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RE: Ugly Sticks

DOA — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 14:07:36 GMT

I agree on the whole Walmart grade thing. Sadly, even a walmart special can feel better than the wet noodle

RE: Ugly Sticks

Vlap — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 13:11:50 GMT

just out of curiosity i picked up an ugly stick today... gave it a testing shake and such... and yes i do agree... a wet noodle would probably be better for working a jig...

RE: Ugly Sticks

RandyStinchcomb — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 12:09:56 GMT

also of note: I'd be a little cautious of buy rods (& reels) at a discount store. ie: wal-mart, k-mart or whatever. I have NO proof of this but I'll bet these "under $20.00 rods" are either factory seconds or blems for that price.

I work in the automotive business wholesale and retail and see this kind of practice taking place in my business as-well. remember, 'you get what you pay for"

RE: Ugly Sticks

fishndbridge — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 08:11:35 GMT

Ok, I'll look more carefully! Thanks for the info!!

RE: Ugly Sticks

DOA — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 06:45:58 GMT

Be careful Steph, if you saw a little combo for 55$ that looked like a rebone, it was not! There a little cheapy combo called rebones out there. A redbone rod is sold individually and it is rebone singular not redbone(s). You should also so a little red circle with a palm tree in it near the handle of the rod, this is the manufacturers icon.

RE: Ugly Sticks

fishndbridge — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 09:44:51 GMT

I was wondering about that. Just saw a Redbones combo at the BX for about $55 and wondered if that was the right price to get excited about. Might have to look at that one again! :-D

Picked up another Okuma reel for my other Shimano rod. I didn't realize that it was 7'!!! Yee Haa! Gave the third Shimano to my neighbor and I thought she was gonna kiss me right on the lips! hehe Looks like Team Ella St. is back in business! lmao

RE: Ugly Sticks

DOA — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 05:44:34 GMT

You guys have made some great rod suggestions so far!

If your budget is $50 then you have a HUGE choice of rods much better than uglies for strength and sensativity!

You may can even catch redbones on sale for that, hee hee hee;) Actually I bought Miz DOA a rod made by Hurricane (makers of redbone) that was in the $30.00 range that actually feel pretty daggum good. It is called a Calico Jack. I have fished with Miz DOA's and was really impressed.

RE: Ugly Sticks

swsnooker — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 13:17:49 GMT

alright guys.....

I have officially found an awesome rod for only 30 bucks that beats the heck out of an ugly stick its the shimano scimitar i now own 2 one with a stradic and one with a boca (quantum). I have used both on big snook and they are incredible. newayz honestly no offense to the ugly stick fanatics but you can tell us as much as you want that they arent that bad but as someone said earlier.... dont ask the salesman in the shop talk to some local fishing guides or people u kno that fish all the time. I think you will find that not many people will talk very highly about them. and in DOA's defense i think this topic was meant to hear others opinions not to get yelled at :D

RE: Ugly Sticks

rightknot — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 13:03:07 GMT

first of all the chevy will last longer haven't you seen the news your fords and lincons have been going up in flames I suppose due to lack of attention to quality instead focusing on frills that are not really needed. I'll put a $35 berkeley lightning rod in the boat and save $70 thanks corkbutt sensitive w/fast tip strong backbone mabee no st. croix but I can get three for the price of your one they meet my needs.

RE: Ugly Sticks

rightknot — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 12:43:13 GMT

shakespeare excursion available in 6'6" & 7' at most wal marts good action stiff tip Im6 granite retail $12.96. the rest of you keep on paying those high prices refusing to believe it is not possible to find a good rod for a cheap price. ugly stick=wet noodle

RE: Ugly Sticks

fisherman292 — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 12:31:34 GMT

I started out with a decent rod, its the Quantum blue runner inshore. They are $40 and are great inshore rods. I would Highly suggest them over the ugly sticks. Good luck!

Practice CPR (Catch-Photo-Release)

RE: Ugly Sticks

Flatsboy — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 09:54:13 GMT

Okay so uglys arent the best in the world but its the only thing I can afford. So tell me what kind of rod should I buy if I only have $50.00. I primarily use 1/4oz spinner baits and cal jigs. I like cork handles and I like something that is very sensitive and has lots of back bone for redfish. I fish the intercoastal over the grass flats and I like one piece rods. Any help would be appreciated;)

Tight lines, loose drags, and pull hard:cool:

RE: Ugly Sticks

RandyStinchcomb — Sat, 04 Nov 2006 08:50:39 GMT

true, any rod and reel can catch fish. but if you fish a $30.00 rod and then fished a real quality rod, you will see and feel the difference. Ugly's are "OK" for what they are but please DO NOT compare them to a qualty rod. also, don't go by "what the guys at BPS" recomends, ask a fisherman not a salesman.

I fish alot and comfort is importon to me. I fish hard, making many, many cast over a 10 to 14 + hr day in all kinds of weather and how the rod feels in my hand, sensitivity, the quality of the grip and butt(cork vs foam, and yes I know Uglys can come wth cork grips now) how well it will handle big fish, how good is the quality of the guides & reel seat? just just to many factors envolved. if you like the cheaper rods, then fine but I've fished/used both and there is just no substitute for quality.

yes you can drive a chevy or you can drive a lincoln and which one will last longer, drive better and be more comfortable?

RE: Ugly Sticks

fishndbridge — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 22:56:36 GMT

All I have to say, at this point is.....I CAUGHT A TROUT ON MY $8.99 SHIMANO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

RE: Ugly Sticks

DOA — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 17:40:59 GMT

Yeah uh technically I can catch fish on a pine tree branch and weed eater line if I wanted to;)

I agree with vlap, you can get better rods for the same price. Oh and I guess ya got me right in between the eyes with the whole spending money thing.. I live at home, am paying off 3 business loans, vehicle and insurance payments, cannot afford to put myself on a salary in my business yet, work 14 hours a day to make ends meet.... sure I just love spending money in ways I don't have to because I am so picky:unsure:

I have been on AF long enough to know that we are not rich and picky.

I am not saying uglies have no application but finess and ugly sticks do not go together. As mentioned, live or cut bait fishen, and maybe topwater.. maybe, but for soft plastics... uh no.

RE: Ugly Sticks

Vlap — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 16:52:35 GMT

i bet i spent less on something that works very well

RE: Ugly Sticks

Flatsboy — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 15:35:41 GMT

Hey guys yall must be real picky about everything. Ugly sticks are the best for me and nobody is going to tell me different. I have caught all kinds of fish on ugly sticks and even the guys at bass pro say that you can never beat a ugly stick with a penn reel and that is the truth! Some people just want to spend more money on their fishing equipment instead of using what just works. Its like do you want a lamborgeni or a chevy. They both work. So to me the ugly sticks are going to out last most of those fancy rods and I like them!!!:D For the average person that goes fishing on the weekend we buy ugly sticks and know that they will caught fish!! So if you dont like ugly sticks then just dont buy them I will, me and all my buddies all use ugly sticks and penns and are proud to use them!:cool:

Tight lines, loose drags, and pull hard.

RE: Ugly Sticks

RandyStinchcomb — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 09:37:15 GMT

I too have "Ugly-Sticks" (6 of them), but ONLY for newbies that fish on my boat wth me, that way if they break-it, Im only out @$30.00;)

all MY light/medium tackle rods are either St. Croix, Falcon or All Star and I've never had any issues out of them:cool:

I'd like to try the W/M's that Blair use's, I'll be in the market for another 8' spinning combo come 1/07 so I may look into 1 of the W/M's :D

RE: Ugly Sticks

nitro — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 08:48:39 GMT

Matt, sure the 'bones are better for playing fish, but you don't play these big boys. It's like pulling a big grouper off a wreck. Just a strong rod and a good back. When you hook a big blue, just like a grouper, it heads for it's hole and then it's just grunt and groan. I have seen some good rods give up under the pressure, but never an ugly stick.:P

RE: Ugly Sticks

fishndbridge — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 22:04:27 GMT

OMGGGGGGGGGGGG...So, I'm browsing through the BX, after grabbing the obligatory dog food, and checking out tents for WWII.

I decided to see what they had for rods, thinking they were going to have a bunch of $100 Penn's. If I'm going to pay that much, I'm heading to Gander Mountain, by golly!! hehehe

So, I wade through all the Ugly Sticks, to the Simanos. I wade through all the baitcasters, to the spinning rods. And what, to my wandering eyes, should appear? A decent feeling 2-piece Shimano that felt pretty good in my hand, 6' 6" ( shorter than I wanted, but I'll adapt ), Medium power, Fast action. It's a Shimano FX S-66MB2....Probably low end Shimano, but here's the tingly part.

I took it to the register, prepared to have my hopes dashed, as it had OBVIOUSLY been mismarked. Nope...it rung up at $8.99! As I ran like a wild woman for the car, I pondered my purchase, and decided that I was being hasty...I had made a huge error. So, I placed my purchases in the car, turned right around, went back in the store and bought the other two they had! LOL

I'm going to take 2 of them to my rod guy and have them epoxied together and leave the third one 2 piece. I figure, between me and the boys, they can be pretty bad, but, for less than 10 bucks, if we get some use out of them...I Dun GOOD!

RE: Ugly Sticks

impatient — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 17:25:45 GMT

I fished the same 7' ugly stick rod for 11 years until just a few months ago I broke another guide off and decided I wasnt going to fix it anymore. So what did I buy? a uglystif inshore. A little better action than the old one but still no backbone. I mostly only use it when live bait fishing or throwing topwater due to lack of sensitivity like Matt said. There is another option thoough for around 32 bucks at your local friendly walmart. Look for Ande Tournement series rods they are really nice graphite rods and relatively light. All the snook that I caught off dock at mogan mania came on one of the 7'6" spinning models. They just got more in at the walmart near me and I am planning on getting a few to put Gander mountains Guide Series spinning reels they have. I picked one up last week and cant wait to try it out, it has ten ball bearings and fels real sweet with nice drag. will give report on how it does after some salt gets to it. Oh by the way I only paid $40 for it, and it came with spare aluminum spool. :D

RE: Ugly Sticks

DukeDevil91 — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 18:59:26 GMT

I personally like the Penn Pursuit rods for the price.

RE: Ugly Sticks

Vlap — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 18:57:18 GMT

heck.. i dont have much time on ya....

RE: Ugly Sticks

fishndbridge — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 18:16:42 GMT

hehehe...well, when you had me in complete hysterics, nearly peeing in my pants, and about an inch from falling into the water, I think it's ok for me to think of you as "my boyz"!!! It's just not in my nature to stay mangry or pooned off for very long! :w00t:

Seriously, I know that you are right, and I feel more comfortable doing a little more shopping around now, than I used to. Keep in mind, that I have only been saltwater fishing for a year and a half now. So much learned and so far to go!

TEACH ME, oh fishing gurus, TEACH ME!!! :D

RE: Ugly Sticks

DOA — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 17:37:35 GMT

Looks like Jeff and I have forever earned the title of "Stephs boys". If I knew you needed a good combo Steph I would have brought you one to MMV. Jeff is right, shimno and even shakespere make some nice little combos and individual rods for a great price.

RE: Ugly Sticks

fishndbridge — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 16:55:24 GMT

Well, dang it boys...Get on up here, take me shopping and TAKE ME FISHING!!! :D

RE: Ugly Sticks

Vlap — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 15:31:39 GMT

2 of my rods are shimano soujorns... they retail for $20 - $25... i have caught many fish on them... thier action is great... on the ugly stick note... they are named right... the action is ugly... i have tried a couple and will never own one. there are better rods out there for the money...

RE: Ugly Sticks

DOA — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 15:23:38 GMT

I understand, remember, I casted your ugly stick at MMV. Good rod for the budget, but there are better feeling rods with a comparable price. I am convinced your lack of DOA shrimp success can be somewhat blamed on the rod.

RE: Ugly Sticks

fishndbridge — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 12:00:38 GMT

LOL....All I can say, Matt, is for someone like me, on a non-existent income, my Ugly Sticks have never failed me!
I can walk into Walmart and find an Ugly Stick to suit my needs and I'll probably have it forever.
When the day comes that I have my own income and don't have to rely on the income and budgeting "skills" of "he who does not fish", then I can think about upgrading to nicer tackle, and that will be great. But for now...my Ugly Sticks work GREAT!

My only problem appears to be the operator of the Ugly Stick! You may recall a certain Clinton Snook? Caught on MY Ugly Stick by Someone else! hehehe

RE: Ugly Sticks

DOA — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 05:13:18 GMT

Shoot, I loves me some catfish and will gladly get some worm guts under my finger for em anytime!

The problem with the Ugly's still stands. Yes they may be nearly indestructible (so would be using a steel rod) but for using arties the Ugly's are so clumsy feeling.

I can see how live bait fishers or bottom fishing for big down and dirty fish.. Ugly's can be a good afforable choice, but seems like they usufullness is limites to just that.

As for my redbones, well they have handled 6 foot sharks, and I doubt your kitties would have anything on that.

RE: Ugly Sticks

nitro — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 22:12:48 GMT

O.K. Matt, bring your Redbone up here and let's see what one of these 60#+ blue cats does to it when it heads to it's lair. As for me and most of the other cat chasers around here, we'll stick with our Uglys. Course I don't suppose you would ever stoop so low as to fish for cats.;)

RE: Ugly Sticks

swsnooker — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 18:07:04 GMT

DOA i have never agreed wit u more lol jk bro but seriously i honestly hate ugly sticks i had one for a while but once i used a nice rod i realized what bad rod my ugly stick is

Ugly Sticks

DOA — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 13:05:38 GMT

I had this response on another thread but the thread was not about my personal opinion on Ugly Sticks so I moved it here. I believe it is always ethical and right to not voice opinions not asked for in other threads. ________________________________________________________

I don't personally see what all the hullabaloo is over ugly sticks. To me the name implies the action, just plain ugly.

I fish arties pretty much exclusively which means a rod has to have a great feel to it and to me nothin feels more like a drunk anaconda with a reel on its butt than an ugly stick.

What is it that draws people?... gotta be the durability and price because I see no other reason to buy one.

I am not meaning to be rude but there is no way I could fish with one.