Fishing doesn't always have to mean carrying a large bag of gear, a full-size fishing rod, and planning your entire day around fishing. Sometimes the best fishing moments happen when you bring just a few essentials and can start fishing almost anywhere.
Ultralight fishing is a style of fishing focused on keeping your gear as light and compact as possible. It is particularly well suited to catching smaller fish, but it is also a great match for hiking, travelling, and spontaneous fishing adventures.
In this guide, we'll look at what ultralight fishing actually means, what gear you need, and why lightweight fishing has become so popular.
What Does Ultralight Fishing Mean?
Ultralight fishing means fishing with lighter-than-usual equipment. A typical setup includes a lightweight rod, a small reel, light line, and small lures.
The goal isn't simply to reduce the weight of your gear. Lightweight equipment can also make catching smaller fish much more exciting. A perch, trout, or other smaller fish can put up a surprisingly fun fight when you're using ultralight gear.
Ultralight fishing is especially useful when you want to combine fishing with other activities. You can go hiking, kayaking, paddleboarding, or travelling and bring your fishing gear along without it taking up much space.
What Gear Is Used for Ultralight Fishing?
Ultralight fishing doesn't require a huge amount of equipment. A basic setup usually consists of just a few essential pieces.
A Lightweight Fishing Rod
An ultralight fishing rod is lighter than a standard rod and designed for smaller lures and lighter lines.
The ideal rod length and characteristics depend on where and how you fish. A shorter rod can be convenient for small rivers or areas with dense vegetation, while a longer rod may work better when fishing from the shore.
A Small Reel
A small spinning reel or another lightweight reel is typically used for ultralight fishing.
The reel doesn't need to be large because the lines and lures used for ultralight fishing are relatively light.
Light Line
Light line makes it easier to cast small lures while keeping the entire setup lightweight.
When choosing your line, however, it's important to consider the species you're targeting, the environment, and potential obstacles in the water. The goal of ultralight fishing isn't to make fishing unnecessarily difficult, but to find the right balance between lightweight gear and practical fishability.
Small Lures
Small lures are commonly used in ultralight fishing. The right lure depends on the species you're targeting and the fishing environment.
Small jigs, spinners, spoons, and other lightweight lures are easy to carry, and you only need a few to get started.
Why Is Ultralight Fishing So Much Fun?
Fishing with lightweight gear changes the experience.
A small perch might not sound like a huge catch, but with ultralight equipment, its strike and fight can feel completely different. The lightweight rod bends, the fish can use its strength, and even an ordinary fishing session can become surprisingly exciting.
Ultralight fishing also encourages you to explore new places.
When your entire fishing setup is easy to carry, you don't have to plan your entire day around fishing. You can bring your gear on a hike and stop for a few casts whenever you come across an interesting lake, pond, river, or coastline.
And that's one of the biggest advantages of ultralight fishing:
You don't always have to plan a fishing trip. Sometimes you can just bring fishing with you.
What Can You Catch with Ultralight Fishing?
Ultralight gear can be used to target many smaller fish species. Perch, for example, are a great target for ultralight fishing.
Trout, grayling, and other smaller predatory fish can also be interesting targets depending on the conditions and location.
Your fishing equipment should always be chosen according to the species you're targeting and the conditions you're fishing in. Ultralight gear isn't designed for targeting the biggest fish, and equipment that is too light should not be used when it could compromise the safety of the fish or the angler.
Ultralight Fishing and Hiking
Ultralight fishing is a natural fit for hiking and outdoor adventures.
When you're hiking or spending a day outdoors, every extra gram takes up space in your backpack. Traditional fishing equipment doesn't always make sense if you're not specifically going on a fishing trip.
Lightweight and compact fishing gear changes that.
You can go for a hike, follow the shoreline of a lake, and stop for a few casts along the way. If you find a promising fishing spot, your gear is already with you.
This combination of hiking and fishing is one of the most appealing aspects of ultralight fishing.
Ultralight Fishing While Travelling
Ultralight fishing is also a great option for travelling.
When your fishing gear is small and lightweight, it's easier to pack it into a backpack or other luggage. This makes it possible to fish even when fishing isn't the main purpose of your trip.
You might be heading on a cabin trip, road trip, hiking adventure, or holiday abroad and still want the option to fish without bringing a full-size fishing setup.
This is one reason why travel fishing and compact fishing gear are becoming increasingly popular among anglers.
What Should You Bring on an Ultralight Fishing Trip?
The idea behind ultralight fishing is to keep things simple. You don't need to bring everything you own.
A good starting point might include:
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a lightweight fishing rod
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a small reel
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suitable fishing line
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a few small lures
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pliers or another small tool
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any necessary fish-handling and release equipment
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the required fishing permits or licences
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a compact way to carry your fishing gear
The most important thing is to think about what you actually need.
If you're going on a day hike, you probably don't need an entire tackle box. If you're travelling abroad, you may not want your fishing equipment to take up a large part of your luggage.
Can Fishing Gear Be Even Smaller?
A traditional fishing rod and reel can already be relatively easy to transport, but in some situations they can still be inconvenient to carry.
What if your fishing gear could practically fit in your pocket?
That's the idea we started developing at Son of a Seabass.
MyReel is a compact fishing reel made in Finland and designed to be easy to take with you. It's made for situations where you want to keep your fishing gear as small as possible and bring fishing along on a hike, a trip, or even a SUP adventure.
MyReel isn't designed to replace a traditional fishing setup in every situation. Instead, it offers an alternative when small size, portability, and the freedom to fish spontaneously are what matter most.
If you're heading out on a hike and discover a beautiful fishing spot along the way, you don't have to have planned a fishing trip in the first place.
Fishing can simply be part of the adventure.
Ultralight Fishing – Less Gear, More Possibilities
Ultralight fishing isn't just about reducing the weight of your equipment. It's also a different way of thinking about fishing.
When your gear is lightweight and easy to carry, you don't always have to dedicate an entire day to fishing. You can bring your setup on a hike, a trip, a kayaking adventure, or a day at the beach and decide when you get there whether you want to fish.
Sometimes the best fishing moments aren't the ones you planned in advance.
They're the moments when you stop for a while, cast your lure into the water, and realize you've just found the perfect place to fish.
Want to take fishing wherever you go? Discover MyReel →
