<h2>Ultralight Fishing Technique</h2>
<p>UL fishing is effective, modern and genuinely great fun. When you fish with very fine tackle, you feel every movement of the lure in the water. A thin <strong>main line</strong> and a highly sensitive <strong>rod</strong> allow you to present even the smallest lure in an irresistibly lifelike way right in front of the next predator.</p>
<p>When a fish takes the ultralight lure, that is when the real excitement begins. Playing a relatively large fish on a good UL rod is a thrilling challenge that demands plenty from you as an angler. Paired with a matching UL reel, you can control the fish perfectly all the way to the bank. A well-balanced ultralight combo lets you feel every single tail beat during the fight. UL fishing becomes addictive fast.</p>
<p>As a rule, ultralight technique calls for a <strong>line diameter</strong> of between 0.10 mm and 0.18 mm on a rod with a <strong>casting weight</strong> of around 8-12 g, often even less. <strong>UL rods</strong> range from 1.80 m to 2.20 m in length. Rod action varies depending on the model and your personal preference. Make sure to browse our UL tackle pages too, where you will find detailed information on all topics including UL rod types, the ideal UL reels and much more.</p>
<p>The main target species in ultralight lure fishing are trout, perch, chub and, at times, smaller zander. Fishing light <strong>spoons</strong> for trout has grown well beyond a passing trend. Within the UL fishing community, there are highly experienced anglers specialising in every target species and every UL technique, and they are happy to share their knowledge.</p>
<h2>Ultralight Lures</h2>
<p>Ultralight lures are essentially a collection of almost every well-known lure type used in predator fishing, scaled down to miniature size. In this category you will find small <strong>soft lure shads</strong> as short as 5 cm, as well as <strong>spinnerbaits</strong> of just 2 cm or less. Classic ultralight lures include mini plugs and spinners. Modern UL baits - originating, for example, from America - include the ChatterBait Micro from Z-Man, the Salmo Hornet and the Switch Blade Minnow from Savage Gear.</p>
<h2>Fishing Tips for UL Fishing</h2>
<p>Building a small selection of quality UL baits is the first step towards becoming a capable ultralight angler. Step two is presenting and rigging the small lures correctly. In short - and really quite logically - every element of the rig, just like the tackle itself, should be as light as possible.</p><p>Check out our UL fishing tips here with Daniel and perch specialist Johannes Dietel himself on the Berliner Spree:</p>
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<p>That first cast with a UL rod rated at just a few grams is an experience unlike anything your regular spinning rod can offer. The flick of the wrist transmits far more directly through the blank. You feel exactly how tension builds during the cast, and how the lure begins to work the moment it hits the water. A whole new dimension of lure control opens up. The moment of that first bite, you are hooked on UL fishing - guaranteed.</p><p>In UL fishing you often work a tight area around your spot. Within 10, perhaps 15 metres, many small to medium-sized surprises are waiting for you and your ultralight lures. Your casts - if you choose - are very precise, but never particularly long. UL anglers tend to cast at a higher frequency than most other lure anglers. Hotspots can be covered to within a few centimetres.</p>
<h4>Keep Your Tackle Light</h4>
<p>Heavy <strong>swivels</strong>, thick <strong>leaders</strong> or main lines and oversized hooks have no place in ultralight fishing. We strongly recommend setting up a dedicated <strong>lure box</strong> for all your UL lures and accessories. That way your tackle stays well organised at all times.</p>
<p>More experienced UL anglers tend to use a dedicated rod when fishing mini plugs. The weight of small plugs at roughly 3.5 to 5 g makes them feel somewhat sluggish on the cast compared to UL soft lures or spinnerbaits. The action of a plug in the water can also, at times, be too strong for a UL rod with a soft through-action. Finesse technique, by contrast, demands extra sensitivity in the way you work and guide the fine lures.</p>
<h4>The Ideal UL Setup</h4>
<p>An ultralight setup with small lures for finesse technique or extra-light drop shotting consists ideally of a specialist rod with a highly responsive tip - rods with a <em>solid tip</em> are particularly well suited here, such as the La Moustique from #LMAB. It can be difficult to put into words, or to explain to someone new to the style. But when you can feel the swimming action of your small soft lure beneath the rod tip - whether on a side arm or along the bottom - your UL setup is perfectly dialled in and a good catch is almost inevitable.</p>
