Ugly Stick And Shakespeare Synergy 10

[Waterloo9]

I just started getting back into fishing this year. Hadn't done it since i was a kid, i asked my dad what rod and reel i should get and he told me he always liked the ugly stick and shakespeare reels so i went and got it. And i like it a lot, but i noticed the last time i went fishing that it would sort of like snag sometimes when reeling it in and also that when i catch a fish even if it is small it would not reel all the way in well. It would get it out of the water on the pier i fished on but then i pretty much had to grab the line while its down like 10 feet. So i started looking around and thought maybe the reel just wasn't good. But i found that the rod i have is a spinning rod and my reel is spincasting. Do you guys think this would cause problems with my reel? The only differences i notice between them is that mine doesn't have a little handle on the back, and that it has a little loop on the bottom.

[roadwarrior]

There are better alternatives depending on how much you are willing to spend.

[Waterloo9]

Well, i did think about taking it back but and upgrading because i really have been enjoying fishing, but i don't have the receipt i don't think meijers will take it back. So for now i will probably stick to the cheaper rod and reel and upgrade later, but i want to have the right combo if this is causing problems with my reel. But i do plan to upgrade probably at the end of summer.

[new2BC4bass]

The rod will not affect how far you can reel up so, yeah, a reel problem.  Too bad you didn't ask here before buying.  You could have gotten a better outfit for just a little more money.  I couldn't afford an Ugly Stick back in my youth.  SirSnookalot has mentioned that the Ugly Stick is the most popular saltwater rod in his area by a large margin.  Won't take long for you to find that not many enthusiasts use an Ugly Stick on this forum.

 

Take the side cover off the reel, and see if you can find a problem.  Doubt the reel is worth sending it to someone for repairs unless you have a repairman near by you can drop it off at for an estimate.

 

Look at a Pflueger President if you need to replace the reel.

[Waterloo9]

That was the other thing, the rod i have and have always used is spincasting. Thought about switching to a spinning rod but what are the real differences?

[new2BC4bass]

How big is the rod?  Some smaller spincast rods have pistol grips.  Never seen a spinning rod with one.  Does your rod have a trigger?  (Part that looks like a miniature rhino horn projecting from the side opposite the seat.)  Spinning rod won't have one.

 

EDIT:  Most people use a spinning rod with the reel hanging underneath the rod with one or more fingers on each side of the reel.  A trigger would raise havoc this way.  Reeling with the spinning reel on the top would be very awkward for me plus you would be reeling in the wrong direction.

[Waterloo9]

Mine does not have the handle on the back. It is the SPL 1102 i was supposed to get the SPC 1102 it is 5'10 and medium action. I don't have a spinning reel, i have a spincast reel.

[lmbfisherman]

Well I'm not a spincast expert, but I found that those inexpensive spincasts especially (like my daughters shakespeare combo), do not have especially good drags and has a hard time battling any fish.  For instance my daughter caught a 1.5 lb large mouth bass.  She had a heckuva time reeling it in, when she uses my cheap spinning set up (Shimano Zirca 2500)...night and day she had no problems bringing the small fish in.  I just don't think the lower end of cheap spincasts can hold up to a real fight.  Then again I'm no expert. 

[new2BC4bass]

Mine does not have the handle on the back. It is the SPL 1102 i was supposed to get the SPC 1102 it is 5'10 and medium action. I don't have a spinning reel, i have a spincast reel.

 

Oops.  Somehow my mind got wrapped up like a pretzel.  Sorry.  I am not a fan of spincast reels.  My daughter's boyfriend (and his father) use nothing but spincast reels.  They do okay.  Still say it is a reel problem  Spincast rods have smaller eyes (if I remember correctly) similar to a baitcast rod because the line is coming out of a small hole so no need to funnel the line down.

 

I would still suggest a Pflueger President spinning reel if you need a new reel.  My experiences with a spincast reel are very limited.  All I know is a bigger reel works better than a mini spincast.

[lmbfisherman]

Oops.  Somehow my mind got wrapped up like a pretzel.  Sorry.  I am not a fan of spincast reels.  My daughter's boyfriend (and his father) use nothing but spincast reels.  They do okay.  Still say it is a reel problem  Spincast rods have smaller eyes (if I remember correctly) similar to a baitcast rod because the line is coming out of a small hole so no need to funnel the line down.

 

I would still suggest a Pflueger President spinning reel if you need a new reel.  My experiences with a spincast reel are very limited.  All I know is a bigger reel works better than a mini spincast.

If you want a cheaper reel than the President..go for one of the Shimano low end reels.  They work well too and you can beat them up and they still work.  Like stated in my last post I own a Zirca reel that should work or Sienna reel could be an option.  They both are cheaper than the President.  Steer clear of the Abu cheapo ones, as I had a Cardinal Agenda and 302i both their drags died on me and my Shimano Sienna and Solace has no issues pulling in fish.  I use them for salt water too and they are still ticking. 

[AK-Jax86]

Not to start anything with the older gentlemen on this site but it seems like a lot of older people swear by ugly stick and Shakespeare it's like that's all they know.

[Waterloo9]

Well, and that might be how the same with my dad. My question is what isn't good about the ugly stick? Now again, i am a beginner but i have used the ugly stick and i could tell a huge difference from other rods i have used. It was much more sensitive then other rods. They are supposed to like never break, only things ive seen about them breaking was stuff other then fishing. Not saying that there isn't better but for $30 it seems like it would be the best for a beginner. AGAIN, i pretty much know nothing.

[aquaholic]

I have always loved ugly stick. It has been my go to rod for years (spinning) they might not have the best feel. But you cannot beat them for people just starting out. You will hear people on here talking about snapping rods on hooks sets on $100+ rods, its probably very tough to find a person who has ever snapped an ugly stik on a hook set unless they managed to snag a speed boat. But then again if they were using power pro and an ugly stik, its possible they ripped the lower unit off the boat.

[MCS]

An ugly stick spinning rod makes an affordable and very effective topwater and jerkbait rod. Personally don't like the weight but can't beat the action in the tip and you can get that weight going in a rythm n walk the dog all day long

[Capt.Bob]

You have a spinning rod and I would put a spinning reel on it. With that said I agree even a low end Shimano like a Sedona or Solace would be a good starter. I have to say the Ugly Stick would have to go for me, but is not your problem. It is a very durable rod but gives up a huge level of sensitivity to decent finesse rods and weighs much more. I am not saying they won't work and for anything more than soft finicky bights probably will work close to as good as a medium quality graphite. But for now I would definitely upgrade your outfit to one of the entry level Shimanos that have been mentioned in this thread, you can upgrade the rod when you want at a later date when your wants change!!! you will be glad you did! 

[Virtuoso]

The rod will not affect how far you can reel up so, yeah, a reel problem.  Too bad you didn't ask here before buying.  You could have gotten a better outfit for just a little more money.  I couldn't afford an Ugly Stick back in my youth.  SirSnookalot has mentioned that the Ugly Stick is the most popular saltwater rod in his area by a large margin.  Won't take long for you to find that not many enthusiasts use an Ugly Stick on this forum.

 

Take the side cover off the reel, and see if you can find a problem.  Doubt the reel is worth sending it to someone for repairs unless you have a repairman near by you can drop it off at for an estimate.

 

Look at a Pflueger President if you need to replace the reel.

 

For what the Pfleuger President costs, its a cheap way to get a pretty nice reel for the money. I would take the combo back. You talk about desiring feel, that will be hard to do on the Ugly Stick. You can get an H20 Ethos, or Berkley Lightning Shock for cheap, the more you spend the better rod you get. For less than $100 you can have yourself an okay setup to build off of. 

[SirSnookalot]

 SirSnookalot has mentioned that the Ugly Stick is the most popular saltwater rod in his area by a large margin.  Won't take long for you to find that not many enthusiasts use an Ugly Stick on this forum.

 

 

No question about it, but an ugly stick is the very last rod I would use for freshwater bass fishing.  As popular as they are I don't care to use them even in saltwater.

If I were to take a beginner fisherman under my wing so to speak the first consideration is budget then level of enthusiasm. Most likely this will not be the last outfit purchased, for the lack of any other term I'd recommend a "disposable outfit".  I have some bubble packed reels that perform well for less than $40.  The smoothest I have found are shakespere agilty, cardinal 102, pflueger trion, but about any brand is going to work.  A shimano soujourn rod decent at a budget price, a few bucks more a  shimano sellus or see what Walmart has on sale.

[Waterloo9]

Well, i am gonna go fishing this morning and my dad has a spinning reel in the shed, so i am gonna try it again. If i like it im switching. If i don't like it idk, i might try and get a cheap baitcasting reel just to try that. I think though from everything i've learn that i will like it. I also think when i was a kid i never really gave them a chance. I was like why am i gonna flip this thing back and forth when i can just press a button?

[aquaholic]

Well, i am gonna go fishing this morning and my dad has a spinning reel in the shed, so i am gonna try it again. If i like it im switching. If i don't like it idk, i might try and get a cheap baitcasting reel just to try that. I think though from everything i've learn that i will like it. I also think when i was a kid i never really gave them a chance. I was like why am i gonna flip this thing back and forth when i can just press a button?

Not trying to be a jerk but if flipping a bail is a pain to you, i dont see a baitcaster being a good option

[lmbfisherman]

Well, i am gonna go fishing this morning and my dad has a spinning reel in the shed, so i am gonna try it again. If i like it im switching. If i don't like it idk, i might try and get a cheap baitcasting reel just to try that. I think though from everything i've learn that i will like it. I also think when i was a kid i never really gave them a chance. I was like why am i gonna flip this thing back and forth when i can just press a button?

I'd also like to add, if you've never used a baitcaster, don't go cheap.  You'll just get frustrated and may toss it against a wall.  If you can, I'd buy at the very least a Bass Pro Shops Pro Qualifier reel...especially when it's on sale for 79.99.

[new2BC4bass]

I have always loved ugly stick. It has been my go to rod for years (spinning) they might not have the best feel. But you cannot beat them for people just starting out. You will hear people on here talking about snapping rods on hooks sets on $100+ rods, its probably very tough to find a person who has ever snapped an ugly stik on a hook set unless they managed to snag a speed boat. But then again if they were using power pro and an ugly stik, its possible they ripped the lower unit off the boat.

 

Now this is funny.  Even funnier is there is a grain of truth in it. 

[Waterloo9]

I tried it and the rod and reel were junk and the reels were left handed but it still wasn't that bad, just have to get used to flipping the bail before reeling. I am gonna take my rod and reel back and get something else. I am not gonna go all out yet probably spend around $100 what you you guys recommend in that price range?

[lmbfisherman]

I tried it and the rod and reel were junk and the reels were left handed but it still wasn't that bad, just have to get used to flipping the bail before reeling. I am gonna take my rod and reel back and get something else. I am not gonna go all out yet probably spend around $100 what you you guys recommend in that price range?

You going spinning? or Baitcast?  - I think you can get a Abu Garcia Black Max combo for around that price or possibly the Silver Max if you are going for baitcaster.  If spinning I believe someone posted something like Pfleuger Trion and a Berkley Lightning Rod. 

 

If you have a BPS nearby, I think they have a Trion combo that is 80.

[Waterloo9]

Spinning, i'm gonna start there and maybe when i do want to get a better more expensive rod get a baitcaster. I don't have a BPS nearby but could order online. they have 5.95 shipping which isn't bad.

Edit: Really though, baitcasting seems to be like what i am used to with spincast just that i stop the line with my thumb correct? I haven't looked into it to much. Maybe i should get one of those?

[loudcherokee]

Theres going to be a learning curve going to bait casting reel from a spincast. Its more than just stopping the line with your thumb. You have to set the spool and brakes correctly, then feather the spool.

Look up some of the bassresource vids on baitcasters. they were very helpful for me.

LC