Largemouth Bass checklist · Rod

Ugly Stik GX2 7 ft medium-heavy casting rod for Tennessee Largemouth Bass Fishing

Stiff enough to set a hook in grass, tough enough to live in a truck bed.

Check price on Amazon →The full largemouth bass checklist

Why it is on the list

Why the Ugly Stik GX2 7 ft medium-heavy casting rod is on the largemouth bass checklist

Stiff enough to set a hook in grass, tough enough to live in a truck bed.

RodUgly Stik GX2 7 ft medium-heavy casting rodStiff enough to set a hook in grass, tough enough to live in a truck bed.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list

These are affiliate links. Buying through them pays this site a small commission at no extra cost to you, and it is how the site stays free.

How it is used here

Using a rod like this on Tennessee water

A rod is the one piece of tackle that decides how the rest of the kit works. Its power sets which lures it can cast and which hooks it can drive home; its action sets how it fights a fish. Tennessee water asks for both ends of the range: a light rod for stocked trout and bluegill in clear creeks, a medium heavy rod for bass in the flooded timber at Norris and the grass at Chickamauga, and a heavy rod for catfish and striper on the Tennessee River.

Length matters as much as power here. Six to six and a half feet is right for a kayak, a creek or a crowded pier; seven feet gives distance from a boat deck or a bank at Kentucky Lake. Buy the rod for the lure you throw most, and let the reel and line follow it.

Where to use it

Tennessee water for the Ugly Stik GX2 7 ft medium-heavy casting rod

Where to use itBarren ForkPublic access, limits and what else swims in Barren Fork.See the spots →Where to use itBoone LakePublic access, limits and what else swims in Boone Lake.See the spots →Where to use itCalf Killer RiverPublic access, limits and what else swims in Calf Killer River.See the spots →Where to use itCenter Hill LakePublic access, limits and what else swims in Center Hill Lake.See the spots →Where to use itCheatham LakePublic access, limits and what else swims in Cheatham Lake.See the spots →Where to use itCherokee LakePublic access, limits and what else swims in Cherokee Lake.See the spots →

The Ugly Stik GX2 7 ft medium-heavy casting rod is on the largemouth bass checklist because it works on Tennessee water.

Goes with

What the Ugly Stik GX2 7 ft medium-heavy casting rod pairs with on the largemouth bass list

The rest of the largemouth bass checklist, each with its own page.

ReelAbu Garcia Black Max baitcasting reelAn inexpensive baitcaster that casts cleanly once the brakes are set.Why it is on the list →LineSeaguar Red Label fluorocarbon, 15 lbSinks, holds up on rock and riprap, and nearly disappears in clear water.Why it is on the list →Soft plasticZoom Trick WormThe Tennessee standard on a Texas rig or weightless along docks and grass edges.Why it is on the list →Soft plasticStrike King Rage Tail CrawFlip it into cover or trail it on a jig when the bite is on crawfish.Why it is on the list →CrankbaitStrike King KVD 1.5 square billBang it off stumps and rock in 2 to 6 feet of water in spring and fall.Why it is on the list →SpinnerbaitBooyah Pond Magic spinnerbaitA small, cheap spinnerbait for stained water and windy banks.Why it is on the list →

All 11 items

Same job, other fishing

Other rods on the Tennessee checklists

RodSt. Croix Bass X 7 ft medium spinning rodLight enough for a Ned rig, with enough backbone for a 5 lb fish in current.Why it is on the list →RodUgly Stik Elite 6 ft 6 in light spinning rodFor casting jigs under a float along riprap and creek channels.Why it is on the list →RodUgly Stik Elite ultralight spinning rodMakes a half-pound bluegill feel like a fish.Why it is on the list →RodUgly Stik Catfish casting rod, 7 ft medium-heavyBuilt for sitting in a rod holder with a bait on the bottom.Why it is on the list →RodUgly Stik Bigwater spinning rod, 7 ft medium-heavyHandles a 20 lb striper and a live shad on a balloon.Why it is on the list →RodSt. Croix Premier 6 ft 6 in medium spinning rodSensitive enough to feel a sauger pick up a jig in 20 feet of current.Why it is on the list →

Common questions

Ugly Stik GX2 7 ft medium-heavy casting rod questions

What is the Ugly Stik GX2 7 ft medium-heavy casting rod for?

Stiff enough to set a hook in grass, tough enough to live in a truck bed. It is the rod on the largemouth bass checklist on this site, and it earns its place because it works on Tennessee water, not because it is new.

Which fish is the Ugly Stik GX2 7 ft medium-heavy casting rod good for in Tennessee?

The largemouth bass checklist covers largemouth bass. A rod is the one piece of tackle that decides how the rest of the kit works.

Where would I use the Ugly Stik GX2 7 ft medium-heavy casting rod?

On the Tennessee water that holds largemouth bass: Barren Fork, Boone Lake, Calf Killer River, Center Hill Lake among others. Each water page on this site lists the public access points and what swims there.

What goes with the Ugly Stik GX2 7 ft medium-heavy casting rod?

The rest of the largemouth bass checklist, starting with Abu Garcia Black Max baitcasting reel, Seaguar Red Label fluorocarbon, 15 lb, Zoom Trick Worm. The checklist page has all 11 items.

Is there a different rod for other fishing?

Yes: St. Croix Bass X 7 ft medium spinning rod on the smallmouth bass list; Ugly Stik Elite 6 ft 6 in light spinning rod on the crappie list; Ugly Stik Elite ultralight spinning rod on the bluegill and panfish list.

How much does the Ugly Stik GX2 7 ft medium-heavy casting rod cost?

The Amazon link on this page shows today’s price. The checklist items are standard tackle rather than premium gear, and the bait shops on the county pages carry most of them.

Can I buy the Ugly Stik GX2 7 ft medium-heavy casting rod in Tennessee instead?

Yes. Every county page on this site lists the bait shops, marinas and big box stores that carry tackle, with phone numbers and directions.

Is this an affiliate link?

Yes. The link goes to Amazon with this site’s tag and pays a small commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on the list was chosen for commission.

Do I need a licence to use it?

Anyone 13 or older needs a Tennessee fishing licence, plus the trout privilege for trout. The licence page on this site has prices and limits.

Keep going

More Tennessee water, and who fishes it

Every guide and charter on this site is listed by the water they run, so you can call the captain direct. Licences, limits and the state record list are one click away too.

Guides by water Licence and limits