It goes without saying that the large mouth bass species is sought after more than any other fish in the United States.
Many who fish regularly end up spending very large sums of money on the very best equipment they can find. This includes rods, various gadgets, boats and, of course, lures. With all that said, how can you be sure you’ve found the best bass fishing rod?
Here, we’ve highlighted four of the top bass fishing rods you can find. We’ve also included a detailed buying guide, so you know just what to look for in your next purchase.
Bass Fishing Rod Reviews
1. Entsport E Series Casting Rod
The Entsport E Series Casting Rod is known for its heightened sensitivity and lightweight design. In addition to that, it also offers a new and improved focus on strength.
Product Highlights
This rod is made from carbon, and its length is a pretty ideal length at seven feet. This is a two-piece rod and offers two interchangeable tips. You get both medium-heavy weight and medium weight. The lure weight is 1/8 to 1-1/8 ounces, and the line weight is anywhere from 10 to 26 pounds.
There is an enhanced real seat, so you’ll enjoy increased line-to-blank sensitivity and contact when setting the hook as well as when you’re reeling. The guides are resistant to corrosion for increased durability. These guides also help reduce any friction, which can really improve your casting overall.
The handles have a camouflage design and are made from high-density EVA. It is comfortable to hold but also gives you a good handle on control.
The Good
We really like the carbon design of this rod. It makes it incredibly lightweight but also pretty durable. We also like that it is a two-piece design, which makes for easier transport.
We are also impressed with the great sensitivity offered in this rod, as well as the comfortable handles. These handles make it comfortable to fish all day long. The reel seat is also durable and well-positioned.
The Bad
The durability of the tips on this rod is quite lacking. It seems that they break pretty easily, even when they aren’t under a whole lot of pressure.
While we like the two-piece design, we also have a problem with the way the pieces fit together. In fact, they don’t always sit together well. It can be both challenging and cumbersome to get them to join.
Pros:
- Superb sensitivity
- Durable reel seat
- Great, comfortable handles
Cons:
- Weak tips that break easily
- Two pieces have trouble joining
- Lacks overall durability
2. Cadence Spinning Rod CR5-30
The Cadence Spinning Rod CR5-30 is a good representation of what you normally get with Cadence products. You can expect high-performing products that feature a great value.
Product Highlights
This spinning fishing rod is quite versatile. It comes in several different lengths, ranging from four feet, eight inches up to seven feet long. The actions available are grouped by fast, moderate, and moderate fast. The powers are medium-heavy, medium, medium-light, and ultralight. The frame is made from stainless steel.
The handles on this rod are very high quality, and they come with some options, as well. You can choose the full grip or the split grip, which both provide you with the best comfort. There’s also cork for the handles.
Finally, the rod has SIC guides as well as an adjustable Fuji reel seat. All of this adds up to helping you improve your performance and comfort.
The Good
We like the construction of this rod. The banks are made from 30-ton carbon and really are second to none. We also like the overall versatility of this fishing rod. It available in different action, power, and lengths.
This, of course, is a great option for bass fishing and could be considered the best bass fishing rod. However, it is also great for catching trout and even some inshore species, as well.
The Bad
There isn’t a whole lot to dislike about this fishing rod, but it isn’t at all perfect. The diameter of the handles is a bit narrow, which makes it a bit cumbersome to use for a long period. In addition, the rod itself is just a bit more complicated than others, which means it isn’t the ideal choice for most beginners.
Pros:
- Very durable frame
- Adjustable reel seat
- Great flexibility and various length available
Cons:
- Narrow handles
- A bit more complicated to use
3. KastKing Perigee II Fishing Rod
The KastKing Perigee II Fishing Rod is not only good for fishing bass but is also a great pole for catching trout, salmon, walleye, and catfish. You can use it in both freshwater and saltwater.
Product Highlights
The versatility of this fishing rod doesn’t end with its ability to catch various fish or be used in both saltwater and freshwater. It also comes in many different dimensions and configurations. You can also vary the power output depending on your task at hand and your overall preferences. You need only to apply the force needed for your current task.
This rod comes with Fuji O-Ring line guides, which provide a greater level of accuracy, making this rod one of the best bass fishing rods currently available. There are also ergonomic reel seats that are made from graphite for reinforced strength. They connect quickly, so you really shouldn’t feel any of the straining that is customary with other rods.
The handle is quite comfortable, even when you’re on longer fishing trips. It’s made from high-density EVA, so you’ll get some decent tracking, and you shouldn’t slip much given its resistance to moisture. You’ll also enjoy the two varieties in the tip, which are medium-heavy and medium-light.
Finally, this rod is quite extraordinary, given its computer controlled design. They are high-technology and really not found anywhere else. The rod blank wrapping is made at four angles pretty seamlessly. Zero degrees, 45 degrees, 90 degrees, and 135 degrees.
The Good
We really like that this rod has so much versatility. It can be used nearly anywhere and to catch a variety of different fish. The technology is also quite unique, which makes using this rod fun.
The Bad
This rod can be a bit challenging for beginners to use. It has a variety of things to master, so you’ll need a bit of expertise to get used to using it. While it is capable of catching a variety of fish, this isn’t the rod for catching really large fish though.
Pros:
- Can be used in both freshwater and saltwater
- Can catch several species
- Easy to handle for long periods
Cons:
- Can’t handle heavy fish
- Not easy for beginners to master
4. SHIMANO Solora Two-Piece Spinning Rod
The SHIMANO Solora Two-Piece Spinning Rod is a great choice if you are looking for overall durability.
Product Highlights
This rod is made from aero glass, which offers great durability. The rod itself has impressive flexibility, which means that you’ll feel even the small bites on your line. You can cast farther with this rod as well, so you’ll enjoy a larger coverage area.
The rod offers aluminum oxide guides, which are also reinforced. They allow for the detection of fish strikes, and there’s a good deal of sensitivity in them, as well.
The handle is a comfortable cork, which means that you should have no trouble handling this rod for long periods. You’ll enjoy both comfort and increased sense of control. The graphite reel seat is sold, and you can lock it fast. The power is medium, so you’ll get pretty fast action.
The Good
We like that it comes in two pieces. This makes for easy transporting without having too many pieces to move around and lock together. We also really like the cork handles, which are very comfortable and easy to handle for extended periods. The power is great as well since it allows for catching pretty large fish.
The Bad
This rod is pretty heavy, which might be a drawback to some users. Unfortunately, you also cannot buy replacement rod tips. If the tip breaks, you’ll have to make a custom repair.
Pros:
- Comfortable to handle
- Two pieces
- Good power
Cons:
- Fairly heavy
- No replacement tips available
Buyer’s Guide
Even the best fishermen don’t give enough attention to the actual traits and attributes of a fishing pole when they are choosing their next one. This can be a really big mistake that can lead to spending unnecessary money. If you don’t pay enough attention, you might end up with a broken line or even a broken pole.
This is particularly the case when it comes to the pole’s action and its power. You want to make sure you pay even more attention to these two characteristics, though the others we’ve highlighted here are important, as well.
1. Rod Action
The rod action sounds like a complicated concept, but it is really quite simple. The action is just a word used to refer how much the pole flexes when you apply pressure to it. Fishing poles come in actions that range from extra-fast to slow. However, for the purposes of fishing for bass, you really only need to be concerned with extra-fast and fast.
In general, the other actions are not usually understood to be the most appropriate for fishing for bass. Fast fishing rods will bend in around the 25% mark of the pole, and extra-fast rods will only bend at the very tip of the pole.
The short explanation is that the slower your rod’s action, the more it bends. This will have an impact on exactly how that rod will work for you. The rod’s action will impact the overall firmness of the hook set, how power is applied, and overall sensitivity.
When fishing for bass, the rod you use will very rarely need to bend the way a slower rod bends. This is largely due to the fact that you won’t be pulling bass up from deep below the boat. You’ll likely be pulling them in from further away.
When bass fishing, it is more critical to have the ability to apply force that is linear to the actual surface. This is especially true if you are fighting obstacles, such as weeds.
2. Rod Power
Your fishing pole’s power won’t affect how its action functions. In fact, power is another simple concept. It just refers to the amount of pressure that is needed to make the rod bend. The variations range from ultra-light up to extra-extra-heavy. For bass fishing, you can really use any power that isn’t ultra-Light.
You want to keep in mind that the power of your rod directly relates to its purpose. You won’t get the same power out of a heavy bass rod as a heavy saltwater one. You want to make sure you choose a rod that suits your intended use before you even consider power. If you aren’t sure of the intended use, you can use line weight as a reference.
There aren’t any real rules when it comes to choosing a rod power. This can make picking one quite challenging. The most trusted reference is that those rods that are lower power use a more invisible, lighter line. This is best for use with open, clear water. The rods that are heavier are best for getting bigger fish out of cover that’s thick.
The rod power that is right for you will really depend on how you choose to fish for bass and where you plan on doing that fishing. You want to make sure you stay within the line weights that are recommended for your fishing rod. Those line weight recommendations are based on the strength and power of the rod.
3. Spinning and Casting Rods
You do not want to place a baitcaster on a spinning rod. The opposite is also true. If you are trying to pick your rod and you aren’t sure what reel you’ll have, below is a bit of a primer.
Baitcasters are capable of casting baits that are heavier. They are also able to cast farther than a lot of other types of rods. They tend to use a line that is heavier, and they are higher on the power scale.
Spinning rods, on the other hand, tend to have lower power. However, they do have the same action. They tend to have higher accuracy, which is helpful if you are close quarter fishing. The line is lighter, and the lures used are also lighter.
4. Takedown Rods
Many experienced fishers will remark that a one-piece rod is simply better than those that break up into pieces. To some degree, that is true. Many one-piece fishing rods are a bit better than their multi-piece counterparts. However, they aren’t the ultimate in fishing rods.
What you should really care most about is how you plan on transporting your fishing rod. For example, you aren’t going to have much luck putting a seven-foot bass rod into a tiny car. You’ll need to get your rod safely to where you plan on fishing. If you need to use a take-down rod as an example, that is really perfectly fine.
5. Weight of the Line
One of the more common mistakes with line weight is that people tend to pick very heavy lines. You do not need a heavy line to be successful in your bass fishing. In fact, you will often get more bites by using a lighter line, which is also harder to see. When picking your line weight, you want to start by looking at your rod’s power and its recommended line weights.
Spinning rods use a line that is lighter, typically starting at four pounds and going up to about 10. Some, though not many, will even go up to 14 or 16 pounds, but it’s rare that you actually need that much strength in your line.
In general, using something that is around six or eight pounds in preferable, though it isn’t unheard of to catch a large bass using even just a four-pound line. You want to also take into consideration the area in which you’ll be fishing. If you’ll be around obstructions, you can up your line weight a bit.
Casting rods, on the other hand, use a line that is heavier. The lower end includes weights around eight or 10 pounds, but it could go up to as high as 20 or 30. You really should never need anything that is in the range of 20 pounds. That said, there are some baitcasting reels that just perform at a higher level if they are using a line that’s heavier.
6. Weight of the Lure
You can do a bit of research to see what the popular lures weigh. If you know what works for your area and what you like to fish, that will give you a good idea of the weight of the lures you should be using.
Bass Fishing Rod FAQs
1. What size rod is good for bass fishing?
A good size is around seven to eight feet long. In fact, many of the more popular tournaments for bass fishing do not allow a rod that is longer than eight feet. A safe size would be right around seven and a half feet long.
2. What type of rod is best for bass fishing?
You will want to consider your personal technique here. Any one of the rods we have reviewed here would be a great option. Perhaps the ideal choice is a baitcasting rod around seven feet in length.
3. How long should my bass rod be?
Staying between seven and eight feet is usually the ideal length when it comes to bass rods.
4. Are swimbaits good for bass?
Swimbaits have quickly become quite popular when trying to catch big bass in lakes. For many, swimbaits are ideal because of their reputation for being able to be used anytime and anywhere.
5. Can you fish for bass at night?
Bass do not tend to move at night. So, it is totally fine to fish where you know they are during the day. They wouldn’t have traveled very far for nighttime.
Final Verdict
Any of these options could easily be considered the best bass fishing rod. However, our top choice is the Cadence Spinning Rod CR5-30. After spending time with it in the water, we found that its durability is really second to none. Getting this would mean having the best fishing experience you could ever hope to get.