Question about my Ugly Stik GX2

[jonnyp4three]

I have a 7’ Medium Ugly Stik GX2 casting rod and I’ve read all over the place that these things aren’t the greatest when it comes to sensitivity, and I should only stick to moving baits like spinnerbaits etc. I’m not expecting it to be a G-Loomis by any means but I should be able to get by throwing a 3.3” maybe even a 3.8” Paddletail on this setup to fish my local river for bigger fish with little to no problems right? And could braided fishing line help with throwing any other kind of baits/lures? Thanks. 

[lmbfisherman]

As long as it’s within the specs the rod suggests it should work fine.  Not sure what you’re looking for regarding the braid question.  Braided line if you’re asking if it would help with sensitivity, you should be able to detect bites better yes.

[MediumMouthBass]

A $100 mid priced rod with the lure cut off the line will be 100% more sensitive than any GX2 on this planet, you will not find a rod with less sensitivity anywhere.

 

But they make fantastic moving bait rods (where G Loomis sensitivity is useless anyways), between their unbreakable strength, parabolic action, and dirt cheap cost. I think they make amazing cranking, buzzbaiting, spinnerbaiting, chatterbaiting, paddle tailing rods.

  On 4/2/2025 at 2:04 AM, jonnyp4three said:

And could braided fishing line help with throwing any other kind of baits/lures? Thanks. 

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Braid may or may not ruin the guides on an Ugly Stik, be careful about using braid if they are the steel inserts.

[WRB]

Ugly Stick is an entry level rod and should be OK to learn to bass fish with using moving lures. The reel and rod combo needs to be able to cast lures 1/4 oz to 5/8 oz.

Don’t waste money on expensive  braid line, suggest 10 or 12 lb Big Game mono.

Go fishing and enjoy bass fishing.

Tom

[greentrout]

Ugly Stik makes a carbon rod that's 100 percent graphite that's a best seller. Might want to check it out. 

Good Fishing

[jonnyp4three]

  On 4/2/2025 at 3:35 AM, lmbfisherman said:

As long as it’s within the specs the rod suggests it should work fine.  Not sure what you’re looking for regarding the braid question.  Braided line if you’re asking if it would help with sensitivity, you should be able to detect bites better yes.

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Yes I meant to add the sensitivity part my bad. 

[WRB]

Run the line over your index finger while retrieving lures to feel any changes in lure movements or added and/or reduced lure weight. This nearly eliminated relying on the rod to feel strikes.

Your finger far more sensitive then any rod and works with every type of rod material over your life time of fishing.

Tom

[Fishingmickey]

Hi Jonny,

     I'm in WRB's camp.  The GX2 is probably perfectly fine for using with bottom contact baits (Jig's, T-rigged & weightless.

     I'm not in the camp that braid is more sensitive. It is very sensitive when the line is tight. When it isn't tight you get no feed back. Fluorocarbon or monofilament is a much stiffer line and you get "return" back when a fish hits a sinking bait on a slack line which is the way you fish bottom baits.

   Go spool it up with some 12-14# Big game. Tie on a jig or Texas rig worm and just fish that.  You'll learn what a bite feels like. You'll learn to feel your bait on the end of the line and you'll learn when you run it into weeds, rocks or timber.  A bite feels "live" you can really tell the difference between it and something dead.  The more you fish with bottom contact baits the better you'll get at detecting bites and when to set the hook.

Good luck!

FM

[LCG]

I think it's safe to say most of us started with an ugly stick of some sort. I had an ugly stick spinning combo and used braid, it worked fine until I started upgrading my equipment after about a year of using it.

 

Because it's a casting rod, I would suggest 40lb braid, spooled tightly, and use mono backing, if you're going with braided line.

 

Or simply use big game mono as it reliable and affordable. 10-12lb should do you just fine. 

 

Enjoy the learning process, it's steep and never ends

[Jar11591]

  On 4/2/2025 at 3:02 PM, Fishingmickey said:

It is very sensitive when the line is tight. When it isn't tight you get no feed back.

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The oft-overlooked downside of braid. Unless it’s 100% taut, it signals nothing back to the operator.