Ugly Stik
Ugly Stik has undergone a historic makeover, stepping away from fiberglass for the first time.
Since 1976, the brand has been known for rods that could take a beating and keep fishing, built on a spiral fiberglass core and parallel glass fibers infused with resin. Those early rods were wrapped in tape during production, and when the tape was stripped away with water jets, the rough finish gave them their “ugly” look—and their name.
What mattered wasn’t the look, though. It was the toughness. Those rods could bend, flex, and take punishment without breaking, and that durability quickly made Ugly Stik a favorite among anglers everywhere.
Now, for the first time since that original blank design, Ugly Stik has made a bold leap forward. The new Carbon Collection is built on a 100 percent carbon graphite blank, delivering a rod that’s lighter, stronger, and more responsive than anything the brand has ever produced.
Compared to the GX2 series, the Carbon Collection is 30 percent lighter and claims to be 50 percent stronger than competing graphite rods. The result is crisp actions and heightened sensitivity that lets anglers feel every strike and bottom contour.
The rods are paired with solid graphite tips and Ugly Tuff one‑piece stainless steel guides, and finished in a sleek seafoam green with a black thread diamond wrap above the foregrip. This isn’t simply a change in material. It’s the most significant evolution in Ugly Stik’s history—a rod that finally balances indestructible strength with the greater sensitivity that anglers have been waiting for.
The Carbon Collection saltwater lineup comes in three styles: Inshore, Surf, and Jigging.
The Carbon Inshore models come in both spinning and casting versions, ranging from 6’6” to 7’6” in length with medium‑light to medium‑heavy powers. Each rod is fitted with a premium cork foregrip and shrink‑tube rear handle, giving anglers a comfortable, secure hold that stands up to saltwater conditions while keeping weight down.
Whether you need a 6’6” medium for fishing tight to docks and structure for sheepshead, or a 7’6” medium‑light for throwing artificials to speckled trout across open flats, the Ugly Stik Carbon Inshore delivers the right balance of sensitivity and backbone, and they’re priced at $109.95.
The Carbon Surf rods stretch from 9’ to 12’, and they’re built for casting distance and targeting the full spectrum of North Carolina surf species. The spinning models range from a 9’ medium, perfect for light surf fishing along the coast for smaller bottom feeders like sea mullet and pompano, up to a 12’ heavy, ideal for casting large pieces of bait out for sharks or big red drum. The casting versions are available in 10’ and 12’.
Priced between $129.95 and $149.95, the Carbon Surf lineup gives surf anglers both the casting distance and stopping power needed to cover everything the beachfront can throw at them.
The Carbon Jigging rods mark a fresh chapter for Ugly Stik, bringing modern graphite performance to a category where the brand already has a loyal following. Short and stout at 6’ to 6’4”, these rods are purpose‑built for vertical jigging and bottom fishing, with braid‑friendly guides that stand up to heavy saltwater use.
Priced at $129.95, they deliver the muscle needed to work big jigs and battle powerful fish, while keeping enough sensitivity to feel every strike.
Across the lineup, the Carbon Collection represents a major leap for Ugly Stik, delivering rods that are lighter, more sensitive, and still built with the toughness that anglers demand in saltwater.
More information can be found at www.uglystik.com.
