Check out the Ugly Stik Dock Runner at our Amazon Store here! www.amazon.com/shop/wandervieoutdoors/list/224EEI9OY4MQU?ref_=cm_sw_r_mwn_aipsflist_aipsfwandervieoutdoors_Q99B84R2QEYDMM3V3034
Thanks for your review. I picked up a couple and taught my 5 year old the basics of casting. She picked it right up. We caught a mess of blue gill and had a blast! I even caught a bass. Great rod and reel.
A lot of my deep-sea reels have a manual bail. I'll just treat this Ugly Stik reel like a manual bail reel. My shortest rod is a 4ft 6in Shakespeare, but now I think this Ugly Stik is the shortest at 3ft. Thanks for the review, now I know it'll be a good purchase.
For kayaking I have been using the Zebco Dock Demon Deluxe that they used to make. The Dock Runner looks like the new version of that. I put a trigger Zebco Micro 33 on mine for ease of use when I killed the original. Works like a dream.
I’m set up with 4lb mono at the moment, but I’ve tossed the idea around of switching to braid. I don’t think it will throw the light trout magnets that well then though.
@wandervieoutdoors I'm currently looking at the power pro braid that I use, the 10 lb test line has a 2 lb mono equivalent diameter, both being 0.15 mm The 20 lb test line has a 6 lb mono equivalent diameter, at 0.23 mm You can probably split it in the middle, and get a 15 lb test line to see how far your throws go, this line is fairly cheap in Walmart and on Amazon so it wouldn't hurt to try to upgrade, and I haven't got much tangling in my spinning reel either. I do have to admit that the 20 lb on my dock demon is on the heavy end, and I will be swapping it down to the 15 lb power pro braid in moss green next summer, it's almost 4 years old and a little sun bleached. Edit: however, you could use the 10 lb braid double the strength and durability, while maintaining or even reducing the thickness and weight of the line, win win all around.
For travel, I love my Emmrod. I keep it behind the seat of my truck, and it easily fits in a checked bag when I travel. I took it with me on almost every TAD trip during my career.
My dock demon fits on the clothes hanger hook in my truck, it doesn't even take up cargo space, and my pocket tackle box fits in the glove box, excellent combo.
I live in the Netherlands and always wanted one. When I saw one online I bought it, I didn't get thd dockrunner tho. They sent a 5 foot light actior rod. I was disapointed until I caught my firsy ever pike and my personal best perch at 45cm and just about a kilo. Love it!!! Now to get a real dock runner and a GX2. Great video man.
P.s. I know it's a fake cause you can see the connection too well when you put the rod together, looks like they made an error but still sold the item. Still a strong rod but fake.
Well that isn’t cool that they sold you a fake. Will Amazon ship to the Netherlands? Ugly Stik has an Amazon store where you’re guaranteed to get the real deal. And you definitely can’t go wrong with the GX2 either, I’ve been using the same one for about 10 years now.
I just bought one but haven't tried it yet. I'm a cancer patient going through treatment and don't have a lot of strength but I cant be deprived of my only past time
I got one half year now the Ugly stick dock runner is nice for the money and I switched out the reel with ABU Garcia Max Z size 10 reel so much better and can use the reel on my Michael rod light power. The dock runner is a little giant medium power rod can't get better than this rod for $17.
This is my backpacking/camping rod. I just swap out the reel with something way better. That being said, I've smashed a lot of fish with the stock reel. I always keep the stock reels for backup.
The stock reels are surprisingly long lasting. It’s been almost a year since I’ve posted this video. This rod still lives in my truck and gets used quite a bit and that reel is still going strong!
@wandervieoutdoors I absolutely believe and agree. When the GX2 first came out I went to Bass Pro and picked up a combo. Till this day, it's all bone stock and still a banger next to my $300+ combos. It's definitely a workhorse. On my tiny one I swapped the reel. Either way they're such great stuff for the price
I bought four Dock Runner combos for my kids. They work great on a boat, on the river or on shore. The short rod prevents a lot of tangles. The reels freeze up some times but what more could you ask for from a $25 combo.
Good! Honestly I love the rod. When the reel finally gives out I’ll throw a better reel on it. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy another combo tomorrow if I lost mine.
Those reels are freebies, you’re actually buying the rod. Put on a nicer reel on it and you’ll have it for years. I’ve caught lots of fish on the spinning version. I just recently bought the spincast model to pair with a baitcaster. It’s fun to fish, and like he says it’s convenient and cheap!
Read my mind haha, I didn’t like the reel right when I felt it in hand. Swapped it for an old 2000 size shimano I had. Going to use it as a saltwater toy
@@KashHess it’s a medium action. The size can be deceiving just looking at it. But, if you look at ice fishing rods, which are smaller, you’ll find 18-24 inch rods from ultra light all the way up through heavy action. It’s all in how it’s built and the amount of backbone in the rod.
You can bend that rod into a U, I have a torture test short on it on the channel. Sensitive enough to feel bottom ticks and nibbles, but enough power to bring in bigger fish.
When the reel that came with the combo quits working, I’m going to replace it with the Shimano Sahara that’s currently on my GX2. I made this video last year, and I’m still using the original reel. It is honestly built like a tank. I’m thinking of going after some bigger carp and catfish with it just to see how it handles them, really give it a workout.
Inexpensive, yes….crap, not so much. It’s not my go to rod for everything. But for under $20, it has its place, including one for each vehicle. And as a kids rod, it beats all the Barbie and paw patrol cartoon rods.
From chub to catfish.... 20-25lb braid, 1oz sinker and I'm catfishing (10-15lb with no problem, just inspect it at the end of the day). I keep 2 in all of my vehicles just in case I find a body of water... For the price,they are almost disposable.... G2G🫡
@@wandervieoutdoors if a catfish worn the gears out too bad, I'd just buy another 1. I have close to 20 of them and they've all have been in the weather at some point in time. This is the only brand I use, because of it can't take what I dish out, I don't waste my money. Left 3 out in the elements for little over a year, replaced the line(braid), disassembled it, a few drops of gun lube, and away we go! But as you mentioned, why take a $20 rig and truck it out to $100 rig. That would be a project, and call it the "Dock Dominator" (tag me when you do that🫡). I just like a 1 stop at W-Mart and back home with dinner for $25, rod/hook/worms.
@christopherpaige406 welp, now I may have to do some more in depth severe torture testing. Mine gets banged around quite a bit because of the kids in the truck, but I have not left it outside yet.
@@wandervieoutdoors keep mines on the back of the truck, in the boat, on the ground anywhere.if I can't do that and drag on a cat, it's not worth my money. There is a torture test vid by a guy here in VA comparing it to the zebco.
Check out the Ugly Stik Dock Runner at our Amazon Store here! www.amazon.com/shop/wandervieoutdoors/list/224EEI9OY4MQU?ref_=cm_sw_r_mwn_aipsflist_aipsfwandervieoutdoors_Q99B84R2QEYDMM3V3034
Thanks for your review. I picked up a couple and taught my 5 year old the basics of casting. She picked it right up. We caught a mess of blue gill and had a blast! I even caught a bass. Great rod and reel.
That is awesome!
A lot of my deep-sea reels have a manual bail. I'll just treat this Ugly Stik reel like a manual bail reel. My shortest rod is a 4ft 6in Shakespeare, but now I think this Ugly Stik is the shortest at 3ft. Thanks for the review, now I know it'll be a good purchase.
It has impressed me over and over. And I’ve seen some guys do some awesome saltwater fishing with it just by slapping a 2500 series reel on it.
I landed 1 17lb carp by a dock runner. The fish is longer than the rod. Super fun experience.
That had to have been a blast fighting it in!
@@wandervieoutdoors Yes, it sure was. still my PB.
@@techd9861my cousin landed a 47 ib carp on one of those little ice fishing rods😂
@@colemannino7443 Only thing needs to do is change the prespooled line or the whole reel.
@techd9861 yeah, I don’t remember what it came pre spooled with, I’ve changed it for fresh many times now.
These rods are great for panfishing from a kayak. I love them
Absolutely!
I like your attitude Sir!
Thank you!
I love my dock runner got me into fishing good video brother.
That's awesome! And thank you!
For kayaking I have been using the Zebco Dock Demon Deluxe that they used to make. The Dock Runner looks like the new version of that. I put a trigger Zebco Micro 33 on mine for ease of use when I killed the original. Works like a dream.
Awesome! The dock demon and dock runner rods seemed to be very close, and the only major difference I found was how the reel felt.
I still have my original with a spinning reel at the bottom, I put 20lb braid line in it and became a menace.
I’m set up with 4lb mono at the moment, but I’ve tossed the idea around of switching to braid. I don’t think it will throw the light trout magnets that well then though.
@wandervieoutdoors I'm currently looking at the power pro braid that I use, the 10 lb test line has a 2 lb mono equivalent diameter, both being 0.15 mm
The 20 lb test line has a 6 lb mono equivalent diameter, at 0.23 mm
You can probably split it in the middle, and get a 15 lb test line to see how far your throws go, this line is fairly cheap in Walmart and on Amazon so it wouldn't hurt to try to upgrade, and I haven't got much tangling in my spinning reel either.
I do have to admit that the 20 lb on my dock demon is on the heavy end, and I will be swapping it down to the 15 lb power pro braid in moss green next summer, it's almost 4 years old and a little sun bleached.
Edit: however, you could use the 10 lb braid double the strength and durability, while maintaining or even reducing the thickness and weight of the line, win win all around.
@@linkbond08 power pro is decent line. I’ve used it on some of my heavier rods.
For travel, I love my Emmrod. I keep it behind the seat of my truck, and it easily fits in a checked bag when I travel. I took it with me on almost every TAD trip during my career.
I need to try that one out. If I remember right, there’s a big price difference between the dock runner and that though.
My dock demon fits on the clothes hanger hook in my truck, it doesn't even take up cargo space, and my pocket tackle box fits in the glove box, excellent combo.
@@linkbond08 I never thought about the clothes hook, now I’m gonna have to check that out tomorrow. In the Jeep it fits the roll bar rather nicely
Remember it’s not about the size of your rod, It’s the motion of the ocean baby
😂
Ha, ha, ha, ha, haaaaaaaaaa, that’s like a sex joke,,,,,, right?
@@fredhammer6413yes
Bought one a few days ago and have already caught a bunch of fish small bass ,catfish ,warhead ,turtle too
Awesome!
Great review, bud!
Glad you liked it!
I live in the Netherlands and always wanted one. When I saw one online I bought it, I didn't get thd dockrunner tho. They sent a 5 foot light actior rod. I was disapointed until I caught my firsy ever pike and my personal best perch at 45cm and just about a kilo. Love it!!! Now to get a real dock runner and a GX2. Great video man.
P.s. I know it's a fake cause you can see the connection too well when you put the rod together, looks like they made an error but still sold the item. Still a strong rod but fake.
Well that isn’t cool that they sold you a fake. Will Amazon ship to the Netherlands? Ugly Stik has an Amazon store where you’re guaranteed to get the real deal. And you definitely can’t go wrong with the GX2 either, I’ve been using the same one for about 10 years now.
I just bought one but haven't tried it yet. I'm a cancer patient going through treatment and don't have a lot of strength but I cant be deprived of my only past time
That should be a nice light little rod that won’t tire you out, well, unless you hook into a nice hog!
Have caught peacock bass using this rod. Awesome rod to keep in a backpack or something.
Definitely backpack size!
I got one half year now the Ugly stick dock runner is nice for the money and I switched out the reel with ABU Garcia Max Z size 10 reel so much better and can use the reel on my Michael rod light power. The dock runner is a little giant medium power rod can't get better than this rod for $17.
@@jasonlopez4855 absolutely agree! This is the best value rod in that price range.
This is my backpacking/camping rod. I just swap out the reel with something way better. That being said, I've smashed a lot of fish with the stock reel. I always keep the stock reels for backup.
The stock reels are surprisingly long lasting. It’s been almost a year since I’ve posted this video. This rod still lives in my truck and gets used quite a bit and that reel is still going strong!
@wandervieoutdoors I absolutely believe and agree. When the GX2 first came out I went to Bass Pro and picked up a combo. Till this day, it's all bone stock and still a banger next to my $300+ combos. It's definitely a workhorse. On my tiny one I swapped the reel. Either way they're such great stuff for the price
I bought four Dock Runner combos for my kids. They work great on a boat, on the river or on shore. The short rod prevents a lot of tangles. The reels freeze up some times but what more could you ask for from a $25 combo.
They are awesome kids rods.
I just got one from walmart, was nervous because of some of the reviews , this video made me feel a little better about it
Good! Honestly I love the rod. When the reel finally gives out I’ll throw a better reel on it. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy another combo tomorrow if I lost mine.
Sweet! cant wait to rig mine up and take it with me, i have a regular sized ugly stick and i love that thing so i thought i would enjoy this one
@@wandervieoutdoors already caught plenty of fish with this thing, last night i caught about 12 fish with it , it works pretty good
thanks
@@foxtrot6838 you’re welcome
Gonna buy one for my kid hahahahahaha thank you for the video
You’re welcome! He will love it, these are the perfect size for kids!
Thank You For The Great Review
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
You should always close the bale with your hand never the handle it will wear the bale and gears out
Just brought one ☝️ 😅
Awesome!
Great review!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it
Great video
Thank you!
Those reels are freebies, you’re actually buying the rod. Put on a nicer reel on it and you’ll have it for years. I’ve caught lots of fish on the spinning version. I just recently bought the spincast model to pair with a baitcaster. It’s fun to fish, and like he says it’s convenient and cheap!
i picked up a small shimano reel for free (yard sale) and I'd slap that on this, lol
Shimano is always a good choice. I run primarily Shimano or Penn on my rods.
@@wandervieoutdoors okuma/shimano here but I really don't care, most reels git 'er done
Read my mind haha, I didn’t like the reel right when I felt it in hand. Swapped it for an old 2000 size shimano I had. Going to use it as a saltwater toy
That would make a fun saltwater mini rod! 🙌
What’s a good spinning reel to switch it out with?
I run a Shimano Sahara on my GX2, so does my oldest boy. Bub’s is using a Penn Fierce III. Those two reels are good starting points under $100.
Just got mine for 10 bucks at meijer nice for panfishing instead of my heavy 7 foot spinner
Absolutely!
How is that a medium? It looks like an ultralight. I’m new to fishing
@@KashHess it’s a medium action. The size can be deceiving just looking at it. But, if you look at ice fishing rods, which are smaller, you’ll find 18-24 inch rods from ultra light all the way up through heavy action. It’s all in how it’s built and the amount of backbone in the rod.
@@wandervieoutdoors oh so dose the tip bend and feel like a ultra light it just has a lot of back done for bigger fish?
You can bend that rod into a U, I have a torture test short on it on the channel. Sensitive enough to feel bottom ticks and nibbles, but enough power to bring in bigger fish.
@@wandervieoutdoors so it has the enjoyment of an ultralight
Yes, when you hook up to a decent fish, you’ll feel it. And I run 4lb test on mine, so I have to have the drag set and play them in.
2:53 that’s how every spinning reel bail is intended to close 🤦♂️
Closing by hand reduces premature reel wear out. But all are designed to close with a handle turn.
Got my 6 year old one of these, sick of the zebco spin caster kid rods where you spend half the day fixing them.
@@jrodgers211 those kids rods really eat the line under the spool and in the gears, I’ve been there!🤣
Replace the reel worth it
When the reel that came with the combo quits working, I’m going to replace it with the Shimano Sahara that’s currently on my GX2. I made this video last year, and I’m still using the original reel. It is honestly built like a tank. I’m thinking of going after some bigger carp and catfish with it just to see how it handles them, really give it a workout.
What piece of crap.😂
Inexpensive, yes….crap, not so much. It’s not my go to rod for everything. But for under $20, it has its place, including one for each vehicle. And as a kids rod, it beats all the Barbie and paw patrol cartoon rods.
From chub to catfish.... 20-25lb braid, 1oz sinker and I'm catfishing (10-15lb with no problem, just inspect it at the end of the day). I keep 2 in all of my vehicles just in case I find a body of water... For the price,they are almost disposable.... G2G🫡
Awesome! Did you switch the reels out or not?
@@wandervieoutdoors if a catfish worn the gears out too bad, I'd just buy another 1. I have close to 20 of them and they've all have been in the weather at some point in time. This is the only brand I use, because of it can't take what I dish out, I don't waste my money.
Left 3 out in the elements for little over a year, replaced the line(braid), disassembled it, a few drops of gun lube, and away we go! But as you mentioned, why take a $20 rig and truck it out to $100 rig. That would be a project, and call it the "Dock Dominator" (tag me when you do that🫡). I just like a 1 stop at W-Mart and back home with dinner for $25, rod/hook/worms.
@christopherpaige406 welp, now I may have to do some more in depth severe torture testing. Mine gets banged around quite a bit because of the kids in the truck, but I have not left it outside yet.
@@wandervieoutdoors keep mines on the back of the truck, in the boat, on the ground anywhere.if I can't do that and drag on a cat, it's not worth my money. There is a torture test vid by a guy here in VA comparing it to the zebco.