By CostcoFan | Updated May 2026
Ugly Stik Family Fishing Combo | Item 1985343 | $99.99 | Available at Select Costco Warehouses
- 6’6″ Medium-Action Ugly Stik Spinning Rod + Spinning Reel
- 5’6″ Ugly Stik Spincast Combo (pre-spooled, 6 lb line, 3.0:1 gear ratio)
- 3500 Tackle Box loaded with Berkley PowerBait, Beetle Spin, hooks, split shots, and bobbers
Every so often Costco drops a product that splits the internet down the middle, and the Ugly Stik Family Fishing Combo is a perfect example. Half the comments call it a steal. The other half call it a ripoff you could beat at Walmart for $40. Both groups are looking at the exact same box — they’re just not reading it the same way.
So let’s settle it. Here’s what’s actually in the kit, why the price argument is mostly noise, and who this combo is genuinely a smart buy for.
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What You Actually Get
This is the single most important thing to understand, because it’s where almost every “overpriced” take falls apart. This isn’t one rod and reel. It’s two complete combos plus a loaded tackle box:
- A 6’6″ medium-action Ugly Stik spinning rod paired with an Ugly Stik spinning reel
- A 5’6″ Ugly Stik spincast combo, reel pre-spooled with 6 lb line at a 3.0:1 gear ratio
- A 3500-size tackle box stocked with Berkley PowerBait shaky worms and power grubs, a Johnson Beetle Spin, a Berkley round ball jig, Fusion 19 offset worm hooks and bait holder hooks, split shots, and red-and-white bobbers
When people online say “I got an Ugly Stik for $40 at Walmart,” they’re talking about a single spinning combo. That’s a different product. The Costco kit is two setups and name-brand terminal tackle in one box. Whether you need two setups is a fair question. Pretending it’s the same thing as one combo is not.
Worth It or Overpriced?
Here’s my honest take: I think this is a great deal, and I think a lot of the people calling it overpriced are arguing against a box they didn’t actually read.
Owners and longtime Ugly Stik users have pointed out the math directly. The spinning combo in this kit runs around $59.97 on its own at major retailers. A comparable Ugly Stik spincast combo runs around $51. That’s already over $100 in rods and reels before you add a 3500 tackle box and a tray of Berkley tackle. Buyers have noted that even valued at just the two rods, the price holds up — and you’re getting the tackle essentially as a throw-in.
The loudest counterargument is “you can build something better for $100.” And sure — if you already know exactly what you want, can hunt clearance deals across three stores, and have the time to spool your own line and curate your own tackle, you can absolutely assemble a more tailored setup. But that’s not the buyer this kit is for. This kit is for the person who wants to grab one box, walk out, and go fishing this weekend.
Are Ugly Stik Rods Actually Good?
This is where the brand earns its reputation, and it’s worth separating the rods from the reels.
The rods are workhorses. The recurring theme from experienced anglers — including people who own $150-$200 hand-built St. Croix, Kistler, and Fenwick rods — is that the fancy rods stay home and the Ugly Stiks do the real work. One angler described owning a dozen of them across surf, inshore, catfish, and shark setups, treating them like they’re trying to break them, and they never do. Another has caught everything from panfish up to 3 lb+ smallmouth bass on a GX2. Owners regularly report landing salmon, carp, and catfish on these without drama.
The honest knock: they’re stiff. Ugly Stik rods trade sensitivity for near-indestructibility. If you’re doing finesse fishing and want to feel a light bite telegraph up the blank, this isn’t that rod. If you’re bobber fishing, bottom fishing, or just learning, that stiffness is a non-issue — and the durability is a feature, not a bug. A few buyers also note the rod tip can be susceptible to snapping if you abuse it, so don’t high-stick it. <!– PHOTO: Close-up of rod, reel, and tackle — ugly-stik-costco-rod-reel-tackle-details.jpg –>
The reels are the weak link, and I won’t pretend otherwise. The consensus from owners is that the rod will outlast the reel, and that the included spincast reel in particular is the part you’ll outgrow first. The common advice is to fish the combo as-is, and if you stick with the hobby, upgrade the reel down the line. That’s reasonable — but for getting started, the included reels cast fine.
Who This Combo Is Actually For
This is the part the price-warriors miss. The Ugly Stik Family Fishing Combo isn’t trying to be a serious angler’s primary setup. It’s built for a specific buyer, and for that buyer it’s excellent:
Parents getting a kid into fishing
This is the obvious sweet spot. The spincast reel is the most forgiving reel type for small hands, and the second, shorter rod works great for a child. One buyer joked their 7-year-old’s favorite part was teasing dad that the rod “looks really pretty.” Two rods means you and your kid both fish, today, out of one box.
Brand-new adult anglers
If you’re dipping a toe in and don’t want to research line weights, hook sizes, and reel sizes before you’ve ever made a cast, this removes every decision. The repeated advice from experienced anglers to beginners is to stop overthinking gear and just go get your line wet — and this kit lets you do exactly that.
Anyone who wants a durable beater rod
The “keep one in the trunk” use case comes up constantly. An Ugly Stik you’re not afraid to bang around is genuinely useful even if you own nicer gear.
And here’s a detail worth knowing: that shorter 5’6″ rod isn’t just a “kids’ rod.” Plenty of anglers treat it as an ultralight setup that’s great for trout and panfish. So even if you don’t have a kid, you’re not getting a throwaway — you’re getting a light setup and a medium setup.
My Take: I’ve Fished Ugly Stiks for Years
I’ll put my cards on the table. I’ve owned Ugly Stiks for years and I still fish them in the California Delta. They’ve held up to everything the Delta throws at them, and they keep going. That’s the whole pitch with this brand — they’re not glamorous, they don’t telegraph every nibble, but they refuse to die. For the way most people actually fish, that’s worth more than sensitivity.
So when I see a $99.99 box with two of them plus a stocked tackle tray, I don’t see a ripoff. I see one of the easiest “grab it and go fishing” buys Costco carries. If you’re an experienced angler who already owns a rod wall and knows exactly what you want, skip it — you’ll build something more specific. But if you’re starting out, or getting a kid started, or you just want a couple of bombproof rods in the rotation, this is a great deal.
As always: different products for different people.
The Bottom Line
The Ugly Stik Family Fishing Combo at Costco is a genuine value if you’re the right buyer. Two complete rod-and-reel setups plus a loaded tackle box for $99.99 is more than fair once you actually read the box — the standalone combos alone add up past the price. The rods are near-indestructible workhorses, the reels are the part you’ll eventually upgrade, and the whole thing is one of the simplest ways to get yourself or a kid on the water this weekend. Item 1985343 sells out, so grab it in-warehouse while it’s in stock.
Where to Buy
The kit itself is a Costco warehouse item (Item 1985343) and tends to sell out, so if you want the bundle, grab it in-warehouse while it’s in stock. If you’d rather build your own setup — or you want to upgrade the included reel like a lot of owners eventually do — here are the pieces people most often reach for.
Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Combo on Amazon → The standalone version of the workhorse setup in this kit, for anyone who only needs one rod.
Ugly Stik® Spinning Combo → A forgiving setup for getting a young kid into fishing — the most beginner-friendly reel type out there.
Pflueger President Spinning Reel on Amazon → The mid-range reel upgrade owners suggest once you’ve decided you’re sticking with the hobby.
Fishing Lures, 137Pcs Tackle Box with Tackle Included, Crankbaits, Spoon, Hooks on Amazon → PLUSINNO’s high-quality bait provides beginners with a variety of options, capable of catching nearly any type of fish, from bass to trout.
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