Lews xfinity and Berkley Power rod and Ugly Stick Carbon reviews, sort of.

[Double__Digits]

So earlier this spring I got off work early. All my fishing stuff was at home. I wanted to do some catfishing at the local reservoir but having no equipment with me, I went by Wally World and picked up a Lews xfinity (69.00) and a Berkley Lightning rod "braid ready" ($40.00).  Well last weekend the plastic nut that tightens the reel to the seat on the LR cracked in half. ? 

 

Returned it today and figured I'd check out the rod selection. Well aside from it looking like it had been looted by mostly peaceful protestors, there were two rods of interest. One was a Shakespeare Ugly Stick Carbon MH for $79 and a Lews Reactor MH for $69.

 

The Ugly Stick Carbon had a Fuji real seat and was a slight bit slower action than the Lews. Might make a decent spinnerbait rod I thought.

I was about to walk out with the Ugly Stick for no other reason curiosity then I noticed it had epoxy resin drips on several on the line guides. Then I noticed one of the guides was completely closed with epoxy. So much for that... hmmm.

 

Oh well. We'll see how this Lews Reactor performs. At least the line guides are clear and clean.

 

On a side note the Lews Xfinity I had picked up this spring is exceeding all expectations. It has earned it's place along side my Tournament Pro LFS's regularly bombing Spooks over schools of shad at alarmingly long distance. Impressive reel for $69.

[Bankc]

Was the Lightning Rod brown or orange?  The orange one is the Shock version.  They've been known to have the reel seat being a weak link, but are otherwise fairly highly regarded.  The brown version with the cork grips also have a plastic real seat, but it's black instead of clear, and they tend to be a bit more durable.  I have one of those, and it's a pretty decent rod for the money.  Definitely one of the better options at around $50.

 

I'm a big fan of cheap rods.  Anything Lew's is going to be good.  I also have a BPS Tourney Special, which is a really sensitive rod for the money.  Better blank than anything Berkley or Shakespeare, but the guides are absolutely terrible.  My favorite in that price range so far is the Kastking Perigee II.  They're a two piece rod with two different power tips, good blanks, Fuji guides, and a decent reel seat.  It'll hold its own with many rods twice it's price.  

[Mbirdsley]

I handled the ugly stick carbons at Walmart the other day.  That is as nice of a 60 dollar rod that some one is going to find.  Probably be great for moving baits like cranks, chatter baits, spinner baits, and square bills. 
 

I’ve got an older brown lighting shock rod with cork grips that I bought 3 summers ago for my 2nd bait caster.  Now it is kind of like an extra rod.  For 50 bucks I don’t have any complaints but, I’m sure for that price bad ones will slip out unfortunately. 

[Double__Digits]

BankC -- The Lightning Rod was the Shock version.

For $40 it was a decent enough rod.

 

I do a fair bit of pond fishing and like having a few cheap rods I can haul around in the back of the truck.

I'd rather be bumping and banging into trees with a $50 rod than a $200 one.

 

Speaking of cheap rods, for $29 I got a Berkley Amp 7' MH that's been a great rod for lighter moving baits. Responsive tip, decent sensitivity, casts well, handles well, real seat that came unglued...for $29 you might have that.

 

Well I like that rod enough I just epoxied the reel seat back on and called it good.

 

If the need arises I'll check out the Kast King.

 

 

3 hours ago, Mbirdsley said:

I handled the ugly stick carbons at Walmart the other day.  That is as nice of a 60 dollar rod that some one is going to find.  

It looked like a decent enough rod. I've never owned an Ugly Stick and wanted to give the Carbon a shot.

[Mbirdsley]

21 minutes ago, Julian Davidson said:

BankC -- The Lightning Rod was the Shock version.

For $40 it was a decent enough rod.

 

I do a fair bit of pond fishing and like having a few cheap rods I can haul around in the back of the truck.

I'd rather be bumping and banging into trees with a $50 rod than a $200 one.

 

Speaking of cheap rods, for $29 I got a Berkley Amp 7' MH that's been a great rod for lighter moving baits. Responsive tip, decent sensitivity, casts well, handles well, real seat that came unglued...for $29 you might have that.

 

Well I like that rod enough I just epoxied the reel seat back on and called it good.

 

If the need arises I'll check out the Kast King.

 

 

It looked like a decent enough rod. I've never owned an Ugly Stick and wanted to give the Carbon a shot.

Sucks there was epoxy in the eye 

[NYWayfarer]

Never heard of the Lew’s Reactor.

I have purchased the Lew’s Lazer HS Spinning and casting rods from Walmart. Great rods especially considering they are $29.99

 

 

[Double__Digits]

1 hour ago, NYWayfarer said:

Never heard of the Lew’s Reactor.

I have purchased the Lew’s Lazer HS Spinning and casting rods from Walmart. Great rods especially considering they are $29.99

 

 

Not a bad looking rod. Winn grip, reel seats nice and solid. Foam butt I'm not a fan of. Guides are nice and clean. We'll see how it performs.

[NYWayfarer]

10 minutes ago, Double__Digits said:

Not a bad looking rod. Winn grip, reel seat is nice and solid. Foam butt I'm not a fan of. Guides are nice and clean. We'll see how it performs.

That’s a nice looking rod. You say you got it at Walmart? How much was it if you don’t mind me asking?
 

Cant find it for sale online.

[Double__Digits]

5 minutes ago, NYWayfarer said:

That’s a nice looking rod. You say you got it at Walmart? How much was it if you don’t mind me asking?
 

Cant find it for sale online.

Yes Sir. Wally World $69

[Jonred2013]

I bought one of the uglystck carbons 2 or 3 months ago and I really like it, I didn't have any of the guides blocked off with resin or any missing guides it is Walmart we are talking about so you really have to look them over good. For the price and a 7 year warranty I think its a great rod for the money and it really is the lightest rod they've made. I use mine with swim jigs 1/4 to 3/8 oz, spinnerbaits,  Texas rigged plastics,  and shakey heads. So far the rod has worked really well for me. Baught one of the Lews reactors today going to put it through the ringer in the morning!! It's a 7'2" MH fast. The uglystick is a 7'0" MH fast the multipurpose old go to rods, they're good for a little bit of everything 

[throttleplate]

1 hour ago, Jonred2013 said:

I bought one of the uglystck carbons 2 or 3 months ago and I really like it, I didn't have any of the guides blocked off with resin or any missing guides it is Walmart we are talking about so you really have to look them over good. For the price and a 7 year warranty I think its a great rod for the money and it really is the lightest rod they've made. I use mine with swim jigs 1/4 to 3/8 oz, spinnerbaits,  Texas rigged plastics,  and shakey heads. So far the rod has worked really well for me. Baught one of the Lews reactors today going to put it through the ringer in the morning!! It's a 7'2" MH fast. The uglystick is a 7'0" MH fast the multipurpose old go to rods, they're good for a little bit of everything 

bank fishing i used the ugly carbon 2 piece 6-6 medium fast all last year and it has become my favorite. I bought a 2 piece ugly carbon 7-0 medium fast this winter and and put a president xl pflueger on it and will find out this spring how it performs.

[bowhunter63]

I picked up a Lews Hank Parker rod at Wally World for 40 bucks. Really nice rod for the money, It’s a 6 10 spinning rod I’m gonna use for Wacky Worms and finesse jigs. There worth a look