IMO an ultra light rod = ultra light fish (like trout up to maybe 18" or so, and all smaller fish like bluegill, crappie, smallies up to maybe 3 pounds, small cats, etc). I'd say your reel, can handle slightly larger fish--but likely not your rod. If you put your reel, say, on a 7 - 8' rod with more backbone--you could land summer steel w/ no trouble. But again, a 4' 8" rod, isn't the correct rod for anything but smaller fish.