Trout and fly fishing go hand in hand. But what if you’re not a fly fisherman?
Does that mean you have to miss out on some of the best and most popular fishing this country has to offer?
Not at all.
With the advancements of fishing rods over the years comes more and more options for a spin fisherman to chase trout.
Whether you’re just getting into trout fishing or you’re looking to upgrade your gear, we’ve got you covered.
Below, you'll find reviews of some of the best trout rods on the market, as well as a buying guide to help you make your choice.
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Available at: Bass Pro
| No products found. | Tackle Direct
Blank Material: Carbon Fiber
Length: 6'6"
Action: Fast
Power: Light
While not the most budget-friendly rod on this list, the St. Croix Premier line of rods offers awesome quality for anglers who can afford them.
Made right here in the U.S, the St. Croix Premier has the perfect balance of power and sensitivity. Their rods are known to be extra sensitive, and typically feel faster than their description suggests.
When John fished with this rod, he found that it was very sensitive, easily allowing him to feel nibbles, soft strikes, and the occasional bump from rising trout.
The Fortified Resin System exclusive to St. Croix, combined with their SCII carbon, make this rod plenty strong for trout as well as light enough to fish all weekend without feeling it in your hands and arms.
Expect this rod to wear premium components from Fuji.
John found that the guides worked really well to cushion his 4-pound test in a fight, and he loved the length of this rod for small stream fishing.
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Available at: Bass Pro | No products found. | Ugly Stik
Blank Material: Composite
Length: 7'
Action: Moderate Fast
Power: Ultra-light
Ugly Stik rods are known around the world because they are tough and cheap. There's no denying how tough these rods are, and with a price point starting around $60, it’s hard to go wrong.
The Elite line of rods has taken the incredible strength that Ugly Stik rods are famous for and tweaked everything from the graphite/fiberglass blend construction to the guides and the handle. The result is a surprisingly light rod that hasn’t lost an ounce of its durability.
John found that the 7-foot Stik delivered the goods: it casts light lures way upstream, fought brook and brown trout into his landing net, and generally got it done.
The use of fiberglass in the blank does make this rod both heavier and less sensitive than most others on this list, but with 30% more graphite than other rods in the Ugly Stik line up, it’s the lightest option they offer, and it’s that same fiberglass that gives it the strength the name is famous for.
This rod is an entry-level trout rod, and if you’re just starting out and don’t want to spend a lot of cash, this is a strong choice. We recommend going with the 7 foot ultra light, as it’s best for making accurate casts with light line while still being light enough to not overpower smaller trout.
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GLoomis | Fish USA | Tackle Direct
Blank Material: Carbon Fiber Blend
Length: 7’
Action: Fast
Power: Light
If you’re looking to splurge on what’s considered by many to be the best trout spinning rod on the market, look no further.
G-Loomis ranks up there as one of the elite rod makers in the world, and for good reason. The quality of their rods is second to none, and while the price definitely reflects that, this is the best example of you getting what you pay for.
When I fished with this rod, I was really impressed with everything from the component quality to the blank and it's ability to load under light lures. It casts really well, and when you get a hot trout on your line, you'll know the G.Loomis means business.
This 7-foot, light-power, fast-action rod is probably as good as it gets for spinning tackle for trout.
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Available at: Tackle Direct | No products found.
Blank Material: Graphite
Length: 8'
Action: Moderate
Power: Ultra-light
Fenwick is another household name when it comes to fishing. If you’ve been fishing long enough, chances are you’ve probably fished with a Fenwick rod at some point.
Fenwick has an outstanding reputation for creating high-quality rods at a good price. Considered an entry-level rod, the Eagle is one of the best options for someone looking to get into trout fishing without having to empty their checking account, something that matters a lot when times are tough.
John fished the 8-foot ultra-light and liked the length for long casts, but got hung up on leaves and branches a bit when he didn't have a lot of space. But out in the open, he loved the way it loaded under everything from in-line spinners to tiny crankbaits.
With high-quality graphite and a minimalist design to reduce weight, it is surprising that they can offer what feels and fishes like a high end rod at an entry-level price. More sensitive and more powerful than any other rod in its class, the Eagle is also a rod that can be fished comfortably all day without any arm fatigue.
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Available at: Bass Pro | No products found. | Tackle Direct
Blank Material: Carbon Fiber
Length: 6'6"
Action: Fast
Power: Ultra-Light
If you like the St. Croix Premier that we discussed above, but don’t like the price, then the Triumph might be for you. Not only are the two rods very similar, but they are almost identical, and comparing the two side by side, it’s hard to distinguish the subtle differences.
St. Croix uses the same Fortified Resin System and SCII carbon as the Premier line, meaning the Triumph has the same sensitivity and strength. You’re getting the same blank with this rod as you would with the more expensive Premier, and when you take this rod to the water, you're going to be impressed with its casting distance and accuracy.
When you hook a big brownie, this ultra-light will bend, but what it won't do is surrender.
Expect really nice components and a high-quality cork handle that some anglers prefer to the Premier.
Pros
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There are a lot of options when it comes to choosing the right trout fishing rod.
What complicates things even more is that the right trout rod can be completely different from angler to angler, depending on the water they might be fishing or the type of trout they’re chasing.
Here are a few things I consider when shopping for a new trout rod.
It doesn’t matter what we’re fishing for; we all want a rod that is durable.
For trout, we're looking something that can stand up to the punishment we’re more than likely to give it. After all, there’s nothing more heartbreaking than hooking into that trophy fish and having the rod fail.
I’ve been there, and it’s not fun.
When it comes to trout fishing, a lot of us are doing it on a river bank, crashing through brush, downed trees, and whatever else might be in our way as we venture to the next hole.
No matter how careful we are with our rods when we’re doing this, they’re going to take some serious punishment, so it’s important to have tackle that’s going to withstand it.
The action and power of a fishing rod are the two things that tend to confuse anglers the most. Some confuse the two; others believe that the two are interchangeable. They are, in fact, two different things.
When we talk about the "action" of a fishing rod, we’re talking about how high up the rod bends when pload is applied to the tip. For example, a fast action rod will bend closer to the tip. Moderate action rods will bend further down the blank, and slow action even further down. Rod manufacturers offer several action options, but fast, moderate, and slow are the most common.
Despite the fact that many talk about action and sensitivity as two different things, the sensitivity of a rod is directly related to the action. The faster the action of a rod, the more sensitive it is going to be, and the better you’re going to be able to detect the often small bites of a trout. For this reason, we recommend going with a rod that has a fast to moderate action for trout. Not only will those actions help with noticing light bites better, but they will also help with a quick, solid hook set.
Now, let’s have a look at power, and how it differs from action. A rod's "power" is a measure of its strength, or how much force it takes to bend the rod.
A rod with ultra-light power is going to take a lot less force to bend than a rod with heavy power.
There will always be debate among trout anglers as to what power is best-suited for trout fishing.
What it ultimately comes down to is the fish you’re going after.
Fishing tiny creeks for smaller trout, you’re going to want an ultralight. If you’re fishing a river that still has those small trout, but also offers the potential to hook into something bigger, you’re going to want a rod that has light power.
Medium rods are best reserved for steelhead and lake-bound brown trout, both somewhat of a change in course from standard trout.
Length matters, too.
On tiny creeks, you'll want a short rod well-suited to tight quarters. The bigger the river you’re fishing, or the fish in it, the longer the rod you are going to want to use.
From the tiniest of brook trout to the biggest brown, trout are very in tune to their surroundings and often require the lightest of presentations so they don’t shy away, especially in clear water.
Think of your rod as a shock absorber.
The longer the rod is, the more it’s going to absorb the strength of the fish, taking much of the pressure off the lighter line.
On any given day I can fish a rod as short as 7 feet and as long as 15 feet, depending on what I'm after and where I’m after it. Of course, you don’t need to go out and buy multiple rods to chase trout, and a rod anywhere from 7 feet to 9 feet will cover just about any situation you find yourself in.
Trout rods in those lengths offer good castability, can easily handle light line, and are able to take care of bigger fish while still not overpowering the smaller ones.
I’m not talking about weight as we would typically think of it when associated with fly rods. That’s more comparable to the power of a spinning rod.
Instead, I’m talking about the actual physical weight of the rod.
When trout fishing, not only are you usually walking a river bank, but you’re also going to be making cast after cast after cast. This can get tiring, even with the lightest rod, but fatigue is is sure to ruin a good day on the water.
After all, there's only so much an arm can take before it starts to groan in protest!
The weight of a rod is directly related to the components the rod is made with, and, unfortunately, in turn, related to the price of the rod. Yes, there are some rods on this list that are affordable and lightweight, but for the most part, the higher quality components that offer that feather weight come at a price.
Everyone is value-conscious these days, and rightfully so.
The price of a rod is related to the quality of that rod, but that doesn’t mean you have to drop hundreds on a trout rod.
There are plenty of budget-friendly, entry-level rods that will catch fish just as well as higher end rods.
You don’t have to be a fly angler to enjoy the incredible trout fishing this country has to offer. With the quality of spinning rod options available today, getting into trout fishing is easier than ever before.
Whether you’re new to trout or looking to upgrade your gear, we hope this rundown of our picks for the best trout rods has helped.
Leave us a comment and let us know if it did!
Dan, your article has good information even for an experienced fisherman. Everyone has an opinion and you included the variable factors and effects that need to be considered when purchasing a new trout rod. Thank you.
Roger