Best Bass Fishing Rods of 2020: Complete Reviews With Comparisons
Fishing is more complicated than you think since you have to consider the pieces of equipment that you have to use.
There are different types of fishing rods, and there is a wide variety of reels to choose from, so it’s not easy to find the right tool to use.
If you are thinking about catching bass, you need to look for the best bass fishing rod.
Yes, some rods are made specifically for bass fishing, and you don’t have to set up your own rod.
If you are a beginner, this would be a big help to you.
If you want to start bass fishing as soon as possible, here are some of the top fishing rods in the market, as well as a short buying guide and FAQ to help you make the right decision.
Best Bass Fishing Rods Comparison Chart
Best Bass Fishing Rods Reviews
1. KastKing Blackhawk II Telescopic Fishing Rod
KastKing is pretty new when it comes to fishing rods, but it is one of the known companies that provide affordable and high-quality rods for bass fishing.
They manufacture innovative products, and they sell them for a very affordable price.
Product Highlights
The KastKing Blackhawk II Telescopic Fishing Rod is one of the best because it is made from high-quality fiber blanks.
The six-piece rod will be able to match the performance of a single blank, so it is definitely strong and flexible.
The rod is also made with Castflex technology that uses multi-layered carbon fiber cloth, offering the ultimate performance for catching bass.
The KastKing Blackhawk II Telescopic Fishing Rod is also straightforward to assemble because the six-piece section can be easily folded, and you can extend it within a few seconds.
There is also a safety fishhook connector that would guarantee that the rig will be intact without having to reassemble it time and time again.
KastKing is also using the best quality products for the blank and accessories.
The rod also has high-quality line guides, as well as comfortable EVA handles that make using the rod comfortable.
The KastKing Blackhawk II Telescopic Fishing Rod is available in different lengths and actions, so you will have the best combination when you are saltwater or freshwater fishing.
What to Like About It
When it comes to durability, KastKing Blackhawk II Telescopic Fishing Rod is probably one of the best in the market.
The multi-layered carbon fiber cloth would provide amazing performance and make sure that the rod would last for a long time.
What Not to Like About It
Although it is great that the KastKing Blackhawk II Telescopic Fishing Rod has extra guides, most people think that it is a bit difficult to deploy because you have to line up everything, and it would take a couple of minutes to finish it.
PROS
CONS
2. KastKing Perigee II Fishing Rods
KastKing has been extremely popular when it comes to fishing rods since they’ve always produced items with great features and the best value.
The KastKing Perigee II Fishing Rods is one of their fishing rods right now that comes at a good price.
Product Highlights
The KastKing Perigee II Fishing Rods is not only known for its affordability since KastKing used the best-quality components to make sure that you enjoy your fishing experience.
This rod is made from a 24-ton carbon matrix, and it provides strength, power, accuracy, and durability.
The KastKing Perigee II Fishing Rods would make you feel like you are using a one-piece fishing rod because of its smooth transition.
The power would be transferred smoothly through the fishing rod.
This fishing rod also has quality components.
It has Fuji O-ring line guides, Saf-T-Keeper hook holder, and graphite reel seats.
It also has high-density EVA handles that would guarantee you won’t feel stressed or pressured when you are holding on to it for a long time.
Lastly, the KastKing Perigee II Fishing Rods comes with two fishing rods, and you can get it for the same price as one piece of a fishing rod from a different brand as one piece of the fishing rod from a different brand.
It comes with two-rod tips, too, which are medium with medium-light rod tips and medium with medium-heavy rod tips.
What to Like About It
The best thing about the KastKing Perigee II Fishing Rods is that it comes with an additional fishing rod.
The price is already affordable, and you can get two fishing rods for the same price.
You would be able to save more money, and you can try catching more varieties of fish because you already have two different rods.
What Not to Like About It
The only downside of the KastKing Perigee II Fishing Rods would be its brittle tip.
There have been a lot of concerns about the tip’s durability, and it is not a good choice if you are catching bigger fish.
PROS
CONS
3. PLUSINNO Telescopic Fishing Rod
Plusinno has always been known for its creativity when it comes to its fishing rods.
A lot of anglers love to use fishing rods from this brand since they provide high-quality items while being affordable at the same time.
The PLUSINNO Telescopic Fishing Rod is one of the best products on their arsenal, and it is also one of the best telescopic fishing rods available right now.
Product Highlights
The PLUSINNO Telescopic Fishing Rod is a retractable fishing rod that would provide amazing portability because of its closed-length design.
You can retract the fishing rod and put it inside your bag or suitcase.
It is also extremely sturdy since it is made from carbon fiber, and combined with fiberglass.
Since it is made with density and flexibility, it can withstand even the hardest-hitting fish.
It also features an EVA foam grip that is both durable and inexpensive.
EVA foam can last for a longer time compared with cork, and it is very easy to clean, as well.
It will also guarantee that you would be comfortable holding it for long periods and provides better control and handling.
Although this retractable rod does not come with a reel, you can buy standard reels on the market, and it would fit perfectly.
It also includes a rod tip protective cap that would help keep the tip of the rod damage-free, especially when traveling.
What to Like About It
Portability is definitely the best feature of the PLUSINNO Telescopic Fishing Rod.
You can retract it when you are traveling and just place it inside your backpack.
What Not to Like About It
Although its retractable nature is very convenient, it can also cause inconvenience.
Some users reported that the poles usually get stuck, and they have a hard time extending or breaking it down.
PROS
CONS
4. Magreel Telescopic Fishing Rod
The Magreel Telescopic Fishing Rod, despite its affordable price tag, is a premium spinning rod that many anglers are currently using.
It is made from 24T carbon fiber, so it is very sturdy for almost any type of fishing.
Product Highlights
The Magreel Telescopic Fishing Rod is known for its durability.
Aside from carbon fiber, it also has a stainless steel line guide with a ceramic ring that would help improve heat dissipation.
If you are planning to catch fish on the sea, it has a stainless steel hooded reel seat that is resistant to water.
The Magreel Telescopic Fishing Rod also features a soft EVA handle that would guarantee the rod will not easily slip from your hands and provide comfort while using it.
Although the fishing rod is light in weight and very portable, it is strong enough to handle hard-hitting fish.
This fishing pole is suitable for inshore fishing, freshwater fishing as well as saltwater fishing and it comes in different sizes depending on your preference.
What to Like About It
The best feature of the Magreel Telescopic Fishing Rod would be its flexibility and wide range of use.
Since the rod is resistant to corrosion, you can use it for almost all bodies of water.
If you are planning to catch fish on a lake or in the sea or ocean, this rod will make it possible.
What Not to Like About It
Although this rod is resistant to corrosion, it might still be affected if you are not cleaning the rod properly.
It does not have 100% protection from corrosion, so you have to be very careful when using it in the sea.
The guide may also slide off when using it.
PROS
CONS
5. KastKing Crixus Fishing Rods
The KastKing Crixus Fishing Rods is probably the most expensive bass fishing rod on the list, but it still affordable compared with other brands due to what it can offer.
It is a more advanced fishing rod made by KastKing, and it provides a wide range of features that would help provide convenience while fishing.
Product Highlights
The KastKing Crixus Fishing Rods can provide amazing performance for a price you can afford.
It offers strong and sensitive IM6 graphite rods.
You can select a lightweight or heavy rod with varying lengths to catch any species that you can find in the water.
The KastKing Crixus Fishing Rod also features a SuperPolymer handle.
This type of handle is very comfortable to use while being extremely durable at the same time.
The handle is also slip-resistant, so you won’t have to worry about the rod slipping off your hands while catching fish.
This type of handle is usually found in more expensive rods, but you can use it with this affordable KastKing model.
It also features stainless steel guides along with zirconium oxide rings, which will guarantee that you can make a long and smooth cast.
It is also extremely durable, and it would last for a long time even after continuous usage.
Additionally, the KastKing Crixus Fishing Rod comes with 20 different models, and they also have different power, action as well as length combinations.
There is a rod made for bass fishing, trout fishing, walleye fishing, and more.
What to Like About It
The SuperPolymer handle is definitely a game-changer since it is a type of handle that you can only find in more expensive models.
It provides a fantastic grip, and it is very comfortable for your hands.
The stainless steel guides are incredibly sturdy, and they won’t snap easily.
What Not to Like About It
Although the KastKing Crixus Fishing Rods can be used on saltwater, it does not have any corrosion resistance feature.
PROS
CONS
Buyer’s Guide
There are various brands and models of fishing rods in the market, but it is pretty hard to pinpoint which one would provide a better experience for you when you are bass fishing.
Some people would say that it is just a matter of getting used to, but looking for a fishing rod made explicitly for bass fishing should be your main priority.
Here are some of the features to consider to help you choose the right one:
1. Action
When you talk about rod action, this is about the stiffness or the flexibility of the rod.
Basically, if you are going to fish for bass, there are four different types to choose from, including:
- Slow Action: This type of rod has the best flexibility among the rest since the entire length of the rod would bend completely. This is a good choice if you are only targeting small bass and if you want to use small lures or baits.
- Moderate Action: This type of rod would bend up to its middle portion, so it is often used along with the light fishing line. This type of rod would allow you to cast lures easily compared with stiffer rods.
- Fast Action: This type of rod is pretty much the same as the moderate action rod, but it has less flexibility. It can provide power and flexibility that freshwater anglers can benefit from.
- Extra-fast Action: This kind of fishing rod only bends at the tip so it would be more sensitive to vibrations, especially when a fish bites on the lure. This is a good choice if you want to fish heavy cover and lure the bass, and if you want to catch bigger bass.
2. Rod Power
The power of the rod pertains to the amount of strength required to bend the rod.
If you plan to catch bigger fish, you need a rod that would not bend easily, so you have to get something with a higher power.
Rod power currently has five categories, and you should learn about them if you want to start your bass fishing.
- Ultra-Light: The test fishing line would be one to four pounds, and you can only use tiny lures for this.
- Light: The test fishing line would be around four to eight pounds, and you can use small lures.
- Medium: The test fishing line should be four to 12 pounds, and you can use medium-sized baits.
- Medium-Heavy: The test fishing line would be eight to 14 pounds, and the lure can be 0.5 to 1.5 ounces.
- Heavy: The test fishing line should be 15 to 25 pounds, and the lure would be the same with medium-heavy.
If you are going to catch bass, you can choose medium to heavy rod power, but if you are going to catch smallmouth bass, you can opt for lower power.
3. Casting Rod or Spinning Rod
When it comes to bass fishing, casting rod should always be your first choice.
Even if you ask professional anglers, they will always point you to a casting rod because they can handle heavy lines and lures.
They also can handle larger and aggressive bass, but spinning rods are not completely useless.
Although they are not commonly used for bass fishing, they do have their strong points.
If you are targeting fishing spots that are pretty hard to reach, spinning rods would be a great choice since they provide better accuracy.
4. Fishing Rod Materials
When you are looking for a fishing rod, no matter what type of fish you plan to catch, you should pay attention to the type of material the rod is made from, and your three choices are:
- Fiberglass: This is the cheapest type of rod available in the market. They don’t have a lot of power and sensitivity, and they might flex from the tip all through the endpoint of the rod when you are lifting a fish. Thus, if you are catching bass, this is not a good choice.
- Graphite: Graphite rods are more expensive compared with fiberglass, and it is pricey because of its weight. This rod is very light in weight and is the best choice when you are fishing in bad weather.
- Composite: This type of rod is a combination of graphite and fiberglass. This would allow you to get the sensitivity and low weight without compromising the durability of your rod.
5. Rod Length
If you are planning to buy a bass fishing rod, you should try fishing rods that are six to seven feet long.
If you want a longer rod, you should go for the ones that are about seven to nine feet long.
When you are choosing the rod length, there are a few things that you have to remember, such as:
- Casting Distance: If you need a rod that you can cast on a short distance, you should get a shorter rod, while longer rods are the best choice for long-distance casting. If you plan to cast at a distance of 30 feet or more, get a long rod.
- Type of Bait: If you will use small to medium bait, a short rod would be a good choice. On the contrary, if you plan to use heavier lures and get bigger bass, you have to get a long rod.
- Place of Casting: If you will cast the rod from a higher point, a small rod is a good choice. If you do not have any height advantage, you need a longer rod to make up for it.
FAQs
1. What Size Rod Is Good for Bass Fishing?
The usual size of the rod for bass fishing is six to seven feet.
That is if you will use a short rod.
For a longer rod, you need about seven to nine feet.
2. What Is the Best Setup for Bass Fishing?
When you are bass fishing, there are four rigs that you can choose from: Carolina rig, Texas rig, drop shot rig, and the NED rig.
3. Does the Color of the Fishing Line Matter?
Yes, this is very important when bass fishing because bass can see your fishing line.
Experts usually recommend using fluorocarbon line since it is harder to see in the water.
However, the line color that you will use should depend on the place where you are planning to catch bass.
4. How Do I Choose a Rod Length?
The length of the rod should be chosen based on the type of bass that you want to catch.
If you are only catching smallmouth bass, you can use a short rod with a length ranging from six to seven feet.
If you plan to catch bigger bass, you can go for sizes ranging from seven to nine feet.
5. What Does a Medium-Heavy Rod Mean?
The medium-heavy rod is the best type of rod for catching different types of fish.
It is not too flexible and not too stiff, so it is a popular choice for most professional anglers who don’t want to change rods more often.
Final Verdict
Among the list of fishing rod models that we mentioned above, the KastKing Blackhawk II Telescopic Fishing Rods is the best of the best bass fishing rod.
Although it would take time for you to deploy it because of the extra guides, it is not actually a bad thing.
Having extra guides provide you with better stability when catching bass.
