Multi-species Rod for my truck

[Jeff H.]

Good morning,

 

I am looking for a tough decent spinning rod (2 piece) to keep in my pick-up.

 

I fish for trout, small mouth, large mouth, and small cats. Just want something to have if I come across an opportunity to fish and not have the time to run home and get all my gear.

 

I am looking at Ugly Stix GTX.

 

My only question is what do you think is the best length and action.

 

Thanks

 

 

[new2BC4bass]

I have zero experience with Ugly sticks although 55 years ago I wished I could have afforded one.  Personally I am a fan of Fenwick rods.  They make a 6' and 6'6" 2-piece spinning rod in the Eagle line.  Lure rating is 1/8-3/4 oz., 6-12 lb. line for both.  Price about the same as the GTX.

 

But if you want to stick with an Ugly Stick, a fast is often suggested for an all around rod with a Moderate-Fast liked by some.  I am coming to like that action myself after investing in some Tatula casting rods with a Regular action.  Length is up to you.  Will you be fishing along streams where a short rod would be better?

 

EDIT:  I should add I have zero experience with the Eagle line.  All my Fenwicks start at the HMG line and go up from there.  I've handled Cabela's Fish Eagle in store and it seemed like a nice rod for the money.

[LAO162]

MH will be too heavy for trout and ML may be too light for some bass & catfish techniques. 7' may give you more casting distance at ponds/lakes where there is little brush along the shore.  6' rod are easier to use where the banks are overgrown.  Softer tips will be helpful with delicate trout bites, whereas stiffer tips help with setting the hook on larger fish.  If you're just using a bobber and worm then even a bamboo rod will work.

 

There's no right answer for the ideal all purpose rod, it's just a matter of identifying the compromises that work for YOU and the techniques that you will use most frequently.

[new2BC4bass]

13 minutes ago, LAO162 said:

MH will be too heavy for trout and ML may be too light for some bass & catfish techniques. 7' may give you more casting distance at ponds/lakes where there is little brush along the shore.  6' rod are easier to use where the banks are overgrown.  Softer tips will be helpful with delicate trout bites, whereas stiffer tips help with setting the hook on larger fish.  If you're just using a bobber and worm then even a bamboo rod will work.

 

There's no right answer for the ideal all purpose rod, it's just a matter of identifying the compromises that work for YOU and the techniques that you will use most frequently.

100% on!  Personally with the size of the trout in my area I would want 2 rods, but I tried to find a rod with a wide lure range with the hopes it could cover both ends for the OP.

[DogBone_384]

I keep a Diawa Ardito 7' M/F casting and an Okuma Citrix 7'2" ML/F spinning travel rod in my truck for quick stops on the road.  They're both great rods and come with semi hard cases.  Lastly, Jet Blue allows them as carry-ons.

[LCG]

I use a 2 piece Fenwick HMG 6'9 ml-f spinning rod as a travel/trunk rod. More between a ml and m power. Sensitive and comfortable. Biggest fish I have caught with this combo was a 4lb smallie and a 5lb catfish in light cover. 

 

I also use a 2 piece shimano compre 6'10 Mh-xf casting rod as a travel/trunk rod for larger baits and around heavier cover. 

 

I prefer my one piece st Croix rods but not always an option.

 

The ugly stick will definitely catch fish but there are better options out there. The fish don't care what rod you have, the benefits of a nice rod are for you not the fish. I had an ugly stick gx2 and the tip would always cast off and it was not near as comfortable as other offerings. YMMV 

 

 

 

 

[ThatredneckguyJamie]

I use an ugly stick 4 pc travel spinning rod, ML 6' 6" paired with a Quantum smoke 30 that I take with me on cruises or any traveling that we don't drive. I've caught baby tarpon, bluefish, largemouth bass, peacock bass, and some big ugly purple fish in the Bahamas with the same setup...I also hooked a bonefish that almost spooled me before he broke me off about the time the mono backing was showing. Is it perfect for anything...nope, but it works decent for ALMOST anything I might run into abroad  

[LAO162]

On 2/5/2018 at 9:33 AM, new2BC4bass said:

100% on!  Personally with the size of the trout in my area I would want 2 rods, but I tried to find a rod with a wide lure range with the hopes it could cover both ends for the OP.

 

On 2/5/2018 at 9:54 AM, Luke G. said:

I use a 2 piece Fenwick HMG 6'9 ml-f spinning rod as a travel/trunk rod. More between a ml and m power. Sensitive and comfortable. Biggest fish I have caught with this combo was a 4lb smallie and a 5lb catfish in light cover. 

 

I also use a 2 piece shimano compre 6'10 Mh-xf casting rod as a travel/trunk rod for larger baits and around heavier cover. 

 

I prefer my one piece st Croix rods but not always an option.

 

The ugly stick will definitely catch fish but there are better options out there. The fish don't care what rod you have, the benefits of a nice rod are for you not the fish. I had an ugly stick gx2 and the tip would always cast off and it was not near as comfortable as other offerings. YMMV 

 

I was trying not to go down the rabbit hole of more expensive or multiple rods, but I have alway enjoyed fenwicks.  For MY needs a 6'6" MLF would handle most of my needs (trout, panfish, bullhead & modest LMB).  In an area with larger bass & catfish I would probably bump up to MF.  

 

If the baitmonkey got loose, I'd scour auction and overstock sights looking for bargains on travel rods.  I have a couple Cabelas XML travel rods that are very good, and the travel rods from LL Bean feel decent.  

[BrackishBassin]

I use GX2s for a lot of my saltwater fishing. Just something to keep in mind is that they seem to be much more hefty than other rods with the same rating. For example, I have a 7ft MH GX2 and it’s about twice as stout as my Abu Garcia MH. It can easily handle fish I wouldn’t dream of  landing with the Abu. 

[Hawkeye21]

A MHF rod will serve you fine for just about any application.  When I wanted a do-anything rod I went with a 7ft Berkley Lightning Shock Rod and a Pflueger President spinning reel.  It's a great all around pole for just about any type of fishing.  I used it for fishing on the Mississippi where you can catch any number of species ranging from under a pound to over 20.  I also used it trout fishing and worked just fine.

 

Obviously there are better rods for each technique, which I also have, but for keeping one in the truck for anything I would recommend a MHF.  If not that then a MF rod will work fine too.

[Hyrule Bass]

get an ugly stik lite pro. i have a 5'6 L 2-pc that i use for trout, pan fish, bass, and yes, catfishing. catfishing was a blast with it, caught one that was 6 1/2lbs on 6lb sufix line, reel was a pflueger trion. the rod handled all of them with ease, and is a blast when you hook bigger fish(so long as you aint targeting the giants cats, handles eaters just fine). i got mine at walmart.

[Boomstick]

I would probably get a medium or medium heavy GX2 for bass and catfish and an ultra light rod for trout and panfish personally. A medium light will be too light for bass and catfish, and the medium will be too big for trout.

 

The GX2s are slower in action and not a lot of sensitivity but you can still fish moving baits on them pretty well and they have enough strength to pull out a large catfish as well. Add in the fact they are cheap enough and they're a great rod to leave in the car or truck in case you have time for some unplanned after work fishing or whatnot. My kid has one that I often use in the same purpose.

[2tall79]

Lots of good advise here.  Let me just add that whatever you choose, please don't leave it in a gunrack to bake in the sun.  Been there, done that.

[LAO162]

3 hours ago, Boomstick said:

 A medium light will be too light for bass and catfish,...

I need to drive an hour north to N.A. for some real fishin'.    I haven't yet seen my local quarry produce a bass (dinks) or bullhead that can't be handled by a MLXF  I have some MH rods that need to be challenged.

[Boomstick]

2 hours ago, LAO162 said:

I need to drive an hour north to N.A. for some real fishin'.    I haven't yet seen my local quarry produce a bass (dinks) or bullhead that can't be handled by a MLXF  I have some MH rods that need to be challenged.

Oh we don't have much besides trout in NA either. When I said cats I was referring to the much larger channel cats, a ML is more than sufficient for bullheads. I do say the ML GX2 is light for bass as they tend to be on the slower side though, so I'd likely use a medium rod for bass for moving baits. If it was MLXF with some sensitivity however...

 

For channel cats, I have to go to the Connecticut river (try the Oxbow in Northampton), the Hudson (Spier Falls) or Great Sacandaga Lake, minimum drive of 90 minutes. For bass, I have to go to Pittsfield or south county, Vermont or New York, although if you are willing to travel to Vermont I know some great quiet smaller lakes that might yield a decent smallie or two.

 

I am guessing you are around the Lee area or not too far?

[LAO162]

30 minutes ago, Boomstick said:

Oh we don't have much besides trout in NA either. When I said cats I was referring to the much larger channel cats, a ML is more than sufficient for bullheads. I do say the ML GX2 is light for bass as they tend to be on the slower side though, so I'd likely use a medium rod for bass for moving baits. If it was MLXF with some sensitivity however...

 

For channel cats, I have to go to the Connecticut river (try the Oxbow in Northampton), the Hudson (Spier Falls) or Great Sacandaga Lake, minimum drive of 90 minutes. For bass, I have to go to Pittsfield or south county, Vermont or New York, although if you are willing to travel to Vermont I know some great quiet smaller lakes that might yield a decent smallie or two.

 

I am guessing you are around the Lee area or not too far?

East Longmeadow and In-Laws have a cabin in Becket

[Boomstick]

3 minutes ago, LAO162 said:

East Longmeadow and In-Laws have a cabin in Becket

Oh nice. I haven't found too many places out your way but you can definitely checkout the Oxbow in Northampton. There's a few smaller lakes near Becket too, but I've only fished the Otis Reservoir.

[ThatredneckguyJamie]

our fish down here must be more compliant than some of yall's...I use a ML or UL for 90% of the freshwater fishing I do...the only time I take a beefy rod is fishing Rodman where you're liable to pull up 6lbs of salad along with your 10lb bass, for that I have use a 6' MH ugly stick elite with an Abu Garcia ambassadeur. I use the same ML rods for redfish