At the end of the day its a personal preference. No one has really suggested that the ProAngler rod is the end all rod. Its just a rod that performs well without dropping a ton of cash on one single rod.

I like the way they load up the circle hooks. Yet, I do keep another one or two of other brand rods for fishing "ninja" style with trebles or khale hooks. Again, personal preference.

How much are the ugly sticks? Pro Anglers run $42-$50 depending on length and handle material.

I'll add this. Pro Angler is one of the only outfits I know of that will lower the price when you buy multiple rods.

I used to have 7 - 8'0 uglystick catfish rods and 7 - Proanglers, there is not a thing wrong with the uglysticks, I just liked the Proanglers better, they are just a little stiffer, but I just liked the feel of them, and I have caught several 50# + fish on them and can tell you they hold up good, so I sold the uglysticks and bought all proanglers, I am sure I could have probably caught the same fish if I had the ugly-sticks, I just wanted all of them to be the same,

It's up to you, but for about the same money if you pick both of them up, and see which one you like the best.

New guy here.I have a tiger ugley stick and 5 other uglies with abu garcia 6600c4,6000 and 6500 with a record 40 on one and a penn 209,and a zebco rxlc big baitcaster for my catfishing.no problems with any of them.I fish about 4 times a week day or night.any body use the record 60 abu. been thinking about getting one.

Getting off topic a little...but both Ugly Stick and Pro Angler are very good in my opinion. I fish spinning reels only because I grew up with them and I'm most comfortable using them. I've heard all the debates about all the other reels.....I just don't care how good the reasons are I'm staying with my spinning reels and I know I'm out numbered heavily by casters! But that is the rebel in me...I'm sure there are others like me. Now that being said I want to point out that I have 2 Pro Angler rods (spinning of course)and they are very good rods but I think the large guide nearest the reel should either be bigger in diameter or moved farther from the reel....they would cast much better. I get the feeling the Pro Angler was initially designed for bait caster reels and I think they work best with those reels. The spinning version is not quite as good functionally (as the casting version) but certainly is for toughness! The uglies I have are excellent rods and I like them very much, they cast very good and are strong.
If Pro Angler would change the guides a little on the spinning rods this would not be a toss up for me.

What kind of reels are you using Willow? I've matched my PA rods with 65 series reels and I can match my casting distance to my baitcasters.

+1

AAAHHH Tiger sticks, I have 4 Tigers and 2 Tiger lites. When I lived in Cali I caught 4 leapord sharks over 5 ft and and un-godly number of misc other sharks on tiger heavy and med hvy on 30 lb test. Including an estimated 3 to 400 lb bat ray. I've used them on tuna trips and now here for cat. I need to find time for more cat fishing though, haven't caught anything bigger then 8 lbs here yet.