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Has Penn gotten ugly? Sure, why not – we all know that Ugly Sticks have been around forever and they just don’t die. Short of slamming a car door on one, it’s virtually impossible to break these things. Now that Penn is owned by the same company as Shakespeare, (Pure Fishing) they’ve teamed up the Ugly Stick with the Penn Spinfisher series.
Our test combo was the Penn 440SSg matched up with a one-piece 6’6 Ugly Stick. The test-mission: we were casting for stripers with 5” chartreuse BKD’s in 18’ of water. A light touch was necessary, since the fish were cold (water temp had finally dropped below 50-degrees) and hitting gingerly. Unfortunately, like all Ugly Sticks of the past, this one didn’t have that light touch. The tip is pretty darn soft and sensitivity is not extreme. Of course, that’s not what these rods have always been all about: they’re work-horses, not show horses.
The 440SSg, on the other hand, was perfect for this task. Spooled with Power Pro we could cast the BKD’s for miles, the retrieve was smooth, and the new series of Spinfishers have a vastly improved anti-reverse system. In fact, we found they were quite effective for vertical jigging, which was tough with some older Penn lines due to the kick-back.
As a combo, when it comes to sensitivity and performance I’ve got to say the 440SSG simply out-classes the Ugly Stick. On the other hand, if longevity is your prime consideration this will serve as a great rig for years if not decades, with a relatively low initial cost.
Price: $129.99
The Highs: A virtually indestructible rod paired with a well-built reel makes for a combo that should last for many years.
The Lows: It’s an Ugly Stick – expect low sensitivity and a slow, flexible tip.
Who Wants It: Anglers looking for a relatively low-cost combo that will last.
Contact: www.pennreels.com
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