Shakespeare Ugly Stik Custom 1483/050

The name Ugly Stik is arguably the most famous when it comes to talking boat rods. They've built up a reputation for being close to indestructible with a long service life coupled with the very best in performance characteristics. The 30/50 Ugly Stik Custom can only enhance that reputation.

This is a true Stand-up Stik being one-piece and measuring 5ft 9ins. It carries a Fuji single roller tip ring, and seven Fuji BLRLG intermediate guides. This is a stunning looking blank too, finished in all black with mixed red, gold and black under whippings, and tipped in gold.

The fore grip is a full 13-inch tapering towards the tip Big Game pattern for maximum comfort and to allow both hands to be positioned on the grip when a fish goes way down deep and needs maximum pressure to lift it. The reel seat is an ultra tough alloy double locking pattern, and the lower but is protected by hard plastic finished with a gimbal and rubber butt cap.

Regards blank action the tip is progressive to allow the use of the 30lb line. Apply more pressure and the power band bypasses the tip and feeds quickly in to real power in the mid section. When you need full lifting pressure using 50lb lines just lean back, bend at the knees and the rod shifts power fully in to the butt and locks up solid. A superb action!

In use the rod is comfortable to hold and lightweight, the reel seat is correctly positioned and the fore grip user friendly for long fights with big fish.

UK anglers keen to use sporting stand-up techniques to target common skate, sharks, big conger, wreck ling, deep water cod and the like are the obvious audience for this rod, but it will also appeal to anglers regularly travelling abroad for big game species like tuna, marlin and sharks, and remember the rod is only 5ft 9ins, so its easy to travel with in a rod case.

OVERALL IMPRESSION
A superb rod, beautifully built with quality components, and with high performance action befitting a rod in this price band.

The Shakespeare 1483/050 retails for £150 and is available from all Shakespeare stockists.