Bought a simple Gander Mountain Guide Series Combo today. For five bucks I get a 15 month warranty total replacement, against car doors, canoe portage accidents, dogs, kids ect. I'm sure they will try and upgrade it when I break it but it is still a great insurance plan.

I took them up on the insurance too. Wouldn't you know it, that was the one rod that wouldn't break.

I'm pretty sure the IM7 graphite may have a problem in on portages. More brittle than the IM6. Does anyone take 8 or 9 up there?

I always go with my trusty Ugly Stick rod, and never had to worry about it breaking. Works for me.

I have broken one rod tip and had ceramic break out of one tip in 25 yrs and dozens of trips from the bdub to the banks of the Minnesota River.

Ugly Stick here as well.

Ditto on the Ugly Stick. Almost indestructible.

I take high modulous graphite rods. I am spoiled on them and wouldn't fish with an ugly stick again for anything other than trolling. I used to take cheap rods into the BDub but found I prefer my expensive graphite rods 100-to-1. If I had to break my rod to avoid falling off a ten foot cliff onto rocks, I'd take the fall and save my fishing rods.

I go to the BDub to go fishing so I spare no expense for the best gear I can bring. To me bringing an Ugly Stick to the BDub is like Lance Armstrong doing the tour de france on a steel framed mountain bike. If you have the choice... then there really is no choice.

Adam

As to portaging graphite rods. I bring 2 piece rods and tear them down before portaging. Use a rubber band on each end to secure top of rod to bottom. Never any problems on portages and takes just a minute into the portage and a minute after.

Adam

I've spent serious money on some fly rods/reels, but my spinning gear is pretty utilitarian. I take Ugly Sticks and similar rods to the BW and sometimes a fly rod, but not one of my better ones.

I work part time at Gander Mountain in the Fishing department and they really encourage us to sell the 'Summit' protection plan. A nice thing about Summit is that unlike an extended warranty they cover 'buyer defects' as well as manufacturers. You shut the car window on your rod and they replace it. (I did that on one of my Ugly Sticks, and no, they AREN'T indestructible).

I sold quite a few Summits on ice fishing shanties through the winter.

I have broken a couple of tips, and yup I love the Ugly Stick.

Just like Smuckers, ....With a name like "Ugly Stick", it's got to be good. Ha!

In the past I have always taken an ugly stick for trolling, always been good to me but getting pretty old it sometimes comes apart while casting. Ahhh, there it goes again.

I take my nicer one piece rods in, as well. I too am spoiled by their performance. To prevent damaging the rods I have adjustable rod tube that I bungee to the thwarts. In only adds a couple pounds and doesn't seem to effect balance of the canoe when portaging.

Rod Tube

I bought the Gander Mountain Guide Series four years ago before my UL Ugly Stick. The insurance plan, or any other plan for that matter, didn't help me when I was twenty miles into the bush with my rod broke in FOUR different places! The initial break was the result of a ONE POUND bass.
VERY dissapointed with that rod. My advice would be to return it now and go with an Ugly stick. I will never buy a guide series anything again.

Just seen this thread and thought i would comment on it.
If you have a Sheels sports anywhere near you, All of their SCHEELS GUIDE/OUTFITTER rods come with a free LIFETIME replacement. No ifs or buts about it. They swap it out in the store. whether a fish broke it or you slammed it in your tailgate . Just thought it was worth mentioning.

Holy smokes. I can't stand my Ugly Stick. Never have.

Love my ugly stick...can even catch fish on it!

Didn't Gander Moutain offer free replacement warranty on their Guide Series Rods? When did they switch to charging for it?

Most of my fishing gear is mid range stuff but I always bring the best I have with to the BWCA. I have 2 piece rods that I break down and tie both pieces together and then I tie them into the canoe. Less the carry of portages and they are also out of the way and protected.

I think I've only broken one rod tip in my life and it was on a very old rod and it was just me being careless.

I'm also not a fan of the Ugly Sticks. I have one for ice fishing and I don't like it very much. They are a little tougher than other rods but you pay for it in reduced sensitivity.

Have to jump on the Ugly Stick bandwagon - it's all Ive taken in the past 20 years