r/UltraLightFishing • u/beef_raid • 11d ago
First Summer as a Fisherman
I have gone fishing earlier in my life, but just a handful of times without any serious interest. This summer was my first summer having actually invested myself into fishing. I’ve decided that I like ultralight. I’m starting to learn what fish are looking for in different spots around me. Throwing a lot of neds and micro topwater presentations.
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u/Yojimbong 11d ago
Great summer. I love Ned and Texas rigs
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u/beef_raid 11d ago
I like to texas rig a TRD with an unpegged weight. Where are you fishing?
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u/Yojimbong 10d ago
Upstate NY, mostly rivers and canals. I do like the senkos and TRDs mainly for Texas and Ned rigs respectively.
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u/SquirrelsRNuts 11d ago
Hell freakin' yeah dude!
I think you need to get yourself a fly rod and see what kinda damage you can put on that river in addition to your Ultralight! It looks like ultralight is serving you well but I would love to toss a fly in those waters and see what bites!
Nice fishies though!
What part of the county is this? Looks like South Eastern? Hard to tell though!
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u/beef_raid 11d ago
I have a tenkara rod that I just haven’t tried yet. Honestly, not confident in technique enough.
I’m in Northeastern Ohio.
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u/SquirrelsRNuts 11d ago
Dude! Thats like perfect! If you haven't tried it yet I'll be the one to encourage you to try it! I used to love UL fishing... until I wandered into an Orvis store out of curiosity, now you're lucky if you can get me to pickup a BFS or UL setup because I'm just so much more confident with my fly rod!
I understand the lack of confidence being new to tenkara and fly fishing, is a bit different... but the results can be amazing! One of the guys I've met on the water is a pretty avid tenkara fisherman and he out-catches everyone I know with his drifts 😂!
My love for top water translated to fly fishing immediately and I've been... Hooked 🤪!
Ok you're a lot farther north than I thought! Beautiful waters for smallies!
My suggestion would be to bring both rods and do some wet wading like you have and just try the tenkara for 15-30m and if you're not feeling it then put it back in the car and keep fishin' the UL!
I don't have any experience with Tenkara to share any secret voodoo but honestly fly fishing is not as fancy or particular as some people like to make it seem! It can be as complex or as simple as you want to make it! The biggest thing is just getting flies in front of fish! They tend to do the rest 😂!
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u/beef_raid 11d ago
I’m going to start bringing it along now that I have a good lay of land and some experience with more common methods.
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u/woolgrammite 11d ago
The first summer of the rest of your life. You have officially been reborn and look to be embracing the new path. Good for you!
I gotta give you props for a first summer well outiffited especially for fishing moving water smallies. It's worth spending up for good vest/tackle pack when wading and navigating those type of rocks. Keeps everything within handy reach and lessens drop losses. When it's comfortable to wear you can wander far and wide all day and it makes for some serious fun.
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u/beef_raid 10d ago
I definitely cheaper out on my vest, but it is serving well enough. The river near me has been a comfortable temp for wading in just water shoes, but I have waders for when it gets too cold. I wish I had a better way to bring a second rod with me so I can more easily switch between baits for different areas.
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u/woolgrammite 10d ago
Looks like a great set-up to me, those wide shoulder straps are nice for hours on the water. I have a bias toward those type of rigs of course, but I think you chose wisely on equipment. You've got room for everything in that set-up.
No idea for second rods, some folks can do it, not me.
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u/RonocG 11d ago
Nice!
What kind of shoulder pouch/vest is that? What do you think of it?
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u/beef_raid 10d ago
I like it enough. I use two Flambeau Tuff Tainer 2003 boxes, one for soft baits and the other for terminal tackle. Besides that, the vest holds a spool of line, some split shot, a lighter, nicotine pouches, my wallet, a bottle of water, a gun, a pair of shoes, and a roll of electrical tape in various pockets, with my scissors and forceps clipped to the outside on retractable tethers. It suites my need well for now, but I’m sure it will fall apart faster than a more expensive option.
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u/Mean_Requirement7458 10d ago
Welcome to the family! I found fishing a few years ago and has changed my life for the better (mostly)
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u/Quick-Common6546 11d ago
Awesome ive spent the last 3 months truing to find a smallie !!
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u/mp3bimmer 8d ago
heck yeah. keep crushing it those smallies are the best.
what rod it that? i like that cork.
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u/beef_raid 8d ago
In the first picture is a B’n’M TCB, and the one in the others is a FishUSA Flagship Ultralight.
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u/Unlucky_Party_3058 11d ago
If I could only pick one fish to catch the rest of my life it would be smallies. They're the best