We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More \u203a<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \n Determining the best bass fishing rod for a particular purpose is a personalized endeavor. An angler\u2019s physical stature, line choice, and fishing environment are all factors to consider when choosing a rod. Budget also comes into play, and the simple fact that one rod costs more doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s better suited to the task. Nevertheless, rods have multiple failure points, from guides to handles to the way they\u2019re wrapped, and just because something looks good on the shelf doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019ll perform when the fish of a lifetime strikes.<\/p>\n Furthermore, even the most bespoke sticks won\u2019t function as intended if you use them for the wrong techniques. A flipping stick must be lightweight but powerful, while a deep cranking rod must flex when a fish inhales the lure or when it surges at the boatside. Neither of those rods excel at presenting a finesse lure on light line. Anglers don\u2019t necessarily need dozens of rods to be effective, but they need a reasonable assortment.<\/p>\n I tested a wide range of the best bass fishing rods over the past year from my home in Virginia to the tackle-busters of Mexico and up to smallmouth country in the upper Midwest. Here are some standouts from someone who takes tackle seriously but is often unreasonably rough on it.<\/p>\n While I fish hard and I\u2019m rough on my equipment, I\u2019m not necessarily the pickiest angler from the start. For example, I might not be able to discern the difference between a 7-foot 2-inch rod and a 7-foot 3-inch rod in the same basic action at the store. I need to get out on the water, and sometimes I learn more by losing fish than I do by catching them. I start to break things down when I realize that the rod failed me or that it didn\u2019t pair up properly with my chosen reel or line.\u00a0<\/p>\n For example, a flipping stick might not have the heft to get a bass out of a thick clump of hydrilla, and a cranking stick might not give at exactly the right moment. Or perhaps you could have skipped a Senko a few feet deeper into a boat slip if the rod handle had been a few inches longer. Once I start eliminating rods from the queue, my failures seem to drop. The \u201clast man standing\u201d becomes a trusted partner.<\/p>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n G.Loomis was one of the first premium, mission-driven brands in the rod world, and the IMX Series has long been their workhorse. They haven\u2019t made major changes over the years because they haven\u2019t had to, but the subtle iterations keep it at the forefront of quality and versatility. While this rod is rated as \u201cheavy,\u201d I have no trouble flicking a weightless Senko with it. It also excels with Carolina Rigs and light jigs, but what really makes it versatile is that it\u2019s a solid performer with moving baits like Chatterbaits and squarebills, too. Is it perfect for those lures in all circumstances and for all anglers? Possibly not, but if you\u2019re ready for your first premium stick and you want it to cover a lot of bases, this should be your choice.<\/p>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n Many fully \u201cBubbafied\u201d anglers skimp on their spinning rods, saving the big bucks for tools dedicated to power techniques. That\u2019s a mistake because increasingly pressured fish necessitate growing reliance on finesse techniques. Furthermore, thanks to the rise of better braids and fluorocarbons, you can do more with a spinning rod than ever before. However, there\u2019s less room for error because they involve light line and stealth. Get a merely \u201cgood\u201d finesse rod, and you\u2019ll be covered\u2014until you hook the fish of a lifetime in a precarious position. This rod is not only a joy to fish with, but it covers up for your mistakes and allows for increased sensitivity. That\u2019s why legendary pro Larry Nixon relies on it after multiple surgeries\u2014it gives him more feel and power. He convinced me to try it, and from flicking a Senko under docks to dropshotting timber to hover strolling for smallmouths, it has made me a better angler.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking for a dropshot-specific rod, check out our test of the best drop shot rods<\/a> for more options.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n Not only did Jordan Lee win two Bassmaster Classics before his 30th birthday, but he did so using a full range of techniques. He\u2019s emblematic of the young pros who may be budget-strapped but aren\u2019t afraid to pull out all the tricks. This rod reflects that versatility, and if you\u2019re not sure whether you\u2019ll be dropshotting, Neko Rigging, or throwing a light crankbait like a Shad Rap, it should be your first call. I found that it performs like much more expensive rods, and I reach for it much more often than expected. Anglers who want to go even lighter on the finesse scale can opt for the similar 6\u201910\u201d medium-light \u201cSuper Finesse.\u201d At this sub-$100 price point, it\u2019s not unreasonable to buy both.<\/p>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n Fitzgerald Rods hails from Florida, where the vegetation grows thick, and the bass are big. Anglers who want to flip matts have to be prepared to battle both. What many novice flippers don\u2019t realize, however, is that if you choose the wrong rod you\u2019ll battle that, too. An imbalanced flipping stick can lead to fatigue at the end of a day of slinging big weights. Worse yet, it could result in injury. In other words, not any broomstick will suffice.\u00a0<\/p>\n The reason why the Titan HD is one of the best bass fishing rods is that these rods won\u2019t wear you out, but they\u2019ll also stand up to close-quarters abuse. They have locking wraps to ensure that the guides won\u2019t pull out. Indeed, the guides themselves are designed to prevent wind loops. I love probing the deepest possible cover with creature baits, feeding them to unpressured fish, and this rod made me seek out that option even more.<\/p>\n Need some jigs to go with your new flipping stick? Check out our review of the best jigs<\/a>, which includes several great options for flipping.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n My frequent trips to Lake El Salto, Mexico, led me to this rod\u2014actually, it led my wife to it. She needed a rod that could throw big cranks like Strike King 6XDs and 10XDs all day without wearing her out, and we didn\u2019t want to spend $300 or more. Luckily we were able to buy this awesome rod for half that max budget. With all else being equal, I felt that she was casting longer distances and losing fewer fish than I was with my more expensive rod. Eventually, that convinced me to get one of my own, and now I find myself always reaching for it. In fact, I like them so much that I got two of them. The handle is exactly the right length and girth for comfort, and somehow the blank flexes at exactly the right point for maximum effectiveness from cast to landing. This would be a bargain at a substantially higher price.<\/p>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n I found this rod to be a valuable \u201cutility player\u201d on days when I head to the lake knowing I\u2019ll need to cover water, but not certain whether it will be with a lipless crankbait, a vibrating jig, a buzzbait, or some other moving lure. I could keep one or two of these rods on the deck of the boat and change out lures as the mood struck me\u2014or preferably as the fish told me what they wanted. While it\u2019s not inexpensive, it covers a lot of different bases. I may have caught more bass on it this year than with any other single model. Get the composite model if you tend to be too quick on the trigger, or you\u2019re using braid, and the graphite model if you have some patience or more often utilize fluorocarbon or monofilament.<\/p>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n The blue blank of the Douglas spinnerbait rod stands out among a field of cookie cutters, but it\u2019s the action and versatility that really sets it apart. Lure ratings on a handle are often generous, but this rod excelled at all ranges of the spectrum\u2014from the smallest finesse spinnerbaits up to hard-thumping giants that\u2019ll rattle your fillings out. It\u2019s a wonderful blend of sensitivity and give with a perfectly-sized handle and premium components from tip to butt.\u00a0<\/p>\n While testing this rod I flicked a 3\/16 ounce finesse model around boat slips in the morning, and then used it in the afternoon to slow roll a spinnerbait that weighed 3\/4 ounce, and in both cases I felt like I had the perfect rod. Everyone that I\u2019ve let\u00a0fish the Douglas LRS liked the rod\u2019s perfectly sized handle, and appreciated the premium components. The Douglas LRS is my pick for the best bass fishing rod for spinnerbaits because of its ability to throw everything from finesse to deep working spinnerbaits and it doesn\u2019t sacrifice feel for versatility\u2014it\u2019s a rare rod that fishes everything well.<\/p>\n Looking for more spinnerbait rod options? Read our full review of the best spinnerbait rods<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n Published Jan 31, 2023 5:03 PM
\n <\/span>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\nTesting the Best Rods for Bass Fishing<\/h2>\n
Best Rods for Bass Fishing: Reviews & Recommendations <\/h2>\n
Best Overall: G. Loomis IMX Pro 844C<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/01\/31\/G.Loomis-IMX-Pro-844C.jpg?auto=webp&width=800&crop=16:10,offset-x50\")
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Best Finesse: Dobyns Xtasy 723<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/01\/31\/Dobyns-Xtasy-723.jpg?auto=webp&width=800&crop=16:10,offset-x50\")
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Best Budget Finesse: Abu Garcia Jordan Lee Spinning Rod 7\u2032 Medium<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/01\/31\/Abu-Garcia-Jordan-Lee-Spinning-Rod-7-Medium.jpg?auto=webp&width=800&crop=16:10,offset-x50\")
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Best Flipping Stick: Fitzgerald Titan HD<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/01\/31\/Fitzgerald-Titan-HD.jpg?auto=webp&width=800&crop=16:10,offset-x50\")
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Best Deep Cranking: iRod Genesis III Crank Launcher<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/01\/31\/iRod-Genesis-III-Crank-Launcher.jpg?auto=webp&width=800&crop=16:10,offset-x50\")
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Best for Reaction Lures: Shimano Expride B 7\u20192\u201d MH<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/01\/31\/Shimano-Expride-B-72-MH.jpg?auto=webp&width=800&crop=16:10,offset-x50\")
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Best Spinnerbait: Douglas LRS C715F<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/01\/31\/Douglas-LRS-C715F.jpg?auto=webp&width=800&crop=16:10,offset-x50\")
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Best Budget for Worms and Jigs: Falcon Lowrider LFC 7-MH<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/01\/31\/Falcon-Lowrider-LFC-7-MH.jpg?auto=webp&width=800&crop=16:10,offset-x50\")
![\"Fischer](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/05\/02_-Fischer_holds_bass.jpeg\")
![\"You](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/01\/31\/2-2-scaled.jpeg\")