Ive been fishing since i can remember....GO UGLY STICK for a rod. You cant beat the sensitivity and they are bullet proof. Shimano started off as a gear company and their reels are the best. Penn is under new ownership and the qaulity had tanked badly. I fish fresh and salt all season long, catching anything from a 3lb large mouth to a 30lb blue fish or a 30lb dog shark (witch fight like hell).

 

Ugly Sticks are pretty good rods, a buddy of mine used one for a long time. And you're right.....very sensitive. But from what we've found, when it came to setting the hook on BIG Kings (Chinook salmon) they aren't quite stiff enough to bury the hook deep enough into their tuff mouths. That buddy of mine lost a few BIG Kings just for that reason. When you set the hook on a big King you really need something with some pretty good backbone.

 

I use St. Croix rods and Shimano reels. Have every size from ice fishing to a 9 ft surf rod. Do use Penn on my boat pole but that's a conventional reel. Really depends on what your fishing for. Rod size/action and spool size are the most important. Rod and reel preference will come with time. BTW not a fan of the ugly stick

 

Curious why you're not a fan of the Ugly Sticks. I stated why I was not mainly for catching salmon, but what's your reason...???

 

I feel that the ugly sticks were to beefy, I could never seem to present the bait the way I wanted to, yea it may be sensitive but I guess what I'm saying is they lack feel. I would only use them now for something where presentation doesn't matter, like a boat pole. Just my two cents

Also like cork handles

 

I like to fish quality gear. This usually means there is a price to pay. I would recomend Gloomis rods, Shimano reels, Accurate reels, avet reels, Penn internationals, Phoneix rods and many others. For freshwater trout I love My Shimano Stella 1000 FA and GLoomis 7ft IMX. Bass setup Shimano Calcutta 100 and an Allstar Platium 7ft. Salt wow too many sticks to rattle off but I have Accurate reels and Calstar rods for jiggin' and Penn internationals for Trollin' on a black Steel Seeker.

you must have a diverse collection of rods and reels but the high end stuff is always best. this is the difference, cheap shit last 1 month to 2 years. Quality products last a life time and can be serviced and passed on to your children!!!

 

I have Shimano rigs all around and love them. Great drag systems very user friendly.

 

I use GLoomis real and Redington 8wt fly rod for salmon here in AK. GREAT fun...!!!

 

Shimano rods and shimano-Stradic reels for spinning
G-Loomis rods and Abel reels for fly fishing.

I absolutely refuse to buy St Croix they are just not tough enough. I have broken three rods, 2 on fish and 1 by setting the hook on a dock!

 

The Penn spinners are great reels now that they have moved away from the painted aluminum handles that I was replacing once a year no matter how well I cleaned them after use.