Updated 2/13/2024

Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass are a highly adaptable, predatory fish species that inhabit a huge range of living conditions ranging from open water structure to the swampiest, thickest, back bays. Fishing techniques vary as widely as their preferred habits, which means it is of the utmost importance to have the best bass fishing rods for the correct applications to increase odds of success.

We’ve done the hours of testing and research on the best bass fishing rods assessing versatility, value for the price, material quality, and much more so you don’t have to. Read on to see our top picks.

*Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.

Our Top Picks

• Best for the Money: St. Croix Victory Casting
• Best Under $100: KastKing Perigee II Casting
• Best for Beginners: Ugly Stik Elite Spinning
• Best for Flipping and Pitching: Fitzgerald Titan HD
• Best Spinning for Finesse Fishing: St. Croix Mojo Bass Spinning
• Best for Topwater Frogs: KastKing Royale Select Casting
• Best for Soft Plastics: St. Croix Premier Fishing Rod

The Best Bass Fishing Rods

While certain types of fishing poles may work for multiple popular bass fishing techniques, prudent bass anglers commonly diversify their equipment to specialized fit-for-purpose poles. Dedicated topwater frog poles have different considerations from flipping rods which have different considerations from finesse fishing options (and so on).

Read on to see our recommendations for the best bass fishing rods by category including best all-around, best for specific fishing techniques, best for beginners, and more.

1. St. Croix Victory Casting Rod

St. Croix Rods Victory Casting Rod, 7’1″(VTC71MHF), Carbon Clear

• Length: 6’8″ to 7’11”
• Rod Material: SCIII+ Carbon
• Guides: Fuji Concept O guides with deep press inserts
• Grip: Split premium cork grip
• Warranty: 15 Year Transferrable

Pros:

• Premium rod at manageable price
• Excellent Warranty

Our pick for the best bass rod for the money is the St. Croix Victory Casting Rod. We particularly like the 7’3″, medium-heavy power, fast action variant for targeting bass.

St. Croix has crafted one of the lightest, strongest, most sensitive bass rods available on the market.

The rod features four of St. Croix’s innovative technologies.

Integrated Poly Curve (IPC) eliminates all transitional points in the rod blanks for smoother actions, increased strength, and greater sensitivity.

Advanced Reinforcing Technology (ART) is an exotic carbon fiber material that adds a magnitude (10x) of strength with virtually no increase in rod blank diameter or weight and significantly improves the hoop strength of the blank by preventing it from deforming under severe loads (like the donkey bass you pull out of the slop)!

The Taper Enhancement (TET) blank design provides curved patterns for improved action and sensitivity.

And last but not least, rods manufactured with the Fortified Resin System (FRS) advanced manufacturing protocol consistently test 33% stronger than those built with standard resins and curing methods.

Also, St. Croix manufactures their high-end rod lines in Wisconsin for United States based anglers looking to support local manufacturing.

For rod choice for specialized techniques, check out our table later in this article for recommended rod variants.

2. KastKing Perigee II

KastKing Perigee II Fishing Rods, Casting Rod 7ft 1in – Medium – Fast – One Piece Rod

• Length: 4’6″ to 7’6″
• Rod Material: Carbon Fiber
• Guides: Fuji O-Ring
• Grip: Split EVA Foam
• Warranty: Lifetime manufacturing defects only for handling fee. Lifetime accidental damage for 1/2 rod price plus handling fee.

Pros:

• Budget friendly

Don’t let the low price fool you. KastKing’s Perigee II fishing rod line provides surprising quality at a budget price which makes it our choice for best bass fishing rod under $100.

This rod is a breath of fresh air in the budget fishing space. A full carbon fiber blank keeps weight low and sensitivity high. We recommend a casting version of this rod around 7 feet long for an excellent budget all-around bass fishing rod.

The split EVA handle doesn’t feel as good as cork handles on some of the higher end rods in this list.

One surprise positive is that this rod line comes in 2 piece options which is awesome for travel. Our favorite use case is buying this budget friendly rod in a 2 piece and leaving it in your vehicle just in case you need to go fishing. The compact size is perfect for transport and you will have peace of mind if you accidentally break it that it wasn’t a $200+ rod.

For other great options check out our article on the best bass rods under $100.

3. Ugly Stik Elite Spinning

Ugly Stik 6’6” Elite Spinning Rod, Two Piece Spinning Rod, 6-14lb Line Rating, Medium Rod Power, Fast Action, 1/4-5/8 oz. Lure Rating

• Length: 4’6″ to 7’6″
• Rod Material: Composite
• Guides: One-Piece Stainless Steel
• Grip: Cork Grip
• Warranty: 7 Year Manufacturing Warranty

Pros:

• Heavy Duty
• Budget entry point to bass fishing

For true beginners to bass fishing, we recommend the Ugly Stik Elite Spinning rod. Ugly Stik rods are known for being heavy duty, robust, and mostly budget friendly which is great for a first foray into bass fishing. Get a 6’6″ or 7′ medium power option as a starter, all-around rod.

Beginners generally start with a spinning rod and reel. We do recommend eventually learning how to use a casting reel for most bass fishing techniques due to the increased capability for accurate casting.

This rod is heavier than most on the list due to the composite construction. We like the cork grip for comfort and how robust the construction is for this rod. This rod is great for beginners to make mistakes with before purchasing a higher end rod.

Check out our article on the best beginner fishing rods for other great options.

4. Fitzgerald Titan HD Pitching and Flipping Rod

Fitzgerald Fishing Titan HD Series Sensitive and Powerful Pitching and Flipping Rods with 5 Models 7’6″, 7’8″ & 7’10” Heavy and X-Heavy Balanced The Ultimate Power Bass Tournament Fishing Rods

• Length: 7’6″ to 7’10”
• Rod Material: Carbon
• Guides: Titanium guides with Nanolite Rings
• Grip: No-slip EVA Foam
• Warranty: Lifetime No-questions $75 plus return shipping

Pros:

• Light for its strength
• Beefy
• No-slip grip

Our top choice for a flipping and pitching bass fishing rod is the Fitzgerald Titan HD rod. We went more towards the premium end of rods for our pitching and flipping choice because cheaper, heavier rods will wear you out on a long day of fishing.

Fitzgerald really has made the perfect, fit-for-purpose pitching and flipping rod. This rod is incredibly light for its power. It comes in perfect lengths for the application (7’6″ to 7’10”). The rods have the heavy and extra heavy power needed to rip big bass out of deep cover.

While we generally prefer cork handles, this is a case where we like the no-slip EVA foam. Cork can be slippery when wet and the no-slip EVA is perfect for when you need to really reef on a bass. We recommend pairing this rod with 65 pound braid to give you the ability to rip through aquatic vegetation and pull out the biggest bass.

The only downsides we could think of for this rod is the comparatively higher price point and limited options for flipping lighter weight baits. Overall this is a workhorse rod for flipping, pitching, and punching thick cover.

Check out our article on the best flipping and pitching rods for other options.

5. St. Croix Mojo Bass Spinning

St. Croix Rods Mojo Bass Spinning Rod

• Length: 6’8″ to 9’6″
• Rod Material: SCIII Carbon
• Guides: Kigan Master Hand 3D guides with Aluminum Oxide Rings
• Grip: Split premium cork grip
• Warranty: 5 Year

Pros:

• Premium rod at manageable price
• Excellent Warranty

Our choice for best spinning finesse bass fishing rod is the St. Croix Mojo Bass Spinning Rod. Finesse bass fishing uses light weight baits which spinning rods and reels cast much better than casting setups. The 6’8″, medium power, extra fast action version is perfect for a spinning finesse bass fishing setup. Don’t think twice about this rod for ned rigs, shaky head rigs, wacky rigs, or anything else that uses a light setup.

Just like with the Mojo Bass casting line, the rod blank is St. Croix’s proprietary SC III graphite fiber which is lightweight, durable, and sensitive with a higher strain rate than fibers commonly used by other rod manufacturers. The Mojo Bass rod line is on the lighter end of available bass rods with superior sensitivity without sacrificing strength.

We also recommend this rod for anglers uncomfortable using casting reels. Baitcasting setups are more difficult to cast, but can be cast more accurately than spinning rods by proficient anglers.

This rod comes with St. Croix’s 5-year warranty. As mentioned with the casting variant, this rod line is the perfect balance of quality and rod sensitivity for the price.

Check out our article on the best bass spinning rods for additional options.

6. KastKing Royale Select

KastKing Royale Select Fishing Rods, Casting 6ft 6in-Medium Heavy Power-Fast-1pc, Line WT:10-20lb

• Length: 6’6″ to 7’6″
• Rod Material: Carbon
• Guides: Fuji O-Ring
• Grip: Split EVA Foam
• Warranty: Lifetime manufacturing defects only for handling fee. Lifetime accidental damage for 1/2 rod price plus handling fee.

Pros:

• Serious backbone for budget price

Our top choice for best bass fishing frog rod is the KastKing Royale Select Fishing Rod. For frog rods we recommend a 7′ to 7’6″ rod with heavy power and Fast to Extra-Fast action making the KastKing Royale Select 7’3″ Heavy, Extra-Fast a perfect choice.

Bass anglers casting frogs are usually targeting the thickest, nastiest cover seeking lunker bass. This means bass rods need enough backbone to pull the fish OUT of that thick cover.

This rod is closer to a budget option, but we think that is perfect for a frog fishing rod. Frog rods don’t need the sensitivity of expensive, high-end rods. When a bass slams a frog swimming through the lily pads you’ll see it, hear it, and feel it. What’s most important is having a heavy rod backbone plus a fast tip to move the frog bait naturally.

The rod features KastKing’s Toray 24-carbon matrix KastFlex technology blanks, Fuji guides, and a split EVA foam handle. Not many frills, but a perfect setup to pull lunkers out of thick cover.

Check out our article on the best frog rods for more information and other great options.

7. St. Croix Premier Fishing Rod

• Length: 4’6″ to 8’6″
• Rod Material: SCII Carbon
• Guides: Kigan 3D guides with Aluminum oxide rings
• Grip: Full Premium Cork Grip
• Warranty: 5 Year

Pros:

• Tons of options in both spinning and casting variant

Soft plastics cover a wide range of techniques from swimbaits to the myriad of worm rigs. Our choice for the best bass fishing rod for soft plastics is St. Croix’s Premier rod line. The casting rod is awesome for accurate casting heavier baits, and the spinning line is perfect for lighter soft plastic setups.

For light soft plastic rigs (under 1/4 oz) we recommend swapping to the spinning version.

St. Croix Rods Premier Casting Rod

St. Croix Rods Premier Spinning Rod

We love the feel of the full cork grip handle. Both the casting and spinning variants of this rod are incredible sensitive and a delight to fish with. As always, St. Croix’s warranty is a huge perk. We adore this rod line.

Check out our deep dive review on the St. Croix Premier rod line for more information.

Best Bass Fishing Rods Comparison Table

Check out this handy table comparing some of the key features of the rods on our list.

Conclusion

Bass fishing covers a huge range of techniques making it tough to recommend one bass rod for everything. The St. Croix Victory comes the closest all-around best bass fishing rod if selected around 7′ long with medium power. Other rods can make better choices for specific fishing techniques.

Looking for the best pliers to unhook your next lunker bass? Check out our article on the best fishing pliers to have the right tool for the job.

Check out our articles for great reels to pair with these rods:

• Best Baitcasting Reels
• Best Baitcasting Reels for Bass
• Best Bass Spinning Reels
• Best Pike Reels

Check out our related rod articles:

• Best Baitcasting Rods for Bass
• Best Bass Spinning Rods
• Best Smallmouth Bass Rods
• Best Flipping & Pitching Rods
• Best Jig Rods for Bass
• Best Frog Fishing Rods
• Best Musky Rods
• Best Pike Rods
• Best Walleye Rods
• Best Ultralight Fishing Rods

Check out our related rod and reel combo articles:

• Best Bass Fishing Rod and Reel Combos

Read on to see our breakdown of important factors to consider when picking a bass fishing rod.

How to Choose The Best Bass Fishing Rod for Different Fishing Techniques

The most important factor for selecting the best bass fishing rod for you is choosing your preferred bass fishing techniques. Different techniques favor different rod powers, lengths, actions, and materials.

The below table is a useful quick reference to match your bass fishing techniques with the right type of rod:

For even more reading, check out our article on how to choose any fishing rod.

Length

Rod length is an important consideration for bass anglers. Longer rods allow for longer casts with less effort while shorter rods allow for improved casting accuracy. Most bass rods are between 6’6″ and 7’6″. Seven foot rods are a great all-purpose length.

Techniques like flipping, pitching, and punching are better suited for rods from 7’6″ to 8′ long to allow for a sweeping, accurate swing of the bait to the target.

Swimbaits, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, finesse worms, and other soft plastics presentations have slightly more flexibility in rod length options. If the bass are hanging tight to cover, a rod closer to 6’6″ allows for unparalleled casting accuracy. If covering water searching for fish, a rod around 7′ is an excellent balance of casting accuracy and casting distance.

Power

Rod power is the fishing industry’s terminology for rod stiffness. Rod powers range from ultralight to heavy.

Medium rod power is a great all-around option that can be used with most bass fishing techniques.

Heavy power rods are a better option for frog fishing, flipping, and pitching because bass caught with these techniques are commonly in thick cover and additional rod backbone is needed to pull them out.

Finesse techniques like Texas rig fishing soft plastic worms or drop shotting is better with medium-light to medium power equipment due to the increased sensitivity these rods offer.

Action

Rod action refers to how far down the rod will bend when pressure is applied to the tip. Rod actions range from extra-fast (bends near tip) to slow (nearly the whole rod bends).

The faster the action, the more sensitive the rod will feel. The slower the action, the more casting distance you can get (the rod will feel like it whips more when you cast).

The best bass fishing rod action depends on the fishing technique. Single hook techniques that require a firm hookset, like finesse worms, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, bass jigs, flipping, and pitching are best with fast or extra-fast actions to allow for a firm hookset.

Lures and baits with treble hooks, like crankbaits, are best with moderate actions because the sweeping hooksets with these flexier rods are more effective with the additional give in a moderate action rod.

Slow action rods are no longer common for bass fishing and are not the preferred action for any bass fishing techniques.

Check out our article on fishing rod actions for even more information.

Portability

Portability is an important factor for any fishing pole. Anglers purchasing a bass fishing rod should consider how they are going to transport the rod. Ensure the length rod will fit in your boat or vehicle. Seven foot rods will fit in most vehicles but anything above 7’6″ may not fit in boat rod storage or smaller vehicles. Additionally, think about getting a 2 piece rod if portability is a major concern.

Handle Material

Rod handle feel is an important factor to consider when picking a bass fishing rod. Common handle types are full cork, partial cork, rubber shrink tube, cork tape, or EVA foam. Rubber shrink is usually considered a more budget option, whereas full cork feels better to grip and handle. For techniques that require forceful hooksets like pitching and flipping, EVA foam may be a better option because it is not slippery when wet.

Rod Guide Material

Rod guide material is important because lower quality materials are heavier and will rust quicker and could potentially fail.

The highest end rods have titanium or silicone carbide (SiC) rod guides whereas middle end or budget rods will have some variation of aluminum oxide or stainless steel.

Higher end rod guides are made with lighter materials with lower friction that will either rust slower or not at all. Less expensive rod guides are heavier and will succumb to the elements more quickly.

For additional information on rod guide considerations, check out our article that explains fishing rod guides in detail.

Rod Material

Rod blank material affects rod strength and how the fishing rod deforms during casting or reeling in a fish. Common rod materials are graphite, fiberglass, and composite. Check out our deep dive on rod blanks for more information.

Graphite

Graphite rods have incredible sensitivity in lightweight packages. They are great for detecting subtle fish strikes. Graphite rod disadvantages are that the rods can be a little weaker than the other options and more susceptible to breakage, especially around nicks or scratches.

Fiberglass

Fiberglass is strong, durable and flexible but weighs more than graphite. They are less sensitive than the other types of rod materials.

Composite

Composite rod materials are a mix of graphite and fiberglass that seek to have the light weight and sensitivity of graphite rods with the strength of fiberglass rods.

Reel Seat

Reel seats are the component where the fishing reel is secured onto the fishing rod by tightening a locking nut. The basic parts of a reel seat are the body, hood, locking nut, and barrel threads. Common reel seat materials are either graphite or aluminum which are both lightweight, corrosion resistant materials. Reel seats are sized to match the power of the rod. For example, a reel seat on an ultralight fishing rod won’t fit a massive 10000 size spinning reel.

Most freshwater applications utilize fully graphite reel seats due to graphite’s light weight. For heavier duty saltwater applications, reel seats are commonly upgraded to machine-grade aluminum for increased strength. For targeting the largest fish on the planet, the complete rod butt and reel seat can be aluminum for maximum strength.

Maintenance and Care

Maintaining your fishing rod ensures its longevity and performance. After each use, rinse it with fresh water to remove dirt and debris, especially if you’ve been fishing in saltwater. Dry it thoroughly before storage to prevent rust and corrosion. Occasionally check for any signs of wear or damage. Store your rod vertically or horizontally on a rack, avoiding extreme temperatures or direct sunlight.

Explore our ultimate guide on fishing rod maintenance and care for comprehensive insights into maintaining your bass fishing rod, avoiding common causes of damage, and mastering preventative strategies to ensure your gear remains in prime condition.

Bass Fishing Rod Frequently Asked Questions

What type of rod is best for bass fishing?

Casting rods are considered the best for bass fishing because of their casting accuracy compared to spinning rods. Bass are ambush predators and a casting accuracy different of even 6 inches may mean the difference between a bite or not. Casting rods around 7 feet long with medium power and fast action are a perfect all around choice for a bass fishing rod.

What reel to pair with bass fishing rod?

Bass fishing rods are best paired with high-quality reels that match the rod type. Spinning rods should be matched with spinning reels and casting rods should be matched with casting reels. Higher end reels will have smoother drag and better brake systems which can make them easier to fish for extended periods of time.

Check out our article on the best baitcasting reels for our top recommendations for reels to pair with casting rods.

What is the best length bass fishing rod?

The most versatile, all around best length bass fishing rod is 7 feet long. This length rod is a perfect balance of accuracy, casting distance, and comfort for the angler. It is easy to transport in vehicles and boats, and can be effectively used for the most popular bass fishing techniques.

Is a 6ft pole good for bass fishing?

Most bass anglers prefer fishing rods around 7 feet long because that rod length is a versatile mix of accuracy, casting distance, and comfort. Six foot rods are easier to cast accurately, but may lack in casting distance compared to longer rods.

What pound test line for a bass fishing rod?

For finesse bass techniques like Texas rigged worms and drop shotting, use 6-10 pound test braided line. If fishing spinnerbaits, crankbaits, or swimbaits, bump up to 15-20 pound test line. For flipping, pitching, and frog fishing, 30-65 pound test braided line allows anglers to retrieve fish through the thickest cover.

Is mono or braid better for bass fishing?

Braided fishing line is preferable for bass fishing because it has significantly smaller diameter for the same strength line when compared to mono. Braided line can be cast further and also has less tendency line twist than mono. Mono stretches more than braid, which can be a positive for fishing techniques like crankbait fishing that require more give in the line.

Written By: Andrew Juran

Andrew is a seasoned angler with over 25 years of experience fishing across the United States. He has caught hundreds of bass using various techniques and mentored many in the art of fishing. An advocate for sustainable fishing, Andrew is an active member of the Coastal Conservation Association, an organization committed to marine conservation.

For frequent fishing tips, behind-the-scenes looks, and real-time catches, connect with Andrew on Instagram