Updated 2/13/2024
Walleye are a popular game fish species native to much of the US and Canada. They are notorious for light strikes and require proper knowledge and equipment to effectively catch. The best walleye rods are hyper-sensitive to detect the subtlest of bites.
We’ve done the hours of testing and research on the best walleye 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 Premier Spinning
- Best Under $100: Ugly Stik Elite Spinning
- Best for Beginners: Okuma Dead Eye Classic Rod
- Best Rod & Reel Combo: Penn Battle III Spinning Rod & Reel Combo
- Best Trolling: St. Croix Eyecon Trolling Rod
- Best High End: St. Croix Legend Elite Spinning Rod
The Best Walleye Rods
While certain types of fishing poles may work for multiple popular walleye fishing techniques, prudent walleye anglers diversify their equipment to specialized fit-for-purpose rods. This article is focused on the best walleye rods for jigging, slip bobber rigs, soft plastics, and trolling.
Read on to see our recommendations for the best walleye rods by category including best for the money, best for beginners, and more.
1. 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
Our choice for the best walleye rod for the money is St. Croix’s Premier Spinning Rod. This rod is perfect for jigging, slip-bobber setups, and crankbaits and makes for a great all-around rod for walleye. This is one of St. Croix’s most popular rod lines for good reason. It comes in a wide range of lengths, powers, and actions so the prudent angler can pick the perfect rod for their needs.
The 6’6″ medium-light power, fast action St. Croix Premier fishing rod is an awesome all-around walleye rod for the money.
We love the feel of the full cork grip handle. Both the casting and spinning variants of this rod are incredibly sensitive and a delight to fish with. As always, St. Croix’s warranty is a huge perk. We adore this rod line.
The St. Croix Premier Spinning Rod is our go-to fishing rod for finesse jigging with nightcrawlers on the Mississippi River. We vertical jig running sloughs that vary between 4 and 12 feet of water by drifting with the current. This rod is so sensitive we can feel bottom transitions from sand to shell and more importantly, identify the tip tap of a light walleye strike. Check out our article on the best walleye fishing techniques for an in-depth look at how and why we have success fishing like this!
Check out our deep dive review on the St. Croix Premier rod line for more information. We also really like this rod line in the casting version.
2. Ugly Stik Elite Spinning
- Length: 4’6″ to 7’6″
- Rod Material: Composite
- Guides: One-Piece Stainless Steel
- Grip: Cork Grip
- Warranty: 7 Year Manufacturing Warranty
Pros:
- Sturdy
- Budget entry point to walleye fishing
Our recommendation for best walleye rod under $100 is the Ugly Stik Elite Spinning rod. Ugly Stik rods are known for being reliable, robust, and mostly budget friendly which is great for a first foray into walleye fishing. Get a 6’6″ or 7′ medium power option as a solid walleye rod.
This rod is a great choice for beginners or budget conscious anglers wanting to add a reliable rod to their arsenal.
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.
Our biggest downside is the Ugly Stik Elite lacks in our most important category for walleye fishing, sensitivity. That said, this rod is great for beginners to make mistakes with before purchasing a higher end rod.
3. Okuma Dead Eye Classic Walleye Rod
- Length: 6′ to 8’6″
- Rod Material: Jigging are 24-ton carbon, Trolling are E-glass
- Guides: Stainless Steel w/titanium oxide inserts
- Grip: Cork or foam
- Warranty: 1 year limited warranty
Pros:
- No-regrets price point makes for easy entry into walleye fishing
Our choice for the best walleye rod for beginners is the Okuma Dead Eye Classic Walleye Rod. Okuma did a great job creating a fit-for-purpose walleye fishing rod at a manageable price point. The rod is reliable and comes in versions focused on jigging or trolling.
We recommend the 7′ medium-light power, fast action version of this rod for a beginner looking for a great walleye rod. Make sure to grab the one with the cork handle that is specifically designed for jigging techniques.
The jigging version has either a full cork or split-cork grip plus a blank made with 24-ton carbon with Okuma’s Ultimate Flex Reinforcement UFR blended on top. The trolling version has a shrink tube rear-grip and a triangular EVA foam foregrip to reduce rod twisting and is based on an E-glass fiberglass rod blank.
This rod hits above its weight class and is a solid, reliable walleye rod for both beginners and seasoned veterans alike.
Check out our article on the best beginner fishing rods for other great options.
4. Penn Battle III Spinning Rod & Reel Combo
- Rod Length: 6’6″ to 10′
- Power: Light to Heavy
- Reel Size: 1000 to 8000
- Ball Bearings: 5+1
Pros:
- Wide range of available rod and reel sizes and powers for various applications
- Great value for the price
Our choice for best walleye rod and reel combo is the Penn Battle III Spinning Rod and Reel Combo which we feel is that perfect mix of premium quality with a manageable price tag. Heck, the Penn Battle III reel is one of our favorite reels so it’s no surprise if you slap it on a decent rod we’ll think highly of it!
We recommend the 2500 size Penn Battle III reel with the 7′ medium-light rod for an awesome walleye fishing setup.
The reel was the 2020 ICAST Online Best of Category Winner – Saltwater Reel, includes a 5+1 sealed stainless steel ball bearing system, Penn’s HT-100 carbon fiber drag washers, and a full metal aluminum body and side plate. It is high quality designed for durability and performance and Penn really outdid themselves with the attention to detail.
The rod blank is a graphite composite with either cork or eva handle depending on the model. We especially like this combo because of the versatility. Newer anglers may multiple fishing techniques. This setup can walleye fish, bass fish, inshore fish, and anything in-between.
While we have great things to say about the Penn Battle III spinning reel, ideally we’d want an ultra sensitive rod paired with it to detect the light bite of a walleye. We found that the graphite composite rod blank is sturdy but it is nowhere near as sensitive as some of the graphite rods on this list. That said, this combo is great value for the price.
5. St. Croix Eyecon Trolling Rod
- Length: 5′ to 10′
- Rod Material: Blend of SCII carbon and fiberglass
- Guides: Kigan 3D guides with aluminum-oxide rings
- Grip: Split cork or EVA foam
- Warranty: 5-year
Pros:
- Perfect features for walleye trolling
Our choice for best walleye trolling rod is the St. Croix Eyecon Trolling Rod. St. Croix is headquartered smack dab in the middle of prime walleye fishing country so it should be no surprise they offer the perfect walleye trolling rod setup.
All Eyecon Trolling Rod variations have a moderate action with medium power which is just right for trolling for walleye.
The Eyecon features a blended carbon and fiberglass blank for great strength to handle the demands of trolling. Walleye trolling rods are an outlier in the walleye rod world. Usually we prioritize sensitivity over all else which generally means a graphite blank. This isn’t the case with trolling rods. Including some fiberglass in the rod blank of the Eyecon rod gives it that extra bit of strength to handle all-day trolling.
We’ve had great success trolling for walleyes with shallow diving crankbaits on the bays of Lake Superior with the St. Croix Eyecon trolling rod.
As always, we want to highlight the above-average 5-year St. Croix warranty on the off chance there is an issue with the rod.
Don’t think twice about grabbing the Eyecon for walleye trolling. It’s purpose-built for walleye trolling and it is perfect for the job.
Check out our article on the best trolling rods for other great options!
6. St. Croix Legend Elite Spinning Rod
- Length: 6′ to 7’6″
- Rod Material: SCVI Carbon
- Guides: Fuji Torzite with titanium frames
- Grip: Super-grade cork
- Warranty: 15 Year Transferrable
Pros:
- Best money can buy
- Excellent Warranty
Our choice for the best high end walleye rod is the St. Croix Legend Elite Spinning Rod. We particularly like the 7′, medium-light power, fast action variant for walleye fishing.
St. Croix has crafted one of the lightest, strongest, most sensitive spinning rods available on the market. One of my favorite parts of high-end rods with these space-age carbon blanks is they can use less material because it’s so darn strong. Light rods mean SENSITIVITY which is the most important thing we look for with walleye rods.
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.
Comparison Table
Check out this handy table comparing some of the key features of the rods on our list.
| Rod Name | Length | Rod Material | Guides | Grip | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Croix Premier Fishing Rod | 4’6″ to 8’6″ | SCII Carbon | Kigan 3D guides with Aluminum oxide rings | Full Premium Cork Grip | 5 Year |
| Ugly Stik Elite Spinning | 4’6″ to 7’6″ | Composite | One-Piece Stainless Steel | Cork Grip | 7 Year Manufacturing Warranty |
| Okuma Dead Eye Classic Walleye Rod | 6′ to 8’6″ | Jigging are 24-ton carbon, Trolling are E-glass | Stainless Steel w/titanium oxide inserts | Cork or foam | 1 year limited warranty |
| St. Croix Eyecon Trolling Rod | 5′ to 10′ | Blend of SCII carbon and fiberglass | Kigan 3D guides with aluminum-oxide rings | Split cork or EVA foam | 5-year |
| St. Croix Legend Elite Spinning Rod | 6′ to 7’6″ | SCVI Carbon | Fuji Torzite with titanium frames | Super-grade cork | 15 Year Transferrable |
Conclusion
Walleye fishing covers a wide range of techniques making it tough to recommend one walleye rod for everything. We like the St. Croix Premier Fishing Rod as the best all-around walleye rod because of it’s superior sensitivity at a reasonable price point. This rod in 6’6″ to 7′ in medium-light or medium power is a super-lightweight, reliable, quality walleye rod.
Check out our related walleye fishing content!
- Beginner Guide on How to Catch Walleye
- Best Walleye Fishing Techniques
- Best Walleye Fishing Spots in Wisconsin
Check out our articles for great reels to pair with these rods:
- Best Walleye Reels
- Best Ultralight Spinning Reels
- Best Panfish Reels
- Best Trolling Reels
- Best Bass Spinning Reels
Check out our related rod articles:
- Best Trolling Rods
- Best Panfish Rods
- Best Ultralight Fishing Rods
- Best Bass Fishing Rods
- Best Musky Rods
- Best Pike Rods
Read on to see our breakdown of important factors to consider when picking the best walleye rod.
How to Choose The Best Walleye Rod
Selecting the best walleye rod focuses on picking sensitive rods with the right power and action. We strongly prioritize sensitivity because walleye are known for light strikes and detecting bites can be the difference between a successful catch and losing your bait.
For even more reading, check out our article on how to choose any fishing rod.
Length
Rod length is an important consideration for walleye anglers. Longer rods allow for longer casts with less effort while shorter rods allow for improved casting accuracy. Most walleye rods are between 6’6″ and 7’6″.
Techniques like slip bobber fishing generally don’t require long casts, so grabbing a shorter 6’6″ rod is a solid option.
Crankbaits and jigging with live bait or soft plastics have more flexibility in appropriate rod length options. 7′ rods are a good length because they balance the ability to accurately cast and casting distance.
Power
Rod power is the fishing industry’s terminology for rod stiffness. Rod powers range from ultralight to heavy.
Medium-light and medium are great all-around power options that can be used with most walleye fishing techniques. Walleye are notorious for light strikes. Rod powers closer to light or medium-light are much more sensitive than heavier-duty medium or stronger rods. Having a sensitive rod is key to detecting walleye bites.
For slip bobber and jig fishing with nightcrawlers or leeches, I prefer medium-light setups because I think this power offers the right balance between sensitivity and backbone in case you hook into a larger walleye.
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).
Fast actions are ideal for jigging with live bait or soft plastics. For slip bobber fishing, the rod tip doesn’t really matter so grab a fast tip to allow for other fishing techniques. For crankbait walleye fishing, moderate to moderate-fast tips are ideal.
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 walleye 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 spinning 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.
I strongly prefer graphite blanks for walleye fishing rods because sensitivity is king and since graphite blanks are the lightest they are the most sensitive. I’m not the only one that prefers graphite blanks, too. Dick Sternberg in his book ‘Successful Walleye Fishing: The Complete How-To Guide For Finding & Catching Walleyes Year-Round‘ says “sensitivity should be a major consideration in choosing a walleye rod… most serious walleye fishermen prefer graphite rods because they transmit vibrations better than fiberglass rods.”
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 walleye rods have graphite reel seats because it’s the lightest material that is still strong enough to handle a large walleye.
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 walleye fishing rod, avoiding common causes of damage, and mastering preventative strategies to ensure your gear remains in prime condition.
Walleye Rod Frequently Asked Questions
What rod is best for walleye?
The best rod for walleye is a 6’6″ medium-light power, fast action spinning rod. This rod is the perfect balance of sensitivity and strength for most walleye fishing techniques. The fast action helps the angler feel the light strikes that walleye are known for.
What reel to pair with walleye rod?
Walleye fishing rods are best paired with high-quality reels that match the rod type. Spinning rods should be matched with spinning reels. Spinning reels between 2500 and 3000 sizes are perfect for walleye fishing applications. 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 walleye reels for additional reading.
What is the best length walleye rod?
The most versatile length walleye fishing rod is 6’6″ 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 walleye fishing techniques.
Are spinning rods good for walleye?
Spinning rods are ideal for walleye fishing. Finesse fishing with light setups is better with spinning setups due to their inability to backlash and capability of holding lighter lines. Also, spinning rods are easier for beginners to use and a great choice when starting out.
What pound test line for walleye fishing rod?
Most walleye fishing techniques are best with 6-12 pound test braided line. This light line has minimal water resistance and makes for great natural presentation of walleye baits. Walleye are not especially tough fighting fish and don’t require heavy duty line.
Is mono or braid better for walleye fishing?
Braided fishing line is preferable for walleye 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 specializing in walleye fishing on the Mississippi river and assorted lakes in northern Wisconsin. He has caught hundreds of walleye using various techniques and mentored many in the art of walleye 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
