Curious if anyone here have used the Rainshadow IP840 for 2 lb test. Its considerably faster and more powerful than the St. Croix 3S70ULM2 (Thanks to Steve Kartalia who loaned me a St. Croix to test.). The ERN is for the IP840 versus 5.5 for the St. Croix.

I know the IP840 works GREAT for 4 lb test. Anyone use the IP840 regularly for 2 lb test?

Thanks,
Mo

Always enjoy your posts Mo. I am an ultra-lite nut myself, fishing 4# test or less for 95% of my fishing, including bass, walleye, trout, and even small pike. I haven't used the Rainshadow you mentioned, but have used the St. Croix. I would say it is going to be a little on the stiff side. With 2# you really need some flex. The best rods I have found for 2# line are built from 6'6" 2 wt fly blanks. If you wanted something shorter, the next best blanks I have found are Pac Bay T2 ultra-lites from 5' to 6'6" all have softer tips than most other's I have tried, and are priced well too.

It's amazing how much pressure you can put on a fish with 2# line with a 6'6" 2wt fly blank build! There is a world of difference between 2# and 4# line, and my experience says you gotta have some flex for the spider web. **just a note - check out Leland's Lures - they have a trout float that is super sensitive for UL fishing - it's like a hybrid float/fly fishing strike indicator, and you see every twitch with it!!!

Hope this helps,
Marc

Thanks Marc. yes, I've spoken with the Leland people. Great people.

I hear you about flex. However, there are many who also fish on 2 lb using the Loomis 7' UL (IMX) that's much stiffer than the St. Croix 7' UL. That's what I'm trying to figure out - it seems that they are compromising the ability to let the rod work in exerting pressure.

A problem with soft tip versus stiffer tip is that soft tips give up a lot on sensitivity and for some types of Ul fishing, sensitivity is very important. (i.e. drop shotting) So it's a compromise either direction.

Thanks,
Mo

When using the faster, stiffer rods and 2# test, it's a lot on the angler and also a lot on the reel's drag. Those things are really key there.

I've used 2# test with fast action walleye jigging rods and every walleye over 11# on my wall was caught on 2# line. Like Marc says, it's amazing how much pressure you can put on a fish with 2# line.

Putter
Williston, ND

My favorite UL is a 9" old fiberglass Fenwick fly rod blank that I turned into a spinning rod. Old tech and over 30 years old. Some serious bend in that rod and it absorbs a lot which would break the line on a stiffer rod. Casts a mile too. 2 and 4 pound test are actually a bit hard to break on it Haven't wet that rod in over 5 years now.

just got back on this thread - a bit late.

Randy - you're right but I do think that a more flex blank will be able to exert better pressure and prevent lures being spit out if the fish suddenly turns etc. THe mass of some metal lures allow the fish to spit the hook more easily when using a stiffer blank that has very little bend. With tiny hooks on light lures or bait, that matters less. Am I right?

Dave - you're not alone. Many say what you say. Problem is that these long blanks are not very sensitive - so again, looking at the tradeoff point and much depends on the person fishing.

Mo