Are you still fishing that 7-footer with a medium weight and action? It might be time for you to upgrade (downsize?) to an Trout BFS Rod – especially if you fish for wild trout with tiny metals and minnows.
This post will break down some of the terms applied in Trout BFS fishing, as well as some of the relative fun (and advantages) anglers who upgrade to ultralight tackle will reap.
The Difference Between Weight and Action
First, it is important to understand the difference between rod weight and action. Ultralight is a weight, not an action; weight has to do with how much force must be applied to create an arc in the rod.
An ultralight rod, therefore, requires very little load to bend. A medium weight rod requires more force, and a heavy rod the most – with some sub-designations broken down between them.
Heavyweight rods are used to work heavy rigs, large lures, and for fighting strong fish on heavier line. Generally, these are alien to the trout fishermen and are reserved for big game saltwater species. For the most part, the only freshwater fishermen using heavy tackle are those that pursue catfish and carp.
As for action, this refers to how stiff the rod is. A very fast action will have a very sensitive tip; the slower the action, the less sensitive and the softer and more “whippy” the rod will feel.
For trout fishing, especially for BFS trout fishing, an specifically designed rod with a more moderate action is preferred because of its paired sensitivity and forgiveness.
Why an Ultralight Fishing Rod?
Some of the best reasons that fishing with an JDM Style Rod is more fun and challenging include the following.
- Greater sensitivity: When paired with a light reel spooled with correspondingly light line, an light fishing rod will offer you greater sensitivity, not over how the lure is running, but will grant you greater sensitivity to detect short strikes, which can be the difference between a lost fish and a landed one.
- Better suitability for light line and lures: It’s not that heavier tackle is terrible with lighter lures, but heavier line certainly is. Lighter line weight is one of the key factors that impacts how far (and how accurately) you can cast, and lighter line pairs better with a matched rod that is also lightweight. Plus, lots of trout fishing lures are naturally light in weight and small in profile, making them perfect candidates for working with an ultralight fishing rod.
- A bigger challenge when fighting larger fish: Ultralight rods lack the weight needed to force in larger fish, and since they’re usually worked with lighter line, you can’t do that anyway. Therefore, you’ll need to become better at tiring a fish, learning when to turn it and how to bring it close without giving the fish an opportunity to break the line at the last second on the bank – it’s harder with a lighter rod, and that can be a lot more fun.
- Can be better in tighter spaces: Many ultralight fishing rods are also shorter, which makes it inherently easier to cast them in tight spaces. Longer rods can cast farther, but they also require more clearance for the casting arc. The arc needed for a shorter rod is likewise shorter, making it easier to cast these rods in tighter spaces, such as on or against washed out banks, or in situations in which you have brush or trees over or flanking you.
Challenge Yourself This Season
By the way, ultralight fishing rods (or outfits, rather) are not just great for BFS trout fishing. They are also effective for bass, panfish, and all other sorts of freshwater species, especially when you are targeting them with light lures on light line. Try your hand with an ultralight outfit this summer and see how you like it.
