Brandwave

Shimano Fishing vs Ugly Stik:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Shimano Fishing had more branded searches than Ugly Stik among fishing rod brands worldwide. Shimano Fishing had about 71,700 branded searches, while Ugly Stik had 49,500. Shimano Fishing made up 16.3% of all fishing rod brand searches we track, and Ugly Stik accounted for 11.2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about fishing rod brands, Ugly Stik appeared in all five answers and Shimano Fishing in three. Ugly Stik was mentioned before Shimano Fishing in three out of five answers.

Among fishing rod brands worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Shimano Fishing, about 45% more searches than Ugly Stik

Shimano Fishing 71.7K searchesUgly Stik 49.5K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Ugly Stik, mentioned in every answer we collected

Ugly Stik in 5 of 5Shimano Fishing in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Ugly Stik, named ahead of Shimano Fishing in 3 of 5 answers

Ugly Stik first in 3Shimano Fishing first in 2

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Top fishing rod brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Ugly Stik appeared in all five answers. Shimano Fishing was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Ugly Stik was listed before Shimano Fishing in three out of five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Ugly Stik1st
  2. Daiwa2nd
  3. Shimano Fishing3rd
  4. St. Croix4th
  5. Penn5th
  6. Abu Garcia6th
  7. Fenwick7th
  8. G. Loomis8th
  9. Okuma–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Ugly Stik5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Daiwa4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • St. Croix4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Shimano Fishing3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Penn3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Abu Garcia2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • G. Loomis2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Fenwick2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Okuma0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about fishing rod brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.

Is Shimano Fishing or Ugly Stik more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Shimano Fishing and Ugly Stik by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine fishing rod brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Shimano Fishing and Ugly Stik among fishing rod brands worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Shimano Fishing, Ugly Stik. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthDaiwaAbu GarciaShimano FishingOkumaUgly StikSt. CroixG. LoomisFenwickPenn
Oct 202531.5%17.3%16.7%14.1%9.5%6.3%2.8%1%0.68%
Nov 202533.1%14.9%17.6%14.9%8.1%6.7%3%1.1%0.71%
Dec 202531.8%17.4%15.9%14.3%9.5%6.4%2.9%1%0.68%
Jan 202632.8%14.7%17.4%14.7%8.1%6.6%3.6%1.3%0.71%
Feb 202634.3%12.6%17.2%15.4%8.4%6.9%3.1%1.7%0.61%
Mar 202629.3%16.1%15.6%13.1%10.7%8.8%3.9%1.8%0.78%
Apr 202625.1%16.8%15.4%11.2%16.8%9.2%3.4%1.5%0.67%
May 202628.9%15.8%14.5%10.6%15.8%8.7%3.2%1.7%0.77%
Jun 202624.2%19.7%14.8%10.8%16.2%8.9%3.2%1.4%0.79%
Jul 202626.3%17.6%16.1%11.8%14.4%7.9%3.5%1.6%0.86%
Aug 202627.6%15.2%16.9%12.4%15.2%6.8%3.7%1.4%0.9%
Sep 202630.6%16.8%16.3%13.7%11.2%6.2%3.4%1%0.82%

How has the Shimano Fishing and Ugly Stik comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Ugly Stik took it in April 2026, Shimano Fishing took it in July 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Shimano Fishing’s share of searches among fishing rod brands worldwide moved from 16.7% to 16.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 71.7K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Ugly Stik’s share of searches among fishing rod brands worldwide moved from 9.5% to 11.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 40.5K to 49.5K.

How did search popularity change for fishing rod brands worldwide in September 2026?

4 changes

  1. In September 2026, Okuma overtook Ugly Stik to rank 4th among fishing rod brands worldwide, with 13.7% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Abu Garcia overtook Shimano Fishing to rank 2nd among fishing rod brands worldwide, with 16.8% of the searches.

  3. In September 2026, Ugly Stik lost share of searches among fishing rod brands worldwide, from 15.2% to 11.2%.

  4. In September 2026, Shimano Fishing lost share of searches among fishing rod brands worldwide, from 16.9% to 16.3%.

How are branded searches counted?

4 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Shimano Fishing’s and Ugly Stik’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Shimano Fishing

3 branded search terms

  • shimano fishing
  • shimano reel
  • shimanofishing

Ugly Stik

1 branded search term

  • ugly stik

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among fishing rod brands

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