7 Best Bass Fishing Rods in 2021

If you’re a beginner at fishing, choosing a good bass rod may be overwhelming, but there is no need to worry. Understanding the importance and use of a bass fishing rod is quite simple. The rod is constructed out of various parts that include the butt, reel seat, the blank, and the tip. Some of the rods come in one full piece, while others are split up into different parts to make it easier to move around.

The butt of the rod is found at the bottom, and it provides you with the leverage you need to tackle large fishes. If you have a seven-pound bass on your hook, you will need something to grip so that the rod doesn’t slip out of your grip; that is why the butt is important.

The next part is the reel seat. The seat usually comes in two corkscrew-like sections that can be cranked back and forth to ensure the reel is secured in place. The reel seat allows you to remove the reel from the rod without scraping the rod.

The majority of the rod is known as the blank, and it includes everything from the reel seat to the tip. They are usually made out of graphite, fiberglass, or a mixture of both. You’ll also find the guides or eyes on the blank. The guides are the round loops that your line runs through when you cast and retrieve. You’ll need a heavier line for heavier fishes.

The final part, which is the tip, is a guide that is usually welded or molded to the blank. Most rods come with removable tips so they can break and be replaced easily.

In order to choose a great bass fishing rod, you’ll need to decide on what bass fishing techniques you would be focusing on. Knowing the technique you favor will help you to pick the right rod. If you are new to fishing, you don’t have to panic; we will provide you with a guide for choosing the right bass fishing rod and our top picks for bass rods.

HOW TO SELECT THE BEST BASS FISHING ROD

Now that you know all the components of a bass fishing rod, you need to know some specifications and special features that a good bass fishing rod should have; that way, you’ll ensure you’re choosing the right rod.

Casting Rods Versus Spinning Rods

It is quite helpful to have different rods to achieve the most success in bass fishing. Most bass anglers tend to use spinning rods and casting rods; each rod comes with different features that make it useful for fishing under different conditions.

The major difference between the rods is the location of the reel. The reel on spinning rods hangs from the bottom of the rod, and the spool is aligned with the rod. On baitcasting rods, the reel is positioned on the top of the rod, and it is perpendicular to the rod. Each rod is meant to be paired with their matching reel; a casting rod uses a low profile casting reel that resembles a winch, while a spinning rod uses an open-faced, underslung spin reel that usually comes with a revolving bail to wind the line.

When it comes to function, the spinning rod is used majorly for sport fishing, especially when fishing for trout, bass, walleye, and pike. Spinning rods are also great for fishing with live bait because their reel has a slower return action.

Spinning rods are much shorter than casting rods, and this makes them great for close-in fishing, but casting rods are better tools when setting your lure a far distance from the shore or fishing boat.

A lot of spinning rods are lighter in weight than casting rods, which makes them well suited for casting lighter lures; however, casting rods are much heavier, so they offer you farther distance with large lures, which makes them a great option for you trophy fishing.

As long as you remember the facts stated above about spinning and casting rods, you’ll be able to factor it in when selecting a bass fishing rod.

Power and Action

When referring to the power of a fishing rod, it really means the stiffness of the rod. The power of a rod describes how easily the rod can bend, while the action describes the location on the rod where the bend happens.

• Power: When you’re selecting a rod and thinking about the power, you should take into consideration the weight of your lure. If you use a whippy rod to cast a heavy bait such as a 1 oz jig, the rod will bend too much and cause the rod to load up too much on the backcast, and it will take away your power and control. However, if you try to cast a light lure such as a topwater plug on a stiff rod, you’ll end up being frustrated as you would have to use your entire body to make a long moderate cast.

The rod’s power/weight can also affect the hook setting power. When you’re fishing with soft plastic, you will need a stiff rod in order to get a good hook set. But if it’s topwater baits you’re using, where the bass would hook itself, you would need a bendy rod.

Majority of manufacturers produce rods with powers/weights that are classified as ultra-light, light, medium-light, medium, medium-heavy, heavy, and extra heavy. The two major factors related to a rod’s power/weight are the lure weight and hook setting ability.

• Action: When it comes to selecting a rod according to its action, you need to consider the lure types and techniques you would be using. The common rod actions you should know are slow, moderate, and fast.

A fast action rod tends to bend at only the top third of the blank, while a moderate action bends at the top half, and the slow action rods tend to bend at the lower third of the blank.

Most anglers prefer to use fast action rods when using baits such as plastic worms and jigs; it offers them a lot of sensitivity which aids them in detecting strikes. However, a throwing crankbait needs a moderate or maybe a slow action rod. That is because it helps them to easily cast lighter plugs and get better results in hookups. If the rod flexes the moment a fish strikes, it will give the treble hooks a higher and better chance of digging in, but a stiff rod would rip the lure out of the fish’s mouth.

When you’re choosing a bass fishing rod, you can’t separate power and action. There are techniques such as fishing soft plastic baits that require a fairly stiff rod that has a significant bend close to the rod’s tip. For that case, you will need a moderate-heavy rod that has fast action. If you want to switch to topwater, you’ll need a medium-powered rod with moderate action. If you consider the weight of your lures and the techniques you like, you’ll be able to choose a rod that has the right power and action you need.

Durable Construction

The two primary rod blank materials are graphite and fiberglass. Fiberglass is flexible, but it is heavier than graphite, so it has its disadvantages.

With fiberglass, you may have to sacrifice sensitivity and durability. Fiberglass rods are mostly affordable, so many people consider it to be a bottom-shelf rods. However, if you’re a beginner, then fiberglass is a great start.

In the 1950s, rods made of 100 percent fiberglass were extremely popular, and it seems they might be returning. Glass rods offer as much durability as graphite, but they tend to have a slower action. Another drawback is their increased weight, but fiberglass has evolved, and a lot of manufacturers have made fiberglass rods that are lightweight.

The graphite option is the preference for most anglers. It is incredibly durable and more sensitive, so you would be able to notice every little bite. Graphite also comes with a modulus rating which is a rating of how stiff a rod is based on the strain of graphite used in the construction.

High-end manufacturers have developed a state-of-the-art production technique where they subject graphite to high heat in order to make it strong and stiff. Some rod manufacturers like to skip the advanced steps, but it ends up causing a brittle rod.

To create a graphite rod blank, the process usually involves taking parallel fibers of graphite and placing them into sheets with resin. The stiffness of the rod will be determined by how much fibers and resing material is used.

Majority of high-quality rods are mostly a combination of materials with layers of fiberglass and graphite that have been carefully adjusted to get the desired power and action.

Length

Choosing a bass fishing rod that has the right length is easier than choosing some other factors, but like every other factor, it also depends on your fishing style, the lures you prefer, your technique, and where you cast will all play a role in choosing the length of your bass fishing rod.

Longer rods allow you to perform longer casts; they also allow you to move more lines faster, which lets you make sweeping hooksets. A long rod also provides you with more leverage to quickly pull the fish from the cover.

On the other hand, shorter rods offer you better accuracy, and they are great for performing trick casts such as skipping lures under docks. Once you know what lures you would be using and where then selecting the right length for your rod would be easy.

Brand Reputation

When it comes to fishing gear, do not go for the cheaper option, you should opt for well-known brands that can be trusted. You could go for brands such as Penn, St. Croix, Ugly Stik, and Entsport because they are known for their reputation of producing high-quality fishing products.

Price

When selecting a bass fishing rod, you need to consider the price. Manufacturers tend to pack their low to medium-range rods with different features to make you buy it at a higher price. If you have the money, you can always go for an expensive rod, but if you are like most people and have a limited budget, you simply need a low or mid-priced rod that can catch fish and is durable. Keep in mind that your fishing technique is important, so you may need to buy more than one rod, so do not spend all your money on one rod.

Now that you know the factors you need to take into consideration when choosing a bass fishing rod, it should be easier for you to make your choice. However, if you still find it difficult to choose the right bass rod, you do not have to worry, as we have provided you with a list of the best bass fishing rod available on the market. Let’s take a look at the list.

Below is a list of the best bass fishing rod, along with their description, key features, specifications, pros, and cons. Having this information will allow you to make an informed choice.