Going ultra light
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: Saltwater Flyflingers
Forum Description: A forum for saltwater fly fishing enthusiasts
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=131133
Printed Date: 31 May 2026 at 6:37am
Topic: Going ultra light
Posted By: [email protected]
Subject: Going ultra light
Date Posted: 24 May 2019 at 9:43pm
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Yeah going to Strip Strike was great, and taking the 5 weight was an edgy decision but turned out to spur me onto going lighter to have more of a challenge with the commonly available fish around the harbour that seldom push past 2-3 kilo. I didnt want to go for a cheapo sub $100 rod but didnt want to pay more than $200, so went for a $150 (down from 400) 8 foot CD ICT in 3wt, 4 pce with spare tip, good bag and solid carry tube. Has a cool metal skeleton reel seat with twin lock rings. Balances nicely with the little Okuma SLV 5/6 which also colur coordinates nicely. Tomorrow morning forecast is for near zero winds so hope to get it on the water and into a fish. Breaking out the trout flies as well!  ------------- The Auckland Swoffer www.AucklandSwoffer.wordpress.com |
Replies:
Posted By: FishMan
Date Posted: 25 May 2019 at 9:02am
Looks nice Wolfie  Will be lots of fun with winter kahawai. I won't mention trevs... 
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Posted By: Mudfish marquand
Date Posted: 25 May 2019 at 11:19am
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Good on you Wolfe. You won't regret the purchase, that's a sweet rod. I got the same deal with an ICT #2, spare tip included. Not sure why ULF hasn't gone for it in NZ, for me, it opened up a new dimension of fly fishing. If you are ever down in TAURANGA and want some kahawai action, especially over the winter months, give me a yell. Cheers ------------- On the fly or not interested. |
Posted By: [email protected]
Date Posted: 25 May 2019 at 1:40pm
My first fish was as expected a small kahawai and it did put a nice bend in the rod ... and definitely would like to head down your way and check out how you do it on a 1 weight ...  ------------- The Auckland Swoffer www.AucklandSwoffer.wordpress.com |
Mudfish marquand wrote:Posted By: [email protected]
Date Posted: 25 May 2019 at 1:50pm
Gotta find the trevs first ... ------------- The Auckland Swoffer www.AucklandSwoffer.wordpress.com |
Posted By: Jofly
Date Posted: 25 May 2019 at 5:25pm
| Nice, looks like I will have to dust off my old 2/3 wt I used for trout. I wonder how those big anchovie munching kahawai would go on that. A couple of them put up a good scrap on the 10wt the other day. They were in the 2+ kg range (one was 54cm). |
Posted By: [email protected]
Date Posted: 26 May 2019 at 4:55pm
Hi Mudfish, how'd you find the line rating on the ICT? I found the loading on my 3 weight a bit confusing -i did use it with a 5 wt shark wave, but most of the time no matter how much line I had in the air, which i varied from short to longer, it never felt properly loaded. On the occasional cast I got it right and 50 ft flew out beautifully. Your thoughts? ------------- The Auckland Swoffer www.AucklandSwoffer.wordpress.com |
Posted By: Mudfish marquand
Date Posted: 26 May 2019 at 6:05pm
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Hi Wolfie. My ICT #2 likes the line one weight heavier. The line that I use on it the most is a Rio CamoLux WF3I. The other thing that I wanted to mention to you is not to be afraid of the wind. Windy days have an advantage because the angler and fly line are less noticeable to the fish. Also, a careless cast is more forgiving. I have fished my #2 in 25 knots plus wind with success. No matter which way the wind is blowing, you will find that you can use the wind to your advantage for at least 45 degrees of the compass. This works best for blind casting. Cheers ------------- On the fly or not interested. |
Posted By: [email protected]
Date Posted: 26 May 2019 at 7:26pm
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Thanks for the info - suspected that would be the case. The SA profile is very trouty with fair length of shoulder after the head, so will look for a more salty design. ------------- The Auckland Swoffer www.AucklandSwoffer.wordpress.com |
Posted By: [email protected]
Date Posted: 29 May 2019 at 9:39pm
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Found an inexpensive WF4F - it's 100 Foot long!!! - who can really cast a #4 line that distance in real fishing??? Just squeezes onto the Sage 2050. Could trim off 20 ft and still not feel under-gunned. Unlike some other brand lines that cost more and actually look and feel crappy, this one frankly looks and feels like a $100 line. Proof will be once I get it on the rod and give it a fling over the weekend. Bring on those hungry winter kahawai - and trevally ... ------------- The Auckland Swoffer www.AucklandSwoffer.wordpress.com |
Posted By: [email protected]
Date Posted: 01 Jun 2019 at 9:42pm
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Got first use of the 3wt rod with the new 4wt line today and it definitely casts much better. The line itself wasn't as radical as an outbound but has a more compact head than my 5wt sharkwave. Floated very well and shot out smoothly. Just gotta remember not to try casting heavy weighted flies on such light line. @mudfish what sort of patterns are you using, especially if weighted. And how much distance are getting? ------------- The Auckland Swoffer www.AucklandSwoffer.wordpress.com |
Posted By: Mudfish marquand
Date Posted: 01 Jun 2019 at 10:42pm
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Good evening Wolfie. For kahawai, I use small bead head bait fish flies, shrimp/krill imitations, crazy charlie / clouser patterns and small bait fish patterns and because I use 3 pound tippet, I only use flies tied on #8 hooks or smaller. Tonight, I've been tying small candy type flies in fluorescent colours to use on kahawai in tannin and sediment water, like it was today. Got a few, but nothing big. I have never measured how far I cast with the #1, #2 and #3, but it's obviously far enough. When I get a chance, I will measure it and send you a private message. My fly tying and fly casting is very average but does the job. Cheers ------------- On the fly or not interested. |
Posted By: Mudfish marquand
Date Posted: 01 Jun 2019 at 10:55pm
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I'm happy to meet up and take any of you guys out for some ULF on kahawai. Best tide is the last couple of hours of the outgoing and the first few hours of the incoming. I do have a couple of other places where different tides are okay. You do need waders. Cheers ------------- On the fly or not interested. |
Posted By: Mudfish marquand
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2019 at 10:18am
 Here's one for anyone who is interested. The rod is a Leichi V-Feather #1, the reel a Sage 2230, a Leichi WF1F, Maxima Ultragreen 3 pound tippet and fly was a hometied krill imitation. The kahawai weighed 3 3/4 pounds and was my first fish on the rod and the biggest on it to date. I tried very hard to fault the rod but haven't found anything. It compares very favourably with much more expensive rods. The rod, cloth bag, graphite rod tube, the fly line and freight from China was $100. I really like the reel seat and have never had my reel come off it unexpectedly. ------------- On the fly or not interested. |
Posted By: FishMan
Date Posted: 03 Jun 2019 at 8:04pm
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That is incredibly cheap gear Dick The fact that it has passed your fishing tests on it says heaps. Obviously the stuff coming out of China is getting better all the time. I had some unfortunate experiences with Chinese rods in the past and never went back for another look. One rod snapped clean off just above the cork when landing a kahawai off the rocks. That was interesting. I've never had a rod break there before. Another brand broke four times before I gave up. Sounds like it might be time to have another look. |
Posted By: Mudfish marquand
Date Posted: 03 Jun 2019 at 8:42pm
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Yeah, before I got my mate to get it for me, I checked out a couple of his Chinese rods and by looks, I couldn't fault them. Took the risk and was pleasantly surprised. I have caught several hundred kahawai on the #1 and haven't had a hint of a problem. Another one of my mates from Tauranga owns the same model and it is one of his favourites too. A Rotorua mate has bought two Chinese Leichi fly rods and a couple of weeks ago used his #3 on kahawai. I was cringing when I saw him landing the fish out in the water, but the rod held up. At less than $100.00, it's not much of a risk. Of course there is no guarantee. No doubt I will be buying more in the coming years. (I already have 44 fly rods and know I am a sick puppy). ------------- On the fly or not interested. |
Posted By: FishMan
Date Posted: 04 Jun 2019 at 7:08am
 Yes
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Posted By: [email protected]
Date Posted: 06 Jun 2019 at 7:07pm
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Go on Mudfish, only 8 more rods and you'll have one for each week of the year :)) ------------- The Auckland Swoffer www.AucklandSwoffer.wordpress.com |
Posted By: Mudfish marquand
Date Posted: 06 Jun 2019 at 9:16pm
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Purchased another had to have fly rod today. The ducks nuts for the narrow mangrove estuaries for salties and creeks for trout. It's an Echo River Glass #3, 6' 9", 3 section (RS-369-3. Couldn't help myself, I'm sure you guys know the obsessive nature of the addiction or the addictive nature of the obsession. Anyway, it looks gorgeous in glacier blue with white bindings. I'll try and blood it tomorrow. To add to the obsession, the next one is going to be a Redington Butter Stick, again in #3. Problem is that I want one of the older yellow models. Do I need another rod? Hell no, I need another 30. Cheers ------------- On the fly or not interested. |
Posted By: Mudfish marquand
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2019 at 7:04am
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Ordered the wee Echo last Wednesday from Hamills at 1.00pm and it arrived on Thursday at 11.00am. How's that for service? It's not a rod many shops would carry in stock in NZ. Spent a bit of time messing around trying casting different lines. Will take a bit of time finding a line that suits it. Tim Rajeff advises the same line weight for the rod but for me, it seems to like a #4. There are so many variables, not only with a suitable fly line, but also casting style, etc. The rod is only 6'9" and is not an open water rod. It's more suitable for fishing a small tight trout stream or a tight mangrove creek. So far, I've only been able to cast about 20 metres, but it's far enough for kahawai. I like messing around with different fly rods and I am really enjoying stepping back from the fast action graphites and into the more "traditional feel" of glass. ------------- On the fly or not interested. |
Posted By: [email protected]
Date Posted: 22 Jun 2019 at 6:53pm
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I've put up a video of Mudfish into a kahawai on his 3 weight outfit from a couple of weeks ago. It's not the prettiest as it was blowing 15-20 knots, waves sloshing and nasty lighting, but it does show that 3 weights can be used in more than mirror calm conditions to scare tiny trout in tiny creeks ... ------------- The Auckland Swoffer www.AucklandSwoffer.wordpress.com |
Posted By: FishMan
Date Posted: 22 Jun 2019 at 8:28pm
Ahhh... the delights of winter in New Zealand  Good work all round But Wolfie - it looks like you have tick some YouTube box that allows for viewing on other websites if you want it to load directly in here. |
Posted By: [email protected]
Date Posted: 23 Jun 2019 at 12:51pm
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Will have a look at settings, probably some default thingy to be untucked. ------------- The Auckland Swoffer www.AucklandSwoffer.wordpress.com |
Posted By: Mudfish marquand
Date Posted: 25 Jun 2019 at 1:56pm
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Good stuff and good fun Wolfie. Cheers ------------- On the fly or not interested. |
Posted By: [email protected]
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2019 at 7:34pm
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Spring is here and the prospect of some serious ultra light sport got me to looking for a reel to balance the 3 weight but importantly handle saltwater (and not break the budget). So the fruit of my internet browsing was an Echo BaSE 4/5 which has a no frills molded graphite construction. Quite good rulon washer drag with knurled knob. Under $80 delivered and goes nicely on the 8ft CD rod. Took about 50m of backing which was sufficient to land a 7kg kingfish a few years back so it doesnt worry me with a UL outfit. Here's to a fishy spring season!   ------------- The Auckland Swoffer www.AucklandSwoffer.wordpress.com |
Posted By: Mudfish marquand
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2019 at 9:39pm
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Looks good Wolfie. I had a Maxcatch Super Light given to me a couple of weeks ago. Really impressive reel, have been fishing it on an Ultra Glass 7 foot #3. Very smooth drag and I have been thrashing it on the kahawai. I honestly can't fault it. It's my second Chinese reel, my other is a Maxcatch (Leichi) LD, also a perfect size fort the #3. The kings should be on the flats within aix weeks. Cheers ------------- On the fly or not interested. |
Posted By: [email protected]
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2019 at 10:03pm
We are fortunate to have so much inexpensive yet decent quality gear to choose from these days. Really looking forward to a decent kahawai on the 3wt, and keep the 7wt as my kingfish outfit ... ------------- The Auckland Swoffer www.AucklandSwoffer.wordpress.com |
Posted By: Mudfish marquand
Date Posted: 18 Sep 2019 at 6:21pm
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Yeah. An old Daiwa SF708 arrived by mail yesterday so I'm keen to match that to a glass rod. The spool will interchange with the System One reel which were also made by Daiwa. When you look into the old fly reel manufacturers, a lot of them were sleeping with each other and it's very obvious that this is still going on. Great to see Maxcatch in New Zealand, the ultra light rods are awesome and their #3 Ultra Glass 703-3 is so good, I now have two. We are spoilt for choice with both rods and reels. Your #7 will be perfect for the Tauranga Harbour ray riders Wolfie. Cheers ------------- On the fly or not interested. |
Posted By: [email protected]
Date Posted: 22 Sep 2019 at 8:59am
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@Mudfish marquand: Do you shorten you leader on your UL or use tapered designs with these light lines to get turnover, especially on windy days?
------------- The Auckland Swoffer www.AucklandSwoffer.wordpress.com |
Posted By: Mudfish marquand
Date Posted: 22 Sep 2019 at 5:27pm
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Hi Wolfie. For ultra light, I don't use tapered leaders, just a length of 3 pound or 4 pound Maxima Ultragreen, about the same length as the rod. The light mono gives me a bit of stretch, this and my use of fibreglass rods helps protect my knots from "strike impact." I stay away from small diameter monofilament nylon leader material too. The Maxima Ultragreen in my opinion, is perfect for ULF. Cheers ------------- On the fly or not interested. |
Posted By: Mudfish marquand
Date Posted: 22 Sep 2019 at 5:39pm
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And, a perfect turnover in my opinion, isn't that essential with kahawai. A splashy landing of a fly gets attention from kahawai. On some occasions, the bigger kahawai hit the fly within a second or two of it landing. Regarding wind, I get the odd casting knot that perhaps I wouldn't get with tapered leaders. In windy conditions, I will check my leader every couple of casts. The wind can work in your favour making it harder for fish to see you. Short takes are more common. No matter how strong the wind is, if you are wading, you'll find 30 to 40 degrees of easy fishing. Cheers ------------- On the fly or not interested. |
Posted By: [email protected]
Date Posted: 07 Oct 2019 at 8:37pm
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Got out on Sunday midday on the rising tide with the #3 wt outfit and was able to send a cast under the wind out to about 40 ft which I was quite pleased with. Fishing with a Mudfish marqand Barbie clouser which got one missed strike then hooked up two fish but both dropped within 10 seconds. Odd but better than nothing and makes me even more confident of the ability of the outfit to cover water in the better conditions that are coming. ------------- The Auckland Swoffer www.AucklandSwoffer.wordpress.com |
Posted By: [email protected]
Date Posted: 06 Nov 2019 at 10:31pm
Just to inspire anyone unbalanced enough to be reading this thread .. Yeah it's a baby tarpon on a 1 weight ...------------- The Auckland Swoffer www.AucklandSwoffer.wordpress.com |
Posted By: Mudfish marquand
Date Posted: 07 Nov 2019 at 5:29am
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Whoever landed that knows his stuff. That rod has had a lot of use. Good stuff Wolfie. Cheers ------------- On the fly or not interested. |