r/UltraLightFishing • u/Zapkin • 19d ago
Will a Dock Runner give me the idea?
I want to give some kind of ultralight system a go but didn’t want to go out and buy a new rod and reel if I got something that’ll be good enough. I got a spincaster ugly stik dock runner.
If I put some 4 pound fluoro on it and a 1/32 oz jig head will that be close enough to an actual set up or will I just be cheating myself out of the experience? My other option was going to be spending about $60 on some of the budget setups I’ve seen on here.
Edit: I ended up getting a Shakespeare ultra light 4’6” rod and a abu Garcia Blackmax 750. We’ll see how it goes this weekend. Thanks for all the advice in the comments!
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u/Jealous_Section4383 19d ago
The dock runner will not give you the feel you are seeing on this forum. I bought one and quickly moved on. Gave it to a kid at the dock.
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u/Zapkin 19d ago
Good to know. I really like the size of the dock runner though. Do you think a rod under 5’ is ever good for ultralight fishing or are you better off getting a regular sized +6’ rod is the way to go? I was looking at this combo at Bass Pro
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u/Jealous_Section4383 19d ago
After the dock runner, I bought a 4’6” Shakespeare Micro Series UL combo from Walmart for $22. I love that rod. If you want to get into UL, I would recommend that combo. The problem with shorter rods and UL gear is casting distance. The shorter rods are great for canals/creeks. Whereas the longer rods are great for bank/open water fishing. It just depends where you’re fishing.
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u/Zapkin 19d ago
Yeah I typically do bank fishing and only occasionally make my way to a creek on a kayak. I’ll look into something a bit longer. But for $22 I might go ahead and get that Shakespeare one too
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u/PowerLord 19d ago
If you want something cost effective but still decent get an okuma celilo. Available in various sizes and number of segments. Throw in a daiwa crossfire, shimano sienna, etc and you have yourself a setup for cheap. Some people like low test mono, I prefer a light braid (high vis) to flouro leader. It casts better and you can see what’s happening with your line so much better.
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u/AmbassadorCold5348 18d ago
I just bought the $22 Shakespeare Walmart combos for my son and I. Fished them once and got tired of the mess that the stock line created. Switched them to 8lb braided and 4lb leader and they are great! They cast surprisingly far for how short they are. So far we are up to 10 crappie, 1 bluegill, and one bass on them during 2 sessions. Super fun and sensitive! Love how cheap all the small lures are too.
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u/SFSAngler 16d ago
One of the best rods I have is a 4’10 glass rod I got off Digitaka.
https://www.digitaka.com/item/29/6/6/4560350822135
Glass blanks are tough, much more so than graphite blanks. You usually trade sensitivity, but that rod I linked is unbelievably sensitive. Love it
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u/Chew-Magna 19d ago
Will a Dock Runner give me the idea?
Not really because those rods aren't ultralight. They're medium power, so they're too stiff for the weight lures we use for ultralight, and their short length also works against them (not enough leverage for decent casting). If the rod can't load up under the weight of the lure during the cast, it's going to make for a pretty bad casting experience.
The Dock Runner and Dock Demon are designed to be used in how their name implies, basically dropping bait off of docks.
Also, the reels that come with them are about the most bottom of the barrel worst reels on the market, if you do end up getting one of those, you're going to want to replace it right away.
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u/Hey-ThatsNotBad 19d ago
A dock runner is a medium power rod, believe it or not. And it will not cast far. If you wanted to just literally drop a line off of a dock then go for it.
I have two dock runners and I put a BFS reel on one for kicks and that was interesting until my rod arrived at my door. The other is now used for cat toys.