Stop Wasting Money: These 5 Rods Will Cover 95% Of Bass Fishing
If you’re new to fishing, selecting your first rod can be a bit overwhelming. Even if you’ve fished a lot but are looking to take your bass fishing a little more seriously it can be a daunting task to navigate through dozens and dozens of rod models with varying lengths, powers, actions… what does any of that even mean?
Let’s talk about it…
Rod Length
Obviously, we know what all know what length means… how long the rod is (duh), but why does it matter for bass fishing? Why are some rods 6’8″ and others up near 8 feet? Length is all about distance, accuracy and leverage. Longer rods allow you to cast further, while shorter rods allow you cast more accurately. Longer rods also give you more leverage to move line quickly and horse a monster out of some thick cover. Angler height can play a small role, but the technique is much more important when selecting a rod length.
Rod Power
Much like length, rod power is another one that pretty much what it sounds like… how strong the rod blank is. More specifically, how much force it takes to bend it, which in turns, helps explain what kind of lures it can handle. Generally, lighter rods are for more finesse techniques and heavier rods are for bigger, heavier techniques.
Rod Action
Rod action is the most complicated to understand, but basically means how far along the blank the rod bends. Fast or Extra Fast rods are generally stiffer, bending only at the tip. That makes them more sensitive to detect bites, but also stiffer for hooksets… an optimal choice for singe hook techniques like a Texas rig. Moderate action rods bend much further down the blank which helps to absorb some shock and keep the hook pinned in the fishes mouth better. A more moderate action is ideal for treble hook baits since the “slower” bend helps to prevent you from ripping it out of the mouth. It’s also ideal for moving baits in general, which is why many angler are opting for more moderate action on their Chatterbait rigs.
I know that’s a lot to digest, and I’ve even heard professional angels misuse the terms, but if you’re new to the sport and don’t know where to start, or just looking for a little guidance on your next combo, look no further. We’re gonna break down the first 5 bass rods every angler should own, and I’ll offer up a few of my favorite, most versatile, models at different price points for each one.
As always, every rod recommended here is one that I personally own and use regularly, or at minimum, have personally tested on the water.
The first rod that every bass angler should own is a…
7′ – 7’3″ Medium Spinning Rod
A spinning rod should really be your first rod if you’re new to fishing. There’s just an easier learning curve, no real chance of a backlash, and you can do just about everything you need to catch a ton of fish with one. With the explosion of forward facing sonar, spinning rods are actually winning a lot of tournaments lately, but realistically, you could fish every single day with just a few different spinning techniques be really successful at catching bass. Especially when it comes to smallmouth… just about all of my smallmouth fishing comes on a spinning rod.
Techniques: Drop-shot, Ned rig, Neko rig, shakey head, tubes, minnow shaking, strolling, weightless soft plastics, paddle tails, wacky rigs, blade baits, finesse hair jigs, dice baits, flukes, underspins, even some smaller topwaters and jerkbaits can work on a medium spinning rod.
Recommended Rods
Budget: Shimano SLX A Spinning 7′ Medium XF – $99.99
Mid-Price: Fenwick HMG Spinning 7’1″ Medium XF – $179.95
High Quality: Daiwa Tatula Elite Spinning 7’3″ Medium XF – $219.99
7′ – 7’3″ Medium Heavy Casting Rod
Your next rod should be some kind of an all-purpose baitcaster, and the consensus from just about any bass angler is that a 7-foot(ish) medium heavy is the way to go. Of course, there’s is a little bit of practice that’s required when handling a baitcaster, but once you figure out the braking system on the reel, it’s faster, it’s stronger, it’s more accurate, and it’s more efficient than a spinning rod. Some might even argue that this should be your #1. Personally, I like something a little on the longer side… more 7’2″ or 7’3″, but just about every brand on Earth makes a 7′ medium heavy rod… and you can’t go wrong there. While not ideal for every situation, you can throw just about anything on here.
Techniques: Spinnerbaits, Chatterbaits, jigs, Texas rigs, buzzbaits, smaller swimbaits like a Magdraft, smaller glide baits, swim jigs, dock skipping, free rigs, frogs, deeper crankbaits, big topwaters, spoons.
Recommended Rods
Budget : Abu Garcia Vendetta Casting Rod 7′ Medium Heavy F – $94.95
Mid-Price: Daiwa Tatula Cork Casting 7’3″ Medium Heavy XF – $179.99
High Quality: Fenwick Elite Casting 7’3″ Medium Heavy XF – $299.95
7’5″ – 7’8″ Heavy Casting Rod
Now here’s where opinions can start to differ, but if you want to catch big bass, I really think you need a big flipping stick. Plus, it’s FUN to fish this way, and it’s actually pretty versatile to have a big, heavy rod. Sure you can punch and frog more efficiently, throw bigger swimbaits and glide baits, but I throw a lot of jigs and Texas rigs on a heavy rod as well, especially in heavy cover where the big bass are hiding.
Techniques: Frogs, flipping and punching, bigger swimbaits, glide baits, Carolina rig, umbrella rig, heavier flipping jigs and swim jigs.
Recommended Rods
Budget: Fenwick Eagle Casting 7’5″ Heavy F – $119.95
Mid-Price: St. Croix Black Bass Casting 7’6″ H MF – $180.00
High Quality: Daiwa Tatula Elite Casting 7’5″ Heavy F – $219.00
6’8″ – 7’2″ Moderate Casting Rod
This much more of a specialty rod, and not to say that you can’t get away with throwing some of these same techniques on other rods, but having a dedicated rod with a more moderate action is a gamechanger for treble hook baits like jerkbaits, squarebills, poppers, and alike. The parabolic bend really helps that hook stayed pinned in the roof of their mouth.
Techniques: Jerkbait, poppers, smaller topwaters, wake baits, spybaits, shallow crankbaits, even smaller Chatterbaits
Recommended Rods
Budget: Daiwa Tatula XT Glass Crankbait Casting 7′ Medium Regular – $99.99
Mid-Price: Abu Garcia Veritas Tournament 6’10” Medium Mod Fast – $179.95
High Quality: Fenwick Elite Cranking Casting 7’1″ Medium Moderate Fast – $299.95
7′ – 7’6″ Medium Light Spinning
Once again, there’s a couple ways to go here, possible a deep cranking rod, giant swimbait rod, but the average angler is probably better served with a dedicated finesse spinning rod. Let the medium handle your wacky rigs, shakey heads, tubes, blade baits… and opt for a medium light for the finesse techniques. Drop shot, minnow shaking, Ned rigs, Neko rigs, and more.
Techniques: Drop shot, minnows, Ned rig, Neko rig, marabou jig, dice baits, paddle tail on a jighead,
Recommended Rods
Budget: Daiwa Tatula XT Spinning 7’1″ Medium Light XF – $99.99
Mid-Price: Fenwick HMG Spinning 7′ Medium Light F – $179.95
High Quality: Shimano Expride B Spinning 7’6″ Medium Light F – $349.99
*This post contains links through the Tackle Warehouse Affiliate Program. While all products are independently selected by our expert Riff Outdoors team, if you use these links to make a purchase, we may earn a commission.
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