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Our gear experts spent many daylight hours testing fishing rods from brands like St. Croix, Daiwa, KastKing, and more to determine which rods are the best
We fished for weeks with these poles to decipher the best from the rest.
Ready to haul in the catch of the day? We took an in-depth look at today's market, bought 9 of the best spinning rods, and spent time at our favorite fishing holes with each to make the right choice when it comes to your next spinning rod. Our experts tested these rods in a wide range of environments, from bays to lakes to rivers. We made detailed notes on how each performed in metrics like features, versatility, and portability. Whether you're looking for superior quality or exceptional value, our hands-on evaluations will help you choose the perfect fishing rod.
If you're a water lover, our best water gear review is a great place to start to help you get geared up for your next adventure. To complete your fishing kit, check out the best fishing lines, best fishing reels, and the top-rated fishing nets from our testing. We've also tested a selection of the best coolers to help you keep your catch fresh. If you're camping out and planning to have your catch for dinner, take a look at our picks for the best portable grills.
Editor's Note: We updated our fishing rod review on April 5, 2024, to share more insight on our testing process and include alternative picks for each award winner.
The top spot in our review goes to the St. Croix Triumph Travel fishing rod due to its winning combination of versatility, features, and balance. The great feel of this rod allowed us to sense the tiniest bites and easily set the hook. This rod cast further and with more accuracy than most other models in our test. It's also portable, breaking into four pieces and packing into a travel case, which is a big plus for those who like to go on fishing adventures. The cork composition of the handle offered a comfortable, nostalgic feel in hand and allowed for notable balance. No question, the St. Croix is an unmistakably high-quality product.
So what's the catch? To be honest, we don't have many gripes with this rod. Disassembling and reassembling it definitely isn't as intuitive as some of the other contenders since there are so many pieces. We also noticed that the arms attaching the line guides to the rod are thin metal, and we accidentally bent one of these guides in transportation. It easily bent back, but over time, this could result in stress breakage. We think these are pretty minor issues overall. The St. Croix Triumph Travel proves to be an excellent all-around rod and our top recommendation. If you want something a little cheaper, check out the PLUSINNO Carbon Fiber Telescopic, which offers great sensitivity and is portable thanks to its telescoping profile.
Our testers used a force meter to test the manufacturer's claims about maximum weight that the rods can handle. The St. Croix Triumph Travel withstood the 13lbs of force that it's built to handle, even though our line snapped shortly thereafter. The rod tip went flying 100', but the rod maintained integrity.
Length Tested: 5'11" | Casting Weight: 1/4-22/25 oz
REASONS TO BUY
Easily portable
Excellent sensitivity
Durable construction
Affordable
REASONS TO AVOID
No built-in hook holder
Segments may stick if extended too far
Sometimes, you need to travel to find the big fish, which is where the Plusinno Carbon Fiber Telescopic rod shines. This spinning rod stores down to a minimal 17.5" and extends to 5'11". The process takes just a few seconds. It has a sensitive feel and great balance for a telescoping rod. We had no trouble sensing the lure in the water and detecting bites. Also, this rod is one of the most durable that we tested. Although it weighs a bit more due to the beefed-up metal components, it should last a long time if care is taken.
Our only real complaint with this rod is its lack of built-in features. While it covered all the basics, it didn't have some of the other rods' standard features, like hook holders. Another often repeated complaint about this rod is that the segments stick in the extended position. This was only an issue, however, when we used a lot of force to extend the segments. Otherwise, it collapsed without issue. When it did stick, we were forced to encourage the segment back in with a pair of pliers, which resulted in some scarring of the rod. In this situation, we would recommend using a piece of cloth between the pliers and the rod to reduce marring. If you're seeking a highly portable and durable rod that casts well and is highly sensitive, the Plusinno Carbon Fiber Telescopic is your rod. The KastKing Blackhawk II Telescopic is another telescoping rod we liked. It's versatile and offers great sensitivity.
Our local guide, Gavi, showing us how to land bass with the Plusinno Carbon Fiber Telescopic rod. This rod performed well in lakes and rivers, but doesn't have the weight for ocean fishing.
If you want a rod that can do it all without breaking the bank, check out the PLUSINNO Two-Piece Spinning Rod. This rod lacks some of the portability found in our favorite models, but it makes up for this with balance and features. The ergonomic cork handle was one of our favorites and made all-day fishing a breeze. Speaking of the handle, this rod features an excellent reel seat that keeps the reel locked in tightly. It is also a great casting rod, with the line running smoothly through the guides on every cast.
We do have some minor complaints, though. While it held up well during our testing, the lightweight materials may not be as durable as some of the other rods we tested, so you may have to be a little more careful when handling this one. It also doesn't pack down as small as we'd prefer. But if these issues aren't enough to deter you from saving some cash, we recommend picking up the PLUSINNO Two-Piece Spinning rod at a low price for a great product. However, we sometimes find it's out of stock. If you're having trouble locating one, we also like the KastKing Blackhawk II Telescopic, which is more portable than the Plusinno and only costs a few bucks more.
While not as portable as a telescopic rod, the PLUSINNO Two-Piece Spinning offers exceptional sensitivity and versatility at an accessible price.
If you need a well-built, lightweight fishing rod that's easy to tote to your favorite fishing hole, look no further than the Ugly Stik Elite. Don't let its small size fool you. It's perfectly strong and has impressive fighting power, which was proven on several occasions when we hauled in fish that were seemingly too big for this rod. This Ugly Stik was also versatile enough for different fishing styles, whether it be dropping a hook with a worm on it or just casting with a lure. It was also one of the best when it came to balancing, sitting comfortably in our hands all day long.
Although the upsides were plentiful, there were a few downsides to consider. This rod is on the small side, so the casting distance takes a hit. This is to be expected due to the rod's size, but it's still something to think about if most of your fishing involves casting. It also has a fairly short handle, which makes two-handed use a little more difficult. Overall, this rod is a pleasure to use. So, if you need a small rod that can handle the rigors of everyday fishing, you might want to give the Ugly Stik Elite a try. Those looking for a longer rod might try the KastKing Perigee II.
If it's smaller fish you're after, the Ugly Stik Elite is your best option. Its compact size, exceptional feel, and impressive fighting power combine to give you the upper hand.
Credit: Stephanie Chavez
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How We Test Fishing Rods
Our testing grounds spanned the California coastlines, rivers, and lakes from north to south, to the Mountain West, and even ranged to the great northern lakes of MN, where our testers fished from both shorelines and boats to determine how each rod performed in different environments. Dozens of fish were hooked in the process of testing these rods, helping us decipher key performance differences between the contenders. Each fishing rod was taken out into the fields and streams over a season to gain insight into the features that affect performance, as well as the versatility and portability. Professional anglers were also consulted, and their feedback was taken into consideration. We assessed these rods side by side to figure out how they measured up to each other comparatively. The rankings and recommendations found in this review were informed by these in-depth comparisons and field testing.
Our fishing rod testing is divided into five rating metrics:
Balance & Feel (25% of overall score weighting)
Durability & Construction (25% weighting)
Portability (20% weighting)
Features (15% weighting)
Versatility (15% weighting)
Why Trust GearLab
Kit Smith, our lead reviewer, has been fishing for most of his life. He grew up fishing for salmon and halibut in the San Francisco Bay and the nearby Pacific Ocean. He also spent time fishing streams and lakes in Bear Valley, a small mountain town in the Central Sierras, where his family had a cabin. Later, he continued perfecting his angling craft in Colorado, where he attended college.
Jon Oleson, joined the rod testing team in 2023. Jon grew up fishing the lakes and streams of the Mountain West. Some of his best memories are of drifting the Green and Snake Rivers in Utah and Idaho fly fishing for trout with his dad. More recently, Jon has been enjoying getting out to fish the lakes and rivers with his two young children, who are already landing decent-sized bass with full-sized rods.
Although it wasn't the most sensitive rod in the lineup, the KastKing was having no trouble landing bass out on the lake.
Our testers sometimes waded into the water to get out to those holes where the fish were biting. All to bring you the most comprehensive rod review out there.
The Plusinno Carbon Fiber Telescopic is a good size and weight for the kiddos. Seen here landing a bass in one of Minnesota's northern lakes.
Analysis and Test Results
With the right gear, Mother Nature offers countless ways to adventure, exercise, and bond with friends and family. Having the right fishing rod for the day can make or break your adventure, so it's important to carefully consider the type of rod you need, whether it's a top-of-the-line high-performance model or a budget-friendly model to be used by a beginner.
Value
As the old adage goes: When you buy cheap, you buy twice. Case in point here is the KastKing Blackhawk II Telescopic. Its glass tip broke after a few uses, and we had to order another one. We didn't have any problems with the second rod, so we'll chalk it up to getting a lemon. Overall, we ended up really enjoying this rod for its versatility, portability, and exceptional balance. The real stand-outs for their great price-to-performance ratio were the PLUSINNO Two-Piece Spinning Rod and the Plusinno Carbon Fiber Telescopic rod, which are ultra-affordable and surprised us with their great functionality on the water.
Balance & Feel
A rod's balance is a crucial component to consider. It not only helps with casting, but it also makes fishing a whole lot more comfortable. If the balance is off, the weight of the rod will be shifted to the rod tip or handle, and you'll notice it. Feel is also an important metric here. Feel comes down to the sensitivity of the rod. If a rod has a great feel, you can sense the smallest bites and the action of a lure in the water.
While telescoping rods don't traditionally provide great balance and feel, the Plusinno Carbon Fiber Telescopic was an exception. It was extremely comfortable to fish with and let us sense every little movement in the water. A stand out amongst the two-piece rods was the KastKing Perigee II, which had excellent balance and a stiffness that lent to long casting.
Testing the balance of the KastKing Perigee II with reel. This particular rod has a nice balance and feel, and the stiffness lends to long casts.
Credit: Jon Oleson
As far as the most well-balanced and sensitive rod goes, the St. Croix Triumph Travel, the Plusinno Carbon Fiber Telescopic, and the Ugly Stik Elite were neck and neck. While the St. Croix Triumph Travel is the most balanced and sensitive fishing rod we tested, letting you feel everything that was happening underwater, the Plusinno and Ugly Stik was right there with it. With all these rods, we could sense the tiniest nibble and set the hook with ease.
In addition to field testing, our testers measured and compared the sensitivity of the rods using objective methods that showed us how much the rod tip moves with consistent vibration. The Plusinno Carbon Fiber Telescopic proved to be one of the most sensitive rods that we compared.
Credit: Jon Oleson
Durabilty & Construction
Construction informs Durability, which is why we coupled them for this metric. Some of the contenders stood out for being composed of high-quality materials, yet lost points for features that lessened the durability. Conversely, some rods were made from cheaper materials but stood out in terms of durability due to reinforced components.
In addition to noting construction and durability advantages and failures from our field testing, we conducted objective in-house testing to make sure these rods measured up to the manufacturer's claims. One such test was the weight test, where we used a force meter to bend the rod to the max line-weight force listed to ensure that it doesn't break.
The true king of construction is the St. Croix Triumph Travel. Built with a unique graphite fiber, this rod provided incredible sensitivity and fighting power. Of course, that quality doesn't come cheap — it also comes with a high price tag. This rod also received a lower score in durability due to the plastic reel seat. We also had some issues with the line guides bending due to the thin metal that affixes them to the rod. These features cut down on weight and also lessen the amount of abuse this rod will take. This rod is well worth the cost, but you may have to baby it to last a lifetime.
The line guide arms on the St. Croix Triumph Travel rod are made of thin metal and easily bend. They did easily bend back, but we anticipate stress breakage over time if this continues to happen.
Credit: Jon Oleson
There were other standouts in this metric. The Plusinno Carbon Fiber Telescopic was clearly built to last among the telescopic poles. Its carbon fiber construction combines strength and sensitivity to pick up little nibbles on our lures and bait. We were also impressed with the reinforced line guides, which are certainly constructed for a lifetime of fishing use and abuse. One thing to note when using this rod is that the segments may become stuck in the extended position if too much force is used to extend the rod. This only happened once during testing, and we had to use a set of pliers to coax the rod tip back into the collapsed position.
The Plusinno Carbon Fiber Telescopic rod got extra points for the reinforced line guides. These aren't likely to bend, as we saw with some other contenders.
During testing the tip section of the Plusinno Carbon Fiber Telescopic rod got stuck in the extended position. We used a set of pliers to encourage it back in, which caused some scarring on the rod. If this happens we recommend using a rag between the pliers and the rod.
The Plusinno Carbon Fiber Telescopic received points for the reinforced line guides that increase durability but lost points for construction when our rod tip became stuck in the extended position.
Portability
This is a crucial metric if you plan on traveling with your rod. Of course, it's hard to beat a telescoping rod for portability, but some of the two-piece rods we tested were quite easy to take apart and put back together. The Cadence Fishing CR5 was one of these, and it made transporting a breeze.
This may not be a telescoping rod, but the Cadence Fishing CR5 made transporting easy by breaking down into two short sections.
Credit: Kit Smith
One of the most portable rods we tested was our award-winning Plusinno Carbon Fiber Telescopic. It was one of the smallest and easiest to transport of our test fleet. But some of the other telescoping rods were just as portable, including the KastKing Blackhawk II Telescopic. If portability is important to you, we suggest trying out one of these rods.
If you want a very versatile fishing rod that travels well, the KastKing Blackhawk II is just what you need.
Credit: Kit Smith
Although it's not telescopic, the St. Croix Triumph Travel was a standout in this category. This rod breaks down into four pieces and comes with a padded, easy-to-pack travel case.
The St. Croix Triumph Travel rod fits nicely in its padded travel case.
Credit: Jon Oleson
Features
This metric is sometimes overlooked when considering a fishing rod. Sure, you can get the job done without all the bells and whistles, but smart features can make the experience even better. What kind of features are we talking about? Things like a cork grip, hook holder, and oversized guides. But having a lot of features doesn't automatically make it a winner here. They have to be features that really work and add to the fishing experience. This category's standout is the PLUSINNO Two-Piece Spinning, with an abundance of useful features. A couple of our favorites? The oversized ceramic guides helped guide the line smoothly for long casts, and the double locking structure on the reel seat held the reel tightly in place and never loosed up, even after bumpy boat rides.
With our favorite handle, the St. Croix Triumph Travel also proved strong in this metric. Some of these rods have foam handles, but this one features a premium cork handle that fits perfectly in hand and makes all-day fishing comfort a reality.
If you want to fish all day without any fatigue, the Cadence Fishing CR5's ergonomic cork handle is just what you need.
Credit: Kit Smith
Some of the rods we tested had add-on features that were not built into the rod. One such example is the Plusinno Carbon Fiber Telescopic, which comes with a detachable hook-keeper and a tip protector to ensure that your rod survives long-distance travel to your favorite fishing locations.
When it comes to accessories, the Plusinno Carbon Fiber Telescopic rod has a few to boast. Among them, the plastic tip protector and detachable hook keeper.
Credit: Jon Oleson
Versatility
Another important metric to consider is versatility. And in this category, not all rods are created equal. Some are specifically made for fishing off the bottom of a lake, while others are made just for casting in saltwater environments.
The KastKing Blackhawk II Telescopic is a clear winner here. With its equally great performance in both fresh and saltwater, exceptional casting distance and sensitivity, and impressive fighting power, it can handle everything from small trout to large sea bass.
As the most versatile rod we tested, the KastKing Blackhawk II Telescopic was equally adept in fresh and saltwater environments.
Credit: Stephanie Chavez
In comparison, while it's built with quality in mind, the Ugly Stik Elite is really only made for freshwater fishing. Its fast action and light power design were clear indications of this. With that said, its versatility score took a hit.
The Ugly Stik Elite excelled in its intended environment, but outside of that it wasn't a very versatile rod.
Credit: Stephanie Chavez
Similarly, the (relatively) short and sensitive Plusinno Carbon Fiber Telescopic rod is well-built for rivers and lakes but doesn't have the weight for ocean fishing.
The paddle board was an easy way to reach the fish jumping out in the middle of the lake. Seen here, one of our testers casts lines to compare the contenders.
Credit: Jon Oleson
Conclusion
Selecting the right fishing rod puts the odds in your favor. Your personal fishing style and local bodies of water are important considerations. Do you plan to spend most of your days dropping a line off a boat, or will you be casting from the shoreline more often? Whatever it is, there's a rod here designed just for you. We hope this article has been helpful in selecting a rod for your next adventure. Now, all that's left to do is plan that next fishing trip, get out there, and snag that trophy fish.
