Best Ultralite Budget Trout Fishing Setup

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My posts contain Amazon affiliate and other affiliate links. 

I'm often asked about my setup for micro trout fishing in tiny streams in California. Since most of these trips require a long hike in and stealth to ensure dozens of hikers don't know I'm on my way to fish (thus protecting hidden streams), I utilize collapsible rods exclusively. These usually cost an arm and a leg, but they don't have to! Check out this list of the best ultralite trout fishing budget gear (conventional)

Reel:

1. Shimano Sienna 500: https://amzn.to/2CeuKIi

This is my primary reel for micro trout fishing. It has an amazing drag, allowing me to handle fish much larger than expected on very light line. The retrieve speed is a little off for fast streams, but overall works well.

2. Goture Spinning Fishing Reel Metal Spool Coil 6BB : https://bit.ly/2QNfshW

This is one of my travel spinning reel for lightweight trout fishing. It's very compact, thanks to the folding reel handle, and drag works well. Get the 500 series if you can find it, otherwise the 1000 series should work. It's super affordable, doesn't hurt to have a few of these.

Rod:

1. Carbon M Power Lure 3.5g Portable Telescopic Fishing Rod. https://bit.ly/2IWqJJV

This is one of the better telescopic travel fishing rods on Aliexpress. Cork handle, sensitive rod, very portable. Just be careful with the tip, either have a few rod guide tips to repair it with, or transport it in a carrier, because they won't stand up to alot of luggage abuse. I use the 1.6m version or the 1.8m version. 

2. Eagle Claw Telescopic Travel Fishing Rod: https://amzn.to/2CeuoS8

I have the prior model of telescopic fishing rod from Eagle Claw, featuring a different color (silver/black). It's basically impossible to find at this time, and this yellow model, which has good reviews but I have not used, it the replacement. My older version has stood up to an enormous amount of abuse and it's in many of my videos.

Lures:

1. Berkely Trout Worms: https://amzn.to/2CeJJBZ

Throw these on a barbless hook with a small split shot, and you'll catch 90% of the fish you run into. They'll only hit it a couple of times before getting smart, so don't miss that first bite. Ensure your hooks are barbless - you don't want to be killing these fish inadvertently when catch and release fishing.

Line:
1. P-Line Fluro: https://amzn.to/2CbffRz
2-4lb Monofilament or fluoro is my choice. P-line has worked well for me.

Exploring San Timeteo Creek for Fishing...

Plenty of water, but very shallow. Does hold some very small fish from my observations. Possibly a location for ultralite fishing? Like Tenkara or Tanago style fishing? More to come...

Top Micro Ultralite Fishing Lures Update: Lures-PN

Some of my readers may recall the very popular Top Micro Ultralite Fishing Lures post a few years back. I still eagerly collect micro hardbaits and have continued to add to my collection. 

Recently, I came across a number of Polish custom micro lure designs, including Woblerypn AKA Lures-PN. You can see some of his fascinating creations here.

Woblerypn's lures feature beautiful handpainted wood designs, ranging from insects and small baitfish. I picked up several, as you can see above.

They are also remarkable tiny-on par with the tiny Snap Beans from Yo-Zuri. I was very impressed with the details of these little lures; it's been too cold to fish with them lately but I'll hopefully have a written report from an Urban Creek, Trout Stream, or Pond in the future.

You can purchase directly from him through his website, or through eBay here. 

Top Micro Ultralite Fishing Lures

Several months ago, I came across an excellent article at In-Fisherman, speaking volumes about “Might Mini Cranks.” The author discussed a wide range of tips, tactics and lures to use for ultralite anglers wanting to throw tiny cranks and jerkbaits. Since then, I've built up an ever-expanding collection of ultralite fishing lures and I wanted to take this opportunity to share with everyone what I have found. 

(Please excuse any typos in this post; it’s a fairly long one!)


Jet Tackle Lures is one of the best sources I have found of ultra cheap fishing lures in the United States. They also happen to offer a fantastic line of micro lures, perfect for ultralite anglers on a budget. While I love my expensive Yo-Zuri micros, I also maintain a collection of cheap small lures that I’m not afraid to cast near heavier cover or other snag-prone areas. Here’s their page of micro lures (web link-view ALL micro lures from Jet Tackle here) and following are profiles of several of these lures.

S3-Jetx (bottom 3) vs S4-LKA039

Catches trout too!

Tiny

Jet Tackle’s S3-JETX0002 is pretty solid little lure. Actually, it’s one of my favorite micro lures they offer, coming in at a tiny 1.2 inches (3cm). I’ve nailed a load of different sized green sunfish and other panfish on this tiny micro lure. I’ve also caught several wild rainbow trout on it from different secret SoCal creeks, thus showing off its versatility. It’s probably closest in shape to a mini Rapala, although considerably lighter. It has a fairly slow sink rate and a nice wobble on retrieve. They offer the S3-JETX0002 in 8 different colors, each for the stellar price of just $1.27. Try and beat that when you are looking for decent micro lures! It’s definitely one of the best micro lures offered by Jet Tackle and one I would urge any ultralite angler to purchase. ★★★★★

The S4-LKA039 is another tiny (1.6 inch) lure from Jet Tackle, in a mini jerkbait shape. It’s also one of the most detailed micro lures they offer and comes in a wide array of enticing colors. I have several of them in my ultralite box. It has an excellent side to side wobble, but unfortunately, it doesn’t sink fast enough to be of as much use to me as the S3-JetX. I still like it and adding a snap swivel to the front does help, but it’s mostly shallow water bait. It’s available for $1.27 as well. ★★★★


The tiniest true crankbait offered by Jet Tackle is the S4-LKA046. It’s definitely a solid shallow water crankbait, with an excellent wobble, even on faster retrieves and required little to no tuning. However, I wish it could dive a little deeper, as it is probably limited to 6 inches or less of diving depth. It’s still not a bad lure for $1.27 but it won’t replace my trusty Strike King Bitsy Pond Minnow crankbait. ★★

One of the neatest tiny topwaters offered by Jet Tackle is the S5-FLA031. It’s a typical topwater popper and looks great in the water. The S5-FLA031 comes in at a true 2 inches and pops like a pro on retrieve. I’m not worried about casting it near thick cover for bass or sunfish on my urban creek fishing trips, because at $1.27 it doesn’t hurt to lose it (well, not too much at least). Definitely one I would recommend picking up for topwater ultralite fans, one of the better lures offered by Jet Tackle. Get it! ★★★★★

( more after the jump) 

Summer Los Angeles Trout Fishing in the Mountains

A little over one month ago, I took my longest hike into the San Gabriel Mountains. This was deep in the Angeles National Forest, and I hiked and fished to my hearts content at a tiny, secret mountain stream.

The secret creek I explored meandered between cliffs and forests, partially hidden from the intense Southern California summer heat. Gear was pretty simple: ultralite rod/spinning reel, 2lb mono, micro jigs with plastic trout worms and plenty of water.

I truly lost track of how many beautiful, wild rainbow trout I hooked and landed.
(Video and more after the jump)

Trout Trout Trout

Location: Los Angeles National Forest
Target: Rainbow Trout
Operation: Success
Hiked in. Fished. Had fun. Enjoy the results.

 (More after the jump + video)

Cali Urban Creek Bass and Green Sunfish Fishing Action

 Bass Attack Urban Creek Bass Fishing with Underwater Shots

Last week, I visited one of my favorite urban creeks in California. It's packed with cover and loaded with largemouth bass, green sunfish, carp, catfish and other eager biters. So far, most of the bass I've caught in this creek are tiny. However, this last trip really blew me away-several decent-sized largemouth bass were caught, along with a bunch of chunky green sunfish on an assortment of lures.