Every angler needs a spinnerbait rod amongst their gear but finding the right one can be a lengthy and confusing process, especially if you’re only just starting to build up your collection. Many anglers see the spinnerbait as the most versatile lure available to angler because of its ability to be used pretty much anywhere and at any time of the year. It’s easy to see why so many anglers value the spinnerbait as their go-to method for fishing.
Finding the right spinnerbait rod can be hard especially for a beginner because it needs a particular power, action and to be made from specific materials. There are a lot of models available on the market now and each of them has its own features and you need to know what you’re looking for and how to find the right rod for you and your needs. This guide is here to take all the stress from your search and show you some of the best options currently available. We’ve also included a handy buyers guide that will take you through some of the most important features in a spinnerbait rod to help you choose the best model for you and an FAQ section to answer a few of your questions.
Top 5 Best Spinnerbait Rods
OUR TOP PICK
G. Loomis E6X 812C SBR Spinnerbait Casting Rod
EDITORS CHOICE
St Croix Mojo Bass Rod
BEST VALUE
Ugly Stik Elite Rod
OUR TOP PICK
G. Loomis E6X 812C SBR Spinnerbait Casting Rod
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Summary
If you’re looking for a portable rod that’s been specifically designed for spinnerbait fishing to help you get the best out of the spinnerbait method than take a look at this model from G. Loomis.
Measuring up at just under 7 feet in length this rod has all the features you need to go and bag some monsters the next time you head out to the water. The length of this option makes it a great rod for handling the bigger fish, but as it’s under 7 foot in length it’s also a remarkably portable option. This rod has an extra fast action and is medium power which makes it strong enough to handle the strong hard-fighting fish, but also make it easy to cast and control.
This rod can handle lines between 10 and 17 pounds and it’s more than capable of netting you some nice sized fish. The recommended lure weight is between 3/8 and 1/2 ounce so there’s a good range available for you to tie on your favorite spinnerbait and see what bites. The soft feel of this rod might feel a bit strange, to begin with, but the build quality of this rod is truly outstanding. G. Loomis has gone above and beyond to deliver a strong and sturdy rod that has the power to back up the quality of the materials used.
The Multi-Taper Technology blanks have specifically been included to give the rod the precision and accuracy needed to consistently perform again and again. Made from strong carbon fiber, the rod is durable and with the right amount of care and attention could give years of pleasure to its user. The rod is lightweight which removes some of the pressure from your wrists and hands so you can fish for longer periods in comfort. The Fuji guides and reel seat are high quality and help to give this rod its smooth feel.
Pros
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Lightweight and tough
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Excellent length
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Great for a range of abilities
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High-quality materials and construction
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Precise and accurate
Cons
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More traditional anglers might not like the rod’s ultra-soft feel
- E6X 812C SBR
- Multi-Taper Design: A series of micro-tapers within the overall taper of the rod; This unique, proprietary process allows us to use more material on potential break points and less material everywhere else; To accomplish this, we manufactured a custom rolling table...and it’s the only one in existence today. The result is a catalog of precisely defined actions that strike a perfect balance between durability and performance.
- LURE WEIGHT: 3/8-1/2
- LINE WEIGHT: 10-17
EDITORS CHOICE
St Croix Mojo Bass Rod
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Summary
St Croix are well known to create high-quality responsive rods that work well for the users and deliver consistent and high-quality performance. Luckily, this medium power and fast action model easily fits within their stellar reputation and will easily net you some pretty sizeable prizes. This is a high-value rod that’s not going to break the bank but might replace your favorite rod like the one you want by your side to face the big fish.
The rod is made of high modulus SCII graphite and includes a Fuji ECS reel seat and features a Kigan Master Hand 3D guides with aluminum-oxide rings. The whole package looks great, but more importantly, delivers the quality performance experienced anglers expect. The rod has been built with durability and toughness in mind and this is really what you expect from a St Croix rod. St Croix has spent a lot of time, effort, and money developing techniques to increase the durability of their rods, and on this one, they’ve chosen to use Advanced Reinforcing Technology (ART) which can increase the strength to the blank without increasing the diameter. This is a rod that’s not going to be forced out of shape when dealing with a heavy load, and this is just one of the reasons why seasoned anglers prefer a St Croix rod.
The rod is a little bit stiff for its rating but given time you’ll easily get used to it. More importantly, the rod is very sensitive and will easily allow you to feel the bite, even if it's very small. When you first feel this rod you may be worried that the tip will break the first time you have to fight a fish, but trust us when we say that this rod can handle even the bigger fish with ease. You should be able to snag lures and fish pretty easily with this rod, and it’s versatile enough to let you pitch and flip. The rod is more than capable of nabbing you some big fish once you get used to handling it. The rod can cast a decent distance, but if you want something a bit longer than a rod with more whip might suit you better.
If you’re looking for a rod with a great backbone and tons of sensitivity then this is well worth a look at. It’s lightweight and portable enough to take on longer trips, the rod is easy to use and can help you nab some big and most importantly it’s a lot of fun.
Pros
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Lightweight enough to let you fish all day without getting tired
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Durable and high quality
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Can easily handle the larger fish
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Sensitive enough to let you feel even the smaller bites
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Looks great and perform excellently
Cons
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A little stiff for its rating
- ADVANCED SCIII GRAPHITE CONSTRUCTION: For a serious angler who demands high-performance and value; High-modulus, high-strain graphite fiber; Produces sensitive and lightweight rods with great durability
- INTEGRATED POLY CURVE (IPC) TOOLING TECHNOLOGY: Eliminates all transitional points in the Mojo bass casting fishing rod blank to provide smoother actions, increased strength, and greater sensitivity
- FEATURES: Slim-profile ferrules; Kigan Master Hand 3D guides w/ slim, strong aluminum-oxide rings and black frames; Fuji ECS reel seat w/ black hood; Split-grip/premium-grade cork handle; Kigan hook-keeper; Two coats of Flex-Coat slow cure finish
- SPECIFICATIONS: Technique – Jerkbait; Length – 6’8”; Power – M; Action – Fast; Pieces – 1; Line Weight – 10-17 lbs; Lure Weight – 1/4-5/8 oz; Rod Wt. – 3.9 oz; Handle – 1
- 5-YEAR WARRANTY: Backed by St. Croix Superstar Service
BEST VALUE
Ugly Stik Elite Rod
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Summary
Ugly Stik is known for making affordable and quality rods that deliver a great performance and are a lot of fun to use. So, it’s no wonder that they’ve made this great quality spinnerbait rod that gives you a lot of bang for your buck. Made from graphite, this lightweight durable rod has excellent feeling and sensitivity, so you’ll be able to feel a wide range of bites to help you catch the perfect fish. The build on this rod is superb, and Ugly Stik has made choices in the construction like the strong stainless-steel guides to eliminate insert pop-outs and to make the rod as strong and durable as possible.
This is a lightweight rod with a very fast tip, so you could use it for bottom fishing or flipping if you wanted to, and it’s a versatile option to have amongst your gear. The cork grips look and feel great and are very comfortable to use, which might help you fish for longer without getting tired. You won’t find smaller fish a problem with this rod thanks to the incredibly fast action and blank style reel seats with cushioned stainless-steel hoods. This is a great rod for using in freshwater, and it’s so light that casting is incredibly easy. Ugly Stik has tried hard to design a rod perfect for bait casters and the rod could easily compete with other similar models at a much higher price point.
If you’re a novice then this could be a great rod for you. It’s easy to use, and you’ll be able to have great control over this rod, but there’s enough power there to help you grow and improve your skills. Experienced anglers will also find a lot to like about this model like its one-piece construction and super strong backbone. If you want a great quality rod that’s a lot of fun to use but won’t let you down when you need it then this might be the perfect rod for you.
Pros
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Lightweight and easy to use
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A great rod for a variety of skill sets
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Excellent backbone and sensitivity
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Built from quality materials with durability in mind
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Great for a wide range of different sized fish
Cons
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Some anglers may find it a bit stiff, to begin with
- Equipment for anglers of all ages and experience
- Made to be reliable and durable
- Tested to be easy to use and high quality
RUNNER UP
Dobyns Rods Fury Series Casting Rod
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Summary
Some anglers would call this the perfect rod. It’s strong, sensitive, balanced, and lightweight, all the things an angler wants in a rod and there’s still more to come. This super action rod from Dobyns is made from a graphite blank and includes Kevlar wrapped guides so tangled lines should be a thing of the past with this rod beside you. It’s ultra-durable and well-constructed so that with the right care and maintenance you should be able to use it for a great many years.
The AA grade cork grip gives the rod a very comfortable feel and it’s a pleasure to use thanks to the Fuji reel seat. Dobyns has included a lot of high-quality features to make sure this rod will consistently perform for you, and it shows in the construction.
The rod is very light and should remove some of the stress from your hands and wrists, which combined with the cork grip, should mean you’re able to fish in comfort all day. You can use this rod for medium depth spinnerbait and shallow work, so it’s a versatile rod that’s suitable for a wide range of locations and techniques. This is an incredibly sensitive rod that will let you know every bite and nibble to help you pursue your prey. Some anglers even claim they can feel a fly land on the tip, so you’ll struggle to find better than that.
This is a great rod if you’re looking for a casting rod with a lot of backbone to dig the hook into the mouth of your catch. It’s a very sensitive rod with more than enough going on to keep you satisfied for a while. If you want an excellent rod at a great price then this might be exactly what you’re looking for.
Pros
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Lightweight
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Lots of backbone
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Well made and durable
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Incredibly sensitive to help you land big fish
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Super action that stands out when bringing in the bait
Cons
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Reel seat threads are quite short
- 6'6" Medium Heavy Power Fast Action Casting Rod
- 10-17 lb. test
- 1/4-3/4 oz. lure weight
- Recommended for Jigs, Texas Rigs, Senkos, Flukes, Spinnerbaits
RUNNER UP
Wright and McGill Skeet Reese Spinner Bait
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Summary
If you want a rod that’s been built specifically just for spinnerbait or worm fishing then we might have just the rod for you. Wright and McGill have created this rod with the help of Skeet Reese, who among other things is Bass Angler of the year and a Bassmaster Classic Champ. His input has proven to be vital in the construction of this simply constructed, but incredibly sensitive rod measuring 7-foot in length. If you want a rod that is well built with an excellent feel that’ll help you do the job, keep reading.
Made with the zirconium micro guides which reduce the weight of the rod right down, this rod can cast incredibly far and the sensitivity of the rod is obvious from the second you have it your hand. With this rod, you’ll be able to feel everything that’s going on and that can help you land some real monsters, and luckily this rod has the power to back up its sensitivity. The use of S-curve blanks in the construction means that this rod has an incredible amount of lifting power and strength to help you fight the toughest fish without damage to the rod. The handles are made from molded rubber which gives you a great amount of control over the rod and gives you a comfortable and sturdy grip. Having a better grip on your rod can help you fish for longer periods without risking injury or stress to your hands and wrists, so if you have some trips coming up where you want to be on the water all day this could be the one for you.
This is a great looking rod that’s not as stiff as some of the others on this list. If you want to stand out from the crowd then you might be interested in the black and yellow design which is a bit different from the standard black and blues. This is a great balanced rod that most anglers would be more than happy to have in their arsenal, and you’re certain to get a lot of use out of it if you decide to go in this direction.
- LAZER 2X TREBLE KAHLE
Best Spinnerbait Rods Buying Guide
This guide should have given you a bit more confidence in what sort of spinnerbait rod you want and what might suit you now you’ve seen some of the best options currently available. If you’re still feeling a bit overwhelmed, then don’t worry. This is the section of the guide where we show you some of the features that are important to think about when picking your spinnerbait rod. As long as you keep in mind these features, and remember to think about what you’re going to be using your rod for, what sort of fish you’re going after, and your skill level, you won’t go far wrong. At the end of the day, the most important thing to remember is that your rod has to suit you and your style of fishing so you can have the most amount of fun out on the water.
When fishing with spinnerbaits you need a pole that is long enough to give a decent casting distance and yet can allow you to fish in tighter places if you are pitching up lose to a specific area.
Length
The best spinnerbait rods are around 6'6" to 7 feet in length and generally the shorter the rod you for is the better feedback you’re going to get from it. If you’re working at shorter distances from your boat than going short is defiantly the right way to go. If you think you prefer a longer casting distance or want to use larger lures than a longer rod with more backbone is going to be the right choice for you. As with all fishing think about what you need your rod to do, and what features will make your rod suitable for its purpose.
Power
For a spinnerbait rod, you’re going to want to go a rod with a medium to medium/heavy rating. Your rod needs enough power to be able to set the hook, but you still want something quite sensitive, so you’ll be able to feel even the lightest nibble. Your rod is still going to need a bit of backbone on the retrieve because spinnerbaits are heavy and create a lot of drag from the blade and the skirt as they move through the water, so definitely stay away from a light or medium-light power rods especially if you’re a beginner.
Action
The best spinnerbait rods have a fast action because of the sensitivity these rods give you as an angler. Using a fast action rod, you should be able to get a lot more feedback through the rod and the handle to make the most informed decisions and get the most out of your fishing trip. You may find that you can’t cast as far with a faster action rod, but ultimately, you’ll want more sensitivity when using spinnerbaits.
FAQs
How much does a spinnerbait rod cost?
Rods that can be used with spinnerbaits home in a wide range of prices, so you’ll find something that suits you and your budget. Prioritize the features you want and go in knowing the sort of thing that will suit you and your style.
What is the best gear ratio for spinnerbaits?
Like jerk baits, topwaters and, swimming jigs spinnerbaits are best with a medium speed reel. Something around a 6.3:1 ratio is probably right.