I have received a number of emails through the ask a question page about the Ugly Stik Catfish Rod and what I though about them. I posted a little bit of information on the tackle page and on the rod page pertaining to the Ugly Stik Catfish Rod but evidently I was not in depth enough because I am still getting a lot of questions. I still have a major backlog of questions so just bear with me and I promise you I will eventually get to them.
The Shakespeare Ugly Stik Catfish Rod
The Ugly Stik Catfish Rod is a rod that has gone relatively unchanged for a number of years. This rod has been the same for as long as I can remember and is typical Ugly Stik Quality.
Some people that look down on Ugly Stik fishing rods as being “junk” but I have to say that I have owned a lot of Ugly Stik fishing rods over the years and they have all been excellent quality fishing rods. They are not the lightest fishing rods available, and they are not the most sensitive fishing rods available but there is no doubt that Ugly Stik sells a good quality fishing rod at a fair price and they offer an excellent warranty and are known for standing behind their products.
I have owned a number of these Rods over the years and at one time had bought several but I quit using them for reasons I referenced in the article I wrote about rods. I just got tired of swapping gear all of the time.
The Ugly Stik Catfish Rod is a 7 foot, one piece, medium heavy action rod and is white in color. The rod also has a glow tip on it and even eyes that glow (a feature they market towards night fishing).
What I like about these rods:
- It is priced right
- It has an excellent warranty
- It has a good long bottom handle
- It is a typical Ugly Stik which means it is tough and durable
What I don’t like about the rods:
- It’s heavy
- It has a pretty firm (slow) tip
- It has foam handles (I really prefer cork)
- It is a 7′ rod and I really prefer longer rods
I recently went through a major run of clients breaking my fishing rods and had a “rod emergency” and had to break out some old fishing rods to get by so I drug out an old Ugly Stik Catfish Rod that I had set aside and did some fishing with it to “revisit” it and see if I liked it or not.
I have gotten so accustomed to using salmon/steelhead rods (like I referenced in my rods article) that when I start using anything else I feel like I am fishing with a telephone pole.
I used the rod off and on for about three weeks and still have it in my boat. I have been using a lot of circle hooks recently because we have been chasing shallow water blue catfish. I usually fish with a lot of circle hooks when I am fishing this way.
One thing I noticed about these rods compared to the salmon /steelhead rods I have been using for years and even the Ugly Stik CAL1100 is that the rod was not anywhere near as effective with the Mustad Demon Hooks as the salmon/steelhead rods are, which I think is due to the tip being so much more stiff then the rods I typically use.
I have done some drift fishing with these rods over the years and have done very well with them for trophy blues and have been very happy with them for that application.
My suggestion is that if you are doing a lot of drift fishing, or fishing for bigger catfish that this is a good rod to use but if you are targeting smaller fish or fishing an ultra light bite then it is probably a little too clunky, stiff and heavy for those applications.
I never hesitate to recommend Ugly Stik to my clients (because of the quality) or people who ask me but this rod is just heavier than I like for a good all around rod.
Product Link: Shakespeare Ugly Stik Catfish Casting Rods
Check out the tackle page, rod page and reel page for my tackle suggestions.
Sound Off: Have you ever used the Ugly Stik Catfish Rod?
Ive decided on a 1 ton team catfish rod but it says ?-80lb. line recomended but can I use 100lb. line on it. and can a 7000i series garcia hold 100lb. line ror at least 200 yd.
Why would you want to use 100 Lb line?
Look at this article:
http://www.learntocatchcatfish.com/catfish-fishing-line/
because I dont want to miss none and I also fish for those paddle fish they get to 130. And I also fish sturgon so 100lb. line is an understatement for sure
I started useing ugly stic cat rods around ten years ago. I have had other comparable rods, but the ugly stic seems to last. I drift, bank, and all other types of fishing with them. they will hold up to larger fish, and my prefence is the bread and butter cat fish three to ten pounds and have no problem detecting a bite. The only problem I’ve had was that when cat fishing a 50 to 60 pounder can hold to the bottom and make you belive you have a snag, but most of that has to do wiyh the fact that the ugly stic will bend almost completly in half before it breaks. I have caught several 20&30 pounders and the pole seems to react the same as it dose when I have a 5 pound fish on, thats why I like them. The major set back for me is size, I wish they would make a ten foot heavy with a fast tip. I have had more exspensive rods not hold up to the ugly stic, so I reconmend them to everyone.
Just purchased the 8 foot Ugly Stik Catfish rod the other day. No fish on it yet, but I sure do like the way it casts a one ounce weight. I’m very happy with it, bonus – it’s a two piece.
Clyde;
At the recommendation of the sales rep, I bought the same rod at the same 8″ length, at my local BPS the day I bought my 6500 C3. I haven’t had the opportunity to try it out for fishing yet, only to do some casting practice. I hope to get out to one our local lakes or rivers soon.
I’d like to hear how your’s performed for you. Any and all pro’s and con’s you may have of it.
I have to agree with Chad though, it is heavier than I thought it would be. Oh well, this gives me another chance at another choice.
Stan
The 8′ rods and good for bigger catfish. Overall a good all around catfish rod. Excellent choice. The 8′ ones are tough to find some times also!