Light vs Ultralight Rod for Trout

It could be said that choosing between a light and ultralight rod setup for trout is like the age-old Chevy vs. Ford argument. The argument could always be made that one is superior to the other. Depending on the situation, a light rod or ultralight rod might suit your needs better than other rods’ actions.

What’s better: Light or Ultralight Rods?

If you had to pick only one, Light Action rods are the most versatile. Ultralight rods are best used when fishing for smaller species such as brook trout, or when targeting freshly stocked trout. They often have a sensitive tip which is important, but they lack the backbone to handle bigger trout. Light rods retain the sensitive tip but are made with a stronger blank, making it easier to play a larger trout while it’s hooked.

The truth is, there might not ever be an answer to what rod style is the best. Each rod has its own specific use for different fishing styles throughout the year. What I will try to do in this article is explain to you the benefits and pitfalls of each, so you can make an accurate decision as to what rod style fits your fishing style the best.

Light Action Trout Rod Benefits

Let’s dive deeper into using a Light Action rod for trout fishing. Hopefully, you will be able to identify if a light-action rod is the right choice for you. I personally have two trout rods I switch between, and a light action rod is one of them.

Light Action Rods Handle Bigger Trout Better

Light rods have more “backbone” meaning the action of the rod is slightly heavier than that of an ultralight. If you’re fishing with an underpowered rod, it can be really hard to fight a fish and eventually get it to the net and land it. I think light action rods do a really great job handling trout up to 16″ in length. You’ll need to make sure that your line is of proper weight and that your drag is set correctly, but we will talk about that further down in the post.

Light Rods can Cast Further than Ultralight Rods

This is true, so long as you are using appropriately sized lures for your rod. One of the benefits of using a light rod is its ability to handle larger lures. I am a big fan of using larger lures rather than smaller ones. I frequently fish with lures that most trophy bass fishermen would use.

The stiffer blank allows you to transfer more energy on the cast and get the lure out farther. On the flip side, if you are using a small lure such as a 1/16oz. marabou jig, a Light action rod can struggle to cast the lure because there isn’t enough flex to get it out there. That is a situation where the ultralight would be a better choice.

Light Rods are (usually) Longer

Longer rods provide a lot of useful benefits as opposed to shorter ones. Longer rods allow you to better guide your lure through the water column as opposed to shorter rods. During the mid-summer months when the banks are overgrown with thick weeds, I prefer a longer rod so I can reach out over the weeds and make sure my lure is being retrieved right down the edge, where big trout are using the overgrown bank for cover.

Longer rods also generally allow you to make more accurate casts, which is a VERY important aspect of trout fishing. Many times, your first cast or two into a good spot is when a trout will hit. If it doesn’t happen then, trout could become spooked or turned off by the lure and your chances to land one become slim.

Three Great Light Action Trout Rods

1. Best Value – Pflueger President Rod and Reel Combo – 6’6″ Light Action – 2 Piece

1. Excellent Quality– St. Croix Trout Series Spinning Rod – 6’4″ Light / Fast Action – 2 Piece

Ultralight Action Trout Rod Benefits

Easier to Cast Small Lures with Ultralight Rods

Smaller lures such as small marabou jigs or even a nightcrawler on a plain hook are best used with ultralight rods. The majority of trout’s natural forage is very small, that’s why fly fishing is so popular. The tiny flies represent the tiny invertebrates that float downstream waiting to be picked off one by one. Small marabou jigs and small grubs such as red worms, wax worms, and mealworms are common live bait that is best used on an ultralight setup.

Feel More of the Fight

Experienced trophy and sport anglers alike will often use the lightest tackle within reason to go fishing with because it makes the fight more fun. 14″ trout are not uncommon where I fish, and catching them on an ultralight is a BLAST! The important part is getting a high-quality rod that won’t fail under the stress of a big fish.

More Sensitive Tip

Ultralight rods usually have a more flexible tip section of the rod. This allows you to feel the sensitive bites earlier, which will increase your hookup ratio and help put more fish in your net. With ultralight rods, I tend to prefer a rod around 6′. I find that some longer ultralight is too long and “flimsy” for fighting medium-sized trout. Six-foot rods seem to be the perfect balance between length, sensitivity, and strength.

Three Great Ultralight Action Trout Rods

1. Great Starter – Ugly Stik Elite Spinning Fishing Rod – 6′ 6″ Ultralight – 2 Piece

1. Best Value – Cadence CC4 Ultralight Fishing Combo – 5’6″ Ultralight – 2 Piece

1. Excellent Quality – St. Croix Trout Series Spinning Rod – 6’0″ – Ultra Light/Fast – 2 Piece

Overall there are many benefits to using each of the two-rod styles for trout fishing: Ultralight and Light Action. Depending on the scenario you’re expecting to find yourself in, the one-rod style will fish better than the other. My personal opinion is to get a light-action rod setup. This will allow you to do more than the ultralight, which can sometimes struggle to handle bigger lures and bigger fish.