Ultra light fishing

[Fishersteve]

Well ultra light fishing is still one of my favourite methods of fishing.There is always something to catch and can be great fun with the right tackle.I grew up in East London and fished the rock pools as a kid, the breakwall and piers plus the harbour and this method takes me back to that time when it was just fun to catch fish no matter what size.To be honest I would love to get back down there but most/all of it is closed to fishing now.


The tackle available now days is designed specifically for ultra light fishing,light line and very light lures.The rod below is rated for about 6 grams lure and line to about 6 lb.Most of this equipment coming out of Japan but alot of the lures come from the US where they have similar methods catching pan fish.Australia have a dedicated bream fishery so they produce some good stuff especially little surface lures.





For main line I use 5lb braid or flourocarbon but have a spool with 3lb flouro used when we fish the harbour for small stuff.
If using braid then a FC leader is attached but with the FC mainline theres no need for a leader.FB line definitely has it's place in ultra light fishing especially when fishing vertical off a boat or kayak.It has that bit of stretch and finicky fish don't feel that resistance like they can with braid.


On the business end usually jigheads down to about 0.8 gram but not normally more then 5 grams. Jigheads always offer the best hook up but sometimes a weedless presentation is the way to go.





Lots of tiny soft plastics to choose from and a few hard ones also.





Heres a few fish I've had around Transkei area.


























And they get smaller











Transkei rivers mouths are a good place to fish when the waters a bit off colour after some rain and then when the water gets cold after some east wind.Time it right and you can have some great fun but the method is the same for light tackle etc.





I'll follow this up with some more ULight fishing soon.

[Charles]

  Great post! Thanks for sharing.

[isivuba]

Awesome report!!!  you got some big fish on light tackel must be one hell of a fight.

[dodger]

I'm off to Jozini on Wednesday and I have packed my ultra light Shimano Clarus, which is paired with an Alivio 1000 reel and some light line, I can't remember what it is . I will use the set up to catch live bait, I also have some small tadpole lures and lots of small plastic wworms. I have made up some short wire traces with small small jigheads so lets have some fun 

[REEFMAN]

Wow, what a brilliant first post, Steve! I'm sure I recognize you from an article in RSD a few years ago - on ultra light fishing...?? Am I wrong?
It's an honour to have a fisherman of your stature on board  !
 

[xtc]

Howzit Steven - nice post and fish
Your plans all made for next year?
In your lure pics posted above I see my favourite small hard plastic lure, the one I got from you - if I recall it had 4 species its first time out, haha glad I waited till after you left otherwise you might of claimed it back

[kaptein delarey]

Very nice!

Yes, I remember the RSD article on LRF (light rock fishing).

I want to get my hands on some of those mini paddletails ...

Cheers

[Fishersteve]

Thanks for the comments and the welcome guys, happy to be here. 



 @ Reefman - yes it was an article by Nick Pike but I haven't seen it yet but hope you enjoyed it.Hopefully one day I can get my hands on a copy to frame. lol


Howzit Curt, flights all booked so first 2 weeks in March it is and hope your'e in.Glad you had success with that lure, would like to chuck on a bank full of grunter. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=y1-APEvQ6rk#t=47


@ Kaptein delarey - I have a few to spare but can only bring them over next year but they are quite cheap on EB.

[carll]

Great post! Thanks for sharing 

[WalkersKiller]

  superb post and i love that video, the lure looks so natural!

[kaptein delarey]

Thanks, Steve I will check on eBay.

Cheers

[xtc]

@steve - will definitely be making a plan - should be a great trip - haha ja am sure we can find a bank or two for some grunter - they have started going wild again, beast ones - got some on top water a few days back but lately being giving the plastics a go
@kaptein - I got a bunch from steve the last time he was here - but there is a guy who sells those tiny soft plastics in bulk and cheap - if I recall he is from the states - think I came across them doing a search for either curly tails or grubs

[gavin erwin]

Some nice info there Fishersteve and some great fish on lure . 

[Fishersteve]

Thanks guys


Thats great news Curt.


Nice thing about this type of fishing is if you go on a family holiday you can always hide some tackle away somewhere.My wife was off to visit her Mom in Florida and I persuaded her to take me with, wasn't allowed any serious fishing but managed to visit the Bass pro Shops buy a real cheap rod, fish a fresh water canal and a saltwater jetty.





I was told there were no fish in the canal but managed to have some fun.























And some company

[gavin erwin]

Wow some great fish, the last one looks like a Blue Kurper.

[gavin erwin]

Sorry! second last

[Fishersteve]

Wow some great fish, the last one looks like a Blue Kurper.

Gavin think they call it a blue tilapia there and think that was a male fish.The photo above that one looked like a female.


Just googled blue kurper and have to agree with you.

[WalkersKiller]

Thats awesome!

[kaptein delarey]

Great.

There are an amazing number of species in those Florida canals. Can catch just about any aquarium exotic you can think of from around the world.

Cheers

[Roachy]

Fishersteve, nice rock salmon! I may just need to get some smaller lures!