Your Ugly Stik Opinion

[Lunker Chunker 88]

My buddy owns a couple of these rods and beleives that they are under rated and under priced. I own an utlralite combo from ugly stik for tout fishing as well and the thing is a beast. I know i dont have to worry about the rod breaking like the quantum ultralite i had bought beforehand which broke because of a bass. So i was wondering your guys' opinions on the matter.

[Darren.]

They are, indeed, durable as all get out.

 

I have been a big fan, but over time, my 

styles changed to one that *feel* was more

important. Ugly Stiks just do not have the 

sensitivity that I need.

 

But for live bait situations (salt water, etc.) 

they are excellent.

 

The Elites are supposed to be better, and they

are lighter, but still heavy for my liking.

 

The rods I use now are BPS Carbonlites. Light,

sensitive, and strong. But not nearly as tough

as the Ugly Stiks.

[cajun ben]

Chunker , It's my go to rod for topwater plugs love it. 6"6Lite.

use Falcon rods for all other aplacations .

[Maxximus Redneckus]

Best for saltwater live baiting and treble hooked lures in fresh water i use a few pistol grips and inshore uglystiks.

[Catch and Grease]

They are decent rods, but I don't think they are anything more than that.

[roadwarrior]

Best for saltwater live baiting and treble hooked lures in fresh water i use a few pistol grips and inshore uglystiks.

 

Maybe a fair value for the price, but nothing special.

 

 

 

[ItsTig]

I have only been fishing for a year and a half or so, and I started with an Ugly Stik. I have a 6'6 medium Ugly Stik Lite, and I like it quite abit. I've caught crappie, bass, and a few catfish on it. It is a good feeling not really having to worry about a rod breaking. I've been walking and buried the tip in the ground like a derp, hooked some nice fish & branches, and tossed it in/out of the car a bunch. Only shows a few minor scratches around the hook keeper, but looks great otherwise. The rod is still nice and straight, no problems with the guides, or tip breaking. It can be abit whippy when casting, so harder to hit tighter targets for me, but I like how hook sets work for me with it. Sensitivity is less than an all graphite rod, but I have my finger on the line and use that more to detect bites usually than feeling a bite through the rod. I can't say I've ever lost a fish because of the rod, it has brought a lot of fun to me.

 

I like my 6'6 medium St. Croix Triumph, which is stiffer, if I am trying to cast to a tighter spot. That and the Ugly Stik have served me great so far. I'm still very new, so lots of things I haven't experienced yet, but I think Ugly Stiks are a good deal. A reliable, inexpensive, tough pole that will work for anyone/everyone. 

 

That said, it's like anything, I could buy xphone that has 10gb, calls, & pics. It's a phone, does everything it should and works fine. But I'm really into my phone so I want one with 64gb, calls, pics, internet, video, apps, etc. I think that makes sense? The Ugly Stik is great but generally you will move on & up as you refine and add to your demands in a rod.

[kikstand454]

^ wisdom right there.

I have and love ugly sticks. But they have been regulated to a few specialty situations, almost completely saltwater. Its not so much the sensitivity per se- if I can feel a sheepshead bite, I can feel a bass. Its mostly as I have progressed, I find myself wanting a lighter, and less whippy rod in general.

They are dang near indestructable though. ...and I think the "lite" series with the cork handles is an excellent choice for any bank angler.

[Fishinthefish]

In my opinion they're like a value meal at McDonald's. Which is all fine and well when you're under a budget and hungry as hell. Right up until someone hands you a st croix steak. Let's you taste it, then sends you back home with your value meal. At that point you meet the bait monkey. Except he's whsipering away hundreds of dollars.

[Bluebasser86]

I have 2 medium Ugly Stick Lite spinning rods I use for channel cats and wipers. I have used them for bass, but wouldn't want to have to do it often. 

[Flukeman]

I have had several of these over the years and all have served their purpose quite well. That said, I did not use them for when sensitivity was key and they are heavy feeling. Also all of mine were old style, never tried the new ones.

 

6' medium pistol grip casting- great for whipping lite cranks around docks and trees. I changed how I fished most of the time and ended up getting rid of it, wish I would have kept it.

 

6'6" medium spinning soft handle - I used this when I first started tournament fishing because it was what I had. Turned out to be a specialist rod for a certain top water technique that was unparallelled. Many tried to duplicate its action with graphite and straight glass rods and no one could come close, and that thing would catch the heck out of them. And they still made fun of my rod choice. Once again after 3 or 4 years I became a pitcher and flipper and quit using it. I also discovered the one thing that will destroy these rods. My rod was a 2 piece, and I had it seperated in the back of my tahoe. Girlfriend came out opened tailgate, rod section fell in, and she closed it. 17 years later I still swear she did it on purpose, can't believe I kept her. 

 

7' medium heavy spinning - used this to catch many big salmon fishing the Salmon River in upstate New York. Once again this was when I was young and had not discovered 10 - 12 foot graphite rods for those beasts. A few years back I brought it out for memories sake and realized quickly that rod will wear you out when you are older. Once you get to 7' length the rod is heavy and the action just wears you out. Sold it to unsuspecting young guy.

 

5'6" lite spinning, use this trout fishing in real brushy creeks when the 6' is too long to cast around the brush. It will zing real lite spinners a mile too. Also use it tossing beetle spin type baits for panfish out in the boat or when someone visits with small kids that want to fish off the dock.

 

6' Ugly Lite medium spinning cork handle - use it for fishing trout streams in early spring drifting worms and throwing spinners in our high water streams. I also use it for our annual bullhead fest - I'll explain this last.

 

6'6" Ugly Lite medium spinning cork handle - this is used just for the bullhead tournament. This tournament is 60 guys made up of guys we grew up with and their 21 year old kids (now). We have been doing it for 26 or 27 years now - card playing, eating, and "drinking" take precedence over fishing for the bullheads. It was quickly learned that you needed a indestructable rod  

 

I only have the last 3 of these rods left (and do still use them every year). They all have served me well in certain conditions. Other than the couple techniques outlined I would not use them to fish my tournaments. Just too much casting and they would wear my arms out compared to a graphite rod. If you need an undestructable rod with a forgiving tip, its great. These new ones may be even better, supposedly containing more graphite.

 

Good Luck

[tennsopher]

I have a bc1100 uglystick I bought around 1981 to fish for stripers with in Tenn when I lived there.I was young and financially challenged having just ets from the army.It was a flipping stick and I caught stripes on it to 30#.I presently have about 30 outfits gloomis,gblanks,shimano,dobyns,etc.But I still to this day use the ugly stick for shiner and catfishing.It is paired with a daiwa luna 300.It is a beast of an outfit to this day.

[Penguino]

My friend has a ugly stick tiger. Lets just say, when I fished with it, it felt like my ice hockey stick rather than my graphite fishing rods. The only thing I think it could be good for are catfish and inshore fishing.

[Blues19]

I have a small ultralight ugly stick as well.  I dont use bottom contact baits for it so I am not worried about feeling.  I throw out grubs and maybe a small rebel crawfish crank.  It works well and it makes catching a decent fish a whole lot of fun.  That is the only thing I will probably use an ugly stick for, unless I enjoyed cat fishing.