors show good results. In my practice, it is an order of magnitude superior to silicone analogues. So try, experiment, and everything will work out for you. Good luck!