Threadlining

[Rick Waddle]

I've been using a technique for several years now called "threadlining", also known as Ultra Ultralight spin fishing. Rods are built with flyrod blanks for the slow actions and use Tennessee style handles with slip rings. Very small spinning reels are used in the 500 size along with specialized monofilament that compares with 6x, 7x and for the really adventurous, 8x line diameters. The really light rods and extremely fine diameter lines allow the use of 1/16oz (heaviest) down to 1/80oz lures to be  used. Mostly for smaller streams and rivers but also works really well for Float n Fly as well. When you hook up with a panfish or other smaller sized fish you get a really good fight and makes for a lot more fun catching the little guys. The slow action of the rods along with light drag settings help keep the small lines from breaking (they still do occasionally depending on the size of the fish, cover and your fish fighting abilities). Joe Robinson of Texas is the guy who has brought this technique to light as he was an avid fly fisherman who was turned on to this technique by another well known fly fisherman. He never looked back. He wrote a "manuscript" called "Piscatorial Absurdities" which covers in great detail of this technique. There is also a forum now dedicated to this style of fishing. Since the technique is geared to smaller fish, i.e., bluegills, trout, crappie, and even some larger bass and other species, I thought I would mention it here. I linked this site there as well. I have several rods built with 1wt and 2wt flyrod blanks with Tennessee style handles with slip rings. I use small 500 series spinning reels and extremely small diameter monofilament line, i.e., .0031" and .0039" diameter lines. I have rod/reel setups that weight 8.6oz total and they are a blast to fish with. If anyone is interested in this technique you can check it out here:

http://threadlining.com/index.php?&sid=1e057f3bea40bb3031477a37...

Here is my newest one. Custom made by a member there. Temple Fork Outfitters 6'-9" 1wt flyrod blank, 4 pieces, cut down to 6' even, 10" Tennessee handle with carbon fiber slip rings. Rod weighs 2.12 oz, Quantum Kinetic 05PTiB reel weighs 6.03oz for a total weight of 8.22oz (with line). 

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

I wasn't aware this had a dedicated name. "Threadlining," I like that.
It has been around for some time as you suggest and many of us here have tried it in one form or another. I have some 1 and 3 lb mono that I haul out from time to time and I've pondered doing a rod like that, myself. In my locale Ive found that it isn't really necessary to go so light and 4-6lb mono with a light leader is adequate.
But I love the rod! Well built looking little stick...
I sincerely appreciate the link and thanks for sharing all of this.

[Mark Sleeper]

Hi I have a Temple fork outfitters Gary Loomis signature FWS 601-2 6'0" UL line weight 2-6 lure weight 1/32-3/8 oz It's a fly spin combo rod.I was fishing for crappie, when I had only a 9 lb leader that was the only short leader i had.when i started fishing the rod bent i thought i hit bottom then i was retreiving the line, i had a fly reel on it,a  5 lb largemouth jumped out of the water and broke my leader off, he got my hans hans rabbit strip jig , glad i had some more tied up. my rod looks like yours only its 2 pc, a fun rod to fish Thanks Sleepy

[Rick Waddle]

I have two other TFO rods. The first one I purchased was the TFG, FWSF 601-2, 6'-0" 2pc spin/fly rod. UL, 2-6# line, 1/32-1/8oz lure. I have a Shimano Sedona 500 spinning reel mounted with Cortland 20# backing with 3.1 DAM Tectan monofilament. That one gave me my first taste of UUL fishing. A real blast. I then purchased the TFO G. Loomis Signature Series UL TFGFWSF601-1, 6'-0" 1pc spin rod. I have a Quantum Kinetic Micro 05PTiC spinning reel mounted with 2# Yozuri Hybrid Ultrasoft as backing and 4# Berkley Nanofil. That one will toss a small lure a mile. Although I think the fish can see the white Nanofil line as I don't seem to get as many hits with that line. I may switch the line out to DAM Tectan. You would think that these two rods would be very similar but the original TFO rod seems to have a more softer action than the G. Loomis Signature series. They're both fun to fish with though. I believe those rod blanks were 2wt or 3wt rated flyrod blanks. The one in my first post here was custom built using a 1wt flyrod blank. A lot more limber as in pretty "whippy". I do get more hits and catch more fish with these lighter setups than my old "big bass" gear. I'm sticking with the UL and UUL setups as they are a lot more fun to fish with.

TFG, FWSF 601-2

[Ronald A Wilson]

there was an article in the infisherman ,a while back from a fellow in northeast ohio, i think the name was bill botiger ,not sure of the spelling that had custom made rods that were ultra ultra light.i think that at one time he was also a member of this site .he had some amazing rods .i think he called them stradivarious .

[paul sach]

Hey Rick ...I thought that was you ..recognized the rod ...one of my fellow thread liners ..

Paul

[Bruce Tomaselli]

Thanks. I just learned something new. I never heard of the method.

Bruce

[Leo Nguyen]

Beautiful rod. I will not be able to handle rods like this. I'm not as delicate as most anglers, and I can't even control my brute strength 90% of the time. I probably will break this thing on the first hour of usage.

[Rick Waddle]

That was one of the first things I had to learn. You're not going to get the long distance casts with really small weight lures. I lost several 1/16oz inline spinners that I made trying to get some long distance with that very small diameter line. Once you get that figured out you will be ok. Nothing like watching your float-n-fly rig go flying off either. Takes some patience tying that stuff on with that small line (with old eyes) ;)

[Thomas Donnelly]

I'm trying to find a copy of Joe Robinson's threadlining book, "Piscatorial Absurdities."

If anyone has one or knows where I can buy one, please let me know.

[dave schuyler]

I just ordered a copy from the website below. They were taking names and phone #. I was told they would have some available in about one month. Cost estimate $28.95. They would text or call when available and would take cc info then. Hope this helps. dave

512-263-1888

Ask for fishing dept.

http://piscatorialabsurdities.com/1.html

[Slip Sinker]

...first spinning reel I learned to cast was a reel my grandfather handed down to me after he passed... the bail was modified by my grandfather much the way that is described in this method... as i remember it didnt take long to learn how to cast it... i knew no other way beforehand. but what is the purpose of this modification?... i see no explanation.

[Slip Sinker]

...ive tried three weights with a spinning reel... i found for under 1/16 oz baits there is no real advantage in casting distance... in fact the many guides act as friction against the line and restrict the distance... the fun factor was sure there. 

sensitivity was a little deadened... but i guess that would be dependent on the rod.