If you do happen to be fishing big game, youll likely have to step up in price range, or find a good deal at a garage sale. Signature Clear Tip The rod still has the signature cleartip that lets you know you have an Ugly Stik in your hands, or as is the case for some of us, it lets us pick the Stik out of the pile of rods we have stashed in the garage. Star Rods Stellar Lite Spinning Rod | Bass Pro. The rest, including the grip material and the number of pieces the rod itself breaks down into, is up to you. Got the Ugly Stik GX2 on sale at Cabela's. 7 foot Medium Heavy rod with the largest reel available. Theyre easy to confuse, and our chosen reel wont fit the casting version. Medium and Medium Heavy Available In 9+3 Models: Almost all the freshwater fishes you can imagine cannot escape you now if you have this rod in your hand. Powerful, responsive, and durablethanks to the IM-7 high modulus graphite used throughout! For less than a meal for two at your local Chilis, you can grab one of these great rods as either your primary go to or simply as a backup or loaner for your friends. For the person that is just getting started, Shakespeare offers several Ugly Stix GX2 combo packages that only add a few dollars to your purchase price. If you take this step, our recommended Ugly Stik GX2 and Daiwa BG combo will serve you well for years to come. The brand truly excels when it comes to spinning rods and their Ugly Stik GX2 is arguably one of the better spinning models on the market today for less than $100. During mid-2013 Shakespeare released a new upgraded version of the Ugly Stik known as the GX2. Unlike before, it now feels very comfortable even after hours of cast & retrieves. The Bigwater series features Ugly Tech construction with a combination of graphite and fiberglass to create a strong, yet sensitive rod, Ugly Tuff one-piece stainless steel guides to provide excellent durability and eliminate insert pop-outs, and Ugly Stik Clear Tip design for strength and sensitivity. Compared with a baitcasting or fly-fishing setup, a spinning setup is more comfortable to use and is usually easier to repair; it also requires less finesse to cast. The Ugly Stik GX2 was introduced in 2013 as the first major redesign of the Ugly Stik series since its debut in 1976. Shorter rods with heavy power are great for gaming big fishes that require a lot of lifting strength but they lack in sensitivity. Well, I am pleased to report that there is plenty. The GX2 has the superb reputation of the original Ugly Stik line, but it is made out of substantially more graphite. Available in lengths ranging from 56 to 9. One of the most important features is durability. Medium-Heavy Power Models: Available in lengths ranging from 6 to 7. 243K views 3 years ago I take a 12 foot PENN SQUADRON II Surf Fishing Rod and a 12 foot SHAKESPEARE UGLY STIK to the FOOTBALL FIELD to see which one can cast the farthest. It's a #1 bestseller in fishing rods category and has dozens of popular alternatives in the same price range, such as Entsport E Series Camo Legend or Fiblink Travel Carbon Baitcasting . It incorporates more strength into the rod. Medium Power Models: Available in lengths ranging from 56 to 7. Yes that is correct. Read the full review of the G Loomis E6X HERE. Come winter, Why Does Cold Water Fish Taste Better? As you know, I focus on saltwater fishing applications, however, its nice to know that the GX2 comes in a wide variety of configurations. You can see below that we found them equally good. It's in the top 3 bestselling fishing rods and has dozens of popular alternatives in the same price range, such as Piscifun Torrent or Berkley Lightning Casting Rod . Each rod is designed to perform as well as a high-end rod you might only find in a specialty fishing store. You cannot paste images directly. Thats still a lot of drag for most In other words, you dont need much drag to cover a wide variety of fish. When thinking of an entry-level rod its just nearly impossible to think of an alternative to the Shakespeare Ugly Stik GX2 where you would get as much bang for your buck. We are currently testing it and will update. sensitivity of graphite and durability of fiberglass. G. Loomis continues its tradition of providing both best performance and best value to the bass fishing market with its newly-designed E6X spinning rod. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Theyre functional, and Ive managed to land fairly large fish on them, but theyre brittle and unreliable. Shakespeare Ugly Stik Bigwater Casting Fishing Rod, 12 Rated 4.80 out of 5 based on 50 customer ratings ( 50 customer reviews) $ 91.90 Buy Now Featured Vendor: Walmart.com See Price Comparison SKU: SHA-0335 Category: Featured Products Tags: 12 ft long, 6 ft long, Casting, Composite, Saltwater, Shakespeare, Surf I hope this PENN. Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod. Baitcasters are predominantly designed to throw heavy lures at considerable distances and therefore we have limited power-settings. Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod Strong, yet balanced graphite and fiberglass construction Durable ugly tuff one piece stainless steel guides Pre-spooled with 6 pound line Durable and lightweight eva grips 2-piece construction 7-year warranty 7' medium power spinning rod 6-15 pounds test; eva handle 1/8-5/8 ounce; lure weight Check Price About Ice fishing culture is far different than open-water fishing. I'm thinking about getting an ugly stik gx2 6'6" MH rod and a Penn Fierce 5000 spinning reel. The durable, one piece graphite blank will bend and twist, but won't break. Answer (1 of 2): Depends on your budget. ReviewFinder is reader-supported - if you click on a link on ReviewFinder and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We can't guarantee correctness and completeness of all the data presented here, and therefore will not accept liability for any issues arising from usage of this data. Ugly Stiks today still wear this brand defining pattern. It brings you the same ruff n tuff, budget-friendly fishing rod paired with refined features that compete with some of the more expensive rods out there. This is what makes Ugly Stik way ahead of its competitors as it continues to be budget-friendly. As our former runner-up pick, the Penn Battle II reel offers build quality and durability comparable to those of models costing $150 or more. From all I read Ugly Stick GX2, Big Water or Inshore rods are good but the Shakespeare reels that are on those as a combo are not too good but I am sure much better than that $30 combo rod I bought at Walmart which was not too bad at all so far. Although a good rod and reel are crucial for the beginning angler, managing the necessary tackle (hooks, lines, sinkers, floats, and so forth) for your fishing expedition can also make or break your experience. Mechanically, the Daiwa BG reels stand head and shoulders above competitors within the same price range for a handful of reasons. Again, with the models comes the choice of a 1-pc or a 2-pc blank thus suiting whatever needs you have. David is a freelance writer. Still, for medium-weight jigging and topwater fishing, it would be a good choice. *At the time of publishing, the price was $40. We are currently testing this new model and will update with our results. She writes about a range of fish species for Tackle Village and reviews lures and gear. Please suggest me and guide me in the right direction. Because it is so tough and durable, the Ugly Stik fishing rod is perfect for bass fishing in thick cover.If you prefer a great casting rod, the Ugly Stik Elite casting rod is longer and stronger than the GX2 spinning rod. Thats far better than the one-year warranty coverage from Shimano, Penn, and Shakespeare. In my 20-plus years of fishing, Ive come to learn that when youre shopping for fishing rodsas for any toolpaying a little attention to a few key features can be telling before you even pick up one. What is nice is that starting for around $39.99, you can own one of these great rods and you do not have to feel guilty about your purchase, heck you can even brag to your spouse how much money you saved. Its pocket-friendly price allows us to buy multiple Ugly Stiks and they. Cookie Notice Whether its finding great products or discovering helpful advice, well help you get it right (the first time). Graphite + Fiberglass give it a clean matte-black finish. Available in lengths ranging from 49 to 6. We recommend short lengths like 6-feet when fishing near docs, trees or small places since longer rods would be difficult to control in such situations. We spoke with senior editor and lifetime angler Grant Clauser about his preferences for tackle storage. Once you are through with the choice of power rating, you can move forward and find the desired length. The Ugly Stik GX2 spinning rod is a favorite among largemouth bass anglers. Guide placement becomes more essential when youre fighting trophy-sized fish, which is not something the average angler will put their gear through. So I picked an affordable, high-quality spinning-rod-and-reel combo that can work in as many fishing conditions and settings as possibleincluding saltwater and freshwater. It has variable lengths with six models dedicated to our female angler friends. Also, a classic diamond winding pattern, colored in silver and red, highlights the rod right above the grip. DurableGrip The new grip is made of an EVA material which feels very comfortable in your hands even after hours of casting and retrieving. Fiberglass is heavier but more flexible (slow action) and nearly impossible to break. More importantly the clear tip delivers the sensitivity you need to feel the very light strike of the most stealthy fish to the durability that is needed to handle a large 50 lbs+ redfish or even a 100 lbs+ tarpon. Lure rating of 1/8-3/4 oz. The guides have been completely redesigned into a single piece, stamped stainless steel which adds durability to the already rugged design. Also, most anglers wont even notice the differenceI find that I dont care one way or the other, and Ive been fishing my whole life. Some other brands offer almost similar functionalities at 2x or 3x the price but arent anywhere near in durability. I personally love my GX2. (40) Ugly Stik GX2 Ice Fishing Combo $36.99 $22.19 Compare (22) Ugly Stik Tiger Spinning Rod $69.95 Compare (11) If youre a beginner, its much easier to pick up than either of the other options, and its far less likely to become tangled than a baitcasting setup. We also tested Shimanos Saragosa, a supposed upgrade, but didnt find anything particularly advantageous about it over the Spheros SW. Learn more aboutHow ToChoose a Fishing Rod. Our readers often shared the anecdotes regarding how carefree they are while lending these rods to even the clumsiest of friends as they know they will be safe.. Shakespeare now manufactures a wide range of Ugly Stik fishing rods, from the inexpensive spinning rod to the Bigwater heavy-duty surf fishing model. The amount of tackle carried to the boat, watering hole, or river will vary depending on what kind of fishing youre doing. These rods are at home catching tuna in the Pacific as well as landing monster catfish down south. There isnt much left to say after such an in-depth and comprehensive Ugly Stik GX2 review. Tackle Village is reader supported. I just picked up a new Ugly Stik 7ft casting today. The handles make use of a trig reel seat for a lot more casting movement and lure retrievability. Similarly, you could go cheaper, but then youd give up reliability. Your previous content has been restored. The Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod retains all the strength and reliability that the brand is known for, with added features that improve performance and durability even more! Read the full review of the Star Stellar Lite series HERE. Power settings also vary according to rod length. With a signature clear tip, it has helped many anglers to identify this rod easily in a huge stack. 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