Best Baitcasting Rods for Bass Fishing

Bass Fishing Baitcasting Rod Selection Guide For 2023

Also known as a casting rod, a baitcasting rod is a fishing rod which is optimized and designed to fit a baitcasting reel on the top side of the rod. These rods are the type of choice for the majority of bass fishing, specifically with heavier bait presentations, so we decided to provide an in depth baitcasting rod buyers guide - to help you with your next casting rod purchase.  

The combo of casting rod and casting reel provide anglers with the ultimate control when it comes to casting, leading to more precise and accurate casts.

There are several components to consider before buying a casting rod, each of these components contribute to the overall performance and quality of the rod.

Here is a list of the key components of a baitcasting rod. For each component, we will provide an in depth summary of how each component plays a role in the performance of the rod, and what you should be looking out for when looking for a new rod.

• Rod Length
• Rod Material
• Action
• Rod Power
• Line Guides
• Handle/Grip
• Reel Seat

Baitcasting Rod Length

Rod length is measured from the end of the handle to the end of the line guide (rod tip), and this influences many factors such as casting or retrieving fish.

• Most bass spinning rods range from 6 to 8 foot, and you’re usually able to choose a length between that range.
  

• Short spinning rods (6 foot for instance) tend to cast shorter distances than longer rods - this allows for shorter, more precise casting
• Shorter rods are better for close combat angling, where there isn’t a need to cast far
• Shorter rods are often preferred for finesse-style techniques where you're throwing lighter presentations
• Shorter rods also work well with jerkbaits
  

• Longer rods (7 foot and up) are better if you’re looking to cast further
• Longer rods allow anglers to cover more water faster, great for Carolina rigs, swimbaits, or other techniques where you're looking to cover loads of offshore cover
• With longer rods, one can strike and take up more line. This helps with getting a crisp and clean hookset
  

Baitcasting Rod Material

The majority of quality rod blanks in today’s market are made out of graphite or carbon. Fiberglass is a material starting to go out of fashion but it still has its place. Let's look at these three.

Graphite

Graphite when used in rod construction is simply a carbon fiber that has been engineered to have structural properties that make it flexible and resistant to pressure when flexed.

Graphite blanks are more advanced than ever and they can be manufactured in a way that can suit almost any technique. This is a large reason why most of the biggest brands are sticking to graphite with all of their rods.

When buying a graphite rod, you’ve probably noticed the markers IM6, IM7, and IM8. These markers are known as the modulus, ie: the stiffness. A common misconception here is that IM8 is stiffer than IM6, however, these rods will show the same stiffness but IM8 rods are just lighter than IM6 rods.

• Graphite is known to be the ultimate in terms of flexibility and fighting power
• Graphite also provides the most sensitivity for feeling the bites or subtle takes from a fish
• The versatility is graphite is becoming evident. Brands are able to vary the action in each of their blanks, making graphite suitable for almost any technique'

Carbon

Carbon blanks are another popular trend when it comes to building bass rods. You'll often find some of the most expensive rods having a carbon blank and there are a number of reasons for this:

• Carbon is incredibly light. This is a favored characteristic in today's market as lightweight means comfort and comfort means more fishing
• It's offers as much sensitivity as graphite and arguably more
• While being incredibly light, it also has the necessary strength and toughness
  

Fiberglass

Fiberglass blanks are unique. They're old school and many still love them for technique-specific applications. For instance, many professionals still think fiberglass rods are the best for crankbait use. This is because they have a more parabolic bend which helps with getting clean hooksets on treble hooks.

Apart from the crankbait argument, fiberglass rods are beginning to go out of fashion as their characteristics and attributes can now be matched by graphite. There will however always be fiberglass purists - especially when it comes to crankbait fishing.

Action

Action is one of the key determinants of a rod's performance, and this is defined by the materials used in the rod as well as the shape.

Action in a rod is very much based on personal preference, however, fast-action rods are usually favored when it comes to bass fishing - but also, the type of lure you use will usually determine the action of the rod you should use.

Action is best described as how easily and how far from the tip a rod will bend. Rod action can be categorized into 2 classes:

• Fast/Extra Fast
• Medium/Moderate
  

Fast/Extra Fast Action

A fast action is when the rod bends on the uppermost part of the rod, close to the tip. This action gives the rod a strong backbone, vital for getting a direct hookset and getting fish away from potential threats (heavy vegetation).

• Sensitive to the lightest of bites or takes from fish
• Provides backbone for clean hooksetting on single hooks
• Strong backbone makes them great for pulling fish out of heavy cover
• Better for fishing around vegetation and cover - best for flipping and pitching
  

Medium/Moderate Action

Medium action rods will bend in the top half of the fishing rod. Medium action rods will bend in the top half of the fishing rod. The parabolic action this brings about is favored for a few techniques.

• Greater loading for further casting
• The parabolic action works best for setting treble hooks
• The ideal action for a crankbait!
  

Baitcasting Rod Power

Rod power refers to a rod’s stiffness or resistance to bending or simply the rod’s ability to handle lure weight, line and deal with different cover situations.  Rod power is characterized in the following terms:

• Medium-Light
• Medium
• Medium-Heavy
• Heavy
  

There are certain rods that will use different power ratings, however, for bass anglers - these are the usual categories.

Medium-Light

A medium-light power rod is the type of rod a bass angler may use for fishing lighter presentations such as wacky rigs, dropshot, and other finesse presentations. Keep in mind - these techniques are preferred on a spinning rod as they pretty much weightless.

This rod works best with 4-8lb test line as well as 1/16-3/16 ounce lures.

Medium

A medium power rod has become more popular for the modern day bass angler.

Medium action rods provide a parabolic action, which is ideal for reaction baits such as crankbaits. The action helps with getting a crisp hookset, especially for treble hooks.

This rod will work best with 6-12lb test and ⅛-⅜ ounce lures.

Medium-Heavy

This is the most popular rod power for bass anglers. This rod has the capability to work a large range of lures and is perfect for Texas rigs, Carolina rigs, spinnerbaits, and many more. The medium-heavy is regarded as the most versatile action when it comes to bass fishing.

A medium-heavy power rod will give anglers greater power in pulling lures and fishing out of areas of tight cover.

This power rod works ideally with 10-17 pound test, as well  as ¼-¾ ounce lures.

Heavy

The heavy power rod is used for the larger lures and gives anglers great amounts of leveraging power. This rod is great for fishing areas with large amounts of vegetation and cover.

Techniques for this rod power include flipping Texas rigs, walking frogs, and just fishing heavy vegetation in general.

The heavy power rod works great with 14-25lb, as well as ⅜-1 ½ ounce lures.

Most rods on the market today will have a line recommendation written on them - towards the butt and just above the handle. Brands will also usually give the rod power in this area too.

Line Guides

Line guides on a baitcasting rod are aligned in a lightly descending size from butt to tip, situated on top of the rod pole. The size and diameter of the line guides on a baitcaster are not as big as the line guides on a spinning rod, as the line pays out more evenly.

The number of line guides is based on the action and length of the rod. There will generally be more guides for a rod that flexes more dramatically, and less guides for a rod with less flexing (stiffer).

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The materials used for line guides vary from plastic, metal and ceramics. These materials have different characteristics in terms of performance, and will vary in cost.

• Ceramic guides are best for braided or super lines, as they are the most resistant to wear and tear. You’ll often find ceramic guides in more expensive rods, as they provide serious durability. There is however an inner material within the guide which can nullify vibrations, reducing sensitivity within the rod. This is why Recoil guides may be preferred.
  

• Recoil guides, which are made from a nickel-titanium alloy, have also become a commonly used material for upper-end line guides. This material isn’t only used on the frame, but rather the entire guide itself. These guides are just as durable as ceramic guides, and have the added advantage of increased sensitivity as there is no other material nullifying vibrations.
  

• Fuji concept guides have become another popular line guide. It uses an Alconite ring material, which is a special kind of ceramic which offers great compression strength and is actually lighter than other materials used in line guides. These line guides offer reduced abrasion and are used in more expensive rods.
  

Handle/Grip

The rod handle is where the angler holds the rod for long periods of time. This often comes down to personal preference when it comes to material used, but some materials are more durable than others - which is always a factor to consider.

• Cork is the most commonly used material for rod handles when it comes to freshwater fishing. Cork is often mounted onto a metal frame, with a trigger to improve control and enhance comfort. This gives the rod a classic, stylish look while being extremely. Cork adds little weight to the rod, giving the rod a comfortable and lightweight feel.
  

• EVA foam is another favorite material used for rod handles, and provides a dense but lightweight feel. This is a soft, shock-absorbent material that also provides water and slip resistance. This material can also be easily shaped with sandpaper, giving you the chance to create an even more ergonomic feel. This material is more resistance to stains and changes in temperature, while providing the most durability over time. Many say that EVA foam is better for sensitivity.
  

There are other materials used in casting rod handles, however, cork and EVA foam provide the best results when it comes to comfort and durability, and are the most commonly used in today’s rods.

Split grips and full handle grips are also different grip styles, which suit different techniques. Split grips are often preferred for the longer casts, while full handle grips are more comfortable for some.

Handle length is also something to consider when looking into technique-specific rods. For instance, a shorter handle would be ideal for a crankbait rod. The reason for this is that you'd want more length in the blank from your reel to your tip, in order to have better leverage for better hooksetting.

Reel Seat

This is the portion of a rod’s butt section which secures the reel. For a casting rod, the reel seat will position the reel on top of the handle/pole.

Most fishing brands in today’s market realize the importance of the reel seat, and have made sure that reels fit securely and comfortably within the handle.

Brands have also started added modern features to reel seats which add to sensitivity and comfort. Skeletal reel seats, which have direct contact to the blank of the rod, provide a slight benefit to sensitivity, which is always a bonus.