Ugly sticks for striper rod?

[bottleofdog]

1. I know this is Fly fishing forum so I apologize for question
2. The "Tackle" forum just doesnt seem to get the same traffic.

Still looking for a striper rod for my dad to use from shore for the cape. Was wondering if Ugly Sticks can get the job done or not? We really dont want to spend much $$ because this rod will only be used 1 week maybe 2 out of the year.

Any thoughts would be helpful.

[CO FLy]

I don't see why it wouldn't. Just make sure it is at least equally as strong as an 8wt, with proper line and reel. I hope you and your dad have some fun.

[PhlieRod]

A friend of mine, who is pretty serious, uses them exclusively, combined with a Penn 4500 reel. He seems to like them for both blues and stripers.

I think he bought his at a tackle shop in Gloucester for about $45

[jpuris]

A great surf rod for the money (and its not a lot) is the diawa sealine x surf. it comes in 7' 9' 10' (I think) the ugly stick is a bit soft which makes it hard to work poppers way out in the surf. and also makes it hard to feel subtle strikes. I fish 90% with with a fly rod these days but the diawa sealine x matched with a penn slammer spooled with 30# power pro is never far behind.

Hope this helps.

[JGH]

I've got an 11' Daiwa Sea-Line. I think it was about $100, maybe less. Has worked very well for me before I, too, became almost exclusively a fly guy.

[stingray]

I've been using ugly sticks for the past 12 years, I swear by them. Awesome rods for both stripers and blues. Most of my fishing is done by boat, occaisionally surf. If your in the Merrimack NH area, try Zyla's. Rods are short money there.

[PhlieRod]

I forgot to mention, the Ugly Stick is used primarily as a boat rod - usually slinging sluggos or live bait.

[Pauper Piscator]

My first Ugly Stick lasted about 15 years. It did not break - someone stole it. I beat the living hell out of it. I have two others now that I have tried tried tried to destroy. No dice.

Can't go wrong.

[JimK]

I have been using ugly sticks all my life. Half of my life was spent fresh water fishing so I'll skip that.
For surf fishing and throwing plugs I use the ugly stick 10' Medium Heavy with a penn 6500ss with usually 15lb line. Works great. I generally don't fish bait but I used to use it in the canal chunking and it did a fair job but is too soft for most chunking and heavy jigging off the bottom.
For jetty fishing I use an 8' ugly stick. This stick is stiff enough to use jigs off the bottom and bait but you're not going to get the casting distance as the 10'.
What I call my schoolie rod is a 7' ugly stick with a pen 5500ss. I really love this set up. But it's main purpose is to fish small plugs. You can't fish big jigs or drag the bottom with bait.

Love the rods. I think they're a good durable rod for the money. The 10' rod is about $65 bucks.

[striperman13]

I have an ugly stick tiger that has lasted me 9 years so far. It gets used twice a week all summer and is sometimes not treated with care. This rod is almost indestructable. While lesser rods lay broken in the corner of my shed, this stick survives.

[bdowning]

I don't use Uglies anymore, but they are tough rods. I ran over one twice in my car (don't ask), and the only casualty was a slightly dented hand grip.

-bd

[Roop]

For surf I can't comment, for a boat rod - for light lures & plugs I love mine. I have 2 of the Inshore (?) saltwater sticks which are great light tackle rods. $35 @ Wal Mart.

For throwing eels & heavier plugs I like my 8' St. Croix Ben Doerr - Smitty at Rod Builders Workshop in Kingston still has some.

Good luck.

[Ray]

I have a 2 pc 7 foot medium action Ugly Stick. I use it for stripers, blues and a variety of fish in FL (including some rally big Snook).

For the $$ you can't go wrong. I did notice the rods do need a bit of a heavy lure or light line to cast for real distance.

[dondkim]

I spent a great deal of my life fishing with Uglys, even with Wonder rods. You just gave me a great idea for a winter project. I have two surf rod blanks collecting dust in the basement and they are both one piece blanks. Thanks.