Best Fishing Rods Reviewed - Top Rated for 2023

Need a good fishing rod but don’t know where to start?

We’ve got you covered!

Below, you’ll find an exhaustive list of the best fishing rods for any situation, freshwater or saltwater. After careful research, field testing, and detailed comparison, we’ve put together an unbeatable resource to help you make the best choice for your needs.

Here's a quick glance at the best fishing rods:

Freshwater Fishing Rods

• St. Croix Premier PS66MF - Spinning Rod
• St. Croix Premier PS60ULF - Ultralight Spinning Rod
• Dobyns Rods 734C FH Champion Series - Baitcasting Rod
• St. Croix Legend Glass Casting LGC74MHM - Crankbait Rod
• Dobyns Champion Series Swimbait Rod 807 MAG HSB - Swimbait Rod
• Doomsday Tackle “The 47” - Jig Rod
• Abu Garcia Villain 2.0 - Dropshot Rod
• Dobyns Champion 766Flip - Flipping and Pitching Rod
• St. Croix Triumph Spinning Rod - Jerkbait Rod
• Shimano Talora Downrigger Rod - Trolling Rod
• Cadence CC4 Spinning Combo - Fishing Rod and Reel Combo
• Shakespeare’s Ugly Stik Elite USESP702M - Affordable Fishing Rod

Saltwater Fishing Rods

• Penn Carnage III - Surf Rod
• Penn International VI INTVI305060AR - Offshore Rod
• Redbone Hurricane Inshore RDB-761MS - Inshore Spinning Rod
• Penn Battle III Spinning Fishing Rod and Reel Combo - Rod and Reel Combo

Specialty Fishing Rods

• Daiwa B.B.B. 6106TMLFS - Telescopic Rod
• Fiblink Travel Spinning Rod - Portable Travel Backpacking Rod
• Shakespeare’s Ugly Stik Spinning Combo - Fishing Rod For Kids
• St. Croix Mojo Series Ice Fishing Rod - Ice Fishing Rod
• Loop Opti Stream - Fly Fishing Rod
• Team Oni USA Oni Type I - Tenkara Rod

Related: Best Fishing Reels

Freshwater Fishing Rods

Spinning rod

Spinning rods are great choices for novices and experts alike. Designed to be paired with a spinning reel, they’re easy to cast in windy conditions, making them a popular choice for inshore, surf casting, and walleye anglers.

St. Croix Premier PS66MF - Our Pick

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St. Croix builds some legendary rods, and their medium-powered, fast action Premier spinning rod is among them. Expect premium components and materials, as well as careful attention to detail.

Extremely well-balanced and sensitive, the Premier is strong enough for everything from bass to reds, walleye to stripers. If I were going to have a one-rod arsenal, this is the rod I’d pick. Sensitive enough to detect light strikes and strong enough to muscle real brutes, this rod is about as good as it gets for a “do-it-all” option.

Ultralight spinning rod

Ultralight fishing is a great way to increase the excitement of catching panfish like crappie, perch, sunfish, and bluegill--and for experienced anglers, it’s a heart-stopping option for bass, too! Spinning reels are ideal for ultralight applications, as they’re designed for the light lines you’ll use.

St. Croix Premier PS60ULF

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Length: 6’
Material: graphite
Power/action: ultralight/fast
Lure size: 1/32 oz. to 3/16 oz.
Line weight: 2 to 6 lbs.
Handle: 12.25” split cork/spinning
Guide material: 6 + 1 Fuji aluminum oxide
Piece: 1

It’s no surprise that another St. Croix makes our list, as they’re quickly outstripping their premium competition, including the trusted Fenwick name.

The Premier ultralight features a fast action, and as a combination, it provides the sensitivity you want with the cushioned hookset you need for fish like crappie. Strong, supple, well-balanced, and light, this rod is everything you’re looking for. Whether you’re angling for bass, perch, or trout, this rod can handle them all with no worries--and your line will break long before the Premier does.

Pros:

• Fantastic sensitivity
• Excellent casting
• Quality handles
• Awesome guides

Cons:

• Expensive

Baitcasting rod

Baitcasting rods are designed to be paired with baitcasting reels, allowing excellent casting with heavier-diameter line. Often built around the needs of bass anglers, among whom baitcasting tackle is the go-to choice, expect medium to heavy power matched with fast actions.

Dobyns Rods 734C FH Champion Series

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Length: 7’3”
Power/Action: heavy/fast
Material: graphite
Handle: cork/casting
Guides: 10 + tip/Zero Tangle Kigan with SiC inserts
Lure size: ¼ to 1 oz.
Line weight: 10 to 20 lbs.
Pieces: 1

Dobyns is a name known to pretty much every bass angler, and their rods are trusted tools that have proven their effectiveness season after season and tournament after tournament. It’s no surprise that a Dobyns rod made our shortlist, and the 734 is an impressive addition to our reviews.

Indeed, this rod is sufficiently powerful, light, castable, and sensitive that it’s simply fantastic with crankbaits, jerkbaits, worms, jigs, and anything else you’d want to throw. Perhaps the best all-arounder I’ve seen, if you can only bring one rod to the lake, this would be an awesome choice.

Pros:

• Awesome, all-around blank
• Excellent guides
• Excellent handle
• Very sensitive
• Great for a variety of lures and techniques

Cons:

• Expensive

Crankbait rod

Sneak a peek into any bass angler’s tackle box, and you’ll find crankbaits. Yes, soft plastics might have the edge, but there’s no denying that crankbaits are deadly on largemouth, and I don’t know anyone who doesn’t throw them. And when paired with a rod designed to maximize their action and slightly cushion your hookset, they’re simply deadly.

St. Croix Legend Glass Casting LGC74MHM

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Length: 7’ 4”
Power/action: medium-heavy/moderate
Material: fiberglass
Line weight: 10 to 20 lbs.
Lure weight: ⅜ to 1 oz.
Guides: 10 + tip, Fuji K-Series tangle-free guides with Alconite rings and Corrosion Control matte finish frames
Handle: 16” split cork
Pieces: 1

St. Croix’s Legend series offers no-compromise performance, and their Glass Casting models are among the best rods available for crankbaits.

I particularly like the 7’4” moderate action, medium-heavy power model. Long enough to cast into the next county, it’s still nimble enough for accurate casting, and surprisingly light to boot.

The fiberglass blank on this rod loads like a charm, enabling great casts and providing the cushioned hooksets and constant pressure you need to keep bass on your lure. In fact, it’s a real pleasure to fish with, improving your performance with crankbaits immediately. Often described as the “Cadillac” or “Lamborghini” of crankbait rods, one afternoon in your hand will confirm why this rod has won a cult-like following.

Pros:

• Incredible blank
• Sensitive
• Awesome guides
• Loads easily
• Excellent quality handle
• Long, accurate casts

Cons:

• Expensive!

Swimbait rod

Swimbaits are simply murder on everything from bass to walleye and pike, combining life-like action with the scent and taste that drive fish wild. Rigged on a jig head or single hook, they demand a rod with the backbone to drive a hookset home, as well as the sensitivity to detect the gentle “suck” when a fish inhales your lure.

Dobyns Champion Series Swimbait Rod DC 807 MAG HSB

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Length: 8’
Power/action: extra heavy/fast
Material: graphite
Handle: continuous EVA foam
Guides: Fuji tangle-free K-guides with Alconite inserts
Lure size: 3 to 10 oz.
Line weight: 20 to 50 lbs.
Pieces: 1

If you take a look in tournament anglers’ boats, you’ll almost certainly find a selection of Dobyns Champion Series rods.

Their swimbait rod is designed around a blank that delivers unrivalled hookset power, providing the stiffness you need to send a single hook home. Paired with a fast action, you’ll feel every nibble, bump, and suck, giving you the confidence to fish hard.

And as you’d expect from Dobyns, this rod comes with premium components including excellent guides, an outstanding reel seat, and a long, comfortable EVA foam handle.

Pros:

• Incredible blank that delivers positive hooksets
• Awesome sensitivity
• Awesome guides
• Excellent handle

Cons:

• Expensive!

Jig rod

Flipping, casting, swimming, dragging--jigs can do it all! It’s no surprise, then, that they’re a popular choice for largemouth, especially in high summer when the vegetation gets thick. Since you can run jigs in weedless versions, and because they’re ideal for pitching into nearly impenetrable cover, they let you fish places that other lure choices just can’t reach. But to make the most of this fantastic option, you need a specialized rod with just the right mix of strength and sensitivity.

Doomsday Tackle “The 47”

Length: 7’3”
Power/action: heavy/fast
Material: carbon fiber
Handle: split cork/casting
Guides: 9 + tip/Fuji Tangle Free K guides with Alconite inserts
Lure size: ⅜ to 1 ½ oz.
Line weight: 12 to 30 lbs.
Pieces: 1

Doomsday Tackle’s “The 47” may look like a rod your father or grandfather fished when you were young, and its creme and red styling is certainly a nod in that direction. But make no mistake: it’s as high-tech as they come!

The 47 is 7’3” of carbon fiber, making it both surprisingly light and supremely strong. The tip is supple and sensitive, allowing you to get the most from your jig before quickly stiffening to a powerful, bass-dragging backbone. Hookset and control are all but guaranteed by this blank, making it an easy choice for the best jigging rod.

Pros:

• Awesome blank
• Excellent guides
• Excellent handle
• Very sensitive

Cons: ???

Dropshot rod

Drop shotting is one of the hottest techniques for bass. It offers a subtle, finesse presentation of a worm that largemouth can’t resist. In fact, you can work the edge of a weed bed that’s been hit hard by other anglers and still hook a big one!

But because this technique demands a finesse presentation, a standard bass rod with a heavy backbone probably isn’t the best choice.

Abu Garcia Villain 2.0

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Length: 6’ 10”
Power/Action: medium-light/extra-fast
Material: graphite
Handle: split EVA foam/casting
Guides: 10 + tip/titanium
Lure size: ⅛ to ½ oz.
Line weight: 6 to 12 lbs.
Pieces: 1

Abu Garcia’s Villain series of casting rods is winning more than a few converts from the likes of Shimano and G. Loomis. If you’re not familiar with the Villain, it’s worth noting that you can expect top-notch quality at a pretty modest price.

Right up front, you’ll notice two things about the medium-light Villain: it’s very, very sensitive and it has plenty of power for muscling a big fish. If you’ve never fished an Abu Garcia, keep in mind that their version of a “medium-light” may be a touch more stiff than average. With that in mind, I’d probably call this rod medium.

Despite that backbone, the tip is shockingly adept at translating bottom composition, the wriggles of your soft bait, and the actions of bass to your hands. You’ll know whether the bottom is muddy, sandy, or rocky--and you’ll feel when it changes, too.

And because the tip is limber, it makes working a worm a breeze. You’ll be able to make it gyrate enticingly with a few pops of your wrist, and still know that when it’s time to set the hook, the Villain has the power to do so with authority.

Pros:

• Awesome sensitivity
• Great backbone--more like a medium than a medium-light
• Excellent guides
• Excellent handle
• Great action on your soft bait

Cons:

• May be a bit light for anglers who want a true medium rod
• Casting will suffer with lighter lines

Flipping/pitching rod

Flipping is a technique bass anglers use to toss a lure at short range, targeting heavy cover like a lay-down, a weedbed, or a gap in a lilly-choked pond. It’s essential that your rod be stiff and sensitive--a tough combination to deliver unless it features an excellent blank.

Dobyns Champion 766Flip

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Length: 7’ 6”
Power/Action: heavy/fast
Material: graphite
Handle: continuous cork
Guides: Zero Tangle Kigan guides with SIC inserts
Lure size: ⅜ to 2 ½ oz.
Line weight: 14 to 30 lbs.
Pieces: 1

Dobyns’s Champion series are the rods many professional anglers reach for, and for flipping, the 766Flip is about as good as it gets.

Providing the stiffness you need for this technique, while still offering surprising sensitivity, a couple of casts is all you’ll need to be hooked. From the premium-grade cork handle to the Kigan guides, expect high-end materials throughout--and the performance to match!

Pros:

• Very stiff blank with plenty of power to muscle big bass
• Excellent sensitivity
• Great guides
• Awesome handle

Cons:

• Expensive

Jerkbait rod

Jerkbaits imitate the erratic action of an injured or excited minnow, triggering reaction strikes from fish like bass, walleye, and stripers whether they want to feed or not. But jerkbaits need to be worked with the right rod to get the most from them, and that means a winning combination of stiffness and sensitivity.

St. Croix Triumph Spinning Rod

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Length: 6’ 6”
Power/action: medium/fast
Material: graphite
Handle: continuous cork
Guides: 7 + tip aluminum oxide inserts
Lure size: ¼ to ⅝ oz.
Line weight: 6 to 12 lbs.
Pieces: 1

St. Croix’s Triumph Series rods are made with serious anglers in mind, combining outstanding blanks with premium components to build a rod anyone would be glad to fish.

The Triumph spinning rod is an ideal choice for casting and working jerkbaits, providing the stiffness you need to rip your lure, the backbone for hard hooksets and nasty fights, and the sensitivity to feel what’s going on at the end of your line.

Pros:

• Fantastic sensitivity
• Excellent casting
• Excellent handle
• Awesome guides
• A great all-arounder for jerkbaits
• Priced right!

Cons: ???

Freshwater trolling rod

Freshwater trolling rods are perhaps the best way to fish species like walleye. Designed to ride in a rod holder and pair with a downrigger, they need long, comfortable handles and blanks that bend just enough to create the optimum hookset.

Shimano Talora Downrigger Rod

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Length: 8’ 6”
Power/Action: medium/medium fast
Material: N/A
Handle: (12” rear/6” fore)continuous EVA foam
Guides: Fuji with aluminum oxide inserts
Lure size: ¼ to 1 oz.
Line weight: 15 to 40 lbs.
Pieces: 1

Shimano’s Talora Downrigger Rod is 8-feet, 6-inches of walleye doom. Designed from the ground up as a trolling rod, it delivers the performance you’re looking for on northern lakes.

Offering a medium-powered blank that provides reassuring control in a fight, as well as a medium-fast tip that’s just hard enough for good hooksets, this is a hard rod to beat for dedicated trolling applications.

Pros:

• Great tip for solid hooksets
• Long EVA foam handle
• Strong blank that lets you fight and muscle big fish
• Awesome guides and reel seat

Cons: ???

Fishing Rod and reel combo for freshwater

Do you want to hit your local pond or lake, but you’re just not sure what rod and reel to buy? A solid combo can have you fishing in no time.

Cadence CC4 Spinning Combo

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Length: 6’ 6”
Action/power: medium-light/moderate-fast
Material: graphite
Handle: split EVA foam
Guides: stainless steel with SIC inserts
Line Weight: N/A
Lure Weight: N/A
Pieces: 2

Cadence’s C4 reels are an outstanding option for the price, and in this combo, they come paired with a rod that’ll put a smile on your face!

Ideal for panfish, trout, and walleye, this all-arounder offers enough backbone to provide control in a fight, while still throwing light lures on light lines. Sensitive enough for bluegill and sunfish, strong enough for large walleye, it’s a hard combo to beat.

Pros:

• Great all-arounder for freshwater
• Nice blank
• Very sensitive
• Great guides

Cons: ???

Saltwater Fishing Rods

Check out our full buying guide for saltwater fishing rods!

Surf fishing rod

Surf fishing demands a long rod that can cast like a dream, as well as an extra-long handle clad in shrink tubing to provide a no-slip grip. Built for big fish and large spinning reels, expect medium-heavy powered rods made of fiberglass composite.

Penn Carnage III

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Length: 11’
Action/power: medium-heavy/moderately fast
Material: graphite/fiberglass composite
Handle: continuous rubber shrink tube
Guides: 8 + 1 Fuji K with Alconite inserts
Line Weight: 20 to 50 lbs.
Lure Weight: 2 to 6 oz.
Pieces: 2

Penn specializes in saltwater fishing tackle, and if you’re an inshore, offshore, or beach angler, you’ll know their name is trusted. The Carnage III series are excellent surf rods, built to cast, fight, and last.

Penn equips the Carnage III with a composite of graphite and fiberglass that pairs the rigidity and sensitivity of the former with the flexibility and durability of the latter. The tip is quite sensitive, and from nibbles to the action of a crankbait, you’ll be aware of what’s going on at the end of your line. The blank bends easily for the first 40% or so, before hitting the real backbone this rod offers, which is confidence-inspiringly stiff.

Looking for a rod that’ll let you muscle a 4- to 6-foot shark?

You’ve found it!

Pros:

• Excellent sensitivity
• Excellent durability
• Strong blank that lets you fight and muscle big fish
• Excellent handle
• Awesome guides and reel seat
• Great casting

Cons:

• Not as light as graphite rods

Offshore saltwater rod

Saltwater trolling for sailfish, marlins, tuna, wahoos, sharks, and other large, aggressive species of fish demands a strong rod, precise attention to component details, and some pretty specialized gear. And while you don’t need to worry about casting, hard fights will break rods that aren’t up to the task!

Penn International VI INTVI305060AR

Length: 6’
Power/Action: medium/fast
Material: tubularfiberglass
Handle: EVA foam/slick butt
Guides: 4 + 1 Aftco Wind On Roller Guides
Lure size: N/A
Line weight: 30 to 50 lbs.
Pieces: 1

Penn’s International VI is the rod I’d want for chasing tuna, sailfish, and sharks. Built from incredibly strong tubular fiberglass, and featuring five Atfco roller guides, it can handle heavy lines and wind-on leaders without missing a beat. A long EVA foam handle, ending in a slick butt, gives you the controll you need when you hook a big fish, and it’s fair to say your arms will fail before the Penn does!

Pros:

• Awesomely strong blank
• Long EVA foam handle
• Awesome roller guides
• Awesome reel seat

Cons:

• Expensive!

Inshore saltwater spinning rod

Whether you’re fishing the Intercoastal, a mudflat in south Louisiana, or warm-water shallows in Florida, a good inshore rod is essential for snook, reds, and specks. Built tough, they need to cast well in the wind and hold their own in a tough fight.

Redbone Hurricane Inshore RDB-761MS

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Length: 7’6”
Material: graphite
Power/action: medium/fast
Lure size: 3/8 to 3/4 oz.
Line weight: 8 to 17 lbs.
Handle: cork
Guides: 8 + 1 Fuji New Concept
Pieces: 1

Plenty of professional guides hand a Redbone to their customers, and more than a few use them themselves. That’s an incredible testament to the quality you get for the money, and it’s simply amazing that these rods don’t cost an arm and a leg.

Blank quality is excellent, combining sensitivity and strength. This relatively long rod casts to the next county (or parish!), and its backbone really begins to strut its stuff about a third of the way toward the handle. You’ll find plenty there to help you muscle a brute from cover, turn a runner, and set your hook.

I doubt you’ll find a better rod for the price--indeed, for any price!

Pros:

• Fantastic sensitivity
• Excellent casting
• Excellent handle
• Awesome guides
• A great all-arounder for larger fish
• Priced right!

Cons:

• ???

Fishing Rod and reel combo for saltwater

If you want to get on the water quickly, one option is to buy a solid rod and reel combo. Ideally, this pairs an excellent rod with an outstanding reel, and in the best of cases, takes the work out of selecting a rod and reel separately.

Penn Battle II Spinning Fishing Rod and Reel Combo

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Length: 7’
Power/Action: medium/extra fast
Material: N/A
Handle: continuous cork
Guides: 7 + 1 aluminum oxide inserts
Lure size: N/A
Line weight: 10 to 17 lbs.
Pieces: 1

Penn’s Battle II reels are a solid spinning option for saltwater species like striper and redfish, and in this case, a 4000-size reel comes with an excellent Penn rod to match.

This rod offers a medium power blank with the backbone to fight large fish and control them in a fight. And with an extra fast action, you’ll feel every ripple on the bottom, sense every wiggle of your lure, and detect even the lightest strikes.

A long cork handle gives you plenty of space for your hands, providing the grip you need when the fight is on.

Pros:

• Strong blank with plenty of power to muscle stripers, reds, and small sharks
• Excellent sensitivity
• Great guides
• Awesome handle

Cons:

• Can come damaged in packaging

Affordable fishing rod for fresh or saltwater

Not every angler can afford to spend hundreds on a rod, and with many excellent choices threatening to break the bank, it’s easy to feel left out. But if you know what you’re looking for, you can get a really good rod for less money than you’d expect.

Shakespeare’s Ugly Stik Elite USESP702M

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Length: 7’
Material: fiberglass/graphite composite
Power/action: medium/moderate
Lure size: 1/4 to 5/8 oz.
Line weight: 6 to 14 lbs.
Handle: cork
Guides: 7 + 1 Ugly Tuff stainless steel
Pieces: 2

Ugly Stiks are legendary for their bomb-proof toughness, and if you’ve ever snapped a rod tip doing something stupid, you immediately see the appeal of a durable Stik!

As its name suggests, the Elite series is a step up from the Ugly Stik’s other offerings, providing quite a bit more graphite in the predominantly fiberglass blank. That reduces weight considerably and adds a bit of stiffness to the otherwise pliant fiberglass. As far as action is concerned, I’d probably place this rod at medium.

At seven feet, you’ll find plenty of rod for long casts and plenty of backbone for big fish. In fact, I’d feel pretty confident with this rod on everything from bull reds to pike without worrying about the rod. That’s saying something, especially for the price.

Pros:

• Fantastic sensitivity
• Excellent casting
• Excellent handle
• A great all-arounder for larger fish
• Priced right!

Cons:

• Not as refined as more expensive options

Speciality Fishing Rods

Telescopic rod

Telescopic rods offer maximum portability. They’re an awesome choice if you want to keep your fishing gear in the trunk of your car, pack a rod on a hike to a stream, or bring your rod on your next flight. While probably not the equal of a conventional rod, they’re much easier to store and transport.

Daiwa B.B.B. 6106TMLFS

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Length: 6’10” extended; 16.5” collapsed
Material: carbon fiber
Power/action: medium-light/moderate-fast
Lure size: 1/16 oz. to 1/2 oz.
Line weight: 4 to 10#
Handle: split cork/spinning
Guide material: stainless with SiC inserts
Segments: 8

Daiwa is a respected name in fishing, and from rods to reels, they supply anglers with products made from high-end materials. Located in Japan, their offerings vary by region, and unfortunately, they don’t really sell telescoping rods in the US.

The good news is that Amazon carries a few of their Japanese range, including the excellent B.B.B. or “Triple B.” This telescoping rod is the real deal, and it’s favored by anglers the world over when they’re looking for a travel rod.

Measuring 6’10” when extended, its eight segments are constructed from premium carbon fiber blanks. Sensitive, strong, and durable, this is the travel rod that stands-up best to a conventional challenger. While perhaps not as sensitive as a one or two-piece rod like a St. Croix, I would gladly fish the Triple B.

Pros:

• Great blanks
• Pretty sensitive
• Pretty strong
• Excellent handle
• Very nice guides
• Durable

Cons:

• Expensive

Portable/travel/backpacking rod

Travel makes a standard rod a real pain, and there’s little that can be done about one or two-piece rods if you’re taking a flight. Instead, it’s wise to invest in a travel rod that breaks down into four pieces, allowing you to pack it away in anything from a backpack to a carry-on.

Fiblink Travel Spinning Rod

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Length: 6’ 6”
Material: carbon fiber
Power/action: medium/fast
Lure size: ¼ to ⅝ oz.
Line weight: 8 to 14 lbs.
Handle: split cork
Guides: 7 + 1
Pieces: 4

Fiblink’s travel rod breaks down into four pieces and is easily re-assembled to its full 6-foot, 6-inch length. Made from high-quality carbon fiber, it’s very stiff and sensitive, enabling anglers on vacation or business to make the most of their time on the water.

A capable rod, its medium power blank is a great all-arounder, handling line weights that put most North American species in range.

Pros:

• Easy to pack!
• Great price!
• Sensitive, strong blank
• Excellent handle
• A good all-arounder

Cons:

• The final two segments can be fragile

Rod for kids

If there’s a little angler in your family, you’re probably counting the days until they catch their first fish. But if you’ve searched the shelves for a kids’ rod that’s more than a cheap toy, you’ve probably come away frustrated. But don’t worry: there are real fishing rods for kids--if you know where to look!

Shakespeare’s Ugly Stik Spinning Combo

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Length: 5’ (two pieces)
Weight: N/A
Material: fiberglass
Power/action: light/fast
Guides: 4
Line weight: 2 to 6 lbs.

Ugly Stick’s Spinning Combo is a great rod for kids if you’re looking for a longer, lighter action rod for panfish. That extra length will translate into longer casts, and if you’ve got a young angler who’s really into fishing but not quite big enough for adult tackle, this combo is an awesome choice.

Ugly Stik’s legendary toughness. A whack or two on a pier or rail will do nothing to this rod. Moreover, the light, fast blank will make catching every bluegill, perch, or sunfish feel like Moby Dick!

Casting is pretty good for such a short rod, and it’s a fantastic option for teaching fishing fundamentals.

Pros:

• Sized right for kids
• Inexpensive!
• This is a real rod that’s truly capable of catching fish
• Comes with a reel already spooled with line
• Strong, durable Ugly Stik blank
• Nice, adult-grade handle

Cons:

• Reel quality--as you’d expect at this price-point--is just acceptable

Ice fishing rod 

Ice fishing demands specialized tackle, including short rods designed for in-line reels. Since there’s very little space in most ice shelters, and no need for casting, these short rods are designed for vertical presentations, setting tiny jigs dancing with just a flick of the wrist.

St. Croix Mojo Series Ice Fishing Rod

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Length: 24” or 28”
Power/Action: ultralight/light/medium-light/medium/medium-heavy/heavy
Material: carbon fiber
Guides: 3 + 1
Lure size: N/A
Line weight: N/A
Handle: split cork/EVA foam
Pieces: 1

St. Croix produces first-rate rods for every angler, species, and situation, and their Mojo Ice Fishing Series is no exception. Crafted from ultra-stiff, ultra-strong carbon fiber, you won’t find a more sensitive rod–or one better suited for sluggish bites

Stiff, sensitive, strong: these words take on new meaning with the Mojo, and you’ll feel even the most hesitant strikes with this rod. It delivers comfort in spades, too, with a combination cork/EVA handle that allows for a wide range of grip styles.

Pros:

• Ultra-sensitive
• Strong
• Amazing handle
• Good guides

Cons: ???

Fly fishing rod

If you’re chasing brook trout in the eddys of a stream, throwing tantalizing flies behind rocks and into pools, you need a rod that can provide distance and accuracy. Fly fishing gear can be mysterious to the uninitiated, but we’ve got you covered!

Loop Opti Stream

Length: 9’
Weight: 5wt.

Loop’s Opti Stream is perhaps the best value, high-performance fly rod you’ll ever find. Those are strong words, but this is an exceptional 5wt. rod at a very reasonable price.

Casting at 25 and 45 feet is phenomenal. Accurate, tangle-free, and light-in-hand, it demonstrates why it’s a perennial favorite for serious fly anglers. Casting at longer distances is tough, as the Opti Stream just isn’t powerful enough when you need super-long range.

That said, for a short- to medium-distance 5wt., you simply can’t do better at any price.

Pros:

• Excellent short- and medium-range casting
• Amazingly well-balanced
• Light in hand
• Great price!

Cons:

• Long-range casting suffers

Tenkara rod

Developed on the trout streams of inland Japan, tenkara fishing is gaining popularity in the West, especially among high-altitude backpackers and hikers. In part, this is due to the clean aesthetic and simplicity of tenkara: rod, line, and fly--the three components of fishing stripped of any excess.

Team Oni USA Oni Type I

Length: 13’/ 24 ⅜”
Segments: 8
Material: carbon fiber
Weight: 3.1 oz.
Flex profile: 6:4
Handle: 11 ¾”EVA foam

More than one tenkara expert thinks the Oni Type I is the finest rod in the world. That’s saying something given its competition, and if you’re looking for the best, this is a very good place to start.

Designed by master Masami Sakakibara, the Oni Type I is intended for experienced tenkara anglers due to the light lines it’s intended to cast. Subtle, strong, delicate, and powerful: the Oni Type I is the epitome of no-nonsense excellence and somehow greater than the sum of its parts.

Pros:

• Excellent casting
• Extremely sensitive
• Very strong
• Amazingly well-balanced

Cons:

• Designed for experienced anglers and very light lines

Final Thoughts

We hope this article gets you on the water and onto the fish, and if it’s helped you or left you with questions, please let us know.

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