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Are you looking for the best fishing rods for your fishing trips? Do you need fishing rods to be more successful on your fishing expeditions? Fishing is an exciting outdoor activity and the right fishing rod will help you catch more fish. With so many brands and models of fishing on the market, it can be a little overwhelming to find the right one. In this article, we review some of the best fishing rods available today.

1. Ugly Stik GX2 Fishing Rod

This fishing rod is a durable and lightweight spinning rod for your fishing trips. It features a strong and balanced graphite and fiberglass construction. It also features a Clear Tip design that provides strength and sensitivity. The Ugly Stik spinning rod also has a durable and lightweight EVA grip.

What We Like:

Clear Tip Design

Durable Graphite & Fiberglass Construction

2. KastKing Perigee II Fishing Rod

This fishing rod is constructed with Toray 24-ton carbon matrix technology that provides power, strength, and accuracy to help you successfully fish for trout, walleye, bass, salmon, and many other kinds of fish.

It features ergonomic graphite high-strength reel seats, high-density EVA grips, a Saf-T Keeper hooker holder, and Fuji O-ring line guides. You benefit from smooth power with its power transition system. This fishing rod can be used for freshwater or saltwater fishing.

What We Like:

Durable

Smooth Power

3. Ugly Stik Elite Fishing Rod

The Stik elite fishing rod is durable with 35% more graphite that delivers more strength. It is constructed with a combination of graphite and fiberglass to create a strong and sensitive spinning rod. When fishing with this spinning rod, you benefit from its sensitivity and responsiveness with its Clear Tip design. During long hours of fishing, you remain comfortable because of its cork handle. Additionally, its stainless steel guides provide durability and eliminate insert pop-outs.

What We Like:

Durable

Clear Tip Design

Comfortable

4. KastKing Crixus Fishing Rods

The KastKing Cirixus spinning rods are made of IM6 graphite that delivers great performance when fishing. They are powerful and sensitive which helps you be more successful when fishing. They can be used for freshwater and saltwater fishing.

Additionally, this fishing rod features a super polymer handle that makes it durable, comfortable, and slip-resistant to give you control during all fishing situations. It also features stainless steel guides with zirconium oxide rings that deliver long, smooth casts and durable performance with fluorocarbon, monofilament, or braided fishing lines.

What We Like:

Durable

Comfortable

Slip-Resistant

5. Cadence Fishing Rod

Cadence fishing rods are durable, lightweight, sensitive, and strong thanks to its 30-ton carbon matrix graphite blank. It can be used for fishing bass, walleye, trout, and inshore fish such as redfish, speckled trout, and flounder.

Additionally, its stainless steel guides with SiC inserts make it more smooth and more durable, avoid the line sticking into the guides, minimize friction, and enhance sensitivity.

What We Like:

Smooth Power

Durable

Lightweight

Sensitive

6. KastKing Brutus Fishing Rod

The KastKing Brutus provides toughness, durability, and performance to make you successful on your fishing trips. This spinning rod is designed to withstand the ferocious fight from big and powerful fish. You will be well-equipped to handle hard-fighting fish with the KastKing Brutus.

When you spend the day fishing with KastKing Brutus, you benefit from a comfortable feel thanks to its durable and comfortable EVA handle. It also features a chartreuse “Strike Tip” for early strike detection even in low light conditions.

What We Like:

Durable

Great Performance

Comfortable

Early Detection

7. KastKing Resolute Fishing Rods

The KastKing Resolute features sensitive and powerful IM7 carbon rod blanks that make it lightweight, powerful, and deliver great performance. It delivers smooth power when fishing thanks to its power transition system. Additionally, this spinning rod features super polymer handles and fighting butts that are not only comfortable and durable but also slip-resistant.

What We Like:

Durable

Comfortable

Smooth Power

8. St. Croix Fishing Rod

St. Croix fishing rod is durable, sensitive, and has impressive power. It features premium SCII carbon construction and a Fortified resin system to deliver strength and durability. You benefit from a firm grip while fishing and maintaining control with its premium-grade cork handle. This spinning rod is ideal for anglers as it allows them to be in control of the situation
when fishing at all times.

What We Like:

Durable

Sensitive

Powerful

9. Entsport Camo Fishing Rod

This fishing rod is made of high-grade carbon fiber construction which maximizes strength and maintains sensitivity. This fishing rod delivers the power and performance you need when fishing. As a lightweight, yet powerful spinning rod, you will successfully engage and maintain control of powerful and large fish that put up a spirited fight.

Additionally, its reel seat features corrosion-resistant aluminum hoods and 6 +1 corrosion-resistant stainless steel guides with ceramic inserts. With its EVA handles, you also benefit from more sensitivity, durability, comfort, and control while fishing.

What We Like:

Durable

Comfortable

Sensitive

Types of Fishing Rods

1. Spinning Rods

A spinning rod is one of the most versatile and easy-to-use fishing rods. It features a spinning reel that provides power and stability. Anglers can choose a variety of different lengths, actions, and power when fishing. Spinning rods are ideal for fishing in boats, rivers, and lakes.

2. Casting Rods

A casting rod is easy to use and simple. It features a push-catch system for discharging the line. Casting rods are more durable than spinning rods and are often used by beginners or children. It delivers great casting control and accuracy.

3. Trolling Rods

Trolling rods are designed for trolling on boats. Trolling involves a moving boat with the rod attached at the back of the boat with the bait. Usually, the rod is placed in its holder and when there is a strike, you take the rod and reel in the fish.

4. Surf Rods

Surf rods are used for saltwater fishing since you need heavy lines and lures to combat the spirited fights that large and powerful fish will put up. Surf rods are ideal for casting from the beach, pier, surf, or other areas along the shore.

5. Fly Fishing Rods

Fly fishing rods are used when you fly fish. Since fly fishing requires more technique to make sure the bait is properly presented, fly fishing rods come in a variety of lengths and weights.

6. Ice Fishing Rods

When compared to other fishing rods, ice fishing rods are very short since you don’t need to cast while ice fishing. These rods allow you to reel just above the ice fishing hole easily.

Types of Fishing Rod Materials

1. Fiberglass

Fiberglass rods are ideal for fishing for large fish. They are heavier than graphite rods and not expensive. They also have a slow to medium action and flex from the bottom to the top.

2. Graphite

Graphite rods are fast-action rods and flex more at the top end of the rod with little to none at the bottom. They are lightweight and are more expensive than fiberglass or composite rods.

3. Composite

Composite rods are a combination of fiberglass and graphite. This is created to give you the best of graphite and fiberglass. These rods’ performance will be in the middle of fiberglass and graphite.

4. Bamboo

Bamboo rods are known for smooth casting and hold up well when the fish puts up a hard fight. They are not commonly used today.

What To Look For When Choosing A Fishing Rod

  1. Rod Length

The length of the fishing rod is one of the features to consider when choosing a fishing rod. The length can influence how far you can cast. The length of fishing rods generally ranges from 4 to 14 feet.

2. Material

The material that the fishing rod is made of is another important factor to consider when choosing a rod. Fishing rods are made of graphite, fiberglass, composite, or bamboo. The performance of the rod has a direct relationship to the type of material that it
is made of.

3. Power

The power of the fishing rod is very important to your success when fishing. You will encounter large and powerful fish that will be hard to fight when hooked. How much power the fishing rod has will determine how successful you will be to overpower the fish and reeling it in. The fishing rod power is usually rated from ultra-light, light, medium, medium-heavy, heavy, and ultra-heavy.

4. Action

One of the performance components of a fishing rod is its action. It indicates how much and where the fishing rod will bend. It also controls the speed at which the rod goes from “loaded” back to its original position. There are basically three main rod actions: fast, medium, and slow.

5. Rod Guide

Rod guides are made of metal with a ceramic coating on the inside. The coating allows it to move smoothly by reducing the friction on the line. Fishing rods have a number of guides and the more guides it has, the better as it will reduce the stress on the line and the rod more evenly which will allow you to cast with more precision.

6. Rod Handle

The quality of the rod handle will determine how comfortable it will be to fish when holding the handle, especially during long hours of fishing. The rod handle material is either cork or EVA. Cork is more comfortable and sensitive than EVA. However, EVA foam is more durable and cheaper than cork. Additionally, cork is harder to clean and gets more dents.

7. Shape

Rod handles are designed in a number of different shapes, but the pistol grip and trigger stick are the most common ones. The pistol grip is a short, contoured handle with a hook for the index finger. This handle is ideal for casting accuracy and precise jigging movements.

The trigger stick allows you to cast with both hands as it is a longer handle. The trigger stick allows you to cast farther than the pistol grip and is ideal for wrestling larger fish.

Best Fishing Rods

What are the 3 types of fishing rods?
The types of fishing rods are spinning rods, trolling rods, casting rods, ice fishing rods, fly fishing rods, and syrf rods.
Does fishing rod quality matter?
The quality of the fishing rod can not be overstated. It can be the difference between a successful fishing trip and an unsuccessful one.
Are longer or shorter rods better?
Long and short rods have their use. It is not a matter of which one is better. Use short rods when you make short and accurate casts. Longer rods are ideal when accuracy is not very crucial.
What's better fiberglass or graphite fishing rods?
When fishing for large fish, use fiberglass rods. Graphite rods are fast action rods while fiberglass rods are slow to medium action fishing rods.
What is the easiest fishing rod to use?
Spinning rods are beginner friendly, allow long casts with light lures and are not expensive. They are one of the most popular types of fishing rods.
What is the best rod size?
Fishing rods lengths are generally in the range from 4 to 14 feet.
What type of rod is best for freshwater fishing?
Fiberglass fishing rods are the best rods for freshwater fishing.

The Bottom Line

Fishing rods can be the difference between a successful fishing trip and a long day without much to show for it. With so many different brands and models of fishing rods on the market today, we reviewed some of the best fishing rods to give you an insight into how to choose the right one for your fishing needs.

We also shared information on the factors to consider when choosing one to know exactly what to look for. We hope this review will help reduce the learning curve and help you find the right one. If you are also interested in fish finders and fishing reels, you can read the best fish finders and the best fishing reels. You can also read about the best baitcasting rods, the best surf fishing rods, and the best catfish rods.