Fishing Rods

Ugly Stik does make fly rods, and Angling Sports carries the Ugly Stik Big Water Fly Rod (9' 10wt). That’s a stout, no‑nonsense stick for big water around London, Ontario and turns over hefty flies, throws sink tips without complaint, and has the backbone for salmon, steelhead, pike, and even muskie when they get surly.

If you want to poke around, there are solid choices from Redington, Echo, Temple Fork Outfitters (TFO), Fenwick, Shakespeare, and Amundson, with everything from beginner‑friendly combos to 4‑piece travel rods that live behind the truck seat.

The right rod should feel like a natural extension of your arm. Start with how you fish. For an all‑round setup, a 6'6"–7' medium‑power, fast‑action spinning rod is a beauty for bass and walleye. Casting big plugs or jigs for pikes? Step up to a baitcasting rod in medium‑heavy to heavy power. Chasing trout in creeks or panfish off the pier? Go ultra‑light to light power with a shorter rod for finesse.

A baitcaster’s only as good as the rod you pair it with and here’s the way I size one up. Match power and action to your favourite techniques: 

• jigs/Texas rigs are medium‑Heavy Fast
• crankbaits/bladed jigs = Medium to Medium‑Heavy Moderate
• frogs, heavy weeds, big swimbaits = Heavy Fast. 

Pick length for the job: 

• 6'8"–7'2" for dock accuracy on the Thames
• 7'3"–7'6" to bomb casts on St. Clair and Erie

Graphite gives you bite‑finding sensitivity; glass or composites keep treble‑hooks pinned. Prioritise solid guides, a comfortable grip, and lure/line ratings that fit your reel and line.

Hook the right combo from the start. Match your reel to your rod’s power, action, and target species. For bass and pike around London, Ontario, pair medium–heavy rods with low-profile baitcasters for accuracy and power; for walleye and trout, a 2000–3000 size spinning reel balances finesse and line capacity. Look for smooth drags, solid gear ratios (6.2:1–7.5:1 for versatility), and corrosion-resistant builds for Great Lakes conditions.

At Angling Sports, explore spinning and baitcasting reels from trusted brands like Shimano, Daiwa, Abu Garcia, Penn, and Okuma, plus value-packed models and tournament-ready bestsellers. Top features include buttery multi-disc drags, rigid aluminum bodies, high-speed retrieves, and lightweight carbon frames.

Level up your river game. A centerpin rod is a long, sensitive float rod (usually 11–13 ft) paired with a free‑spooling centerpin reel to deliver drag‑free drifts—ideal for steelhead, salmon, and trout on Southwestern Ontario tributaries. The extra length lets you mend line and control floats, while a soft, responsive tip protects light leaders and detects subtle takes.

At Angling Sports, explore centerpin rods from Raven, Shimano, Lamiglas, Okuma, and G. Loomis. Our bestsellers feature lightweight graphite blanks, quality cold‑weather guides, balanced handles, and crisp, moderate actions for precise hooksets. Pricing spans value-friendly starters to premium, guide-approved builds.

The most common types of fishing rods include spinning rods, baitcasting rods, trolling rods, fly fishing rods, and ice fishing rods. Spinning rods are versatile and great for beginners, baitcasting rods offer more control for experienced anglers, trolling rods are designed for dragging baits behind a boat, fly fishing rods are specialized for casting fly lures with a unique technique, and ice fishing rods are short and used for fishing through ice holes.

Rods are typically made from fiberglass, graphite (carbon fiber), or bamboo. Fiberglass rods are durable and cost-effective, making them ideal for beginners. Graphite rods are more sensitive and lighter but generally more expensive and slightly less durable than fiberglass, preferred by experienced anglers for their sensitivity and power. Bamboo rods, often used for fly fishing, offer a traditional feel and flex, favoured by purists​.

The action of a rod (how and where it bends) affects its casting ability and sensitivity, with faster actions offering more sensitivity for detecting bites and slower actions providing more casting distance. The power (or strength) of a rod determines what size fish it can handle and what type of fishing it's best suited for, from ultralight setups for small fish to heavy or ultra-heavy rods for big game fish​.