The 10 Best Ugly Stik Fishing Poles
This wiki has been updated 22 times since it was first published in August of 2018. Despite the odd name, there’s nothing particularly unattractive about the fishing poles produced by Ugly Stik. On the contrary, these casting rods, spinning rods and baitcasters will perform admirably in a range of situations and weather conditions. Most options give you various sizes and styles to choose from, which will help you prepare specifically for the type of angling you’ll be doing. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Tiger Elite
2. Elite Casting
3. GX2 Casting
Editor's Notes
December 06, 2020:
We only needed to replace one item on the list, adding the Bigwater Powerlux in its place. It’s rated for different types of line depending on the style you choose, and whatever type of line you decide to go with, the well-designed guides make for smooth casting and retrieving. It’s stiff enough to handle blue fish and sharks, but still delivers a good amount of sensitivity.
Several fishermen have found that the reel seat on the Elite Spinning isn’t large enough to accommodate some reel models, a disadvantage we’ve added to the bullet points for this listing. We also noticed complaints that braided line can cause grooves in the guides of the GX2 Spinning, which we’ve also noted. We adjusted the listing of the Elite Baitcast as well, indicating that while the rod-reel combination is not prone to line tangles, the included reel isn’t the highest quality.
For those in need of a reel to go with their new rod, it's nice to know that the Dock Runner, GX2 Ice Combo and Elite Baitcast all come with one.
September 19, 2019:
After looking over each item, we made some minor updates to the list. This included dropping the Elite Spinning rod a couple spots in the rankings upon noting some complaints regarding the durability of its guides. Anglers seem to really enjoy the fast, sensitive action of the Elite Casting — for a baitcaster, it can lead to some surprisingly exhilarating fights.
Added three new models to the list: a spinning combo, a baitcaster for catfish, and an ice fishing combo. The Dock Runner is a nice starter kit for a youngster picking up the hobby; it’s basic and straightforward, designed primarily for targeting small to medium-sized species like bass, blue gills and crappies. The heavy-duty Catfish Caster is available in a one-piece and a two-piece design, which is helpful, since many anglers have a strong opinion on one over the other. It can also cast lures a great distance. The GX2 Ice Combo provides a quality option for those who prefer cold-weather fishing.
4. Bigwater Powerlux
5. GX2 Ice Combo
6. Catfish Caster
7. Elite Baitcast
8. GX2 Spinning
9. Elite Spinning
10. Dock Runner
In addition to his corporate career as a marketing and communications professional in Chicago, Sam runs a popular blog that focuses on the city’s flourishing craft beer and brewery scene. He received his degree in journalism from DePaul University (which spurred his interest in freelance writing) and has since spent years developing expertise in copywriting, digital marketing and public relations. A lifetime of fishing, hiking and camping trips has left him well-versed in just about any outdoors-related topic, and over several years spent working in the trades during his youth, he accumulated a wealth of knowledge about tools and machinery. He’s a travel junkie, a health and fitness enthusiast, and an avid biker.