Got as a gift 2 weeks ago, mentioned it to wife, following week it was in my hands. mounted ATS 30 with 50 lb. Braid. Rod and reel combo work great. Have an older white cat pole that has caught many cats. Looking forward to hooking into some big fish. I have used Ugly sticks for many years. Only poles that have broken were crappie poles. Mainly due to being stepped on. I fix them and keep going. These poles may not be the most expensive, but have served me well over the years

For river fishing for catfish, this rod is perfect. Works tremendously well for both casting and fishing off the side of the boat. Great feel when bait is hit! I will definitely be switching my older rods to this rod.

I purchased the 8' Catfish Special casting rod, and paired it up with a Ambassabuer 6500 C3 Reel. I plan on catching many catfish on Lake Texoma with it

I have been using an 8ft medium heavy Ugly Stik Catfish Special casting rod this summer with great success. Teamed with an ABU Garcia 5500 series round reel and 30# braid, the combo has handled channel cats to 38" with ease. The moderate action proves very forgiving when a big cat makes her way to mid channel and you need to pull back to keep her from running away. As an added bonus the orange/copper color blank reflects white and black light well making it easy to see in the dark (when we fish mostly). Will buy again!

This is truly a great rod in the Ugly Stik series. Plenty of guides for its length. Comfortable, non-slip handle. Very versatile; while it's labeled as a catfish rod, it would also work wonders when trolling or casting for salmon, as well fishing the saltwater from the surf or off a pier. Aesthetically, a very cool-looking rod. Outstanding value for the money; should last you a lifetime.