What are Ugly Stiks good for?

[RickB]

I have a Ugly Stick w/ a ABU baitcaster reel that I use for worm and jig fishing. Probably been using it for 30 yrs or more. Reel was rebuilt by BPS a few years ago both have served me very well. Don't think I have ever caught a fish that was worried about my rod and reel combo. I have always told folks buy what you can afford learn how to use it and go catch fish.

[Deleted account]

On 3/13/2017 at 9:09 AM, roadwarrior said:

 

Very popular for saltwater fishing, too.

 

 

I still have the 8 foot Heavy Ugly Stik boat rod that I used to commercial fish cod and blackfish for over 20 years. 

[Alan Reed]

They are a decent rod for someone that only fished a few times a year. No reason for them to have a $100-200 rod when they are likely just out for a good time and to drink some beer.

[DogBone_384]

What almost everyone else said.  I have one in the garage I've had probably 40 years now with a Shakspeare Sigma reel on.  I don't use it anymore.  I just keep it as a spare for nephews to use and remember the fun I had fishing as a kid.

[Further North]

On 3/11/2017 at 3:32 PM, dopey said:

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

You've got the wrong line on it...

[Angealy]

From somebody that only uses them all the time i'll put in my two cents.

We do use them and only them.

Anything from the catch more fish line up to ugly stik/etc.

We have rods in 4'6 to 6' in UL/L/M all spooled up and setup based on fish.

With that being said, Only three people fish in my house and that's myself, sister and other sister.

From my point of view, It makes much more sense to buy these cheaper combos instead.

 

A example: If each combo is 50$ per person i would be spending 150$ in total and that's not including the line/hooks/lures/bait/sinkers/etc.

B example: If each combo is 100$ per person i would be spending 300$ in total and that's not including the line/hooks/lures/bait/sinkers/etc.

All things you NEED in order to catch fish.

Bottom line: It would be nice to use/fish with these 100$-200$ combos but not everyone can afford to drop this amount of money just rods and reels alone. 

[soflabasser]

I caught 5 citation sized peacock bass (biggest was over 6 pounds) this past Saturday on my +20 year old medium action Ugly Stick as well as other quality sized peacock bass and largemouth bass. I easily whooped those fish and use that same rod for inshore saltwater fishing for snook, tarpon, redfish, jack crevalle, etc. I figure that if this rod can handle +40 inch snook it can handle any largemouth bass, regardless how big it is.

On 11/10/2017 at 6:14 PM, reason said:

I still have the 8 foot Heavy Ugly Stik boat rod that I used to commercial fish cod and blackfish for over 20 years. 

 I also have a couple 8 foot heavy action ones and the oldest one is +20 years old. So far it has done a excellent job in helping me land sharks( tigers, bulls, hammers, lemons, etc) and land fish while deep dropping. They are good rods that can take the abuse given by those who fish hard.

[IndianaOutdoors]

I use a 7ft M ugly stik for lightweight rapalas and other small cranks.  I just set it up for bottom bouncing for walleye. We'll see how it works.

[Turkey sandwich]

I think that at some point almost everyone on here has owned one.  Everyone has mentioned that they're nearly indestructible.  I had one that lasted nearly 20 years and who knows how many fish before a guide snapped off.  It was my first casting rod and helped me to learn a lot.  While they aren'y sexy, and certainly aren't the lightest thing to cast all day, but on a budget, they still make a good starter crank bait rod.  

[CroakHunter]

I have a 6'6 medium, ugly stik lite. It fished like a medium light. I use it for jerkbait and poppers. Have it spooked with 10lb mono. Works just as good as it did when I bought it. 

[nighthawk25]

I have a 6'6" MH Moderate that I use for cranking and jerkbaiting. It isn't that sensitive but I use that combo about 70% of the time.

[Ratherbfishing]

They are a little heavy but for general crankbait use, a medium or medium heavy action ugly stick works just fine. Same with general purpose trolling.  They are excellent for newbies and kids who can't seem to keep their rod tips up when walking, etc.

[Koz]

Until this year I hadn't done much fishing in years and picked up a 6'6" MH Ugly Stick with a Pfleuger President spinning reel. It was a decent setup and I was catching my fair share of bass with it with all types of lures.

 

Later this summer I decided to pick up my first baitcaster and found a Lew's American Hero combo on sale at Dick's and with the points I had on my Dick's Scorecard it was even cheaper. In just one day of using the new Lew's combo I realized how much "feel" I was missing with the Ugly Stick whether it be a fish tapping at the bait or moving the lure across the bottom or through weeds.

 

In comparison, using the Ugly Stick was almost brute force fishing compared to the sensitivity and feedback I get using my Lew's rod. I'm sure that when I upgrade my Lew's rod I'll be saying the same thing about it as well. I still use my Ugly Stick setup now and then, but knowing what I know now I probably wouldn't buy another one.

[soflabasser]

On 11/15/2017 at 12:06 PM, Koz said:

brute force fishing

Sounds like my type of fishing, since the reward can be a trophy bass.

[Bluebasser86]

I have 5 Ugly Sticks that I use for catfish and free lining live bait to wipers. 3 of them are 7' MH Lite spinning rods that really aren't that bad the few times I've used them for bass. I've horsed some really nice catfish and wipers in with them out of some bad places and never had any issues. I wouldn't want to use one every day, but that's my personal preference, doesn't make them a bad rod.

[68camaro]

I keep a Deeper fish finder tied to one when I go to new ponds.....

[NYWayfarer]

On ‎11‎/‎15‎/‎2017 at 12:06 PM, Koz said:

 

 

 In just one day of using the new Lew's combo I realized how much "feel" I was missing with the Ugly Stick whether it be a fish tapping at the bait or moving the lure across the bottom or through weeds.

 

 

Same thing happened to me when I tried a new combo after using Ugly Sticks almost exclusively.

 

Ugly Sticks have their place if you like a rod with a mushy tip. Like @Bluebasser86 says they are great for catfishing. I use my Ugly Stick with a baitfeeder reel and cut bait for Channel Cats.

[FishDewd]

Lack of sensitivity? That's really hard to believe...

 

I have several Ugly Stiks ranging from UL-lite 5' poles that are as old/older than I am, up to a newer medium-heavy GX2 that I use specifically for my ABU C4. The GX2 is definitely less sensitive than the smaller, traditional Ugly Stiks, but I can still feel the difference between a crawfish and a perch bumping at my bait. You shouldn't be relying on the pole anyway, but using the line to feel what's happening as you reel in.  For sensitivity, I will go with one of my smaller poles. I have a 5' 6" lite pole that has caught it's fair share of catfish and perch over the years, often bringing up fish much too big for what it's really for. It's sensitive enough that I spool it out 40 feet, get a friend to rub the line near the bait end, and I can hear the pole singing from where I'm holding it. It's plenty sensitive, especially for what it costs. Hard to beat. I like them cause I know they won't fail me.

 

Edit: I use mine for tasks ranging from float fishing (I like slip floats) to bottom rigs, like drop-shotting, and occasional jigging. The lighter action ones work well with cranks and spinners for me, just need to use a gentle touch. I am not well versed in these lure baits though, so I am still working on my technique. Not much bass fishing here though.

[deaknh03]

My kids use my old ones.

[Maxximus Redneckus]

Lmao@ugly stiks only for newbies or ocassional fisherman.. guess  i could say only newbies and occasional fisherman break a $400 rod on a 60k bassboat and whine the rest of week

[Quarry Man]

I have a few and i let beginners use them or for trout with power bait in the spring

[LCG]

Ugly sticks are a great way for kids or adults to get into the hobby of fishing. They are affordable and durable. Sensitivity and lightness are not their strong suits, but they get the job done. As others have mentioned everyone seems to have had or still has one. I started with one but no longer have it. I did however, recently pick up a ugly stick youth for my son to learn on. If he enjoys the sport then I will get him higher end rods. 

 

Think of it this way. My first car was a pos mercury topaz. Not my first choice today, but it got me to where I needed to go then. 

[Hyrule Bass]

some people couldnt be more misinformed with comments like "for beginners" "tomato stakes" "loaner rods" "catfish rods" "saltwater rods" "no sensitivity etc etc etc...they may not be what you prefer, thats fine, use what you like. but ugly stiks are d**n good all around rods. good for multiple species, multiple lures, multiple techniques, and so on. they may not be designed for one specific technique, but they excel at many of them. thats the plain truth, whether many want to agree or not. they make excellent drop shot rods. the price point is fair as well, and i do get the feeling that some base quality solely on price. and as far as sensitivity, rods dont have senses and feelings, sensitivity is all in your own hands

[Steveo-1969]

1 hour ago, Hyrule Bass said:

some people couldnt be more misinformed with comments like "for beginners" "tomato stakes" "loaner rods" "catfish rods" "saltwater rods" "no sensitivity etc etc etc...they may not be what you prefer, thats fine, use what you like. but ugly stiks are d**n good all around rods. good for multiple species, multiple lures, multiple techniques, and so on. they may not be designed for one specific technique, but they excel at many of them. thats the plain truth, whether many want to agree or not. they make excellent drop shot rods. the price point is fair as well, and i do get the feeling that some base quality solely on price. and as far as sensitivity, rods dont have senses and feelings, sensitivity is all in your own hands

I agree that your brain needs to interpret what your hands are feeling, and this interpretation may be different for each person.  BUT to say that a rod has NOTHING to do with sensitivity is just silly. I probably would have said that very same thing when I was fishing with only an Ugly Stik 7 years ago. I certainly did say "I would never pay $100 for a fishing rod, my Ugly Stik works just fine!!".

 

Then I actually fished with a higher end rod and realized what I was missing in sensitivity, especially for bottom contact presentations. If you drag a jig across the bottom with your Ugly Stik, then drag that same jig with my NRX you will notice a sensitivity difference.  If they felt exactly the same either your hands are completely numb or your brain is malfunctioning! 

 

Nothing wrong with Ugly Stiks. I still have a 6'6" MH 2-piece that is a great catfish rod. But I'm not fishing bottom contact with it ever again.

[soflabasser]

On 11/22/2017 at 12:53 PM, Hyrule Bass said:

some people couldnt be more misinformed with comments like "for beginners" "tomato stakes" "loaner rods" "catfish rods" "saltwater rods" "no sensitivity etc etc etc...they may not be what you prefer, thats fine, use what you like. but ugly stiks are d**n good all around rods. good for multiple species, multiple lures, multiple techniques, and so on. they may not be designed for one specific technique, but they excel at many of them. thats the plain truth, whether many want to agree or not. they make excellent drop shot rods. the price point is fair as well, and i do get the feeling that some base quality solely on price. and as far as sensitivity, rods dont have senses and feelings, sensitivity is all in your own hands

Well said @Hyrule Bass. I know many fishermen who frown upon Ugly sticks yet not many of them have +10 pound bass PB's. I do know of several bass fishermen who have +10 pound bass PB's who enjoy using these rods, including a man in Georgia who caught over 1000 double digit bass in his lifetime on Ugly Stick/ Ambassador bait caster combos.You said it best when you said ''sensitivity is all in your own hands'', this true since no rod in this world( no matter how expensive it is or what ''pro'' advertises it) can replace the experience a highly skilled angler has.