Written By John VanDerLaan
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Are you looking for the best bass fishing rod?
You've come to the right place!
Our staff of experts will weigh in on their top picks for best spinning rod for bass, best casting rod for bass, best bass rod for the money and much more.
We will then share in-depth reviews of each of the rods, complete with what we like about them, as well as what we don't like about them and why we don't like it.
We are real bass fisherman and we share real reviews of the rods and equipment that we use on a daily basis. Don't be fooled by others on the internet that don't even fish.
By the time you finish reading this article, you will know exactly which bass fishing rod is right for you and your fishing style.
Best Spinning
st croix premier
Best Casting
abu garcia veritas
Best for the money
Ugly Stik GX2
List Of The 10 Best Bass Fishing Rods
Reviews Of The Best Fishing Rods For Bass
Below you will find in-depth reviews of our favorite rods for bass fishing that we use everyday.
Best Spinning Rod For Bass: St. Croix Premier Fishing Rod
We love St. Croix fishing rods and this spinning rod is perfect for bass fishing. The Premier series of rods are super lightweight, which we love when we are fishing all day.
These rods are constructed of premium SCII carbon with the Fortified Resin system (FRS), which gives the rod incredible strength and durability in a very lightweight package.
One of the first things that you notice when you pick this rod up is that it has a really clear, cool finish compared to other rods and that is thanks to the two coats of Flex-Coat slow cure finish.
We have put this rod to the test fishing largemouths and peacock bass in the canals of south Florida, then to Lake Okeechobee, and then we took it up north for the summer and used it for largemouth and smallies in Candlewood Lake in Connecticut, and giant smallmouth in Squam Lake in New Hampshire.
The rod performed flawlessly on all of the fishing trips and has the power to wrestle largemouth out of the weeds, and the finesse to work a jig deep for smallies.
Features:
- SCII Carbon Construction
- Kigan Master Hand 3D Guides
- Fuji® DPS Reel Seat
- Premium Cork Handle
- Kigan Hook Keeper
- 5 Year Warranty
- Made In The USA
What We Like
What We Don't Like
Here's a great video that shows you all of the features of this premier fishing rod and shows you where they are handcrafted in Park Falls, Wisconsin.
We love being able to support an American company that makes its products right here in the USA.
The St. Croix Premier Fishing rods are my go-to rods for bass and most other species of fish that I catch.
They have the power necessary to handle even the biggest bass, yet they are lightweight and durable.
If you are looking for a bass rod that will last you for years to come, while handling most bass fishing techniques that you will use, the St. Croix Premier is the right bass rod for you.
Best Casting Rod For Bass: Abu Garcia Veritas Tournament Casting Rod
The Abu Garcia Veritas Tournament Casting Rod is the holy grail of bass fishing rods.
It is incredibly lightweight and sensitive thanks to being constructed with Powerlux® 3 blanks, then the blank is covered with Powerlux® resin and baked, which allows the resin to fill all of the gaps around the 40 ton carbon fibers.
The process creates an extremely strong and durable rod with an amazing finish, that doesn't dull over time.
The Fuji® soft touch reel seat is custom designed to deliver incredible sensitivity by exposing the rod blank for direct contact with your hands.
Add in titanium alloy guides with Zirconium inserts and split grips, with both cork and EVA foam, and you have the best bass casting rod that money can buy.
This is our go-to bass casting rod when we are fishing lakes from a bass boat, but they are also perfect for shore fishing and they have the power and sensitivity to catch bass with any number of bass fishing techniques.
Features:
- Powerlux® 200 rod blank
- Powerlux® resin coating on the carbon fiber blank
- Custom Fuji® soft touch reel seat
- Cork and high density EVA split grip
- Titanium alloy guides with ultra-light zirconium inserts
- 3 Year Warranty
What We Like
What We Don't Like
Here's a great video that shows you all of the features of our favorite bass casting rod.
If you are looking for the best bass baitcasting rod that money can buy, then look no further than the Abu Garcia Veritas Tournament Casting Rod.
I personally own several of them and when paired with a good quality baitcaster, you won't find a better option on the market today.
Editor's Choice: Lew's Custom Lite Series Casting Rod
No roundup of the best rods for bass would be complete without including a Lew's Custom Light Baitcasting Rod.
These rods are made with Lew's proprietary construction process using rod blanks constructed from 85 million modulus graphite which is super lightweight and sensitive without sacrificing strength.
We love the Lew's SoftTouch skeletal real seats which expose the blank for incredible sensitivity and Lew's even went as far as to eliminate any edges on the real seat that could irritate your fingers or hands.
The split rod handle utilizes the same Winn Grips Dri-Tac material that is used in golf club grips for unmatched comfort and control, even when wet.
We have guys on our staff that lobe the Abu Garcia Veracity above, but as the editor of FishermansAuthority.com, I felt compelled to include my favorite casting rod, the Lew's Custom Light.
You will not be disappointed with this bass fishing rod.
Features:
- Premium multilayer HM85, 85 million modulus graphite rod blank
- Lew’s Custom SoftTouch graphite skeletal reel seat
- Winn® Dri-Tac material on a split grip handle
- Stainless steel line guides with titanium oxide inserts
- Lew's Patented "No Foul" hook keeper
- 2 Year Warranty
What We Like
What We Don't Like
Here's a great video that shows you the Lew's Custom Light HM86 rod up close and personal.
I love my Lew's Custom Light casting rods. My favorite part is the Winn Dri-tac material on the grip. There is no other grip like it and the comfort and sensitivity of this lightweight rod is a pleasure to use all day long.
If you are looking for an incredible versatile casting rod to add to your bass fishing arsenal, then look no further than the Lew's Custom Light.
Best Rod And Reel Combo: Abu Garcia Veritas Low Profile Baitcast Reel and Bass Fishing Rod Combo
We are frequently asked about the best baitcasting rod and reel combo for bass fishing, because sometimes it is just easier to buy a matching combination that works well together.
Our favorite bass fishing rod and reel that you can purchase as a combo package is the Abu Garcia Veritas Low Profile Baitcast Reel and Rod combo and here's why.
You will not find a more feature rich and versatile bass fishing combo at this price.
The graphite body reel features the Abu Garcia 10+1 ball bearing system, which makes for a long casting and smooth retrieving reel that can handle any bass you can hook.
The carbon matrix drag system is also one of the smoothest drags that we have ever experienced.
The rod features Abu Garcia's Powerlux® 100 Nano resin which gives the rod superior strength and sensitivity with a gorgeous finish.
The rod has 10 Titanium alloy guides with ultra-light Zirconium inserts, arranged using a ROCS (Robotically Optimized Casting System) which reduces friction for super long casts, even with light lures
Once you hold one of these in your hand and look down at the beautiful color scheme, you are going to want every bass rod you own to look like this.
Features:
- Powerlux® 100 Nano resin Rod
- Custom designed Abu Garcia reel seat
- Titanium alloy guides with ultra-light Zirconium inserts arranged using the ROCS™ (Robotically Optimized Casting System)
- Closed Cell EVA grips
- 10 stainless steel ball bearings + 1 roller bearing
- Carbon Matrix™ drag system
- Duragear™ brass gear
- Infini™ brake system for backlash free casting
What We Like
What We Don't Like
If you are looking for a baitcasting rod and reel combo for bass fishing that looks great and performs great, then we recommend the Abu Garcia Veritas Combo.
Pick one up today and put it to the test. You will not be disappointed.
Best For The Money: Shakespeare Ugly Stik GX2
Since its 1976 debut, the Ugly Stik series has won the hearts and business of fisherman everywhere. In 2013, the Ugly Stik underwent a major overhaul that led to the launch of a more versatile and durable Ugly Stik GX2.
Our favorite part of the Ugly Stik, besides the price tag, is its durability. You can abuse this rod and it just won't break.
The Ugly Stik is built with a graphite blank that is wrapped in fiberglass and then covered with a clear epoxy resin. It is almost indestructible.
Then they add one piece hardened stainless steel guides to the rod blank. No more guide inserts cracking and falling out!
These rods still feature the strong and sensitive, signature clear rod tip that Ugly Stik is known for.
I personally own Ugly Stik rods that are more than 30 years old and I still use them today. When you consider how inexpensive they are, it is easy to see why these are a top pick.
The value is incredible.
For nearly four decades, anglers have trusted this fishing rod to deliver the best performance.
Features:
- Ugly Tech™ construction with a combination of Graphite and fiberglass
- Ugly Tuff™ one-piece hardened stainless steel guides
- Ugly Stik® Clear Tip® design
- EVA foam grips
- 7 year warranty
What We Like
What We Don't Like
We get it, not everybody wants to spend hundreds of dollars on a fishing rod. If you are looking for a lower priced fishing rod that provides a tremendous amount of value and may outlive you, then the Ugly Stik GX2 is the bass fishing rod for you.
Best All Around Bass Fishing Rod: St. Croix Mojo Bass Casting Rod
When we were rating rods to come up with the best all around bass fishing rod, we were looking for a combination of quality and price, with the versatility to fish a lot of different baits using different techniques and our staff kept coming back to the St. Croix Mojo Bass Fishing Rod.
There is not much that you can't do with this rod. It is great for throwing crankbaits, spinnerbaits, flipping jigs, texas rigged worms and more.
A few years ago, St. Croix changed from the SCII series graphite to the SCIII graphite in the Mojo rods and that has made an incredible difference in the sensitivity, strength and casting ability of these rods.
There is not a better all around bass fishing rod on the market today.
Let's take a look at the impressive list of features.
Features:
- Premium, high-modulus SCIII carbon
- Integrated Poly Curve® (IPC®) tooling technology
- Kigan Master Hand 3D guides with aluminum-oxide rings and black frames
- Fuji® ECS reel seat with black hood
- Premium cork handle
- Kigan hook-keeper
- 5 year warranty
- Made in the USA
What We Like
What We Don't Like
If you are looking for a bass fishing rod that can cover every technique and presentation that you want to use, then the St. croix Mojo Bass Series fishing rods are for you.
Best Under $100: Abu Garcia Vendetta Casting Rod
Abu Garcia makes some of the best fishing rods in the industry, so I was surprised when my staff members came to me with this rod as a top pick for best bass rod under $100, but I was willing to listen to what they had to say.
When they finished with their presentation, I could see why they chose this rod. It has an amazing number of high end features all at a price under $100.
We have a couple of guys that absolutely love the handle on this rod and we have a couple of guys that don't like it all.
It is different in that it is a curved contour design with a trigger and a real seat that features maximum exposure to the rod blank.
I didn't mind the feel of the contoured handle, but I could see how you could get tired of it if you were using it all day.
It is EVA foam, which I don't mind, but I much prefer the Winn Dri-Tac grip on the Lew's Custom Light, but that costs more money.
Features:
- 30 Ton graphite rod blank with IntraCarbon™ technology
- Contour Curve Handle with high density EVA foam
- Stainless steel guides with Zirconium inserts
- Abu Garcia custom designed extreme exposure reel seat
- Micro click reel seat hood design
- 3 year warranty
What We Like
What We Don't Like
One hundred dollars doesn't go very far in today's economy, so when you find a full featured bass fishing rod for less than $100, it has to turn some heads, and it certainly turned my head.
Best Fishing Rod For Bass And Trout: St. Croix Triumph Spinning Rod
When we were trying out rods to see which one would be the perfect fishing rod that you could use to fish for both trout and bass, we were looking at all of the different rods that were 6' to 6'6" long and had medium power and fast action.
Those criteria were perfect for a rod that would serve an angler well for trout and bass.
We made our way through a lot of different fishing rods and when the staff would meet to discuss everyone's findings, the St. Croix Triumph spinning rod kept coming to the top of everyone's list.
It is hard to beat a St. Croix rod and here's why.
St Croix makes all of their fishing rods in a manufacturing facility in Park Falls, Wisconsin. It is the largest fishing rod manufacturing facility in the United States of America.
Supporting American families and American jobs is a great reason to buy any product, but when the product is the best in its class and offered at a reasonable price, the argument is over.
Let's take a look at some of the features of the St. Croix Triumph.
Features:
- Premium SCIII carbon rod with the Fortified Resin system (FRS)
- Premium contoured cork handle
- Sea Guide Atlas Performance slim aluminum-oxide guides with black frames
- Sea Guide XDPS reel seat
- Two coats of Flex-Coat slow cure finish
- 5 year warranty
What We Like
What We Don't Like
If you are looking for the best fishing rod for bass and trout, then the St. Croix Triumph is for you and given its price point, at just over $100, it delivers a huge amount of value when you kill two birds with one stone.
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Best For Beginners: Ugly Stik Elite Spinning Rod
When we had our staff meeting to discuss which rods were best for beginners, we started by defining exactly what a beginner needs in a bass fishing rod.
The first thing we came up with was a low priced entry point, but even though beginners need a low price to get started, they need a quality fishing rod that is going to provide them with a good fishing experience, so that they will develop a love of the sport and continue to fish.
When we looked at the issue from this perspective, the choice became abundantly clear. The Ugly Stik Elite is a low priced fishing rod that is enjoyed by beginners and experienced anglers alike.
The Elite series is a step up from the Ugly Stik GX2, and it is well worth the extra $10, and here's why.
You get all of the features of the regular Ugly Stik, except a little more graphite for a lighter design, and a premium cork handle, which is a huge upgrade over the EVA foam handle o the GX2.
Add in the legendary durability of the Ugly Stik and you have a beginner bass rod that anyone would be proud to own, and will last a lifetime, all for around $50.
Let's take a look at some of the features of the Ugly Stik Elite fishing rods.
Features:
- 35% more graphite than the GX2 for a lighter rod
- Ugly Tech™ Construction
- Premium cork handle
- Ugly Stik® Clear Tip® design
- Ugly Tuff™ one-piece hardened stainless steel guides
- Legendary Ugly Stik durability
- Exposed blank-style reel seats with cushioned stainless steel hoods
- 7 year warranty
What We Like
What We Don't Like
If you are just getting started in fishing and want a bass rod that is going to last forever, feels great in your hands and is relatively inexpensive, there is only one rod that fits all of that criteria. The Ugly Stik Elite is your fishing rod.
We had heard about KastKing fishing rods, but noone on our staff had ever used one, so we headed over to Amazon and picked up a few different models for our staff to try out and rate and review.
What we found surprised us.
I'm not going to stand her and tell you that these rods are as good as the St. Croix or the Abu Garcia, but we were surprised at the amount of value for the price.
We expected to find a fishing rod with lesser components, but this rod was loaded with high quality components at a budget price, and they have a 30 day, no questions asked return policy.
Let's take a look.
Features:
- Toray 24-ton carbon matrix KastFlex blank
- Fuji O-Ring line guides
- Graphite high-strength reel seat
- High density EVA foam grip
- KastKing PTS (Power Transition System) hybrid spigot joints
- Saf-T Keeper hook keeper
- Total Peace of Mind Warranty
What We Like
What We Don't Like
If you are looking for a budget bass fishing rod that will get the job done and has a limited lifetime warranty, you should pick up a KastKing Perigee II rod and put it to work at your favorite lake or pond.
Things To Consider When Buying A Bass Fishing Rod
There are a few things that you should consider when you are buying a new bass fishing rod. In this section of the guide we will take a look at each of the considerations, so that you can see if they pertain to you.
Baitcasting Rod Or Spinning Rod
The first thing that you should consider is do you want a baitcasting rod or a spinning rod. Let's take a look at each of these.
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Baitcasting Rods
Baitcasters are typically used by bass professionals and experienced bass fisherman. They are really good at specialized presentation, like pitching jigs and making long cast for crankbaiting, but there is a learning curve to using them.
When casting a baitcaster, you need to learn to feather the spool with your thumb to eliminate backlashes and bird's nests, although modern baitcasting reels like the Shimano SLX DC have gone a long way towards making baitcasters easy to use, even for beginners.
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Spinning Rods
Spinning rods are much easier to use and are the most commonly used fishing rods by beginners and experienced anglers alike.
They work very simply. You cast by holding the line with your index finger, flipping the bail, and casting the rod while you let go of the line with your finger.
Anyone, even little children can master this technique with a little practice.
Spinning rods can be used for any of the techniques that you would use a baitcaster for, just not as efficiently for some presentations.
They also are better than baitcasters at a lot of presentations, such as drop shotting, and throwing very light baits.
If you are new to bass fishing, or have never used a baitcasting rod, we would recommend that you stick with a spinning rod. At some point in your fishing journey, you will be ready to move to a baitcaster. You will know when it is time.
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Fishing Rod Length
We like to use bass fishing rods between 6 and 7.5 feet long, depending on what techniques and presentation we will be using the rod for.
Longer rods have more power and they cast farther.
For instance, if we were picking rubber worms or jigs into thick vegetation, we would want a long heavy rod to be able to haul a big bass out of that cover. If we used a six foot rod, we would not have much leverage to get the fish out.
We would not want to use a long heavy rod for all day fishing because we would get tired out in a hurry, so we would switch to a shorter lighter rod to throw spinnerbaits, or crankbaits.
Also, the shorter lighter rods are much more sensitive, so we would use those for dropshotting or hopping a small grub along the bottom.
If you are only going to have one bass fishing rod, choose one between 6 and 7 feet long with a medium power and fast action. That will suffice for most of the bass fishing presentations that you will utilize.
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Fishing Rod Material
Bass fishing rods are made from graphite, fiberglass, or a mixture of the two, also known as composite. Knowing the right material suitable for your fishing method and location will have a huge impact on the success of your fishing trip. Here is a closer look at these rod material options:
Fiberglass Rods
Fiberglass is one of the oldest materials that most brands have used for decades. Fiberglass rods are very strong and can take a beating. Fiberglass rods are easier to produce and usually are less expensive.
The downfall is that they are nowhere near as sensitive as graphite and are not used very often by today's bass fishing crowd.
There was a time, just a few years ago, when fiberglass rods surged in popularity for slow cranking crankbaits.
This method involves long, slow pulls of the crankbait with the rod, followed by a pause to reel up the line and then another long slow pull.
The issue was that the graphite rods were so quick and responsive that you would miss a lot of fish by pulling the crankbait right out of their mouth.
The slower, soft action of the fiberglass rods seemed to catch many more fish.
Manufacturers realized this and now manufacture graphite and composite rods with this slow or moderate action which works just as well as the old fiberglass rods.
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Graphite Rods
Graphite is much lighter in weight as compared to fiberglass. Graphite rods are much more sensitive than fiberglass rods because graphite conducts vibration much better than other materials and provides excellent feedback from lures and bites.
That being said, there are many different grades of graphite and rod companies are constantly improving their graphite rod blanks.
Most graphite rod blanks now utilize high modulus graphite and have their own names for the material, such SCII graphite, IM6, IM7, and IM8. Some even call thgem by tonnage, such as 30 ton, or 40 ton carbon graphite.
The most expensive rods utilize the best graphite and are considerably more expensive than fiberglass rods.
The one downside to graphite rods is that they break much easier than fiberglass and if you are tough on your fishing rods, you may want to consider our next category of material, composite rods.
Composite Rods
Composite rods, as the name implies, utilize both graphite and fiberglass in their construction. The most famous example of this construction was when Shakespeare came out with the Ugly Stik in 1976.
Composite rods are incredibly durable and can stand up to some abuse. They are also more sensitive than fiberglass alone, but not nearly as sensitive as high quality graphite.
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Fishing Rod Power
Rod power refers to a fishing rod’s capability to withstand or endure the pressure put on it by the fish you are fighting.
It is expressed in terms of, ultra light, light, medium light, medium, medium heavy and heavy.
It is often confused with fishing rod action which we will explain in the next section.
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Fishing Rod Action
Fishing rod action refers to how and where the rod bends when pressure is applied.
It is expressed in these terms:
- Slow
- Moderate
- Fast
- Extra Fast
Fishing rod power and action are printed right on the rod, so you can tell by the feel which is better for you.
The faster the action, the more sensitive the rod will be.
Here's a great video that explains the difference between action and power and how to choose the right rod for the type of fishing that you do.
Best Bass Fishing Rod Brands
There are many different brands that make and sell rods out there, but the best fishing rod brands are those that offer the features you want at an affordable price. There are even brands that do that while making the rods right here in the good old USA. Those are the brands that we like to support.
St. Croix
St. Croix is our favorite fishing rod brand and here's why:
100% odf St. Croix fishing rods are made in the largest fishing rod manufacturing facility in the United States, located in Park Falls, Wisconsin.
They make some of the highest quality rods available today, and they offer them at a reasonable price, and with one of the best warranties in the business.
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Abu Garcia
Abu Garcia makes some great fishing rods at fair prices.
Abu Garcia was founded in Sweden in 1921 as a watch factory and then produced their first fishing reel in 1941, but it wasn't until 1952, when they introduced the world famous Ambassadeur® reel, that they really started making a name for themselves in the fishing equipment business.
The downside to Abu Garcia rods is that they are currently made in China and Korea.
Lew's
Lew's fishing rod business was started by Lew Childre, when he saw an opportunity to make a better bamboo fishing rod than those that were available at the time.
Lew was a likeable guy and went on to form many friendships, including a relationship with a company named Fuji. That relationship would lead to a partnership building better fishing rods than those that were available.
Lew's continues the tradition of building the best fishing rods to this day.
Our only disappointment with the Lew's brand is that their rods and reels are made in China and Korea.
Ugly Stik
Ugly Stik rods were the brainchild of the Shakespeare company and have taken the fishing world by storm.
They are one of the most used fishing rods in the world, and with good reason.
They are low priced, virtually unbreakable and there is an Ugly Stik for almost every application in fishing.
We use Ugly Stik rods for everything from sailfish to sheepshead and everything in between. You can't go wrong with an Ugly Stik.
Again, the only downside is that Ugly Stiks are made in China.
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FAQs
How much does a good Bass fishing rod cost?
A good bass fishing rod costs between $50 and $250 dollars. The lower priced rods will be made of fiberglass or composite materials and will be durable, but less sensitive. The higher priced rods will be made with premium high modulus graphite and will be extremely sensitive and have superior casting ability, but they will not be as durable.
What kind of rod is best for bass fishing?
A spinning rod is best for bass fishing for beginners, or if you use presentations and techniques that are more suited to a spinning rod.
A baitcasting rod is best for bass fishing if you are more experienced in the use of baitcasters and if you need a rod for specialty presentations like flipping and pitching.
Whatever you do, don't be that guy that puts a baitcaster on a spinning rod!
What is the best length rod for bass fishing?
The best length rod for bass fishing is between 6 and 7 feet long. The exact length will depend on the technique and presentation that you are using.
We like to go with longer rods for more casting distance, power and leverage on big bass, but the shorter length rod is ideal for precise presentations and detecting subtle strikes.
Final Thoughts
While a majority of anglers tend to pay more attention to the lures and boats they can use to improve their fishing experiences, it’s the fishing rod that does the real work. Modern-day fishing rods have evolved into technique specific models that are made from durable materials; they can take a beating, last a lifetime, and handle a wider range of fish species.
Our top pick of the best fishing rod you should consider is the St Croix Premier Fishing Rod. This spinning rod is known for its versatility, power, and durability, plus it is made in the USA.
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