"Best bass rod" depends on what's tied on. A rod that's perfect for a drop shot will lose fish on a frog, and a flipping stick will kill your casting distance with a crankbait. Most bass anglers end up with three or four rods, each matched to a group of lures. Here's how to build that lineup.
How we chose: Venator has not field-tested these rods ourselves. Picks are matched on length, power, action and the maker's stated use, from rods we carry and have in stock.
How to choose a bass rod
- Power is how much the rod bends under load. Light and medium-light for finesse; medium for all-around; medium-heavy and heavy for jigs, Texas rigs and cover.
- Action is where it bends. Fast and extra-fast tips set single hooks quickly. Moderate actions and glass blanks keep treble hooks pinned on crankbaits.
- Length: 6'6" to 7' for accuracy and skipping; 7'3" to 7'6" for longer casts and hooksets at distance; 7'8" and up for big swimbaits and heavy rigs.
- Spinning or casting: spinning for light lures and light line, casting for heavier lures, heavier line and more control.
If you only buy one: an all-purpose bass rod
Old 18 Kinetic 7'3" Medium Heavy Casting Rod ($129)
A 7'3" medium-heavy, fast-action casting rod on a 30-ton carbon blank with coated stainless guides. It covers the widest range of bass lures in one rod: jigs, Texas rigs, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and swim jigs. Another good all-purpose option is the Kistler Argon ($100), Kistler's entry-level rod with a cork handle, in medium to heavy powers.
Best rods for finesse: drop shot, Ned rig and shaky head
Pulse Simply Finesse 6'10" Spinning Rod ($149)
Extra-fast action, rated for 4 to 10 lb line and 1/16 to 1/2 oz. Designed around drop shots, Ned rigs and light jigs. For a lower-priced finesse stick, the Old 18 Kinetic 6'10" Medium Light Spinning Rod ($129) is the same length with a fast tip.
Best rods for jigs, flipping and heavy cover
Favorite Fishing Andy Morgan Pro Battle Flipping Rod ($89.99)
A 7'6" heavy, fast-action flipping stick on 36-ton Toray carbon, rated for 3/8 to 1 1/2 oz and 12 to 20 lb line. Designed with pro angler Andy Morgan for pulling bass out of pads and reeds. At under $90 it's the value pick here. If you want a heavier line rating, the Pulse Slack Liner ($189) is a 7'6" heavy rated for 12 to 25 lb, built for flipping, football jigs and spoons.
Best rod for crankbaits
Favorite Fishing Phat Glass Cranking Rod ($149.99)
A glass-composite cranking rod in 7', 7'4" and 7'6", moderate-fast. Glass loads slowly, so fish get the treble hooks before you react, and it keeps them pinned during the fight.
Best rod for jerkbaits
Kistler Jerkbait Rod ($250)
Short rod, short handle, in casting and spinning versions, designed for working jerkbaits without slapping the water or your forearm. Popular with anglers fishing jerkbaits over forward-facing sonar.
Best rod for bait finesse (BFS)
Old 18 Kinetic 7'0" Ultra Light Casting Rod ($129)
An ultralight casting rod for throwing tiny lures on baitcasting gear: small cranks, light jigs and tubes for pressured bass. Pair it with a BFS-capable baitcast reel.
Best rod for glide baits and big swimbaits
Kistler Glide Bait Rod ($400)
A 7'6" heavy casting rod designed around glide baits and big swimbaits for trophy bass. Stock is very limited.
Finish the setup
Match spinning rods with a spinning reel and casting rods with a baitcast reel, or browse every model on our Bass Rods page.
For where bass hold in summer, see the thermocline map and summer bass and catfish patterns. Need something cheaper? Our best fishing rods under $100 has bass picks. Fishing for crappie too? See our crappie rod guide.
