Ugly Stik 6’6” Camo Spinning Fishing Rod and Reel Spinning Combo, Ugly Tech Construction with Clear Tip Design, 6’6” 2-Piece Rod

Why it's worth it

A 6-foot-6 two-piece Ugly Stik in Mossy Oak camo, matched with a size 20 spinning reel. The Ugly Tech blank is a touch more sensitive than the GX2's, and the extra six inches buys casting distance a growing angler will use.

This is the GX2's toughness in a slightly more refined package. Ugly Tech construction blends graphite and fiberglass the same way, but the balance leans a little more toward sensitivity — you'll feel more of the light taps that a beginner otherwise misses entirely. Six UglyTuff guides handle the abuse, and one-piece construction means no inserts popping out when the rod gets dragged across a dock.

The six extra inches matter more than they sound like. At 6'6", you get noticeably more casting leverage than the six-foot GX2, which helps when you're trying to reach a weed line from the bank. For a kid who'll be four inches taller next summer, it's a rod they won't outgrow. Owners report five-year-olds handling it well enough to catch a fish on the first cast, though very young children may find it unwieldy.

From our review of 5 fishing rod and reel combos for beginners, by Genevieve Dubois, Home & Living Expert

What we like

• +This is the GX2's toughness in a slightly more refined package
• +The six extra inches matter more than they sound like
• +The camo finish is a genuine selling point if you're buying for a child or teen, and a genuine drawback if you're not
• +Medium power with a 6 to 15 pound line rating covers the same ground as the GX2 — panfish, trout, bass, the occasional surprise

What to know

• –The reel has a two-ball-bearing system, which is fewer than the GX2's and far fewer than the KastKing's
• –Rod breakage shows up in owner feedback here too, including a snap mid-cast
• –Two pieces instead of four means it won't fit in a suitcase