Ultra light ice rod

My little guy is asking me to upgrade his perchin ice fishing rod. He wants an ultra light rod because he saw a guy on YouTube say it was better for feeling the lighter bites. I’ve heard from some the tips are to fragile on ultras and they seam to break… so for him ultra or light he was using medium…Thanks Kevin G

I have successfully used ultra light rods for perch for many years and have not had an issue with the tips being too fragile. I swear by them for perch as when the bite is finicky you can detect the bite much easier.

Like any fishing rod care needs to be taken when storing and transporting, but I have never had an issue while fishing.

Cheers,

x2

A new fishing rod always makes a great X'mas present to keep the "keen" alive. Being on the ice is probably more important here than the rod or technique. Skill will come with enjoyment. ("That sounds like a moto for myself, also!") And keep taking those photos for memories!

Actually he won a ice fishing tournament last year on bay of quinte and got 50.00 x 2 bass pro gift cards for placing 1st and 3rd. Wants to feel lighter bites he told me…LOL…

Personally I love ultralight for perching as well as most other panfish. There's a lot of experts that love ultralight as well but at the same time I understand why some of the old boys love the super stiff rods for perch. Anyway my two cents if he wants ultra light because he read it it will definitely be a "cause and effect" learning experience.
In terms of setup it's pretty basic, ultralight rod super tight on the drag then you can back off a little bit as he gets a little more experienced

One way to get around the possible frailty of ultralights for him is to put on a spring bobber at the end of whatever he is using now. He may like using a rod that he is familiar with. Kids (and most adults too) have their favourite rods/gear/lures, etc. So adding a spring bobber will help him see the light bites more easily and still have the same toughness. Just an idea. I sometimes being spring bobbers with me to clip onto heavier rods when I just don't want to bring out so much stuff and MAY try fishing for panfish on the way in from the larger fish on Simcoe (if successful with the large stuff, I don't bother stopping on the way in). Get some quality spring bobbers (I like the titanium ones) - much more expensive than the cheaper real spring, spring bobbers but they work better IMO, don't rust if left in a tackle box that has some water in it, etc., etc. But still cheaper than a quality rod.

Great advice! That would help as well for the odd time you hook into a pike while fishing for perch. Also where I fish for perch - I've caught lakers and whitefish from the same area. so it's nice to have a rod with a bit of a backbone.

I used to only use ultra light rods and 2/4lb test for Perch but I got tired of losing massive jumbos. I did’t lose them to break offs. I lost big jumbos clamping down on baits and I couldn’t drive the hook home. I changed to light action rod and a medium light both with 6lb braid and 6/8lb floro tippet. The braid is awesome for detecting light bites but IMO you have to be in a hut or out on a warm day. I have experienced no difference in bite frequency with the heavier line and still can detect bites just as easily as with my ultra light. I also don’t lose those big perch even close to as much as I used to.

One of the benefits of this set up is I now can also run bigger baits for jumbos and both rods are awesome for whitefish and smaller lakers.

I love my ul rods and fish with them most of the time.....

what Disco says also makes sense though

In the end let your young fella decide.....ul rods are not expensive imo and you can always swith it up if he finds that they are not really what he wants


btw, I prefer glass rods with ul, like Yad

Where can I find glass rods

Ultralight are my go to ice rods for perch crappie even walleye. I love it for later in ice season when the bite gets lite.

pretty much any tackle shop my local one has at leat 20 different combo sets

Disco hit the nail on the head! Get a much better hook set with a med/lt rod than the ultra lt.

I tend to agree with Disco as well.

I find with the way lighter tackle, you lose more fish.

And the odd break off from a pike is way more likely with 2lb over some flouro leader etc. even if 6lb test.

For the days that the bite IS super light can always have one around but I tend to use light action mostly. 6lb mono does the trick for most species IMO for something easy, and can handle decent sized fish with the right drag.