The newer ugly stiks are crap I have had 4 ugly stik customs and every single one has broke at the ferrule litterly shattered they will send you new ones but why bother they just break.I now just use my lami surf king in the back bays good moderately priced rod and have given up on ugly stiks.Their ad does not apply anymore "The only thing you will break is records" hell a 5lb bluefish snapped my last one.