What are Ugly Stiks good for?

[snake95]

I know, I know, premium tomato stakes...

 

Back in the 1980's as a kid growing up in Ontario, the Ugly Stik was the thing to get for walleye and lake trout.  

So, not knowing any better, I got one when I started bass fishing a few years ago, and I've kept one in my trunk and use it occasionally and caught my pb on it.

 

My impression after a few years fishing with numerous "better" rods (including some similarly-priced) is they are limber at the tip, pretty heavy, and lacking in sensitivity.  On the bright side, they come at a budget price (by bass rod standards) and live up to their selling point as being tough as nails.

 

The best "application" I have found for them is throwing fairly heavy moving baits, such as 1/2 oz buzzbaits.  I'm also not afraid to hand them to kids who might be rough with them, but again they are on the heavy side.

 

Interested in what guys think they can be used reasonably successfully for.

 

To be clear, I'm no gear snob and recognize that a huge number of recreational anglers swear buy them.  Just wondering what guys who have "moved up" to better rods have wound up continuing to do with them (aside from putting them in the garden).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[jbw252]

Ha .  They're inexpensive & indestructible.  Reminds me of their old commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isOsYhmQ4dE  

[Darren.]

I've used 'em, still have one, but it's got a busted guide.

They are great for ultra light, well, great is a relative term

here. I like them for live bait presentations where sensitivity

is not a concern.

 

Here in VA, some guides keep them on boats for guests to

use. Not a lot of $$ lost if they get trashed, but that's not 

easy to do.

[jbw252]

I have an ultra light one I leave in the truck.  I have a few others we use for boat salt water fishing.

[the reel ess]

Good for kids who could break an anvil. I bought a GX2 spinning combo for my daughter. It' decent for pond bass and panfish. It's pink, but I'll still use it or take for buddies to use.

[RAMBLER]

To just answer the question:  Fishing

[jr231]

Right !! I wonder how my forefathers caught a bass without a megabass combo ! 

 

I could take many rods 'worse' than an ugly stick and still catch bass..

 

I believe if I had no fishing tackle, I could take 50 bucks and still catch bass. Id go grab a spinning rod (say Jimmy Houston combo* for 24.99) some braid (10) and 15 dollars for plastics and hooks depending on the season, could be jigs or Flukes.

 

Post above me summed it up well. What good is an ugly stick ? It's good for fishing. If you gave that rod to someone who didn't have one, it would be extreme for them.   Maybe not thought about in middle America but around the world I'm sure there are alot of fisherman who would think that ugly stick is gold. 

 

 

*I actually have this combo , it's a MH. It is not as good as an ugly stik either IMO.  I've used it frog fishing, jig, jerkbait , senko, and actually caught my PB with it.. I don't use it much anymore because I've gained other ones. But if it's all I had I'd still be doin just as good ( as a young , blue collar father can be doing with his recreational fishing ) . 

 

 

[rippin-lips]

Hitting your kid with. 

[MassYak85]

I see nothing wrong with them for moving baits. Like others have said they are tough as hell. I used to use an ultralight one for years. I just wouldn't rely on them for contact baits where you need to really feel the bite. 

[slimjim1135]

I have a handful of Ugly stiks I've picked up over the years. For anyone who only has one fishing rod and goes out one weekend a year, I can't think of a rod where you get more bang for your buck than an ugly stik. That said, it's a beginner jack of all trades rod. It's great for new anglers, people who don't fish much, and it's a good pole to keep in your trunk for special occasions. 

 

That said, as a bass rod, there's really no technique it particularly excels at. So if you want to use them reasonably successfully, give them to fishing friends new to fishing and let them use them as an all-purpose live bait and simple technique rod. 

[snake95]

54 minutes ago, Yeajray231 said:

I'm sure there are alot of fisherman who would think that ugly stick is gold.

Yeah there are lots of guys I know who DO think they are gold, like my father-in-law.  I found a few extras for a deal and put them aside in my collection for those guys.

 

55 minutes ago, Yeajray231 said:

actually caught my PB with it..

Another great point.  My two top PBs and the only two bass I've caught over 5 lb (so far) were both on ugly sticks with Trilene mono and 1/2 oz DSG banshee buzzbaits.  This is since I acquired some gear more consistent with the enthusiast equipment discussed on the board.  In both cases, the key was I had the Ugly Stik in the trunk, the night was warm and I found 15 minutes to fish, so I used what I had.  As they say, you miss 100% of the shots you don't take and the having gear to use at hand is essential.

 

 

[iabass8]

A buggy whip and/or a switch.

[CTBassin860]

company that doesn't know how to fish.

[dopey]

I have a couple of the Ugly Stick Pro Lite spinning rods and I really like them.  They're balanced and well made.  I match them with several different Shimano reels and they make a great combo. 

 

How many remember the Zebco Indestructable rods???  I have one I use with a shimano symetre and it's a really nice combo.

 

I'm starting to believe that freshwater fisherman are starting to get like some of the flyfisherman "SNOBS"!!LOL  If you don't use a $1000 rod, and at least a $500 fly reel you're not a real flyfisherman.  I found a St. Croix Imperial fly rod at the flea market last summer and got it for $10!!  Looks like it was never used.  They go for $250 and a used one depending on condition $150 and up.  Put my fly reel on it and I hate to say it but my cheap Courtland Fairplay fly rod casts better. 

 

Fishing is for relaxing - use what you like and can afford and go catch some fish!!!

[RoLo]

1 hour ago, MassBassin508 said:

company that doesn't know how to fish.

 

Absolutely, and make good rug-beaters to boot.

 

Roger

 

[ww2farmer]

I don't know. I have never owned one. 

[WRB]

Good inexpensive durable rod for entry level anglers or when hiking into back country small lakes and you don't want to break your high rods. If you have youngsters to teach to fish Ugly sticks are perfect. They are good for bank fishing for channel cats, carp and bobber fishing for pan fish. They make good donation item for Goodwill or Salvation Army. 

Raul can always use a few more Ugly sticks!

Tom

[the reel ess]

I forgot I also have a 7' M one for live bait striper fishing (which I've never done). It seemed like a great idea at the time.

[RoLo]

19 minutes ago, WRB said:

Raul can always use a few more Ugly sticks!

Tom

 

Don't laugh, you should see his tomato garden 

[Angry John]

If i were forced to put one in the rotation it would be a cranking rod.  They have a moderate action so i feel they would be best suited to baits with treble hooks.

[Team9nine]

Buzzbaits for sure. One of the most successful big bass hunters ever used nothing but Ugly Sticks and Ugly Stick Lite rods 

 

-T9

[IndianaFinesse]

I inherited a 6'6" medium heavy ugly stik lite rod that I use for buzzbaits and whopper ploppers, works fine for them.  

[Mumbly]

Up here there are still a lot of folks who use them as a saltwater rod. Toss on a mediocre reel and you have something inexpensive and bulletproof so they don't have to worry about if it gets corroded or anything. Whether it's fishing the salt for mackeral, squid, stripers, cod, pollack or flounder, this rod can do it all.

 

Others always seem to have one behind the seat of the truck or trunk of car, as you never know when you might have an opportunity to fish.

[nameiztaken]

I caught my PB on a Shakespear Outcast and a Shakespear Agility (baitcasting). Look those up. I'm sure a ugly stik is just fine for just about anything you can throw at it. (not saying it'll be comfortable)

Sidenote I just realized that combo never broke after like 3 seasons, ended up giving it to goodwill... why did I do that.

 

[soflabasser]

I have caught all my double digit bass and 100's of bass over 5 pounds on Ugly Stiks, so it is safe to say that I like using these rods. Also use Ugly Stiks for Saltwater fishing and I have caught many big sharks, tarpon, snook, permit, dolphin, grouper, other saltwater gamefish without any of these rods breaking. These rods are extremely resistant to abuse and can last several decades with less maintenance than most ''high quality'' rods.