Finding the right rod for spinnerbait fishing can be a bit tricky, as you need to look for certain actions, power, and materials. Don't worry, we're here to help. Below, you’ll find a complete buying guide, as well as reviews of the top spinnerbait rods.
Quick glance at the best spinnerbait rods on the market:
- G. Loomis E6X Spinnerbait Rod - Our Pick!
- UglyStik Elite Casting Fishing Rod
- Wright and McGill Skeet Reese Spinnerbait Rod
- Lew's Speed Stick TP-1 Spinning Rod
- Dobyns Fury Series Casting Rod
Table of Contents (clickable)
Related:
Best Spinnerbait Rod Reviewed
G. Loomis E6X Spinnerbait Rod - Our Pick!
![Gloomis Fishing E6X 812C Sbr Bass [12681-01]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/11K+esBONyL.jpg)
Length: 6’9”
Action: Extra Fast
Power: Medium
Line Weight: 10 - 17 lbs
Lure Weight: 3/8 - 1/2 oz
The E6X is specifically designed by G. Loomis for spinnerbait fishing, and it shows. This rod is like the “Cadillac” of spinnerbait rods. It has all the bells and whistles you could ever ask for in a rod, and it’s ready to go on your next spinnerbait fishing trip.
With a length of six feet and nine inches, the E6X is a great size to handle catching large fish and still be portable. Featuring medium power and an amazing extra fast action, the rod is easy to control when casting and strong enough to fight even the strongest bass.
Rated for lines between ten and 17 pounds, you’ll be able to catch nice size fish with the G. Loomis rod. With a recommended lure weight between 3/8 and 1/2 ounce, you’ll be able to tie on your favorite spinnerbait and get to work!
The build quality of the G. Loomis E6X is fantastic. The carbon fiber is nice and strong, and its Multi-Taper Technology blanks are crafted to help this rod get the precise action and flex to put it head and shoulders above the others. Combine all that with the Fuji guides and reel seat, and you have one sturdy rod ready for action.
This rod surpasses all of our expectations. If you’re in the market for a spinnerbait rod, we strongly suggest you take a look at the G. Loomis E6X.
Pros:
- “Sweet spot” length of 6’ 9”
- Extra fast action
- Medium Power
- Can handle lines and lures of multiple sizes
Cons:
- Super soft feel may not be for everyone
UglyStik Elite Casting Fishing Rod
Length: 6’6”
Action: Extra Fast
Power: Medium
Line Weight: 8 - 17 lbs
Lure Weight: 1/4 - 5/8 oz
Every angler has either owned an UglyStik or knows someone else who has owned one. They’re known for their durable tips and for just flat-out doing what they’re supposed to. If you’ve ever fished with an UglyStike, their Elite rod is the top-of-the-line casting rod, so you can expect the same build quality with great performance.
This model of UglyStik is six-and-a-half-feet long, which is a nice size for spinnerbait fishing. The medium power is spot on, and the extra fast tip allows for smooth casting and retrieval. The tip is actually a bit more responsive and better feeling than your normal UglyStik, which is a great thing for spinnerbait fishing.
With a massive line weight range from eight to 17 pounds, you can use a variety of lines with this rod. Being able to handle lures from 1/4 to 5/8 ounces, you can throw a wide range of spinnerbaits with the UglyStik.
Where the UglyStik Elite fails a little bit is in the build quality. While UglyStik as a brand is known to be very rugged, the quality control on these rods seems to be hit and miss. The rod also features a cork grip, which is less durable and often not as nice to hold as an EVA handle. The guides are all metal which is nice and sturdy, and the reel seat is graphite, which is lightweight.
Overall the UglyStik Elite is a good rod. It will work well for fishing with a spinnerbait, and is capable of landing some large fish. If you can overlook the defects, coming in as the cheapest of the rods on this list, the Elite holds up pretty well!
Pros:
- Medium power perfect for spinnerbaits
- Extra fast action has a nice feel
- Large line and lure weight range
Cons:
- Less than stellar quality control
- Cork handle is extremely durable
Wright and McGill Skeet Reese Spinnerbait Rod
Length: 7’
Action: Fast
Power: Medium
Line Weight: 10 - 20 lbs
Lure Weight: 1/4 - 3/4 oz
This spinnerbait rod from Wright and McGill has Skeet Reese’s name on it, and it certainly lives up to that promotion. Reese is a former Angler of the Year and Bassmaster Classic winner, so the name recognition alone is certainly enough to make people take notice.
Coming in at seven feet long with a fast action and medium power, the rod checks off all the right boxes for spinnerbait fishing. Some people prefer an extra fast action, but the fast action on this rod feels really nice. It has a smooth cast, isn’t cumbersome in its length, and the action gives you a great feel so you can feel even the smallest of bites.
With a line weight range from ten to 20 pounds, you can use your favorite line with this rod without issue. Or, you could switch between a few different lines and see which one you think is best for the baitcaster and rod combination. The Skeet Reese Spinnerbait rod also is rated for lures from 1/4 to 3/4 ounces, so you can use a variety of different spinnerbaits.
The build quality is great here. Featuring proprietary S-Curve blank construction, the material is extremely strong, giving you a huge amount of lifting power for such a lightweight rod. The handles are made out of a molded rubber that’s slip-resistant and feels great in the hand.
This rod is a great one to use for spinnerbait fishing. Skeet Reese allowed his name to be put on it, and we can see why. If it’s good enough for a fantastic professional angler, it’s good enough for us as well!
Pros:
- 7-foot length
- Able to use a variety of lines and lures
- Superb build quality
Cons:
- Wish it had extra fast action
Lew's Speed Stick TP-1 Spinning Rod
Length: 6’6”
Action: Fast
Power: Medium
Line Weight: 8 - 14 lbs
Lure Weight: 1/8 - 1/2 oz
The Lew’s Speed Stick TP-1 is a nice rod crafted to fish with small spinnerbaits. If you aren’t looking to use a large spinnerbait, this lightweight beauty is sure to tickle your fancy.
A medium-sized length of six and a half feet pairs well with the fast action and medium power. At such an accessible length, the rod is a pleasure to cast as it’s lightweight, and the action gives the tip a sensitive feel. Again, an extra fast action would have been preferable, but the action on the TP-1 feels nice.
Capable of using lines from eight to 14 lbs in weight and lures from 1/8 to 1/2 an ounce, this rod has a nice wide range of capabilities. Don’t expect to use massive spinnerbaits with it, but for everything else, it’ll handle it with ease.
Lew’s rods are known for their superb build quality, and the Speed Stick TP-1 is no exception. It is a fantastic rod to use, to hold, and to look at. It uses IM8 to give you that sensitive feel, and the handle is made by Winn Grip, making the rod useable even in the worst conditions.
As long as you aren’t trying to use super heavy spinnerbaits, we can certainly recommend this rod. It looks, feels, and performs as well as any other rod on our list.
Pros:
- Medium power is perfect
- Great build quality
- Winn Grip handle material
Cons:
- Not rated for heavy spinnerbaits
Dobyns Fury Series Casting Rod
Length: 7’
Action: Fast
Power: Medium
Line Weight: 10 - 17 lbs
Lure Weight: 1/4 - 3/4 oz
Dobyns rods, though perhaps not as well known as other brands, are generally extremely well-reviewed by customers. They make high-quality rods, and this spinnerbait rod is a great example of that.
The seven-foot length is great for catching medium to larger size fish. The fast action and medium power are also ideal for using a spinnerbait. With this combination, you’ll be able to cast, retrieve, and land fish with ease using your favorite spinnerbait.
You can use lines from ten to 17-pound test on the Dobyns Fury, and lures that weigh in the range of 1/4 to 3/4 ounce. While there are other rods that can handle line weights higher than the maximum and lower than the minimum of the Fury, this is a nice middle ground for a spinnerbait rod.
The Dobyns Fury is made with high-quality graphite blanks, kevlar-wrapped guides, and Fuji reel seats. Those are some great specs for a spinnerbait rod, and it shows in the performance. It’s a joy to use and has the feel of a rod that will last for years to come.
Pros:
- 7-foot length
- Medium Power
- A wide range of lines and lures can be used
- High-quality build
Cons:
- Action is only fast
- Some issues with quality control
St. Croix Mojo Bass Casting Rod
Length: 7’
Action: Moderate Fast
Power: Medium Heavy
Line Weight: 12 - 20 lbs
Lure Weight: 3/8 - 3/4 oz
St. Croix is known for making high-quality, luxury fishing rods. Their Mojo Bass Casting Rod is a good option if you’re looking to do some heavy spinnerbait fishing.
The seven-foot length is great. It’s not overly long or cumbersome, but long enough to handle somewhat larger fish. The difference between this rod and the others on this list is the moderate fast action and medium heavy power. The Mojo Bass is a stiffer, stronger rod. However, it still has plenty of sensitivity, and the strong backbone will help you land some large fish.
With line weights ranging from 12 to 20 pounds, and lure weight from 3/8 to 3/4 ounce, you can use a nice range of lures and lines with the St. Croix rod. Using a heavier line and spinnerbait will give you a better experience with this specific rod, so we suggest if you buy it, you do so knowing what it’s best at.
The build quality of the Mojo Bass Casting Rod equals that of other St. Croix rods. That’s to say that it’s of the highest quality on the market. Made out of high-quality graphite and super strong carbon fiber, you can feel the strength and durability just holding the rod. You will not find a higher quality build on a rod than what St. Croix has done with the Mojo Bass Casting Rod.
Pros:
- 7-foot length
- Can use large spinnerbaits
- Superb build quality
Cons:
- Not great for smaller lures
- Not the best feel with the Moderate Fast action
Our Pick - G. Loomis E6X Spinnerbait Rod!
The G. Loomis E6X is not only the best performing rod on this list, but the build quality and durability are unrivaled. We have no problem suggesting it to anyone looking for a super performance spinnerbait rod.
The other rods all performed admirably, but none were as well-rounded as the E6X. This rod is capable under a multitude of situations, and we believe it’s the most versatile in the group while retaining the feel and backbone needed to land fish.
Criteria for Choosing a Spinnerbait Rod
A good spinnerbait rod will always have certain traits that make it exceptional for using the lure. You want to check out things like the action, power, and line weight capability of the rod to ensure it is able to not only cast and retrieve a spinnerbait, but also land the type of fish you’re trying to catch.
The other thing we want to pay careful attention to is the materials the rod is made out of and their durability. There are a lot of very flimsy rods on the market, and we want to steer clear of them. Getting a rod that’ll last years will allow you to not only save money, but also get to know how the rod handles, too.
Length
While there’s no strict rule for how long a rod should be for using a spinnerbait, most will fall in the vicinity of six-and-a-half feet to around seven feet. That length ensures the rod will have the right attributes for spinnerbait fishing and be easy to manage no matter how tall the angler. Don’t let the length be the main factor in buying a spinnerbait rod, but keep the parameters in mind when narrowing down your choices.
Action
The action of the rod is something you should always consider before you make your purchase. When it comes to spinnerbait fishing, you’ll need to look for a rod with a fast or extra fast action. A fast action is the perfect all-around choice for spinnerbaits, while you’ll want to go extra fast if you plan on burning (fast reeling the spinnerbait just under the surface of the water).
Power
Choosing the right power for a spinnerbait rod could be the difference between catching a fish and it getting away. You want a rod that’s powerful enough to set the hook properly, but not so powerful that you pull the hook out of the fish’s mouth. When using a spinnerbait, you’re looking for a rod with a medium to medium-heavy power. The heavier the spinnerbait you use, the more power you’ll need--meaning that for most things, you can use a medium rod. However, if you plan on using a very large spinnerbait, you should opt for the more powerful medium-heavy.
Line Weight
The line weight you choose will be dependent on the size of the spinnerbait you decide to use, as well as the type of fish you’re looking to catch. Most spinnerbait rods will range from a minimum recommended line weight of six pounds all the way to 20 pounds and above. Knowing the general size of the fish you’ll be catching and lining that up with the line weight accepted of a spinnerbait rod will ensure the best fishing experience for your personal use case.
Lure Weight
Spinnerbaits come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Each has their own unique use case, and you will need to know the range of sizes you want to use. This will help you to make a good rod purchase, as rods have a specific lure weight rating that is recommended for optimal performance. Stay in that range, and you’ll be good to go!
Durability
The last key aspect we look at when deciding on a spinnerbait rod is the overall quality and materials used in the build. If they are lackluster, or cheaply made, we bypass them and opt for a higher quality graphite and/or carbon. This will ensure the rod is strong enough to handle the wear and tear of fishing, as well as the rigors of moving and storing it, as well.
