Ultra-Light Fishing Adventure #1: Tutorial Trip (New area unlocked!)

 So yesterday I picked up a cheap Shakespeare Ultra-Light fishing rod. I had one last year but broke it after a few trips out and couldn't be bothered at the time to get it replaced. Now that I'm working again and have a cash flow once more, I thought I'd treat myself to a new one and then spend the morning at the river to really get a feel for the weight bracket.

My favorite area to fish in town is at the W. Kerr Scott Dam spillway. I've caught many catfish here in the past despite fighting with an incredibly rocky bottom which has resulted in so many snags, but they're worth the aggravation when you finally hook something big. 

But my destination wasn't the spillway itself or the pier that ran along it; I was heading for the inlet where the Yadkin River meets a slow-moving stream(which is a beautiful area to visit in the autumn). With a 5+ foot rod, fishing the stream wouldn't be worth it when the fast-moving river full of multiple bass and catfish species was right there, but with a shorter ultra-light? You better believe I was going to fish it.

The area pictured is maybe four feet deep at max with the bottom visible even without polarized sunglasses, making sight fishing pretty easy if there's anything in the area at the time. But this wasn't my destination, or at least it wasn't after I realized the water was low enough that I could cross over into the hilly area that runs along the stream.

I've always looked at this worn-down path with interest, but as I had discovered it in the cooler months, getting across to it wasn't a wise idea, even with my waterproof hiking boots. But with it now steadily in the 80-degree temperature range and with sandals, I could easily trek across the expanse of water that separated the panhandle and the greater greenway on the other side. 

Zebco 33 Micro Spincast Reel / 4lb Cajun Red Mono / 4'6" Shakespeare Ultra-Light Rod

I'll say it: I am a Zebco fanboy. I grew up using their products and will until the day I hang up my rods for good. I am also a Spincast purist. It's not that I can't use a spinner(I just don't want to) or a Baitcaster(Too expensive...), it's just I prefer the ease of use a spincast reel gives you. And as long as they are properly cared for, never present any issues, at least in my experience.

My main goal today was to really get a feel for how to fish with an Ultra-Light setup. In the past, I took it to far more turbulent areas where I'd constantly snag and end up pulling too hard, breaking the rod in the process. This time, with the clean, clear running stream, I could practice without worry, getting a feel for how to cast and whatnot.

Since I wasn't casting bigger lures or jigs, I had to approach casting differently as it's pretty easy to get the lighter test snapping back on the pole and getting entangled, which it did several times when I'd use something a bit too heavy for it.

Eventually, with a small single hook spinner, I was able to get this lovely little bluegill. On the UL setup, even something as small as this puts up a satisfying fight, and even though it was the only fish I caught after four hours, I learned a lot and will be more ready the next time I head out.

On my way out, I noticed a number of good-sized bass(and a sucker fish!) just hanging out beneath a downed tree. I tried to coax one out using a number of different lures, and while the for did get the biggest of the fish to approach, they never bit. Ah well, maybe next time.