Our pick
Ugly Stik GX2
This rod is known for its strength, durability, and versatility. It’s strong enough to handle salmon and other saltwater fish, but sensitive enough for trout.
Daiwa BG Spinning Reel
In the Daiwa, you get a reel with build quality and durability comparable to those of models costing $200 or more.
The Daiwa BG and medium or medium-heavy Ugly Stik GX2 combination is more versatile and durable than anything else in the same price range. Spending less means losing out on long-term durability; spending more means you’re paying for features designed for specific kinds of fishing, or lighter-weight materials that are nice to have but unnecessary for a general-purpose fishing setup. (Daiwa’s 1500–2500 models are ideal for small trout streams but can also handle light inshore fishing for spotted seatrout and flounder, while the larger 5000 and 8000 models will handle larger inshore species and perhaps even small tuna and dolphinfish.)
However, if you never plan on targeting anything larger than trout and small freshwater bass or small inshore saltwater species (about 1 to 4 pounds), you can get away with the ultra-light version of the Ugly Stik GX2 and a smaller BG reel (size 2500 or less) and save a few bucks. If you’re fishing from shore in thick brush or in a narrow stream, consider a shorter rod, down to 5 feet or even 4 feet 6 inches, for tiny creeks and brooks.
Compared with our previous pick, the Penn Battle II—not to mention many higher-end Penn and Shimano reels—the BG is equipped with a more durable rotor, as well as stronger, individual springs for the anti-reverse clutch (which keeps the reel from spinning backward), and most notably, the very same ball bearings included in Daiwa’s and Shimano’s most expensive models.
The BG’s design allows trapped water (a common issue with braided line especially) to drain through the reel. The drag mechanism is the same one found in higher-end $200-plus reels, but unique in the $100–$150 range. This makes it comparable in durability to reels that cost twice as much.
Runner-up
Shimano Saguaro
This rod is a dependable workhorse, especially when casting heavier lures, but it may be too stiff for bait and bottom fishing.
Priced about the same as the Ugly Stik GX2 rods, Shimano’s Saguaro line suffers in comparison in terms of flex as well as sturdiness—especially the guides. The pole’s stiffer graphite composite also makes it more brittle and less suitable for bait fishing. Still, for medium-weight jigging and topwater fishing, it would be a good choice.
Upgrade pick
Ugly Stik Elite
The Elite is a bit stiffer than the GX2 and typically costs $10 more, so it’s a great buy for lure fishers. But the GX2 is more versatile and cheaper.
An additional 35% more graphite in the rod is the main factor making the newer Ugly Stik Elite series our pick for lure fishing; the extra stiffness should help you manipulate your lure more realistically. The Elite comes in the same range of sizes as the GX2—we’d recommend a 7-foot-long medium to medium-heavy rod—and costs about $10 much more. That (slightly) higher price also gets you a grip that’s cork, instead of EVA foam.
