Bass fishing is one of those sports that might seem intimidating to beginners if all you have seen is the Bassmasters on TV or the “pros” on YouTube. Learning how to bass fish doesn’t have to be that complicated.
Getting started with bass fishing is easy and can be very rewarding. The excitement of your first trophy catch can lead to a lifetime of pursuing these green and brown fish.
It all starts with the right bass fishing rod. Whether that means a simple bass fishing rods spinning set up or the best fly fishing rods for bass, these reviews will have you covered.
How To Choose A Bass Fishing Rod
Choosing the proper bass fishing rods is one of the most important, yet often overlooked, factors in having success out on the water.
Use the wrong rod and you might not be able to cast as far or accurately as possible. Use the right rod and you can land a cast on a dime and work your bait the way it was intended, which will also produce you more bites, catches, and fun.
Here’s how to know if you’re getting the right rod for you.
Length
Rods can range on the tiny end from 4 feet to the gigantic end of 14 feet, but most bass fishing rods tend to run between 6 and 8 feet measured tip to butt. The general rule of rod length selection is this: shorter bass fishing rods cast shorter distances, and longer rods cast longer distances.
Shorter rods are great for fishing in close combat, when you don’t need to cast a distance.
Shorter rods are also preferable for kayak anglers looking to save space or anglers trolling for walleye or other species.
Longer rods are for covering more water and casting a great distance. They’re great for walking baits, deep diving crankbaits, and other power fishing reaction baits. Bass anglers would use a longer rod to throw walking baits or anything else they are using to cover water quickly.
Material
Rods are generally made from graphite, fiberglass, or a combination of both. The graphite rods are typically lighter and stiffer, but tend to break more easily than their fiberglass counterparts. This brittle feel and lighter weight also make them more sensitive, and are typically better at detecting light bites. The heavier fiberglass rods have much more flexibility and some are virtually unbreakable. Rods are known to come in combinations of both materials, and for the angler who fishes in several different locations and conditions, the combination is the ideal rod.
Power
A rod’s power describes how much it takes to actually bend the fishing rod. A rod with more power (sometimes referred to as taper or weight) will bend easier.
The correct combination of power and action is essential to your baits working properly. The more power, the stiffer the backbone, the less likely to bend.
You would want a rod with more power for fishing. Light or ultralight bass fishing rods are geared more at smaller species like trout and panfish as they have more bend and you can more easily detect a bite. So, not what you are looking for in a bass fishing rod.
Moderate power rods are ideal for pairing more reaction based baits like crankbaits, jerkbaits, or spinnerbaits, as well as finesse presentations where you don’t want to break the line. Heavier power rods are best suited to jigs, topwaters, frogs and anything else that requires less bend in the rod.
Look for either moderate to heavy bass fishing rods for bass fishing depending on how big a fish and how you plan to fish for it.
How To Choose The Best Fly Fishing Rods For Bass
There are so many different best fly fishing rods out there and not all of them are going to be best for bass fishing. Here are just a couple of things to look for when buying the best fly fishing rods for bass.
Line weight is the most crucial factor when it comes to the best fly fishing rods.
There are two that you should focus on.
- Fly line Weight 6: Works well for bass, small salmon and similar sized fish.
- Fly Line Weight 7: Use this line weight for all bass fishing if you want no worries. It also works well for monster trout fishing. This line weight is also popular for steelhead and small to medium sized salmon.
What About Boat Fishing Rods For Bass?
Boat fishing rods for bass that are not fly fishing rods are going to be your basic spinners.
How to choose the best one is going to be determined more by what you are targeting for bass and what kind of lures you will be using.
If you are fishing from a bass boat with a nice flat deck then you can quietly get into some honey holes so you don’t need to cast far. Shorter boat fishing rods will work fine in this scenario.
Longer boat fishing rods should be used if you plan to use a lure that needs a lot of action, or you have to make some long casts to find the fish. When you can’t get your boat in close to where the fish are then these boat fishing rods will do the trick.
Our List Of The Best Fishing Rods For Beginners
KastKing Sharky III Spinning Fishing Rod
The KastKing Sharky III combo is an exceptional value and a true performance combo! These bass fishing rods are designed for serious anglers looking for an incredible rod and one of our best reels ever. They are so easy to use that it is a perfect solution for the beginner just getting into bass fishing.
They start with a Toray IM7 rod blank in 6 lengths and actions. You are certain to find the perfect rod for how you love to fish. From 6’6” M action that is great for bass, trout or even panfish all the way to an incredible 9’ rod designed for steelhead and light salmon fishing.
To complete the bass fishing rods combo we have included the Sharky III reel. This incredibly smooth, 5.2:1 gear ratio, 10+1 ball bearing reel has a graphite frame and rotor. An aluminum spool and handle and has a powerful triple disc carbon drag.
LEW’S Fishing Mach Crush Speed Baitcaster Combo
If you are doing mostly boat fishing for bass then this baitcaster combo should be at the top of the list for your best boat fishing rods needs.
Built with durability in mind. The Lew’s Mach Crush Speed Spool SLP baitcasting rod and reel is ready to provide anglers with smooth and reliable fish-fighting power.
Each with a machined aluminum spool and strong IM8 graphite blank. this new line of Lew’s baitcasting combos is strong, sturdy, and lightweight.
Its baitcasting reel features a heavy-duty carbon-fiber drag system. Adjustable Multi-Setting Brake (MSB) dual cast control system, and a bowed aluminum 95mm. handle with oversized Winn Dri-Tac knobs.
The rod features a strong, one-piece graphite blank with split grip handles and American Tackle Airwave guides. This particular Lew’s baitcasting combo was designed for right-handed users. The reel features a 7.5:1 gear ratio with a 20 lb. max drag.
Orvis Encounter 6-Weight 9’0″ Fly Rod Outfit
If you are looking for the best fly fishing rod for beginners then look no further than the Orvis Encounter. Orvis makes some of the best fly fishing gear out there but this one stands out for its budget friendly price making it ideal for the beginner to get started with fly fishing.
Beginners will find casting the rod smooth, allowing them to cast anything from ultralight dry flies to streamers, the durable cork grip offers comfort when fishing.
It comes in 4 sections and the different models are available in a certain length coupled to certain line weight. This quality rod is well balanced, lightweight and is comfortable to use on different fishing trips.
The Encounter is a moderate or medium-action rod which ensures greater versatility, it has a flexible tip with moderate stiffness in its lower half. This allows beginners to have good line control and accuracy while fishing under diverse fishing conditions.
With Orvis’ 25 year warranty, you know that quality is there. They wouldn’t put such a long warranty if they didn’t think it would actually last.
Summary
This list of the best bass fishing rods for beginners should get you started no matter what type of fishing you plan to do. Whether it is fishing from the shore of a pond, on a boat in a lake or even fly fishing, these combos are ideal to get you started.
But, they aren’t just for newbies. When you feel like you’ve mastered bass fishing, you can still use these rods. It isn’t like you’ll outgrow them.
We picked these ones to review because of their quality and that they are easy to use without much of a learning curve.
If you want to learn more about them or have some questions about a rod not on the list then drop a line in the comment box below and I will get back to you as soon as possible!