Ugly Stick

[bass kicker]

you could only buy a st croix ice fishing rod for 50 bucks

[basstech]

I use to use ugly stick lites's 1100, 5'6" MH for spinner baits and cranks. It's no good for worm fishing or jigs and such. Does good throwing bomber 6a's and 7a's. Tom is right, the lightening rod is a better rod. To me even the ugly stick wieghs a ton. But it is a good begginers rod for throwing cranks and spinner baits as long as they are no lighter than 1/4 oz. to say 3/4 oz. They also work for rattle traps. The length, weight of the rod and crappy reel seats are the main reasons I went to the St. croix premier for those baits.

[bass kicker]

i like my ugly sticks for spinning gear but when it comes to bait casting st> croix

i cant help it i love my new rod

[fizzle fro]

well i went out to walmart and looked at the poles... and i decided to get the Berkley Bionix. It was the most expensive one they had at $50 and i was wondering if its good?? Thanks

[JB]

You'll probably be just fine with that stick, what rating and length? like is it a medium heavy and 6foot 6? ..thats the standard in bassfishing, but many others work just as well...what reel ya going to put on that?

[fizzle fro]

its 7 foot medium action, the reel i got was for my birthday... my dad got it off ebay prob isnt very good but ive been happy with it, i got the 300 model of the one below

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Ningbo-HH500...QQcmdZViewItem

[lizardsrule]

Originally Posted by fizzle fro

its 7 foot medium action, the reel i got was for my birthday... my dad got it off ebay prob isnt very good but ive been happy with it, i got the 300 model of the one below

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Ningbo-HH500...QQcmdZViewItem

GO catch a toad with it, and congrats on the new gear. Always fun buying stuff The 7' ill help with casting distance and line movement. Enjoy the new tool

Lizards

[bass kicker]

should of got a st croix

[bassinbob]

Everyone else posted so I'll add my 2 cents worth. My 3 old ugly stix from 30 or so years ago are in the corner of the garage with their Mitchel 300's. Every time i walk in there and see them they bring back memories. Back then they were the rod to have. Now it's like picking up a sledge hammer compared to a regular hammer. They never broke, they caught the fish and I still have them. Money well spent for the time. Someday one of my girlfriends grand children will be using them. Wonder if I'll say that about my St. Croix's, Airrus, and Kistler, and any other brand the monkey makes me get.

Bob

[RandyHolt]

I did email shakespeare for their advice. Assuming the core is surrounded by some sort of strong material, i just fear the break wont show its ugly head until I get a big one on there. While stuck wading in the middle of a river with no backup. The ugly stick is pretty darn tough though and I figured some here would have similar experiences.

[BigBassin144]

I'd wager it was the reel seat. But if you're worried, just take it back.

BB

[Cavs1123]

i would rather go with a Berkley lightning rod or a Berkley Bionix Rod. But Ugly Stiks are good rods too.

[RandyHolt]

I put my baitcaster on the Ugly 66MH original. I have been casting heavy lures to help prevent the lashing since i new to baitcasting. I hope that wont last forever. I do notice the lack of sensitivity. Since my ugly made that popping noise, i have noticed no problems. Probably much ado over nothing, the reel settling itself in. I will head over to Dicks to check out the lite version. I am thinking the the original ugly medium and Berkleys maybe worth a look as well. Thanks for the feedback.

[BigBassin144]

Spend a bit more, and get a Shimano Clarus rod. You'll never want to go back to ugly sticks after fishing with a decent graphite rod.

BB

If you want a good rod for under '430.00 get yourself a Berkley cherrywood rod. They sell them at walmart and for the price they are the best walmart has.

[RandyHolt]

i went to Dicks. I can return my Ugly Stick anytime within 90 days of purchase. I didnt find anything better there, so I held onto it since I was headed out onto the potomac for a few hours later in the day. I got a smallie dink on my first cast and then was shut out the rest of the day lol. I will checkout the other local sports outlets and look at the suggestions listed above. I know I can do better than an Ugly, but believe it or not, BPS did not have a 2pc in stock or me when I got my reel. So i got the Ugly to get through the day.

I do need a two piece, and wanting the trigger grip... looking at the Shimano Clarus i see the MF is the only candidate. The question, will the nicer MH rods give that sensitivity that seems lacking in my Ugly MH? I would hope so.

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descp...NO-SHCLCR.html

[BigBassin144]

Randy, there are two different rating on rods nowdays, Power and Action.

Originally Posted by Tackle Warehouse's Fishing Rod Selection article

Action: This describes how much of the rod deflects (bends) when you put pressure on the tip. A fast action rod will bend in only the top third or less of the blank, a medium or moderate action will bend in the top half or so and a slow action will bend starting in the lower third of the rod. Sometimes slow action rods are termed 'parabolic', meaning the bend of the rod is similar throughout the length. This description is subject to the type of rod you may be talking about at the time; a fast action fly rod or steelhead rod will bend much lower and more easily than a fast action bass rod or offshore rod.

<<<<<< Action

Originally Posted by Tackle Warehouse's Fishing Rod Selection article

Power: This describes the strength of the rod or it's lifting power. When someone says this rod has a lot of backbone, they mean it has a lot of power. Power ratings are usually describes as heavy, medium heavy, medium, etc. Power is closely related to the line strength; heavier power rods will handle heavy line weights and lighter powers will be good for light lines. It is fairly important to keep your line test within the limits printed on the rod since a heavy power rod will snap light lines too easily and heavy lines can snap a light rod. Power ratings vary by the type of rod described; a heavy bass rod and a heavy offshore rod will definitely not feel the same. One might be rated for 25lb line and the other for 80lb line.

Most bass fishing rods are Fast or Extra Fast action. The MF you listed above stands for Moderately Fast. I would definately go with a F or XF rod for any single hook baits (Jigs, soft plastics, etc) which it sounds like you're using. If you're using a crankbait or something similar, Then a M or MF action should be good.

As for power, for soft palstics, I like a MH. for jigs, MH or H are good. So if that's what you're fishing, you should be good to go with a Medium Heavy rod.

I personally believe that Neither power or action affect sensitivity. And even if they did, this rod is still going to be WAY more sensitive than any ugly stick.

BB

P.S. What exactly are you fishing with this rod? That will help decide what rod will work best.

[RandyHolt]

great post BB144 - thanks. I am fishing for lake largemouths and river small and large. And hydrilla of late. I do vary my bait types and weights a lot so just want a go to do all rod, that of course can handle that rare hawg.

Most of the time I have used soft plastics but am getting away from them of late.

[BigBassin144]

Then I'd go with a 6'6" or 7' (both will work great, in this case, length is just a preference) with a MH power and Fast or Extra Fast action.

This will cover most baits you'd throw into weeds and such (jigs, plastics, bigger spinnerbaits, etc.)

These two Clarus rods would work great: CSC-X66MHA and CSC-70MHA

BB

[Jim80]

Randy you could look at the quantum tournament series rods that they sell at walmart as well they go around $40 and are hard to beat either those or a lighting rod would do ya fine . And i also have a cherrywood rod that has caught hundrweds of fish over the last couple years .

jim

[vabeachbass]

I bought an ugly stick light a few weeks ago - it was a waste of money - sure the rod is durable and all but it has absolutely no back bone - a 2 pound fish bends the rod nearly to the handle...doesnt cast very well either...just my experience...I'd say you get what you pay for, but i dont feel it really worth the 45$.

[RandyHolt]

I am limited by needing a two piece rod. I guess 99% of Bass fisherman use a boat or have an pickup or SUV to stow their 1pc rods. Us city boys need to break that stuff in half to fit it in the trunk. This appears to severely limit my options. It appears the only 2pc Clarus is the 66 Medium Fast. The CSC66M2A. This site shows if they are one or two piece.
http://www.tackledirect.com/shimano-...ting-rods.html

@Jim80 I am having trouble ID'ing the exact Quantum you recommended. I didnt see anything at Walmart online but here is the official site.

http://www.quantumfishing.com/prod_c...dsselector.htm

[JB]

randy you can fit a rod in the car if you put the butt end up on the dash by the windshield and angle it back to the back window, or open a window and put the tips through at an angle pointing up. Taking off the reels makes it less in your way also. I meet woody over at the lake in my wifes cavalier with six seven foot rods, the back seat folds down to the trunk.

[RandyHolt]

i can definitely cram my gear into the car interior, poles a bit bent. But I store all my gear in the car. I got long ago tired of schlepping it all in and out of the house. So the trunk it is. Plus, sneaking out during lunch to get a couple casts in - i just break it down and am ready to fish at a moments notice. Speaking of which, I just finished straightening out the eye of the spook, which got all bent from the 4 pounder in my avatar... I am off for a few twilight casts.

[Jim80]

Randy i could not find the rod on their website or quantum's website either maybe they replaced it with a different model and thats how wally world ended up with the ones they had , best i could say is go in and see if they have them , it is a blue rod with im8 blank.
And like I said great for the money .

Jim