The added stiffness makes the Elite ideal for manipulating lures and giving them “action” (a fishing term for making lures dance or hobble like wounded prey). Another problem with the Ugly Stik GX2 is that the guides are not always perfectly placed. This is something you’re likely to find in any mass-produced base-level spinning-rod model; it’s not something children will notice.
Certainly, many anglers, who have tackled anything from big Rainbow Trout in the many Texas streams and creeks, to feisty Brown Trout located in the far reaches of the Canadian Rockies, are familiar with the pushbutton variety of this Shakespeare innovation. The company has moved forward in a big way, and now remains a leading manufacturer and supplier of freshwater rods, for the fishing industry. I tested all of the rods and reels from beaches, rocks, boats, and riverbanks. I fished with lures in rivers for trout and salmon, and I set 1- to 1½-pound live baits from my skiffs, catching ocean fish up to 20 pounds with each rod and reel. I also tested the gear on smaller bottom fish, including summer flounder, sea bass, and porgies (or scup), as well as red drum and spotted seatrout in Charleston, South Carolina. I spent several days fishing freshwater rivers for trout and smaller salmon, and a couple of days fishing private ponds and lakes for largemouth bass.
As more and more newcomers discover the joy of fishing, Shakespeare will be there, providing the gear and inspiration to make sure that the next bite will never be the last. Sign up for the latest news, tips, and updates sent straight to your inbox from the Pure Fishing family of brands. Start with a 2’10” rod with oversized handle knob and extended shakespeare fishing reel length push button perfect for 4+ little anglers and easily extend rod to 3’7″ and 4’5″ lengths for up to eight years of use. Other Shakespeare tackle includes trolleys for ease of transportation, luggage and chairs for longer, comfier stays when carp fishing. Be the first to know about promotions, special offers and product releases.
Toward the end of the season, a 400-pound bruiser burned up the clicker on the spool, which isn’t a huge deal but worth mentioning. That said, most 100- or 120-size reels are probably outmatched by 400-pound fish. The Elite is usually only about $10 more than the GX2 at any given length, which isn’t a lot of money, so you might be wondering why it isn’t our top pick. First off, as a stiffer rod, the Elite isn’t as well-suited to bait fishing for smaller catches. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing if that’s what you know you want, but it’s worth noting if you’re a first-timer trying to start small. Second, while the GX2 is the direct successor to the classic Ugly Stik, which had four decades of acclaim behind it, the Elite series is a newer line.
Shakespeare has made significant contributions in moving both freshwater fishing reels and saltwater baitcasting reels technology forward. Significant achievements include the invention of the backlash brake. Obviously, this was a critical progression for casting reels, and the technology proved a boon for Shakespeare and its market share.
Shimano’s Saguaro series is every bit as versatile as the Ugly Stik GX2, but the guides are nowhere near as durable as Ugly Stik’s Ugly Tuff guides. Although I found the Saguaro rod itself to be more clunky and cumbersome overall—especially when casting lightweight artificial lures—that’s also what made me recognize shakespeare fishing reel and appreciate it as a dependable workhorse. First, it’s heavier than more high-performance graphite rods (which usually run about 5 ounces for a medium-heavy 6-foot-6 or 7-foot rod), and some people find that tiring. But if you’ve never held a high-end spinning rod before, you won’t notice the difference.