Best Bass Fishing Rods of 2025

Top Pick: Falcon Cara BFS Casting Rods

Featuring responsive actions and improved balance for ultra-lightweight lures, the Falcon Cara BFS Casting Rod delivers next-level sensitivity for detecting subtle bites from bass, trout, and sunfish that are keyed in on tiny forage. The newly developed carbon-fiber blanks are topped with low-lying tangle-free Fuji K frame guides, protected by Fuji’s Corrosion Control (CC) finish, which is proven to last 7x longer than stainless steel. Including a Fuji ECS reel seat and Falcon’s proprietary locking nut, the Falcon Cara BFS Casting Rod yields incredible performance through the advanced carbon fiber blanks formed with nano-alloy and matrix resin technology.

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Top Pick: Okuma Guide Select Custom Swimbait Casting Rods

Arguably the highest performing and most affordable series of swimbait rods ever created, the Okuma Guide Select Custom Swimbait Casting Rods continue the legacy of the Guide Select series with a new and refined update. Featuring a full cork handle that ensures casting comfort and increased leverage when throwing big baits, each rod is fitted with premium Fuji components like Fuji KW concept guide frames, Alconite inserts with deep-pressed frames, and ACS trigger reel seats. Finished with a custom extra-heavy-duty bait keeper mounted to the side of the rod blank, the Okuma Guide Select Custom Swimbait Casting Rods are available in a selection of sizes that cover everything from small line-thru swimbaits up to magnum glide baits.

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Top Pick: St. Croix Black Bass Casting, Cranking, Spinning Rods

Topped with aluminum oxide guides and stainless-steel inserts to greatly improve bottom contact feel, the St. Croix Black Bass Casting Rods include multiple options perfect for all-purpose jig and worm techniques. Handcrafted using St. Croix’s Inegrated Poly Curve technology to create smoother actions and greater sensitivity, each rod is built using an ultralight SCIII carbon-fiber blank and is sealed using a fortified resin system for increased strength. Complete with a multi-material handle type that amplifies vibrations and sensitivity, the St. Croix Black Bass Casting and Spinning Rods bring superior rod-building expertise and cutting-edge technology into a value-driven series of rods.

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Top Pick: Cashion Element Z2 Casting Rod 7'2" Medium

Built around Cashion’s CRzm carbon matte blank, the Cashion ELEMENT Z2 Casting Rod 7’2” Medium leverages flagship technology and conventional craftsmanship to endure the rigors of fast-twitch retrieves and explosive topwater bites. Designed with hardworking anglers in mind, these rods bring American-made craftsmanship, an unbeatable price point, and incredible performance to your favorite topwater fishing techniques. Upgraded with a dwell split-grip cork handle to reduce weight and improve balance, the Cashion ELEMENT Z2 Series Casting Rods allow for direct contact which intensifies the energy transferred to your hands for heightened feel and casting comfort.

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Top Pick: SPRO Bronzeye Frog Casting Rods

Designed specifically for use with the Spro Bronzeye hollow-body frogs, the Spro Bronzeye Frog Casting Rods feature specialized lengths and actions that maximize performance with Bronzeye, Bronzeye Pop, and King Daddy Spro frogs. Carefully crafted to provide the ideal combination of action and power to boost your hollow body frog hook-up ratios, each rod is finished with premium-grade split grip cork handles for balance and comfort. Developed in conjunction with MLF pro and legendary frog angler Dean Rojas, the Spro Bronzeye Frog Casting Rods are an excellent choice for any angler looking for optimized features when it comes to frogging fish out of heavy cover.

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Top Pick: Megabass Orochi X10 Casting Rod 6'11" Med Med-Fast Super Elseil

Arguably, no rod manufacturer knows more about jerkbaits than Megabass. So, it stands to reason that they'd also be responsible for producing one of the best jerkbait rods on the market. Boosting performance with suspending jerkbaits and rip baits, the Orochi X10 6’ 11” Med Med-Fast Super Elseil has been praised for its crisp actions, outstanding sensitivity, and lightweight effectiveness. Leveraging the same ultra-lightweight carbon graphite as the Destroyer series, each Orochi X10 blank is produced with a special composite method that absorbs shock and makes fishing a jerkbait a dream.

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Top Pick: Ark Randall Tharp Series Crankbait Casting Rod 7'4" MH Glass

Based on the original Ark Honey Badger Series B-Hittay casting rod, the Ark Randall Tharp Series Crankbait Rod 7’4” MH is an updated version of a powerful glass rod inspired by legendary bladed jig angler Brett Hite. A Tackle Warehouse staff favorite for throwing squarebills, spinnerbaits, and bladed jigs, each rod is equipped with Fuji K-concept tangle-free guides that facilitate effortless casting and allow you to feel deflections and bumps with unmatched feel. Perfect for a wide range of bladed jig and hardbait presentations, the Ark Randall Tharp Series Crankbait Rods are newly designed with Team ARK reel seats that ensure a strong foundation for your fishing reel.

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Top Pick: Duckett Jacob Wheeler 2.0 Crankbait Casting Rods

Developed with the input of 3-time MLF angler of the year, Jacob Wheeler, the Duckett Jacob Wheeler 2.0 Crankbait Casting Rod provides a seamless connection between angler and lure to make it a deadly tool for throwing squarebills and medium-diving crankbaits. Highlighted by Sensi-Touch blanks made from high-quality multi-modulus graphite, each rod is fitted with a carbon-fiber scrim that adds durability, reduces weight, and provides improved balance for anglers who need to cover miles of shoreline. The latest innovation in cranking-specific rods from Duckett Fishing, the Duckett Jacob Wheeler 2.0 Crankbait Casting Rods offer maximum control under heavy loads with high-impact cut-resistant EVA grips that ensure a comfortable grip.

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Top Pick: Daiwa Tatula Cork Casting Rods 7'9" Heavy Moderate

A versatile swimbait rod with specs tailored to big bait presentations, the Daiwa Tatula Cork 7’9” Heavy Casting Rod blends a powerful construction with a moderate taper to create one of our favorite rods for umbrella rigs. Built 14% lighter than the previous generation, Super High-Volume Fiber (SVF) blanks provide the foundation for big bait success through precise resin control and graphite fiber construction that delivers a lightweight feel and improved sensitivity. Finished with a full cork handle for improved comfort and leverage when casting heavy rigs, the Daiwa Tatula Cork 7’9” Heavy Casting Rod brings enhanced performance on the water so you can capitalize on every bite.

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Top Pick: Daiwa Proteus Inshore Casting & Spinning Rods

Featuring Daiwa’s exclusive low-resin SVF blank and X45 carbon wrapping, the Daiwa Proteus Casting and Spinning Rods are extremely lightweight and sensitive but strong enough to handle pelagic fish, braided lines, and rough boat rides. The spiral-wrapped handle grip adds more texture and greater control for fishing in wet conditions, while Fuji K Frame guides with Alconite rings extend casting distance and enhance sensitivity. Built to handle big fish and harsh marine environments, the Daiwa Proteus Casting and Spinning Rods are perfect whether you’re kelp paddy hopping for calico and yellowtail or casting big swimbaits for trophy largemouth bass.

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Top Pick: Daiwa Steez Travel Casting & Spinning Rods

Housed in a compact travel case for convenient transportation, the Daiwa Steez Travel Series Rods feature an ultra-lightweight 5-piece construction that breaks down easily for your next long-distance fishing trip. Built with V-Joint diagonal fibers for a secure connection and smooth bend at each ferrule joint, the Steez Travel rods utilize Daiwa’s Nanoplus resin and nanoalloy compounds connecting single carbon fibers to enhance the lightweight and robust abilities of the rod. Available in casting, spinning, all-purpose, and technique-specific model options, the Daiwa Steez Travel Casting and Spinning Travel Rods are the ultimate choice for discerning bass anglers who can’t leave home without fishing.

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Top Pick: Great Lakes Finesse CX Spinning Rods

Highlighted by a custom one-piece molded ergo carbon handle, the Great Lakes Finesse CX Spinning Rods maximize sensitivity while providing power and control when fighting big fish with light-line finesse tactics. Utilizing AT Microwave Air Guides for longer casts, better accuracy, and increased line control, the CX Rods improve rod balance with decreased guide weight for the ultimate finesse fishing experience. A refined spinning rod built to finesse at the highest level, the Great Lakes Finesse CX Spinning Rods maximize durability with an uncoated matte-black finish that reduces weight and enhances feel even further.

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Our suggestion, and the widely accepted industry standard, is that most beginning anglers should start with a spinning rod. More specifically – a medium powered, fast tapered spinning rod from 6'6" - 7'. This range provides a wide selection of rods for anglers to choose from, while accommodating a lot of techniques recommended to those who are just starting to bass fish.

Before fishing rods are formed into their long, tubular shape, they start off as a flat sheet of material, whether its graphite, fiberglass, composite, etc. A rod's taper (also commonly called action) describes the angle of the material before its rolled and formed. This angle ultimately controls the flex of the rod and ultimately its properties.

Some rods are designed to only flex in the first 10% of the rod blank, then quickly transition into a stiff backbone. This would be considered an extra fast or fast action. Other rods are designed to bend all the way down to the reel seat, these rods would fall under a moderate or slow action. Each taper provides different properties, which can be advantageous for certain techniques.

Rod length is typically based around the application being employed. Some techniques, like jerbkait fishing, require a shorter rod so the tip doesn't contact the boat when working the lure, while other techniques, like the Umbrella rig require a longer rod to maximize casting distance and leverage.

One thing to note when choosing rod length is that there is typically a correlation between the angler's height and their preferred rod length. While there's no one-size-fits-all rule when it comes to selecting rod length, if you consider yourself "tall" you will likely prefer a rod on the longer end of the spectrum for any given technique. Conversely, if you consider yourself "short" you might be more comfortable with a rod near the shorter end of the spectrum based on technique.

The short answer: whatever fits your budget. However, like everything in life, not all bass fishing rods are created equal. Rods vary drastically by price, materials and components, so how do you sort through the noise to identify the right rod for you? In most cases, the price point is a direct reflection of components, raw materials, and craftsmanship. It’s not uncommon for less expensive rods to be mass produced using cutting-edge machinery, while higher priced fishing rods tend to be handmade, one-at-a-time by a highly specialized team of rod builders. When you spend more money on a fishing rod, typically, you can expect: a lighter weight, increased sensitivity, better balance, higher quality components, tighter tolerances, and a better warranty backing.

After a season of bass fishing your rods with cork handles might be in need of a cleaning. Taking the time to maintain your fishing rods will return the original feel and look of a brand new cork handle fishing rod. Tackle Warehouse has created are article to demonstrate how-to properly clean your cork handles without damaging the cork and how to protect the cork handles to make them last many years.

If you fish long enough, you are eventually going to break a rod tip. Whether it’s a bent guide, a missing insert, or a snapped tip, it's an unfortunate reality of the sport. Luckily, fixing a broken tip is an easy and cost-effective task that can even be done on the water. Gone are the days of waiting weeks for you to get your favorite rod’s tip patched up by the manufacturer or repair shop, in just a few minutes you can go from temper tantrum to casting a line in search of that next trophy fish with our step-by-step guide to repairing a rod tip.