The ubiquitous Ugly Stick

[UCChris]

Hey all, quick question about rods for you guys.

This morning I snapped my third graphite rod of the season. Each time it is has been user error, but my college budget can't handle a new $75-100 rod every four or five months. I'm thinking about going back to fiberglass and thusly don't want to spend $75-100 that I'd spend on a graphite. I'm just wondering if any of you have experience with the Ugly Stick GX2 rods? I know it's probably looked down on as a cheap, starter rod, but I'm hard on my stuff, so I want something cheap.

[Darren.]

Just now, UCChris said:

Hey all, quick question about rods for you guys.

This morning I snapped my third graphite rod of the season. Each time it is has been user error, but my college budget can't handle a new $75-100 rod every four or five months. I'm thinking about going back to fiberglass and thusly don't want to spend $75-100 that I'd spend on a graphite. I'm just wondering if any of you have experience with the Ugly Stick GX2 rods? I know it's probably looked down on as a cheap, starter rod, but I'm hard on my stuff, so I want something cheap.

From what I have read and heard, it is more sensitive than
previous models like the Ugly Stik Lite series, of which I 
had 2, now just 1. Don't use them much now, but the boys
will for saltwater.

If it is within your budget and you want that toughness, get
it. Are there better, more sensitive rods? Of course, but that
doesn't matter if you can't afford them.

[Maxximus Redneckus]

Not the perfect rod for t rigs or jigs,,,but if my 6 uglies could talk the rest on my rods would have a look of "wow you did that" that bein said i can still catch fish withh mine and have no probs with sensitivity.the 5'6" spinning rod with a.penn fierce 1000 size has whipped a.many a fish saltwater and fresh 6 lb braid 15 lb strength ..feel confident 

[ww2farmer]

If you want a rod that's just as tuff as the ugly sticks, but far lighter and more suited for bass fishing with "feel" baits like jigs and soft plastics, look at the Berkley Lightning Rod Shocks. They are $40 or so, and I think highly enough of them to keep them around and mixed in with custom made rods I use. I have broke a couple...............but they have all been broke in user induced comedy of errors.

I broke a 6'6" M casting rod once when a pike bit off my last of a certain jerkbait on Conesus lake, and I threw the rod down hard in disgust on the gunnel of wnybassmans boat, breaking it in half.

I broke a 6'6" M spinning rod skipping stick baits under docks, and wasn't paying attention and went for a wild backhand cast, and wailed the rod on the TM shaft breaking it off.

I broke the tip off a 7' MH casting rod shutting it the door of my rod locker

and I broke a 7' M spinning rod trying to be cute, and dead lift a 4lb smallmouth with the rod in a "high stick" fashion.

I have a dozen more of them, and when I am not going full stupid, have held up just fine.

[S. Sass]

I fished with what ever we had Zebco rods and the Ugly Stick etc back in the day. I don't know anything about a Ugly Stick GX2 rod but for possibly a little better rod I have seen more than a few suggest the Fenwick rods  

[standman]

I have the Gx2 spinning rod and have caught quite  few fish with it.  The reel that came with it fell apart within  1 season, but the rod is indestructible.  

[tbone1993]

They're ok rods nothing special. The reel that the combos come with doesn't justify an increased price.  Why not consider getting a rod with a good warranty? I can't afford buying new every time I bust one so i get them repaired/ replaced for free. 

[Preytorien]

1 hour ago, ww2farmer said:

If you want a rod that's just as tuff as the ugly sticks, but far lighter and more suited for bass fishing with "feel" baits like jigs and soft plastics, look at the Berkley Lightning Rod Shocks. They are $40 or so, and I think highly enough of them to keep them around and mixed in with custom made rods I use. I have broke a couple...............but they have all been broke in user induced comedy of errors.

I broke a 6'6" M casting rod once when a pike bit off my last of a certain jerkbait on Conesus lake, and I threw the rod down hard in disgust on the gunnel of wnybassmans boat, breaking it in half.

I broke a 6'6" M spinning rod skipping stick baits under docks, and wasn't paying attention and went for a wild backhand cast, and wailed the rod on the TM shaft breaking it off.

I broke the tip off a 7' MH casting rod shutting it the door of my rod locker

and I broke a 7' M spinning rod trying to be cute, and dead lift a 4lb smallmouth with the rod in a "high stick" fashion.

I have a dozen more of them, and when I am not going full stupid, have held up just fine.

I agree, I have one as my general purpose panfish rod and it's great for the money. 

[new2BC4bass]

My youngest brother-in-law is a fishin' fool and a very good fisherman.  I was out with him earlier this month.  He was using an Ugly Stick with a guide in the middle of the rod missing.  Mostly was using a 7" Finesse worm.   Didn't seem to bother his fishing any.  Caught more than I did with my expensive $70 Jupiter and $75 Redbone. 

[smalljaw67]

48 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

My youngest brother-in-law is a fishin' fool and a very good fisherman.  I was out with him earlier this month.  He was using an Ugly Stick with a guide in the middle of the rod missing.  Mostly was using a 7" Finesse worm.   Didn't seem to bother his fishing any.  Caught more than I did with my expensive $70 Jupiter and $75 Redbone. 

We make too much out of tackle, especially for fun fishing. If you are breaking good graphite rods like you claim, you may as well go Ugly Stick. What you lose is sensitivity and what you gain is weight, they are heavier than a decent graphite rod and if you don't mind it you'll be fine. I like using decent stuff because it makes fishing enjoyable for me, but if I was just going out a couple times a season just to catch a fish I'd probably have an ugly stick. We sometimes get caught up in our passion but that is it, some want to learn to be better anglers but have no desire for finer rods and reels and that is ok.

[bigturtle]

4 hours ago, UCChris said:

Hey all, quick question about rods for you guys.

This morning I snapped my third graphite rod of the season. Each time it is has been user error, but my college budget can't handle a new $75-100 rod every four or five months. I'm thinking about going back to fiberglass and thusly don't want to spend $75-100 that I'd spend on a graphite. I'm just wondering if any of you have experience with the Ugly Stick GX2 rods? I know it's probably looked down on as a cheap, starter rod, but I'm hard on my stuff, so I want something cheap.

Have you considered Ugly Stik Elite instead of GX2? I fished with the elite a few times. Its not a noticeably more sensitive rod, but its a bit lighter and more balanced that a GX2. 

[nascar2428]

Another vote for Berkley Shocks. Check your local Walmart, mine has them on clearance for $30

[livemusic]

And another for Berkley Lightning Rod Shock. I have a spinning rig and really like it. They have casting rods, too. A very good bargain, and I don't notice any decrease in sensitivity, I catch just as many fish on it as more expensive rods. When I was young, we didn't even have graphite rods, lol.

[Florida Cracker2]

I don't have any GX-2s, but I have a couple 1100 series and a couple inshore selects that I really like. Not as sensitive or as light as my higher end graphite rods...but very nice and tough.  I also have a Berkley Power Pole I purchased about 25 years ago and it's still catching fish. I also have some all-glass rods that I like as well. I go by the feel of the rod and match it to the feel of the reel.

I'm not a takle-snob by any means.

 

[blckshirt98]

Back in high school I saw Ugly Sticks as the best rods out there!  I always saw the ads/commericals where the pitchman would bend the rod tip down to the handle and be amazed.  Fish don't know the difference between a $40 Ugly Stick and a $500 Loomis, and remember every rod brand out there has caught their share of pigs.  Buy what you can afford and have fun with it!

[Crestliner2008]

Another vote for the Berkley Shocks. Ugly Stiks are just too heavy and unweildly in my opinion.

[Master Bait'r]

May want to check out the Ugly Stick Elite.  I picked up one in MHF for my son to use for frogs and it's actually pretty good!  It's a bit dead and heavy but it's got tons of backbone and a springy tip section that really casts well.  

 

Just my .02 but I believe it was right around $50 and was a good buy IMO.  

 

Well that or try to find a nicer rod on closeout.  I've picked up a 13 Ohmen MF for $65 before and those are crazy nice for the money even at retail.  

[FrogFreak]

Don't forget to look into the store brands at Cabela's etc. They often have some pretty good rods in the $40-$60 price range. Often they're built by major rod manufacturers and sold to the stores at a discounted rate so you win!

I like the Scheels store brand rods that are currently produced by a major rod making outfit that keeps coming up as *** when I type it in here.