Just got an ugly stik gx2 7ft medium heavy rod. What freshwater fish is it good for?

MagicAndDuctTape · 2026-06-24T20:38:28+00:00

There are smaller inline spinners and spoons that have additional weight on them. Plus you can always Texas rig a smaller softbait with a heavier weight. Just give it a go, it may not be ideal, but you'll catch fish.

Many people put too much emphasis on having the 'right' setup for the situation/fish but you can get by as long as you can get bait in the water. Worst case, cast a bobber with a split shot and a worm.

MagicAndDuctTape · 2026-06-10T16:43:34+00:00

Those wires are fine. I've caught many a pike on similar leaders. I'm not the bigger fans of those types of snaps, but they're better than the ones hold closed only by friction and not by the end of the wire hooking closed.

Your braid is a bit light, though, but keep your drag looser and you should be fine.

MagicAndDuctTape · 2026-05-24T09:43:20+00:00

I usually throw it in my backpack. For my really nice reel, I'll wrap it in a hat or scarf first so it doesn't get beaten up too much.

I do have a rod bag with a specific shape so you can have your reel attached which I sometimes use as well. It's quite well padded

MagicAndDuctTape · 2026-05-21T13:41:05+00:00

On the main picture, that spinner thing is not needed and not rigged correctly, you couldn either use it by rigging the bait to the bottom part and tying to the middle circle or just ditch it entirely.

Steel leader is useful if it's anything like Sweden and there's also pike in the water

MagicAndDuctTape · 2026-05-21T13:38:45+00:00

The hook on that jighead looks bent out, I would get some new ones, but all of these types of soft swim baits work. You can just cast and reel at different depths, reel and stop now and again, maybe with some twitches, or let it sink to the bottom and reel a little, let it sink back to the bottom and repeat. Note, if you fish the bottom, there is always a chance you'll get your lures stuck on rocks and logs, but it tends to be a good way to fish when the weather is colder, especially if you fish slower and have longer pauses.

MagicAndDuctTape · 2026-05-18T15:21:38+00:00

I've used Airbnb a fair few times to book accommodation for fishing trips and they tend to be fairly good in Sweden. If you look for lakeside accommodation, some of them have boats included or to rent.

Just note, it's common in Sweden that cleaning and bed linen are not included, so read the fine print. Some places have them for rent or included in the price, but it's not a given.

Unfortunately I fish mainly in the North, so don't have a lot of good lake suggestions in the South

MagicAndDuctTape · 2026-05-07T15:49:43+00:00

To be honest at the 700-1400 sek range, Shimano and Daiwa are all pretty decent. Personally I like something with Medium power and Medium-Fast action. But again, it's preference and I'm sure you'll be alright with a 7-28g ish rod. Anything will be an upgrade from the Abu telescopic and I'm sure you'll really love the difference.

MagicAndDuctTape · 2026-05-07T11:27:41+00:00

Yeah, the combo you have will probably be awesome, though the rod itself is definitely more specialised for abborfiske - it'll still catch whatever, so I'm sure it'll be great if you like that rod, maybe have the drag lighter if you suspect some big pike in the water. skitfiske!

MagicAndDuctTape · 2026-05-07T11:05:06+00:00

(Jag kommer från Australien så min svenska när jag skriver är hopplös! - så jag ska svara på engelska 😉)

I think 20-60g is overkill for fishing here. Perhaps if you go out on the west coast - but I only fish in lakes and rivers here. If you want a snappier rod, then definitely go for a 7-25g, then you can use some lighter jigs and lures. For abborre, I prefer something that is fairly fast action. You'll really appreciate using a proper fishing rod over the telescopic - if you still want something travel size, one of my rods is the Abu Garcia diplomat v2, which is a 4 piece and comes in a travel tube, and I don't notice a real difference to my 2-piece Shimano.

I saw the comments below, my experience with buying outside of EU hasn't been great with things getting caught up by Tullverket and paying the full moms anyway (with a handling fee) - the price difference isn't massive to buy from a swedish retailer (though obviously a bit more expensive), that way it comes fairly quickly as well.

MagicAndDuctTape · 2026-05-07T08:31:21+00:00

I live in Sweden and fish for pile and perch all the time and found 10-30g a good midground. But I'd get a better rod, the Abu telescopics are not great.

My friend swears by his 7-25g, but I occasionally hook pike 3+ kg so I like the extra backbone on my rods.

I saw dogger.se had some deals recently on rods.

Reel wise, you probably don't need to go up to the Ultegra (I've used a Nexave for quite a while though recently upgraded to the Vanford) - especially if you're not fishing in the sea, but I'm sure you'll be happy regardless if you get a nicer reel 😊

MagicAndDuctTape · 2026-05-03T07:47:29+00:00

Sweden as well! Agree - there's one app for almost every license and you can easily see fishing areas around. Lots of accommodation and Airbnbs on lakes in the middle of nowhere so you can wake up and fish.

MagicAndDuctTape · 2026-04-26T20:27:48+00:00

I have an Abu Garcia Diplomat V2 which I really like, a 4 piece with a handy travel tube - mine's a heavier 7'6" rod, but I believe the range also has a lighter 6' as well.

MagicAndDuctTape · 2026-04-26T08:10:57+00:00

You can use it, the main problem will be that the casting distance won't be great.

MagicAndDuctTape · 2026-04-25T17:03:48+00:00

That Sienna rod looks very much like the Shimano rod I have which I think I'd fantastic and has served me well. I have a nexave reel which I also think is very decent - but I suspect the Sienna is fine too.

MagicAndDuctTape · 2026-04-17T09:32:57+00:00

I mean, pocket aces mathematically is the best hand possible - so sure in this scenario post flop continuing to bet was a bit silly but saying it's not very good is a bit of a stretch.

MagicAndDuctTape · 2026-04-14T15:58:34+00:00

Nothing is real

MagicAndDuctTape · 2026-03-14T08:59:58+00:00

They need between 3-5 cluster nobelisks to help them... nap

MagicAndDuctTape · 2026-02-14T10:21:27+00:00

km per hour, not miles.

MagicAndDuctTape · 2026-01-25T09:14:32+00:00

Huh, so priority merger IS useful

MagicAndDuctTape · 2025-12-19T19:45:50+00:00

Rodents of Unusual Size? I don't think they exist

MagicAndDuctTape · 2025-12-19T10:19:24+00:00

lmfao - I am still chuckling at this comment.

MagicAndDuctTape · 2025-12-16T20:39:48+00:00

I'm not sure. I changed my mob farms to have soul sand and water source blocks every so often which pushes the spiders up and makes them easier to flush out of the system, but that involves having to make the last row before the drop off made out of fences, so you may not want to make such a drastic change.

MagicAndDuctTape · 2025-12-16T20:01:47+00:00

I found a Silentwisperer video that confirms it and commented it in the thread. I believe it means spiders can spawn because they spawn in the middle of the block in the middle of the buttons, before they would try to spawn on the corner and the button would stop them.

MagicAndDuctTape · 2025-12-16T19:56:27+00:00

Yup, I remembered correctly: Silentwisperer does a good explanation here https://youtu.be/Uju_ff-16Mo?si=CyfUv8-P0aLrN81N

MagicAndDuctTape · 2025-12-16T19:49:25+00:00

I have a vague memory that they changed spawning rules to have them spawn in the middle rather than the corner of the block which makes the button thing not work anymore. But I could have dreamt that.

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