Lay the reel out horizontally so that any water that gets in has an easy path out, and don’t blast a reel with water to avoid blasting out the grease; just make sure it receives a thorough flow. If you want to be particularly diligent when cleaning your fishing gear (it will pay off in the long run), you can soak a cloth in freshwater (even with a little soap—boat soap works) and wipe everything down. Once finished, loosen the drag; if you leave reel drags tight, they tend to get stuck that way and lose their precision.
Based on the GX2’s build and the original’s history of durability, the GX2 could very well be the last rod you’ll need to buy. They are seriously tough rods—a fact supported by their industry-leading seven-year warranty (compared with the typical one-year coverage offered on Penn and Shimano rods). In fact, if it costs less than $100 and it’s not an Ugly Stik, I’d just as soon use a hand line. However, there’s no denying that many of the Shakespeare fishing rods deliver a reliable and best fishing experience. Generally speaking, Shakespeare produces good fishing rods that are very affordable and highly suitable for the average angler.
I’m a United States Coast Guard–certified master captain, and I have been fishing since I could walk. I grew up working on charter boats in and around Long Island Sound, and reliable fishing gear has been paramount not only to my profession but also to my life. This rod is a dependable workhorse, especially when casting heavier lures, but it may be too stiff for bait and bottom fishing. Do Shakespeare fishing rods lack a little of the refinement and some of the bells and whistles of their competitors? I’ve never actually been satisfied with the overall performance of the fishing rod. I’ve put my Ugly Stik fishing rods through hell, and apart from being very faded, not even a line guide has been compromised.
The success of the Ugly Stik line has been profound and stands as the most successful freshwater rods, ever. Among the highlights during the remainder of the 1970s were two expansions at the company’s Newbury production facility–one in 1972 and another in which made the Newbury plant the largest fiberglass pole production facility in the world. Toward the end of the decade, another important development occurred when Shakespeare introduced the “Ugly Stik,” the company’s new fishing rod.
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 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.
That flexible tip means it won’t be ideal for manipulating lures, but we think the added versatility is more valuable to most fishers—especially beginners. While the GX2 isn’t better than a specialist rod in either application, it is a capable performer in both—which can’t be said of the Ugly Stik Tiger or the Penn Squadron. What makes the Ugly Stik GX2 so much more durable and versatile than other rods is that it uses both graphite and fiberglass to provide sensitivity and strength without sacrificing too much of either. It features a primarily graphite shaft for stiffness, along with a soft, clear, and flexible fiberglass tip.
Here are the top two choices from our Shakespeare fishing rods review…. The Shimano Baitrunner performed well, but its lack of durability took it out of the running after we did our teardown test. After just a few weeks of use, it showed some early signs of corrosion. Ultimately, I’ve had to repair the secondary (freespool) drags on the Baitrunner, which is another reason why I suggest buying a conventional setup if you’re going to fish bait. The Ugly Stik GX2 was introduced in 2013 as the first major redesign of the Ugly Stik series since its debut in 1976.
Sensitivity is enhanced using braid, but I’d happily spool a 3000 spinning reel with mono and expect good feedback. The 9 footer copes well with decent stripies and drum from the surf, while not being overkill for 2 and 3-pound largemouth bass or smallmouth bass, casting cranks from the bank. A general-purpose fishing stick is deployed for a variety of applications. It needs to be both sensitive and strong, as well as hold reasonable casting manners. I’ll cover boat to bank and river to sea while excluding more specialized applications such as big game fishing and fly fishing. For over 100 years, Shakespeare has been one of the most recognizable brands in fishing.
With practice or experience, you can cast a reasonable distance with this Ugly Stik rod, but that’s not what it’s all about. I really like this option for anybody on a strict budget who wants to fish the ocean rocks and surf. Despite it being pretty light (an advantage), this shakespeare fishing has power to burn with plenty of casting length. They cast well, they handle battles well, and these rods are easy to put together and break down. Some of them are so good that they rival the performance of standard rod configurations, with the hefty price tag to match.
In 1968, Shakespeare incorporated steel and aluminum golf shafts into its golf line and purchased Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania-based Plymouth Golf Ball Company, a maker of golf balls founded in 1916. The following year, Shakespeare built up its archery shakespeare fishing reel business, acquiring Big Rapids, Michigan-based Root Archery Company. In 1970, the company acquired the manufacturing and sales rights to Golden Eagle Bow, and subsequently consolidated both archery acquisitions into Columbia Products Company.