Are you searching for the best ultralight spinning rod to be paired with the best ultralight spinning reel?

The use of ultralight fishing tackle has exploded in recent years. There are fish out there that just require a little more finesse and light tackle to chase after effectively and ultralight rods bring the characteristics and performance specs needed.

In this article, we will take a look at five ultralight spinning rod models that we know will perform well for their application and will make chasing those smaller, but just as aggressive fish species even more rewarding.

What is the best ultralight spinning rod?

Here is a quick preview of the top 5

• Shimano Stimula
• Okuma SST
• St.Croix Triumph
• Falcon Original Spinning Rod
• Fenwick Eagle

Let’s take a closer look…

The Shimano Stimula Ultralight Spinning Rod are well made, two piece blank designs that give you incredible performance on the water for an unbelievable price.

The blanks are made from mid-modulus graphite composite, and they give you excellent sensitivity that is needed for detecting subtle trout takes. These are also excellent rods for small panfish such as bluegill and crappie.

This ultralight is a 5’6″ rod making it ideal for sneaking into those tight creeks where longer rods can be unwieldy. The casting with this rod is decent, but we recommend sticking with very light lures if you want any accuracy.

These rods feature a standard reel seat with a single uplocking mechanism and aluminum hood to keep your spinning reel locked in tight. The handle grips are a split grip design and made from a very high-quality cork given the extreme affordability of these rods. Aluminum oxide guides are used, and they are inserted into the rod securely so you shouldn’t have to deal with guides popping out in the middle of the water.

The next rod on our list of the best ultralight spinning rod is the Okuma SST Ultra Light Spinning Rods.

There are three ultra light models available with each ranging in rod length. There is a 5’6″, 6′, and 7′ rod model available. We like these options in rod lengths, and it allows you to go with a rod length that will better suit your intended waters.

We love the stiffer tip on these rods that can detect the slightest of hits, but these rods still offer enough backbone that they can handle larger fish if you happen to hook into one. These rods are great casters, especially the two longer rod models that will surprise you with their accuracy. We also like the way these rods handle, especially with the fore and rear grip that is made from quality cork.

The rod blanks and graphite insert on the reel seat have a glossy copper finish that we find appealing to the eye. The graphite reel seat has a single uplocking mechanism and also features two aluminum reel hoods that keep your spinning reel locked in securely. These reels use single foot stainless steel guides that are extremely durable, and the IM-8 graphite blank design all provide a durable but affordable rod.

No list of the best ultralight spinning rod would be complete without mentioning the St.Croix Triumph Ultralight Spinning Rod Series. This rod is one of the most popular in the world, and their ultralight models are worth considering for your UL outfit.

There are two ultralight models available. There is a 5’ medium action and a 5’6” fast action rod model. The 5’ model is a single piece blank design while the longer fast action model comes in a two-piece blank design.

You will love the short, medium action rod on tight streams where shorter but accurate casts are needed, while the longer fast action rod does better in more open water and can get you some more distance on your cast.

These are ultralight power rods, but they have some backbone to them and will allow you to handle medium sized fish with no problem without sacrificing sensitivity.

Both models can handle line weights between 2-6lb test and can handle most lures effectively up to 3/16oz. Both models have excellent handling and have premium reel seats and cork handle grips.

Another great rod is the Falcon Original Spinning Rod.

These American made spinning rods are rising to the top of the fishing rod world and offer incredible performance for still a great price.

There are two models for ultralight spinning rods available from Falcon. This includes an extremely compact 4’6″ and 5′ length models. They are made from high modulus graphite that provides incredible sensitivity to the rods. These are also fast action and allows you to get a little more distance on your casts. While they are ultralights, we think they have more of a light power rating, and you can even work some smaller to medium sized bass with these rods with no issue.

Both models feature some of the best line guides and reel seats available from Fuji. We think you will also be pleased with the high-quality cork that is used in the handles and makes this rod easy to work within just about any weather condition.

These rods go for a little bit more than other rods on our list, but the performance and quality of a Falcon Original are tough to beat and we think is well worth the extra payment.

To conclude our list let’s take a look at the Fenwick Eagle Spinning Rod Series.

Fenwick offers several ultralight models in their Eagle spinning series of rods. There is a 5’6”, 7’, 7’6”, and 8’ ultralight models available. All are 2-piece blank designs which fit snug together, and all are moderate action.

All three of the available ultralight models are made from quality graphite and provide you with outstanding line sensitivity. These rods have a characteristic flimsy feel in the top 1/3 of the rods, but the butt section tends to be a little stiffer and helps out with the casting performance of these ultralight rods.

We like the 8′ model on open water and feel its length and backbone really let you get some extra distance on casts and improves its accuracy with lighter lures. The shortest model available is lacking in casting distance, but it does well in tight conditions.

You’re either going to love or hate the cork composite handles on these rods. While they are a step up from poor quality cork, they don’t have the same feel of a traditional quality cork handle. They will stand up to chipping and are extremely easy to clean, so there are perks to this type of material.

The reel seat on the ultralight models tends to be a little wobbly at times and doesn’t give as tight a hold on the reel as most anglers would like, but for ultralight fishing, it is not as much a concern as it would be with larger outfits.

Final Thoughts…

Whether you are chasing trout in smaller and tighter rivers or trying to hook up on some panfish in open waters, an ultralight rod is going to make it all the easier. It’s also going to make it a lot more fun when large bass feels like the fish of a lifetime.

We have listed and discussed five ultralight spinning rods that are going to hold up on the water and will provide the performance needed to be successful.