When you say “spin cast” do you mean she prefers a closed-face reel? If so, that will be tough because I have yet to find a reel of that design that handles very light lines well. They tangle inside the housing - badly and often. They are designed to use 8# to 10# lines, which most of them come with. And none of them these days are made very well, besides.
There are many good options with regular open-faced spinning reels. You’d be looking for a “10” or “15” size reel for ultralight. (Companies use either a zero or five ending for their size systems.)
Looking for open faced. I still have a few closed face zebcos but they have not seen action since I was a teenager. Ya I worded that poorly.
Been looking at the Plugfer (spelling) presidential reels. Both my current utralight rods are 5ft. Was looking to go to longer - maybe a 6.5 ft rod for these new additions.
I have never owned a Pflueger, but have never heard anything but good about them. I have owned about everything else, including Lew’s, Okuma, Daiwa, Garcia, and more. I’m starting to gravitate to all Lew’s because they’re so dang smooth. But so is my Okuma. A smooth drag is imperative with an ultralight.
Line may be more important than the reel’s drag. I really like Nanofil in 6#. It’s as small as two-pound mono, but generally break at no less than eight to 10 pounds. The thing with Nanofil is that you absolutely MUST have ultra-smooth rod guides or it will fray. Add a fluoro leader in a lighter pound test, and you’re good to go.
Hey,
My Ultra Light is a 5ft Ugly Stick with a Plufeger 5 reel loaded with 6 lb Nanofil. It has handled everything from small Bluegill with light leader at local ponds with the grandkids to larger catfish at Willard with 14 lb leader. Its great for jigging out of a float tube. Carries 200 yards of 2 lb line and 100 yrds of 6lb Nanofil. Never had a problem with it. Make sure the drag is set properly.
thanx
lee
Thanks for the input so far. I am leaning hard to a St Croix rod. Pretty hard to go wrong with that choice. But the reel…I was leaning to the Pflueger, but gona check on a few of the other recommendations as BG1 has me thinking a bit
I do have one Presidential Pflueger that has been a good reel, but I dont dunk it - often…
For the money Okuma Ceymar reels are very good at around $40 I own several in differant sizes and love them, they have a very smooth drag. Ceymar Spinning Reels Performance Features
Powerful, multi-disc drag system
7BB + 1RB for ultimate smoothness
Quick-Set anti-reverse roller bearing
Precision, machine cut brass pinion gear
Corrosion-resistant Blade Body Design
Machined aluminum spool, 2-tone
As far as rods, I really like the Berkly Lighting rods they are very affordable at round $35 dollars they have a sensitive tip with a good stiff back bone for hook setting. I’m a sucker for a good cork handle as well.
Ultra light!? 7’ 2-3 weight fly rod! best hands down!
I will still buy a couple, but i have a three wt and a couple spare ice reels. Going to have to try out that modified fly rod concept. I have a number of pack rods meant to go both ways, so makes sense that you can play with a 3 wt and have some fun. Thanks for the idea.
I would recommend the Shakespeare Micro Series rods. Available in lengths from 4’6" to 7’6", $19.95. Reels, check out Kast King reels. I have been using the Sharky III reels, but they have all price points. Nice action on the rods, cork handles, stainless steel guides, 2pc. They are graphite blanks.
I have several Pflueger President reels and I have had great luck with them. I have tried several other brands Shimano, Diawa, and okuma in the the same price range and I have to say i like the pflueger reels the best and I’ve had less problems with them. I have dunked them a few times as well and only had trouble when they got sand or dirt in them a time or two and they cleaned up easy. The same as most of the reels I have used. I do have some more expensive Shimano reels and like them. The shimano Stradic is great but $200+. Don’t think the stradic is worth the money for a panfish reel. For the money I think the President is a great reel. Smooth cranking and smooth light drag for pan fish and you don’t have to cringe when your buddy drops it on the rocks. Also the weight balances out well on the small ultra light spinning rods.
I would save money with a president reel and spend it on a sensitive rod for panfish. I loved the Fenwick Aetos for sensitivity but they quit making them recently. For a super cheep but sensitive rod the Burkly UL cherrywood HD is an awesome panfish rod for perch and crappie. Matched with a 25X or 35x President its a great combo for $80-$90. If you want to spend more the st croix triumph is a great rod. Then if money is no object the G loomis Trout series is super sensitive and my all time favorite panfish rod. They come in several UL models as well. The Aetos was a close second.
My thanks to all those who offered up their “best” UL rig. I am sure I would have loved fishing any of them.
The deed is done. Cookie and I were swinging past Cabelas after an appointment, and I told her let’s swing in and see what they might have in stock.
She went right to the St Croix display, picked up 6ft, 2 piece, ultra-light, fast-action, Trout Series rig: gave it a few flics, jigs pops and faux casts, looked over at me with a smile and said " found mine" what you going to get?
Well, that was the only one left, but they did have a one piece 6ft premier UL, also by St Croix. So I claimed it. The reel was even easier, the only good size 20 reel I could find was the Plugfer Presidential model. Since we have one already and liked it, we grabbed a couple more. Will try to keep the water dunking to a minimum - per advice above.
Now if we can get healthy enough, we will go give them a test.
