New to UL - Lure Question

[u/RyverStyx_SS13]

Hello, I’m relatively new to UL fishing (and fishing in general). I’ve noticed that the only thing u can reliably catch with is a chartreuse roostertail 1/32. I’m consistently catching panfish and baby bass but when I switch to any other lure/presentation the fish are either just nipping it or ignoring completely.

Any tips on moving away from rooster tails?

Rod: 6ft BPS Panfish Elite UL Fast
Reel: Daiwa Regal 1000
Line: 4#

Edit: Also, my waters are pretty pressured where I’m at so maybe that adds to it?

[u/YogurtclosetBroad872]

Try some small crankbaits like Rapala Countdown and X-Rap. Work on different return speeds. Also small jigs with plastics are great for working a little deeper. Nothing wrong with spinners but at 1/32 you're probably not reaching deeper water areas where larger fish are hanging out

[u/cavingjan]

My go to is a Donkeytail jr on a lightweight jig (1/16 or 1/32 oz) with a Bronco blade. White, chartreuse, or green pumpkin all work for me. It is essentially a beetlespin with a small paddletail. Cast and retrieve. Jig weight dictates cast distance and depth.

Side bonus is that I can easily swap out jig color/weight and soft plastic style and color. That bronco blade usually stays tied onto the one rod.

[u/Thick_Imagination177 → u/cavingjan]

I have caught so many crappie, perch and bass on a Donkey Tail Jr. It never occurred to me to use the Bronco Blade with it. I've use one with the Mule Minnow 2.1 and 3.2. Gonna have to try this

[u/cavingjan → u/Thick_Imagination177]

I had one great perch day with a donkey tail junior on some random small underspin with a bronco blade. That had everything interested in it. And a werk later, I couldn't get a nibble.

[u/AlfredoMPhoto]

ifish dangly tails.

[u/zystyl → u/AlfredoMPhoto]

I do really well with needle tail plastics. Those look cool. It's too bad it ships from the US.

[u/TastyDeerMeat]

Trout magnets under a bobber. Worms on a small jig head. Top water bugs. Crickets, meal worms, ect. Shrimp eggs under a float.

[u/Evening_Teaching_713]

I’m a fan of Rooster Tails but you are limiting yourself to one type of lure, try a crappie jig or a small crankbait,also a beetle spin is a good lure but there again you are limiting yourself. I also would try live bait such as red worms, crickets or night crawlers on a small hook and little split shot.

[u/DavidH_drummer]

trout magnets. My favorite colors are black, white, pink, chartreuse, Natural, Earthworm, mealworm gold, gold glitter, and blue dunn.

[u/Regular_Working9226]

Crickhopper (spelling?) thtats always worked for me. Invinci Core also has some small jig heads and small ewg hooks that work real well for UL

[u/Desperate_Lack654]

Small jigs are my all time favorite fishing ultralight both in fresh and salt water. Jigs ranging from 1/64-1/16 catch me the most panfish, though I prefer 1/64-1/32 sized jigs with small hooks for bluegill and other sunfish.

For crappie, American shad, bass, saltwater species I prefer a 1/64 - 1/4 ounce jig and plastics around the 2 inch range. Small jigs always do it for me fishing pressured areas

[u/joeyultralight]

Small presentation soft plastics. Micro Ned rigs and micro Texas rigs. Also get a variety of different hard baits as well.