Ultra light casting rod

[Hobie-Wan Kenobi]

A year and a half ago I built a 6ft MHX ultra light using the Spin Jig series blank. I have a PX Type R with 10lb braid on it. I love the rod for weightless worms and small jerkbaits. I wanted to build a rod for casting real ultralight stuff and I feel the rod is too fast for really light stuff. Will a normal fast ultra light blank be too light for the reel? Any advice is appreciated.

[vinnieb729]

What kind of wt and lures do you plan to throw?

As a place to start, I would consider a popping blank. They can be a mod-fast to XF action with decent backbone but the tips are nice and light to handle small baits. They can be found in 0, 1, and 2 powers.

[Hobie-Wan Kenobi]

My intent was to almost phase out my spinning UL. I'm not looking to cast super tiny stuff. I just like to fish under powered rods. Casting small lures like a small Panther Martin or panfish cranks would be my lower limit. I think the X fast tip is the limiting factor.

[donholton]

Most of my fishing is done with l and ul bait casters and one of my favorite rods is built on a batson walleye blank. 6'2' rated for 1/4 oz and up to 10 lb line. Its a very nice and versatile light rod thats does a lot of things very well.

[smalliesteve]

I've got a rod built on the Phenix Elixer 601 that I really like. Handles up to a 1/4 oz very well. More mod-fast than fast. I think I'd fit the bill for you, though I don't have a good baseline as I haven't seen the MHX UL.

FWIW I bought a PX Finesse Special spool for my PX-R and it's amazing. If you're willing to spend the money, it'd go very nicely with an UL rod.

[Hobie-Wan Kenobi]

I was looking into buying a spool but I wasn't sure if it was the reel or the rod holding me back. I love the MHX blank for 4in worms. Casts a mile and still has some backbone. I would buy the spool but I'd be out over a hundred bucks if the problem was just the rod. I guess the spool wouldn't hurt. I have plenty of time (winter) to think and build a rod if need be.