It is possible to spend thousands of dollars on a fishing reel and rod but fail to find affordable and versatile fishing gear. After interviewing several top fishing pros and fishing with hundreds of spinning rods and reels, we’ve determined that the Daiwa BG spinning reel and the Ugly Stik GX2 rod are the best fishing combination and are relatively inexpensive. The combo performs well in comparison to outfits that cost about twice as much. In this guide, we show you the best reel for Ugly Stik Gx2 for a perfect angling experience.
What Reel Size Is On Ugly Stik GX2?
Made from a durable combination of graphite and fiberglass, this rod will last for many years. The reel features a spool of machined anodized aluminum that carries a ball bearing that allows for quick hook-ups and smooth operation. The Ugly StikGX2 is the latest evolution of the popular Ugly Stik rod, offering more stylish aesthetics, a new design, and enhanced durability. Ugly Stik GX2 rods are made from lighter alloy for a more comfortable feel and are designed with better-looking parts for a more modern look.
Features
- Measures 40.75 x 6.5 x 3.75 inches
- Weighs 0.32 Kilograms
- Aluminum handle
- Spinning fishing technique
- Unisex-adult users
- Multi in color
- Monofilament fishing line
- 30 Size Reel – 5’6″ – Medium – 2pc in size
- Made from blended material
6 Best Reels for Ugly Stik GX2
The Ugliestik GX2 fishing rod is exceptional value for money. Whether you’re fishing for bass, panfish, and other saltwater fish species, the GX2 holds its own! It’s very useful to have a good reel to use with the GX2 to get the most performance and balance.
Several types of reels work well with this rod. If it’s not already installed, you’ll enjoy buying a pre-made rod and reel set to have it work properly. Designers select these rod and reel combos carefully to give you the best performance possible.
You probably already own a GX2 rod, but you can also get a reel that allows you to spin your reels and cast baits. Matching spinning rods with spinning reels and baitcasting reels with GX2 spinning rods is not easy, especially for those who don’t have much experience. We’ve reviewed several types of spinning or baitcasting reels, depending on your experience level.
1. Best Overall: Ugly Tuff Spinning Reel
Looking for the best spinning reel for a GX2 rod? The Ugly Tuff Spinning Reel gives excellent performance and smooth reeling for a very low price. Ugly Stik produces this reel with the perfect components and weight for the GX2 rod.
We weren’t expecting it to be durable, but it’s as tough as the Shakespeare Alpha. If you pay less than $75 for a reel, you shouldn’t expect a lot from it. Ugly Tuff lives up to its name. This reel is tough and can handle the weight of a GX2 fishing rod.
This reel is extremely strong and can handle bigger fish than the Shakespeare Alpha. If you add the Ugly Tuff to the GX2, you’ll get a setup that has the same capabilities as other setups that cost $150 or more.

2. Best Runner-Up: Ugly Stick GX2 Spincast Combo
The Ugly Stik GX2 Spincast Combo is the best rod and reel combo designed for beginners. This “push-b button” style combo is easy to use, very light, and much more durable than your average Walmart rod and reel.
We tested the durability of the pole to see if it really was as strong as the company claimed. It casts well, reels smoothly, and even fought off a 7-lb. catfish. Whether you’ve got a group of friends or simply want a setup that involves very little learning, the GX2 Spincast Combo is a wonderful solution.

3. Best for Kids and Beginners: Shakespeare Synergy TI Spincast Reel
Shakespeare Synergy TI Spincast Reel is one of the most compatible spincast reels for GX2 rods. This reel enables you to spin or push a button to cast a reel. It operates by having a single button on the reel’s rear. It’s very easy for kids to use; it gives them a good spin when they cast a bit of water because it has a single button on the back.
We love this spincast reel because it’s very strong and light enough for kids to use it. It’s easy to use and very well lubricating, which means that you won’t be as tired when you’re on the water all day long. This spincast reel is incredibly high quality and extremely affordable, and it is perfect for the Ugly Stik GX2.

4. Best Value: Shakespeare Alpha Spinning Reel
The Alpha spinning reel from Shakespeare is one of the two most effective reels for the Ugly Stik GX2. This reel is great value, and it’s made by the same company that designed the Ulgy Stik rods.
We tested most Shakespeare’s spinning reels, and this reel surpassed all of them. The reel provides the most distance and the most torque. It’s also the perfect weight for the GX2 rod.
Alpha spinning reels are extremely cheap; they cost less than $15, and they spin really smoothly. But if you’d rather spend a little more money and want a reel that will last you a long time, be sure to order the reel that we talk about next.

5. Best Baitcaster: Abu Garcia Black Max
We put dozens of different baitcasters to the test and chose the Abu Garcia Black Max Reel for the Ugly Stik GX2. It costs a little more than other models on this list, but the results are worth it.
This will ensure that you will get significantly fewer backlashes, and it has a much more balanced feel than many other reels from Shakespeare and Ugly Stik. This reel is made by one of the most respected reel manufacturers in the world.
This reel features 4 stainless ball bearings, a one-piece graphite frame, and a MagTrax brake system that allows you to quickly stop your reel when it detects a fish moving too quickly. From improved casting performance to minimized cranking resistance, the Black Max fought off some serious fish with flying colors.
Anglers who don’t yet have the GX2 rod should consider purchasing a new rod and reel combo from the GX2 Company. These pairings are analyzed for months and optimized to give you the best performance.

6. Best Spinning Reel Combo: Ugly Stick GX2 Spinning Combo – Best Spinning Reel Package
The right spinning rod and reel combination is the Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Combo, a direct purchase from the manufacturer. This lineup features everything from beginner setups to top-of-the-line combos for saltwater fishing.
Spinning rod and reel combos offer the most versatility if you’re fishing to catch a PR Largemouth or want to troll the ocean. This reel will give you the sensitivity these reels are famous for, plus it will be stronger than other reels, thanks to the reinforced Ugly Stik material.

What Reel Is On The GX2 Combo?
When people start practicing fishing activities, they are likely to be given a rod and reel combo as a gift, or they may purchase a combo that has been pre-matched by the manufacturer. While the rod and reel combination may not be the best, it will do the job for the novice just fine. If an angler is hooked on fishing, he or she will need to have a larger arsenal of the finest rods and reels.
It is easiest to test out different sizes of reels on a particular rod when you are shopping for a new reel. Simply put, when you find a reel that balances with your rod, weigh it, and then weigh the reel itself. You can be sure that any reel that weighs at least an ounce over its weight will balance correctly on the rod you’re using.
If weighing something that you can use to adjust the balance of your rod and reel is not possible, try weighing something that you can use to balance your rod and reel accurately. If the object you are using balances perfectly with the rod and reel, replace that item with a larger one that provides a more precise balance. Take the time to weigh some small household objects you are familiar with. Or, just use a scale that measures ounces and measures distance.
Note the weight of each object you will weigh, and then hang them from the handle of your chosen reel using a string or a nylon stocking. If you find something that balances properly, weigh it and keep it in mind as you make your fishing reel selection. This way, you can be sure that the weight of your reel will be within your recommended range for your purchase.
There are some exceptions to having a perfectly balanced rod and reel setup. Some people are content to fish with a rod that is tip heavy because they prefer to have the tip of their rod pointed downward all the time. In general, a properly balanced rod and reel will allow you to fish a lot more comfortably. When anglers have a well-balanced rod and reel, it is easier to fish comfortably. In addition, its combo allows you to develop a more sensitive rod and reel setup.
How Much Weight Can The Ugly Stik GX2 Handle?
As you shop for the most important piece of fishing gear, you’ll notice that most brands offer reels in different sizes (for example, 100, 200, and 400). The size you choose will depend on the size of the spool that is used to hold the line, and that also dictates the size of the reel. Therefore, if you plan to catch larger fish, you’ll need to use a reel that can handle more force.
Spool capacity is determined by the length of the line you’re fishing with and the type of pound-test line you use. This is a critical consideration because stronger lines have a larger diameter, and thus fewer lines fit perfectly on a spool. You’ll notice that some reels are marked with capacities that are as big as 230/6lb., which means that they can hold up to 230 yards of a 6-pound test line.
How Do You Match A Rod And Reel?
Fishing reels are mechanical devices that hold and spool fishing lines. They are attached to a fishing rod by a bracket that connects the reel to that rod. It also has a mechanism that can stop a running fish. In fact, it has a handle to help you retrieve the line and a bracket that fastens the reel to the end of a fishing rod.
Tips For Choosing The Best Fishing Reel
A good fishing reel is an important component of any fishing setup, as it controls every aspect of the setup, no matter what species you’re targeting. It can be difficult for beginners to know what reel to choose, as there are many different types of reels on the market, each of which is designed for different tasks.
However, some anglers, especially novices, have trouble understanding what these different types of reels are suitable for, and they often talk themselves out of purchasing the wrong model. So we’ll cut to the chase and tell you what you should look for when buying the right reel for fishing. You’ll know how to choose the best reel, whatever you do and whichever fish you’re targeting.
When looking through various online selections of fishing reels for sale, you need to think carefully about where you will be fishing. For example, something that works well in a river or a lake may not be the best fishing reel for saltwater fishing off a boat or from rocks. For instance, if you fish patiently, you can catch a 200-pound marlin with just a 24-pound rod purchased at a local hardware store. However, do not think too much about the fish species you’re going to catch. Instead, think about how you will use the fishing reel and what you want to accomplish with it.
It’s important to understand that there are three main categories of fishing reels to choose from when you’re fishing for saltwater or freshwater species: spinning reels, baitcaster, and conventional reel models.
Let’s look at each fishing reel and see what is suitable for you because choosing the right type of reel to buy is usually the first task when buying a new one.
1. Spinning reels
They’re by far the most common type of fishing reels used worldwide and consist of a stationary spool with a rotating wire arm that spins the spool continuously by turning the handle. It sits under your fishing rod and has a handle that flips over easily to switch between right-hand wind and left-hand wind. This is useful if you prefer to wind your reel with your left hand, as most other reels are made with the right-hand wind as standard.
It’s pretty easy to use, reliable, and easy to fish with. You simply turn the handle of your spinning reel over to allow the line to fly out and back in.
They’re easy to maintain and easy to detangle and can cost from $10 to over $1,000. Spinning reels are useful for any kind of light to heavy fishing. But they’re not useful for fishing when you’re targeting trophy fish species in saltwater, such as alligator gar, sturgeon, or huge catfish.
When you start fishing in any freshwater or light saltwater environment, a sturdy spinning reel is a great option because it’s simple and affordable. Most popular shop-sold rods come with one spinning reel and one fishing rod.
2. Baitcasting reels
Baitcasting reels work somewhat just like conventional fishing reels. This is because a baitcasting reel sits above the fishing rod and retrieves the line the same way. But baitcasting reels have a much smaller profile and are more suited to light freshwater applications, such as fishing for small fish.
They’re harder to cast with than spinning reels and are more likely to tanglish, yet very useful in the hands of someone with a bit of experience and very enjoyable to use. If you’re an experienced angler, you may have noticed that the baitcasting reel is a hybrid of a spinning reel and a conventional reel.
3. Conventional reels
Conventional reels sit high above the water and have a cylinder-shaped spool that winds the line back onto it when it’s cranked. They’re useful for targeting fish that are a bit deeper or that are more elusive.
Anglers can easily trigger a fishing bite by pressing a button that allows them to free up the line to go around a fish. Most reels also have a built-in clicker that helps to alert the angler to a bite when a fish takes line. Two main types of reels are set up to allow you to cast and are good for dropping bait straight over a boat or jetty.
If you haven’t already mastered casting, a casting reel is useful for the fishing of smaller fish. A conventional reel is more expensive and complex than spinning reels but can be very useful for targeting big fish – like bluefin tuna or giant sharks. In other words, this is when a big conventional reel that can handle a thousand yards of braided line is necessary – a spinning reel is useless.
Most anglers who fish for medium to large fish in saltwater will use a conventional reel, especially if they’re dropping baits or lures straight over their boat or jetty. Having a good experience casting a lot of bait can get you some very big fish, such as the giant striped bass.
Selecting The Right Fishing Rod
Selecting a rod requires you to consider several factors. One of the biggest things that anglers need to correct is to try to match the right type of fishing rod with the type of fish they are seeking. When you’re selecting a fishing rod, always think about how you will use it and what you want to get out of it. Some of the crucial factors to consider include:
1. Material
Materials can affect how well a rod performs. There are many different rod materials that you can choose from. You may not have the money to spend a lot on pricey fishing rods, but you will definitely get some good performance out of carbon fiber, fiberglass, or composite materials that are cheaper. Fiberglass rods are probably the cheapest and most durable materials. Fiberglass rods are probably the cheapest and most durable materials.
However, it is important to realize that not all fiberglass is created equal. The thinner the diameter of the fiberglass, the better. Thin-diameter fiberglass rods are made from 100% natural fiberglass and are much stronger than thick-diameter fiberglass rods, which are actually hollow. Thin fishing rods made from fiberglass are stronger and more flexible than their thicker fiberglass counterparts.
Next, you have composite rods that are made of e-glass and s-glass materials. These are stronger and more flexible than regular fiberglass rods. Composite materials are a step up from fiberglass. They are better than standard fiberglass rods. They are stronger and more flexible than standard fiberglass rods, especially because they are lighter and can handle a larger range of fish.
Then there is carbon fiber. If you want good quality fishing rods, then you should consider buying high-quality carbon fiber rods. Carbon-fiber rods are very strong and extremely light. Even though these rods are strong and very light, they are not very flexible unless you go for the high-quality carbon fiber fishing rod that comes at a premium price.
You should be very careful when buying carbon-fiber rods as they’re often quite expensive. Do not buy a cheap carbon-fiber rod because it is very likely that the components that are in the rod are made from substandard material. It will most likely break.
It is possible that your new cheap fiberglass fishing rod will break on the first day of your fishing outing. If you get a choice between a cheap carbon fiber rod and a cheap fiberglass rod, the cheap fiberglass rod will win hands down. If your concern is spending a lot of money, stick with standard fiberglass rods unless you can afford to buy high-end carbon fiber rods.
2. Length & Power
The power of a fishing rod refers to the amount of force a rod can exert by the length and/or power of the material. Most freshwater fishing rods range in power from 0-8 watts. Light rods are good for very tiny baits like jigs and micro jigs, while the medium is great for bigger baits. Extra light rigs are Ideal for very light baits. Remember, medium-sized rods are the most versatile because they can allow you to cast everything you want to cast except heavy jigs and big swim baits.
3. Power of the Rod
When deciding on the power of a fishing rod, realize that you will need a rod that can handle the baits and weights that you will be using. Do think about the spin on the fishing rod that you’re considering buying to determine the bait specifications. Do not buy a rod that is not strong enough for your style of casting and fishing.
4. Action
Action refers to the place where a rod bends and how much it bends. Take a quick look at each of the actions that rods can perform. So, the speed at which your fishing rods perform is a critical factor to consider when purchasing your next rod.
5. Medium
The rods bow backward towards the first (largest) eyelet. A good rod is great for topwater fishing and bait fishing. Such rods can unload slowly so that your catch can jump and shake their heads but won’t have to put the hook in its mouth. They are designed to keep consistent pressure on the hooks without pulling lures out of the fish’s mouths. They can manage to keep the line straight during a fight.
6. Length
What is written on the back of the fishing rod specifies the fishing rod’s features. You can learn all you need to know about the lengths of fishing rods if you carefully go through the manual. Rod length affects fishing distance and power. Long rods are better for casting long distances than shorter rods. If you plan to fight big game fish for a while, go with a long rod because shorter rods are more comfortable for fighting small fish.
Stay with rods that are between 8 and 12 feet long. Getting a 14-foot rod in the water can carry you a long distance, but it’s awkward for even the tallest fisherman to use. That is why long rods are ideal for offshore fishing, where it is desirable to make long casts to catch fish and get plenty of room to work. Long rods are fine if you have a small boat with limited space and rarely need to cast many lines. Rod length affects the power fish have when fighting for food since the longer the rod, the more power that fish will have when fighting for food.
If you enjoy the fight and want to reel in big pike and bass, consider buying a rod over 8 feet long. Many big catfish can overwhelm a toddler with a short rod, like a 12-inch fishing rod. Shorter rods give you more leverage and will allow you to do more damage to fish when fighting fish.
Conclusion
A spin-casting reel is perfect for beginners because they’re often available in cheap kits. It would be best if you reckoned that fishing reels require unique fishing rods because they require specialist filaments and setups. If you’re shopping for a reel, you need to match it with a fishing rod that matches its specs. Most retailers designate their baitcasting reels as “Conventional for use with conventional/traditional and baitcasting reels or Spinning for use with spinning reels. Such designations help new buyers choose the right reel and rod combo.