Ugly Stick Light 18-50gm, design fault?

FishermanDan · Post by **FishermanDan** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 9:55 am

I finally got to put my new Shakespeare Ugly Stick Light spinning rod to the test with some decent Pollack on Saturday. Had some great ones to 4.5lb, so a great day.
However, the foremost bit of the cork grip on the rod cracked during one particularly exciting lunge. The blank is fine, and I was easily able to continue fishing, but it seems like a pretty poor design really. I canÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚Â¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚Â¢t see how the handle could have not snapped when the rod was bent into its natural curve.
Has anyone else had this problem? Any idea what Shakespeare have to say about it?

Cliff · Post by **Cliff** » Thu May 14, 2009 11:20 am

Its your fault for catching fish too big for a light rod.

spudgun · Post by **spudgun** » Thu May 14, 2009 11:22 am

I've seen it before on a spinning rod on one of the Henry Gilbey programs. He's got tape wrapped round the end.

millsy · Post by **millsy** » Thu May 14, 2009 11:28 am

So it's happened twice to Henry has it John

FishermanDan · Post by **FishermanDan** » Thu May 14, 2009 11:56 am

Ha ha, I'll do my best jus to catch tiddlers on it from now-on then...

To be fair to the suppliers, they've just sent me a new one, so we'll see how that fairs. It's a bit of a pain though, took over 2 weeks and I had to fork out a fiver to post it back.

Wreck fishing on Saturday (if the weather's OK), but I don't think I'll be testing the spinning rod then....

FishermanDan · Post by **FishermanDan** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 12:20 am

WTF!!!???!!!
Glasgow Angling sent me a replacement, but surely Shakespeare should have realised that there will be some decent fish caught on their rods at some point!?!
I've not had chance to test the replacement with a big fish yet, but if it breaks again then I will NEVER buy Shakespeare again.

Xantho incisus · Post by **Xantho incisus** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:54 am

Don't get upset -- but -- if you use a "lite" FRESHWATER rod - designed for TROUT and PERCH and bully a 4.5 lb pollock out of the sea ..

then IT WILL BREAK ! every time

What did you really expect to happen ?
Did you use a net to land it ? ----

Well ----- So you got upset egh ? lesson learnt egh ... right tool for the job

or take a course in midwifery and "get the touch"

Post by **chriswsf** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:56 am

4.5lb Pollock is far to big for a rod designed to cast just 2oz's but good on the supplier for exchanging the rod for you.

Post by **Steve Duffy** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 10:00 am

millsy wrote:So it's happened twice to Henry has it John

His name is JON.

FishermanDan · Post by **FishermanDan** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 10:14 am

Xantho incisus wrote:Don't get upset -- but -- if you use a "lite" FRESHWATER rod - designed for TROUT and PERCH and bully a 4.5 lb pollock out of the sea ..

then IT WILL BREAK ! every time

What did you really expect to happen ?
Did you use a net to land it ? ----

Well ----- So you got upset egh ? lesson learnt egh ... right tool for the job or take a course in midwifery and "get the touch"

er... trout and perch grow to more than 4.5lb so that's no excuse!!! I didn't use a net, I just got hold of the line to lift the fish, but the rod had broken before then anyway.

I wasn't happy since the rod would be more than OK for inshore pollack if only the grip was properly designed. Any rod should be able to bend into it's maximum curve without the grip breaking surely?!?
Anyway, I've reinforced the top end of the grip with tape now and it's performing superbly. Of course, to be on the safe side I could use my 50lb class sharking gear, but where's the sport in that?!?

FishermanDan · Post by **FishermanDan** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 10:18 am

Light gear is the way forwards!!!

I will be out on Friday offshore wrecking with my 20lb class Daiwa Sea Hunter and Abu 6500 (again). That's handled pollack to over 10lb so far without any problems.

I'm going to keep quiet about it if it does let me down though!!!

Post by **chriswsf** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 10:20 am

FishermanDan wrote:
I'm going to keep quiet about it if it does let me down though!!!

there is a risk that your 6500 will strip the gearing though ......

FishermanDan · Post by **FishermanDan** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 7:15 pm

Macman wrote:
FishermanDan wrote:
I'm going to keep quiet about it if it does let me down though!!!

there is a risk that your 6500 will strip the gearing though ......

Mmmm, an ABU Seven might be on my shopping list I think....