10 Best Casting Rods 2020 [Buying Guide]

Your Authors and Guides

Heather
Patton

Jennifer
Trimbee

Samantha
Dewitt

How to Choose the Best Casting Rod

Casting rods are special types of fishing rods that are meant to hold casting reels. This allows the line to run smoothly from your rod, giving you greater distance when casting. These rods can be a variety of lengths and weights, as well. We’ve gathered a list of the best casting rods for a variety of different fishing types. Here are some things you should know before we get to these amazing casting rods.

Material: What is the rod made of? Fiberglass is more flexible, where carbon fiber is a lightweight material that is actually pretty strong. This is important to the type of fishing you’ll be doing.

Length: How long is the rod? This can factor into a few different fishing physics, but ultimately you should choose the rod that feels the most comfortable for you and the type of fish you’re attempting to catch.

Line Weight: The line weight gives you two values. The first will tell you when the rod starts to really work to bring in a fish, and the second is the point where the rod can’t bend anymore without breaking.

# of Guides: The number of guides on the rod can give you a feel for the amount of friction you’ll be facing and the sensitivity of your cast. Keep an eye on this when comparing rods with line weights.

Pieces: Rods can come as one continuous piece, or they can break down into multiple pieces for storage and convenience. We’ll tell you how many pieces the rod comes in when you receive it with this information.

Rod Weight: The weight of the rod is somewhat important when fishing for larger fish, but it’s also a measure of how long you’re going to be able to hold it at one time. Keep an eye on this value.

Top 10 Products

Now it’s time to get into our best casting rod reviews! We’ve done all of the research and review in order to bring you the best casting rods on the market right now. All of these rods are great for different types of cast fishing, such as for bass. Our top pick and budget pick are our favorite options, so check those out before moving through the rest of the list. Your new casting rod awaits!

KastKing Perigee II Fishing Rod

KastKing is one of the best high-quality fishing rods around, and when it comes to casting rods, you absolutely want the best. This is a carbon fiber rod, which means that it is durable and strong, but not as flexible as a fiberglass or graphite rod. That makes it perfect for smaller baits. It has Fuji O-ring guides (8 guides plus the one at the tip), high-strength reel seats, EVA grips, a hook holder, and a great finish. It’s a rod that looks great as well as fishes perfectly. Power is transferred through the rod perfectly, giving you the longest casts with any bait weight that you want to use. It has a curling weight of about 12 pounds, which is when it will start to bend, and a breaking point of about 20 pounds. That makes it great for smaller fish or everyday fishing. You’re going to love the power that this rod gives you with your long casts.

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Entsport Camo Legend Casting Rod

Entsport’s Camo Legend Casting rod is the best casting rod for the money that we found during our research. This 2-piece rod comes with two tips, so you get different power ratings with the same rod –like getting two rods for the price of one! It comes with a medium power tip and a medium heavy one so that you can adjust your casting weight for the type of fishing that you’re doing. Plus, if one tip breaks you have a spare! This rod is incredibly strong and versatile, made of carbon fiber. The 6 guides + 1 tip guide are corrosion resistant and are spaced for the minimum amount of friction when your line is flowing. You are definitely going to be able to feel the cast, and it will react well to your direction. This rod is amazing because it’s strong without sacrificing the sensitivity to the casting motion. Plus, the EVA grips are really comfortable!

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UglyStik GX2 Casting Rod

Next up on our list is one of the best casting rods for bass fishing, the Uglystik GX2. This medium-heavy power casting rod is 6’6” and has seven guides plus the guide at the tip. It’s a two piece rod, made of graphite and fiberglass. That’s what makes it great for bass fishing: it’s flexible and balances great for throwing heavier baits. The graphite gives it a ton of strength, while the lightweight EVA grips make it comfortable. The guides are one piece and won't’ randomly pop out like inserts will, so it’s great for longer fishing sessions. At only 13.3 ounces, it’s incredibly lightweight even though it’s strong. The clear tip gives you a response even with the tiniest of nibbles or nudges. It’s going to take an extra-large, strong fish to break this rod. If you’re looking for fish under 10 pounds, this is the rod for you. You’re going to love it.

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Berkley HD Casting Rod

The Berkley HD Casting Rod is unique on our list. It isn’t made of carbon fiber, fiberglass, or graphite. This fishing pole is an old-fashioned hybrid design that uses actual cherrywood as a rod material. It’s an extremely sensitive pole, so you’re going to be able to feel even the pull of the tide on your line. The guides are not traditional guides either, and they are about 55% lighter and 20x tougher than traditional aluminum oxide guides. The handle is made of cork and will keep you comfortable through long days of fishing. This design is unique and high-quality, and the ultra-sensitivity of this 1-piece pole makes it one of the best casting rods for carp fishing. Even the smallest tug is going to move down the rod and alert you to a fish, and that’s an invaluable trait for a fishing rod. This rod is unique and a rarity with all of these synthetic rods floating around.

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Entsport Sirius Fishing Rod

Entsport is back on our list again with the Sirius Fishing Rod. This rod is made of powerful carbon fiber, which is great for its high-tensile strength. It helps to reduce the overall weight of the rod while increasing the amount of strength and the pull that it can take. It has an enhanced reel seat with a stainless steel hood that makes sure to keep your reel right where you want it. The stainless steel guides resist corrosion and rust and work to transfer vibrations through the pole so you’ll always be aware when a fish is near your line. Plus, it has a hook holder included. The EVA handles are comfortable and sensitive as well, giving you a great cast fishing experience. The 2-piece travel design is convenient and saves space in your vehicle, while the pole itself is structurally sound when assembled. This rod is sensitive and perfect for long days on the water.

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Piscifun Serpent Baitcasting Rod

This baitcasting rod by Piscifun is a great-looking rod. It’s part of the Serpent line, which means that they have a high-level coating that allows the rod to be about 50% stronger than other rods. The carbon fiber inside is extremely strong, delivering great sensitivity, power, and of course marvelous strength. The Serpent is one of the higher end rod models from this company, including Fuji guides, anti-slip golf-style grips, and an ‘s’ style hook keeper to fit with the feel of the rod. It’s designed with aluminum and carbon fiber and treated with epoxy and other materials to make sure that it can withstand pulling in the larger fish. Customer support for this company is great, so if you ever have a problem with one of their rods, they are more than happy to help. This is a top-level rod for any angler, and they are definitely going to love how it looks and feels.

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Rippin Lips Super Cat Casting Rod

This Cat Casting Rod by Rippin Lips is made of a proprietary composite that makes it highly coveted by catfish hunters. That’s because it has a heavier core, stainless steel guides, and a fast fishing tip, perfect for catching the most popular of fish. It uses E-glass, S-glass, and graphite to help create the lightweight but incredibly strong core. This rod isn’t playing around. Even among other catfishing rods, this casting rod is unique. It has a custom EVA handle perfect for fighting bigger fish, and the guides are reinforced and aren’t going to give you any trouble. All of the guide wraps are coated in epoxy to make sure that everything stays where it’s supposed to, even as you’re approaching the 30-pound limit. This is the one piece version of this rod, though if you prefer a two-piece version those are available as well. If you need a rod that’s unlike any other, choose this one.

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Abu Garcia Vengeance Rod

The Vengeance Rod by Abu Garcia is made of extremely strong, responsive graphite that makes it one of the best casting rods for bass. But that’s not all that it’s good for. That’s because this is a highly versatile rod that can be used effectively for a lot of different fishing techniques. It’s an incredibly responsive rod that is sensitive to any bump or bite, while at the same time being strong enough to pull heavy fish out of the water due to the way it handles line pressure. The stainless steel guides on this pole feature titanium inserts, so that you get the perfect amount of strength for those unexpectedly large fish. The handles are made of high-density EVA, offering certain durability and the comfort to fish throughout the day. Even long days on the water are great with this comfortable, powerful rod. The versatile hook keeper included on the rod is one of the best parts!

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St Croix Mojo Casting Rod

The Mojo Casting Rod by St Croix is almost a staple in any angler’s collection. It’s made of graphite, and this particular iteration is a medium heavy 6’8” rod. It can handle up to 20 pounds without breaking, so it’s great for smaller fish or everyday fishing adventures. The 3D guides use aluminum oxide rings and black frames for the extra beautiful touch, but this rod is a lot more than pretty. It uses a tough core to give you the strength to pull up those fish that just won’t stop fighting. It’s flexible and great for fish that like to pull and test you. The reel seat is a Fuji ECS and comes with a black hood so that even your reel fits the bill to make this rod look great. This is a great rod for bass, as it’s created specifically for superior performance when it comes to bass fishing. St Croix has a rod for everything!

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Fiblink Rod

Last but certainly not least is the Fiblink carbon fiber rod. It’s a solid, sensitive rod that will tell you each time the line is bumped without fail but also delivers a tough, solid strength that you’re going to be able to rely on when you’ve hooked a fish that wants to fight. It’s a lightweight rod that nevertheless is extremely strong, which is a considerable feat considering how sensitive it is. There are 8 total guides on this rod including the one at the tip, and they are stainless steel with ceramic inserts. It’s a smooth cast that won’t let your line stick and helps to minimize friction in your casting. You’ll be able to feel every vibration. This is a four-piece rod, which is unique on our list and breaks the mold from the normal 2-piece or single-piece rods. The grips are made of high-quality cork that feels great in your hands, even after fishing all day long.

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About the Author

Samantha Dewitt

Expert Researcher and Writer

Samantha Dewitt is a lead researcher and writer for GeekWrapped, writing under a pen name. She gets excited about pet, baby, and science products and has over 12 years of experience.

Learn more about Samantha

Article last updated on:

September 29, 2019

See more reviews:

Best Casting Rods

Top 10 Buying Guide

Our Recommendations

KastKing Perigee II Fishing Rod

Entsport Camo Legend Casting Rod

How to Choose the Best Casting Rod

Top 10 Products

KastKing Perigee II Fishing Rod

Entsport Camo Legend Casting Rod

UglyStik GX2 Casting Rod

Berkley HD Casting Rod

Entsport Sirius Fishing Rod

Piscifun Serpent Baitcasting Rod

Rippin Lips Super Cat Casting Rod

Abu Garcia Vengeance Rod

St Croix Mojo Casting Rod

Fiblink Rod

About the Author

TOP PICK

KastKing Perigee II Fishing Rod