Most experienced anglers know a good day out on the water is only as good as your fishing gear. From rods and reels to line and lures, it’s important that you have good quality equipment that is a good fit for your style of fishing. With so much fishing gear on the market, however, it’s tough to know what is worthwhile and what to leave behind. In this article we’ll consider some of the best fishing rods available in 2019.
Whether you’re a novice or an experienced angler looking for long-range performance, you’ll want the best fishing rod you can find. To help you make an informed decision we have looked at some of the best fishing rods from some of today’s leading brands. From low-end package deals to high-end expert models, this article has something for everyone.
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Best Fishing Rods FAQ
1. What Are the Top Fishing Rod Brands?
There are many great fishing rod manufacturers today, and some leading brands include UglyStik, KastKing, Shimano, Penn, Pflueger, and St. Croix.
2. What Do the Best Fishing Rods Do?
In the simplest terms, a good fishing rod is any rod that helps you land the fish you’ve hooked. The best fishing rods will work with spinning, casting, and fly reels and you’ll want to look carefully to ensure that your rod is compatible with your reel.
3. How Do the Best Fishing Rods Work?
Manufacturers makes today’s fishing rods with a combination of synthetic and natural materials like carbon fiber, fiberglass, wood, and metals. The best fishing rods on today’s market have exceptional strength without unnecessary weight and bulk.
4. Where Can You Buy Them?
Most outdoor retailers including Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, and Dick’s Sporting Goods will carry a good selection of quality fishing rods. These days Amazon usually has a nice selection.
5. How Do You Choose the Right Fishing Rod?
There are many factors that go into choosing the right fishing rod. Your budget, the kind of fishing you’ll be doing, the brand, materials, performance, and aesthetic style are all important things to consider when you’re looking for a new rod.
How We Reviewed
Photo by Lum3n.com from Pexels
For this review we selected 10 of the best fishing rods that represent a wide variety of products available on the market today. We considered their features, price, and availability. We have also provided a few pros and cons for each rod to give a quick reference as you go, and besides these breakdowns we have also selected one overall top pick from the list.This is not necessarily the best rod for every single angler on the water, but rather a product we feel has a superb combination of performance, price, and quality.
What We Reviewed
- UglyStik GX2 Spinning Rod
- KastKing New KastKat Catfish Rods
- Denali Rods Attax Heavy Spinning One-Piece Rod
- Shakespeare Micro Spinning Rod
- Pflueger President Spinning Fishing Reel and Fishing Rod
- Penn Spinfisher V & VI Spinning Reel & Rod Combo
- 13 Fishing Fate Black Gen 2 Casting Rod
- SHIMANO Curado Crankbait Casting Rods
- St. Croix Legend X Spinning Rod
- Tailwater Outfitters Toccoa Fly Rod
UglyStik GX2 Spinning Rod
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Features
The UglyStik GX2 Spinning Rod is an excellent, budget-friendly option for anyone who needs high performance at a reasonable, affordable price. This rod features UglyStik’s Ugly Tuff one piece stainless steel guides along with the brand’s signature clear tip for strength and durability. It’s made of graphite and fiberglass for maximum strength and low weight.
PROS
- Single piece line guides
- Strong and light
- Good value
- Signature look
CONS
- Single pole construction could make packing harder
Where to Buy
This product can be found on Amazon.
Best For
This is a versatile rod good for anyone from beginners to experts.
KastKing New KastKat Catfish Rods
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Features
The KastKat rod from KastKing is ideal for dedicated catfish anglers who need great value and quality performance. These fishing rods are made with KastKing’s linear S-Glass construction and they feature an orange colored tip to enhance strike detection even in low light conditions.
PROS
- Stainless steel line guides
- S-glass construction
- High-visibility orange tip for a great strike detection
CONS
- Cross-wrapped rubber handle may break down over time
Where to Buy
This product can be found on Amazon.
Best For
This is a great choice for those who need a dedicated catfish rod but don’t want to break the bank.
Denali Rods Attax Heavy Spinning One-Piece Rod
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Features
Denali’s Attax is a strong and powerful one-piece rod for bait-casting anglers who need added performance. This rod features many premium add-ons like a woven graphite inlay, Winn grip, and a skeleton reel seat. The overall product is a premium grade casting rod that gives an excellent feel and strength to back it up.
PROS
- Single piece construction for strength
- Graphite inlay
- Winn Grip
CONS
- Could be cost-prohibitive for new casting anglers
Where to Buy
This product can be found on Amazon.
Best For
These rods are great for beginners and kids as well as experienced anglers who need an ultralight option for backcountry missions.
Shakespeare Micro Spinning Rod
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Features
Shakepeare’s Micro spinning rod is the first entry in the ultralight category on our list of the best fishing rods of 2019. These are well-made, inexpensive rods made from graphite composite. They come in a range of sizes and have a conventional spinning reel seat that offers a great deal of versatility.
PROS
- Stainless steel line guides
- Excellent quality for the price
- Versatile with any light line and lures
- Excellent for kids and beginners
CONS
- Limited to lightweight tackle
- Lower performance than some comparable spinning rods
Where to Buy
This product can be found on Amazon.
Best For
These rods are great for beginners and kids as well as experienced anglers who need an ultralight option for backcountry missions.
Pflueger President Spinning Fishing Reel and Fishing Rod
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Features
Pflueger’s President spinning combo set is a great option for those who need an all-in-one package that is reliable and reasonably priced. The manufacturer geared this setup for medium weight anglers who may want to sling crank bait or dip a worm in a trout stream. The IM-8 graphite rod and stainless steel reel feature higher-end components than you may expect for the price, including corrosion resistant ball bearings in the reel.
PROS
- Excellent price for a quality combo
- Graphite cuts down weight
- Corrosion resistant bearings and stainless steel reel
CONS
- The gapped cork grip may be uncomfortable over a full day
Where to Buy
This product can be found on Amazon.
Best For
Beginners getting their first setup or experienced anglers who need a new mid-weight rig.
Penn Spinfisher V & VI Spinning Reel & Rod Combo
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Features
Penn’s Spinfisher V and VI spinning combos provide a great choice for anglers seeking a performance option ready for either saltwater or freshwater. The Spinfisher reel is sealed to keep out harmful salt and features a shielded five-bearing crank system for ultra-smooth casting and retrieves. These features coupled with Penn’s HT-100 Slammer drag make this a great combo for premium-minded anglers.
PROS
- Sealed reel for saltwater use
- Smooth gears
- Premium HT-100 drag
CONS
- More expensive than some comparable combo kits
Where to Buy
This product can be found on Amazon.
Best For
This is a great combo deal for anglers who need a high-performance rig and will spend a little extra for Penn’s trusted reputation.
13 Fishing Fate Black Gen 2 Casting Rod
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Features
The 13 Fishing Fate Black Gen 2 casting rod offers premium features and a unique aesthetic for anglers that want a real edge. Besides the bright green finish, this rod boasts a low-resin blank construction, stainless steel reel seat, zirconium encircled line guides, and handles made from hand-selected Portuguese cork.
PROS
- Premium cork from Portugal
- Lightweight with excellent action
- Added power for long casting
- Reasonably priced for premium features
CONS
- Neon green color will put off purists
Where to Buy
This product can be found on Amazon.
Best For
This is one of the best fishing rods for casting anglers who want premium features and a one-of-a-kind look.
SHIMANO Curado Crankbait Casting Rods
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Features
Like the Curado line of reels, Shimano’s Curado crankbait rods are a top choice for experienced anglers. These rods feature hybrid high-modulus UD carbon with Nano-resin blanks and Fuji components throughout. Their premium line guides feature Alconite rings to minimize friction on your cast and gain maximum launch capability with heavy crankbaits.
PROS
- Premium quality for high performance
- Carbon and nano-resin blanks
- Low-resistance guide rings
CONS
- Expensive
- Probably more rod than most casual anglers need
Where to Buy
This product can be found on Amazon.
Best For
This rod is great for advanced anglers that are already familiar with the Curado line.
St. Croix Legend X Spinning Rod
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Features
The Legend X spinning rod from St. Croix is a pro-grade rod made for those who want nothing but the best. It’s made using St. Croix’s proprietary Integrated Poly Curve technology and high-modulus SCVI graphite with FRS in the lower portion of the rod for ultra-high responsiveness and strength.
For this model, St. Croix has added Advanced Reinforcing Technology (ART) and Taper Enhancement Technology (TET) for a rig that’s ready for big fish and big fights.
PROS
- SCVI graphite
- Poly Curve construction
- Enhance taper from tip to butt
CONS
- Very Expensive
- Performance features will probably only appeal to high-level anglers and pros
Where to Buy
This product can be found on Amazon.
Best For
This rod is made with the highest level features available for expert and professional anglers.
Tailwater Outfitters Toccoa Fly Rod
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Features
Tailwater’s Toccoa marks the first and only entry for fly-fishing rods on our list of the best fishing rods of 2018. This is a nine-foot rod made of high quality IM8 Graphite, and it’s available in both 3/4 weight and 8 weight for those who want to sling large poppers and terrestrial flies. Other performance features include ceramic stripping guides, chrome snake guides, and a molded carry tube to get your rig to the river and back again safely.
PROS
- Good value with a case
- Multi-piece rod for ease of transport
- High-grade carbon for an easy strike detection
CONS
- Only two weights
- Milled reel slot could face threading issues
Where to Buy
This product can be found on Amazon.
Best For
This rod is a good option for those making the jump into fly-fishing, or experienced anglers who want another weight rod or a back-up to have on-hand.
The Verdict
Image by Kathryn Archibald via Pexels
Fishing is one of mankind’s greatest pastimes, and it’s an activity that’s still enjoyed by outdoor enthusiasts all over the world every day. However, choosing the right fishing gear can be deeply personal, and finding the best fishing rod for you will ultimately depend on a combination of factors.
Making sure it has the right features for the style of fishing you plan to do, the price, experience level needed, your aesthetic taste, and even the rod’s physical size will all help determine which fishing rod is right for you However, our favorite product from our list of the best fishing rods in 2019 is the 13 Fishing Fate Black Gen 2.
The 13 Fishing Fate Black Gen 2 could be a controversial choice for some anglers if only because of its neon green color. Such a bold aesthetic choice may not be the move for some traditional anglers, but for others, it could mark a bold new era of fishing rods made for a forward-thinking class.
Beyond the color, this rod boasts several premium components that are often reserved for rods in a higher price class. If you’re looking for a premium rod that makes a statement and won’t break the bank, then look no further than the 13 Fishing Fate Black Gen 2.
Featured image by Kaique Rocha via Pexels.
Last update on 2025-06-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API