Homer Is King Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 I do a lot of fishing with my kids. As you can imagine they can be hard on gear. We "lost" 3 rods last year so I'm in the market for some new ones. Does anyone have experience with tough, low price, rods? Any Suggestions? I have a couple of Ugly sticks that have passed the kid test. They really are indestructible. I am tempted to get another one for the kids. In the same price range is the Shimano Voltaeus. They are billing it as "extremely durable". I think it might have better sensitivity then the Ugly Stick. Anyone have any experience with these rods? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dabluz Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 Berkley Cherrywoods are inexpensive, light and are even a decent fish catching rod. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillM Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 UglyStick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henricus Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 How old are your kids? After trashing a few 'Spiderman' rods I decided to set my kids up in a decent spincast reel on an ice fishing rod. Handled the fish better and was 1000 times more durable. If they are old enough to handle a spinning outfit, I put them on a 1000 size reel mounted on a BPS 5' medium action rod. It is still fun to catch panfish and can handle a decent fish. My son was 7 and landed a 4lb Smallie all on his own - you should heard the screams, it was awesome. Bottom line, I bought the medium action because the hook is basically set due to the stiffness of the rod. The BPS rods (graphite series) have been fine but I suspect an ugly stick would also be good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cudz Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 There were these 6'6 rods at walmart by shakespeare that are $15.97 and they are pretty sweet. THey are black with blue. My buddy has 2 of them and i have used them. Probably as good as any $50 rod I have ever used. PS Friends don't let friends use ugly stiks (and neither should dads) lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steel&chrome Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 uglystick! those things can take a beating! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hirk Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 Chris I have a few options for ya and they are 1/2 price,call me if you get a chance or pm me, my # is in classifieds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BITEME Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 (edited) UGLY STICKS hands down!!!!!!!! The reason I say this is because my kids are all 19+ now they have been fishing since sthey could walk and over the years the have won at alot of derbies and as you can imagine alot of rods and reels have been won and out of that the only ones that survive are the ugly sticks Im here to tell you that the beating they can take cant be matched by any other rod I have numerous other rods with broken tips missing eyes and whatnot but the ulgy sticks survive Just my 2 cents Peter Edited March 8, 2012 by BITEME.Esq Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Is King Posted March 8, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 Thanks for the response guys! Ugly sticks have proven the test of time as far as durability goes! My wife even drove over one of mine with the van when we were camping. She didn't see it leaning against the van (so she says!!). The reel was smashed but the rod was undamaged. The kids are still using it today! My oldest is 9. When she was 2 I got her a cute little Dora rod. It lasted one trip!! They are toys and complete garbage! The next rod was a 5'6" Ugly Stick combo with a spin caster (push button reel with a dome on top of it). It was $30 at Canadian Tire. This thing worked great for young kids. The rod was unbreakable and the reel never ever tangled. And it went through a lot of abuse!! It is now on it's 8th season and it's 4th kid and it is still working great! I own 4 now. The drag is poor and I wouldn't fish for anything bigger than pan fish but it's a great starter rod. My 2 oldest (9 and 7) have now graduated to a spinning combo. My third (age 6) is close and this year she will make the move. My 4 year old will be on the spin caster for another couple of year. The other spin casters are for other kids when they come fishing with us. I was planning on upgrading their setup. Maybe I'll upgrade one of my rods and hand my old one down.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EC1 Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 I was planning on upgrading their setup. Maybe I'll upgrade one of my rods and hand my old one down.... Probably the smartest thing you can do! Think about all the upgrade options you have out there! Just hope that your kids don't break the one that you pass down. If they break that one, then bust out the el cheapo replacements or another ugly stick. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Is King Posted March 8, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 Just hope that your kids don't break the one that you pass down. If they break that one, then bust out the el cheapo replacements or another ugly stick. lol To be honest....I broke 2 of the 3 rods that we lost last year. I slammed on in the van door and the other snapped in 2 while I was casting. The third one is sitting on the bottom of Rice Lake. The 4 year old was tired of holding it and just let it go while we were drifting. By the time I got back to it, it was gone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBW Posted March 9, 2012 Report Share Posted March 9, 2012 In the same price range is the Shimano Voltaeus. They are billing it as "extremely durable". I think it might have better sensitivity then the Ugly Stick. Anyone have any experience with these rods? I have a Med action one at 7' and for the price it is GREAT! the tip is so sensitive you can watch it move with the lightest of bites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Is King Posted March 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2012 Thanks for all the options! A couple of makes / models that I hadn't heard of. The Cheerywood gets a lot of good reviews! That Shakespeare Excursion at Walmart would be hard to beat at $16!! Geoff, thanks for the review. I picked up a 5'6" UL Voltaeus at Gagnon's on sale for $30 (with a life time warranty). I paired it with a 500 series Shimano Sedona that I already had. It should be a great little combo for the older kids. Plus the silver on silver looks really good! Hirk has a couple rods I'm going to have a look at ... hard to pass up half price. I may regret not sticking with the time tested ugly stick but a little variety is good...I hope! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Urban Fisherman Posted March 9, 2012 Report Share Posted March 9, 2012 I think you made a good call on the Voltaeus!!!! My daughter got a 4'6" UL Voltaeus last year and has beat the living crap out of it... not to mention she landed some good sized fish on it... keeps on kickin'! She ripped me off for my 500 sized Sienna and ended up with a great little combo! Good luck with the little ones - that is what it's all about man... you're a good dude for getting out and spending time with them! Cheers, Ryan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Is King Posted March 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2012 Those are great pictures Ryan!! I love fishing with my kids. They take me back to what fishing is all about!! I think it was one of your posts last year that got me thinking about the Voltaeus. I like the feel of it. Can't wait to field test it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBW Posted March 10, 2012 Report Share Posted March 10, 2012 Geoff, thanks for the review. I picked up a 5'6" UL Voltaeus at Gagnon's on sale for $30 (with a life time warranty). I paired it with a 500 series Shimano Sedona that I already had. It should be a great little combo for the older kids. Plus the silver on silver looks really good! Hey Chris, just make sure it's the kids rod and not your rod for crappie and perch fishing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Is King Posted March 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2012 Hey Chris, just make sure it's the kids rod and not your rod for crappie and perch fishing... I HAVE to field test it to make sure it's appropriate for the kids!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
206 Posted March 10, 2012 Report Share Posted March 10, 2012 Saw these at walmart this morn. Look great for kids feel decent inhand, and the white makes them visable no matter where they leave them laying. Ike Dude combo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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