Best Casting Rod [6 Most Popular Models Reviewed]

If you are an angler or a fishing enthusiast, you are going to need the best casting rod for a smooth fishing journey. This sport or hobby does require the best equipment as it can make a huge difference in your fishing outcome.

The best baitcasting rod will help you catch more and bigger fish while eliminating the risk of malfunctions and other issues, which may cause you to lose your catch. For those that wants to jump straight to our final verdict, here are our top picks!

The 6 Best Casting Rod Comparison Table

Top 6 Baitcasting Rods Reviews

This baitcasting rod is a masterpiece and is something that you must have if you are planning on becoming a professional fisherman. There are several reasons why we believe that and why we rate it as the first on our list.

2. Abu Garcia Vendetta Series - best for bass Fishing

We liked this model due to its high level of attention to details. It is made of 30-ton graphite. This baitcasting rod is lightweight and extremely strong. In addition, it is well-balanced too.

At the bottom, we can see a single, aluminum made screw which helps keep all the essentials in place. This is far more than an ordinary rod for simple purposes. It is designed and made for all types of bait applications. You will be able to understand what we actually meant after using it.

​3. Fenwick HMG - Best Under 100 Dollars

Here is the best fishing rod model under $100. Some of you may believe that the price is too low for advanced performances, but this isn’t true. The tested model is actually a re-designed version that hits the markets 40 years ago.

We believe this is one of the most appealing baitcasting rods for beginners and those who are looking for an affordable model with decent performances. An interesting fact is that the guides are made of titanium, which is an extremely strong material.

​4. Fiblink Surf Casting Fishing Rod - Best For Surf Fishing

The Fiblink Surf Casting may be known as the best fishing rod in the world within its price range. It is made of carbon fiber and it is specifically optimized for boat fishing. It is lightweight and extremely durable as well.

Even the guides are made of stainless steel and combined with ceramic elements. In a nutshell, you are getting an ultimate baitcasting rod that is made of carbon fiber. In addition, the handle is non-slip, rubber unit.

​5. Uglystik Elite - Best For Beach Fishing

This may be the best baitcasting rod under $50 available on the market right now. We know that the name of the brand is more than just interesting, but nevertheless, they make some of the best models.

The one we have here comes specifically designed and made for tough operations. It is based on the latest technology and it comes with a high level of strength.

Of course, even the guides are made of stainless steel, so the overall value for the money is an understatement. If you are a beginner who is looking for good basic applications, this may be the best alternative.

​6. Shimano Trevala Casting Rods

Add a reel and you will get the best fishing rod and reel combo. This baitcasting rod is one of the rare models at the moment which offers prestigious quality and strength. It is far more than an ordinary version which can be used by beginners.

It is a professional and heavy-duty model which should be used only by professionals that always expects the best results. There are a lot of great features to this model and it is almost impossible to list them all here. In short, if you are interested in getting the best and the most expensive casting rod, this is the right one for you.

Buying Guide

Materials

Here we can see two main materials. These rods are made either of graphite or fiberglass. We all know that graphite is brittle and their first versions weren’t very good. Luckily, modern technology has improved the overall practicality, allowing the manufacturers to adopt the graphite for this purpose specifically.

These units are strong, durable and at the same time flexible. Graphite rods have a modulus between 33 and 64 million. The higher the number, the stronger and heavier the rod will be.

Fiberglass models on the other hand, have a value between 6 and 13 million modulus.  In this case scenario, a higher number means a more brittle rod. Manufacturers use different methods in order to eliminate this issue, making the rod stronger, usable and more durable at the same time.

Carbon fiber is actually an improved version of graphite and it can make a huge difference. It is a much better alternative than fiberglass, but also a more expensive one. They are commonly used and almost reserved for professionals. In essence, these are the lightest, yet the strongest material available at the moment.

We must add that you will encounter rods made of composite materials. Some of you may believe that the best baitcasting rods must be made of this material. It is up to your personal preference.

Composite rods are appealing because they use the best features of two materials, like graphite and fiberglass. They are lightweight, durable and usable. However, the symbiosis of the two materials is clearly visible, which makes them rarer than usual and also more appealing to specific types of fishermen.

Power

When looking for the best baitcasting rods, you will encounter the term power. It may be confusing at first, but it is actually really simple to understand.

Power refers to the ability of the rod to fight a fish. As such, we have ultra-light, light, medium and heavy models. Ultra-light and light versions are designed to catching smaller fish.

Medium ones for medium size fish and heavy ones for the largest fish. This is definitely a factor which will be determined by the size of fish you are planning to catch.

Make sure you choose correspondingly. You won’t be able to maximize your success if you use a heavy rod for catching small fish. It is almost useless. Also, make sure you choose the right bait when fishing for bass. If you are confused as to which type of bait to choose from, check out this list.

Action

Here we can see a factor which refers to the flexibility or success when casting or reeling in the fish. As such, there are three main types. They are:

Line Guides

If you recall, we have mentioned guides a few times in our reviews. This is simply because they are an essential factor to consider when looking for the best baitcasting rods. They can make a huge difference and something to look for in the beginning.

They are a few types of guides. The plastic type are not very good and should only be used for extremely cheap rods. Then, there are line guides that are made of stainless steel or ceramics, stronger and better than plastic.

Last but not least is the titanium-based models. These guides will last for a long period of time and are extremely resistant to wear and tear.

Grips

Because you will hold the rod in your hands the entire time, the grip the handle will provide is extremely important. This factor is crucial when choosing the best baitcasting rods.

Here we can see 2 main types. You can either look for a handle made of cork or EVA foam. It is up to you to decide which version you want. We prefer the EVA foam simply because it is more pleasant to hold, especially in wet conditions. It also looks more modern and more sophisticated compared to cork.

Reel Seat

This is the place where the reel will be attached to the rod. It must be strong, durable and able to eliminate any vibration, an essential factor when looking for a good fishing rod.

Another important tip, look at the position of the reel seat and its connection with the rod. It should not affect the practicality of the rod, providing ease of use at any given moment.

Weight

This is an important factor as you will be carrying the rod using your hands the entire time. Therefore, you will not want a heavy model which is impractical. However, heavier models are more solid that the lighter models.

In summary, heavier units are usually designed for professionals and experienced fishermen, while lightweight are suitable for beginners or even for kids.

Functionality