If you are after the big catches such as muskies, pike, and catfish, you need the baitcasting rod. You need a rod that has plenty of backbone, excellent casting distance, and top-notch guides that will not wear down your fishing line. If you are looking for such a rod but at an affordable price, you are in the right place. In this guide, I will review ten of the best baitcasting rods for the money. Without further ado, let me get into it.
Top 10 Baitcasting Rods for 2021 :
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
High End Choice  | St. Croix Rods Legend Tournament Bass Casting Rod
| 9.9 | Check Today's Price |
Tournament Series  |
| 9.8 | Check Today's Price |
Best All Around  | KastKing Perigee II Casting Rod Best For Bass, Trout, Walley, Salmon Etc.
| 9.8 | Check Today's Price |
 | Abu Garcia Veracity & Villain 2.0 Casting Rod Strong & Sensitive Rod
| 9.7 | Check Today's Price |
Best Budget  |
| 9.6 | Check Today's Price |
 | Entsport Camo Legend Casting Rod Unique and Professional Design
| 9.5 | Check Today's Price |
 | Best For Saltwater & Freshwater Fishing
| 9.5 | Check Today's Price |
Travel Rod  |
| 9.7 | Check Today's Price |
Freshwater  |
| 9.4 | Check Today's Price |
1. KastKing Perigee II Casting Rod: Top Pick/ Editor’s Choice
First, I will review my favorite casting rod. It is an excellent casting rod, and everyone should give it a try. To help you understand why it is my top pick, here are the features that come with it.
Ergonomic Reel Seats
The KastKing Perigee comes with an excellent reel seat that enables you to effortlessly dispense the fishing line. The reel seats are made of high-quality graphite. Graphite is durable, and it also removes extra weight since graphite is quite lightweight. This effortlessness ensures that you don’t develop blisters on your fingers or palms when deploying or removing the line.
High-Density EVA Grips
Like many high-quality fishing rods, the KastKing Perigee II comes with EVA grips that are both comfortable and durable. With them, you can fish all day without feeling too tired. Furthermore, they provide a strong grip, which is necessary when battling hard-fighting fish. They never feel soggy, even in wet circumstances, which is vital when fishing. Their comfort also removes the risk of developing strain on your hand.
Hook Holder
It comes with a carbon-fiber Saf-T hook holder. This feature ensures that your hooks are safe and won’t tear line by accident or even cause an accident. Furthermore, the hook keeper is cute. I mean, who doesn’t like a product that looks great and performs exceptionally?
Carbon Matrix Rod Blank
For durability, the KastKing Perigee comes with a 24-ton carbon matrix rod blank. The technology used to make the blank ensures that the rod is strong and can last for the longest time. It also gives the rod immense power.
Fuji O Line Guides
Fuji-O line guides are known for their smoothness. With such smoothness, you can be assured that your line will last for the longest time. Furthermore, there is no friction to affect the accuracy of your cast. Therefore, you can be assured of accurate casts.
Pros
- Premium features for an affordable price
- Lightweight and sturdy
- Durable and versatile
- It comes with a one-year warranty
- It is beginner-friendly, but it can also be used by pros.
Cons
- The eyelet can fall apart
- Some people are not impressed by the gap between the handle and the tip
- The tip is slightly prone to snapping, so you need to be very careful with it.
2. Entsport Sirius Casting Rod: Excellent Rod for Novice Anglers
Made of high-tensile carbon blanks, the Entsport Sirius is a lightweight casting rod that is both affordable and beginner-friendly. Here are the features that come with it.
High-Density Eva Grips
As you can expect from a beginner-friendly rod, it comes with comfortable and sturdy grips. The grips are designed in such a way that you can use them to cast hundreds of times without developing blisters or sore hands. Furthermore, they don’t slip, providing you with an added advantage when battling larger fish.
6+1 Stainless Steel Guides
Typically, most high-quality rods come with stainless steel guides, and this one is no different. Their inserts are corrosion-resistant, and they will not wear down the fishing line. Furthermore, they are quite durable, and they ensure accurate casts.
One Year Warranty
The Entsport Sirius comes with a one-year manufacturer’s warranty. This means that you can return the rod to the manufacturer if it develops a manufacturer’s fault within one year of purchase. However, the warranty does not cover wear, tear, and breaks.
2-Piece Rod
Since it is a 2-piece rod, it means you can break it into two when traveling. This makes it easy for you to pack it and reduce the risk of breaking it.
Pros
- Lightweight and durable casting rod
- It provides a strong grip that is vital when catching hard-fighting fish.
- Fast action rod for excellent sensitivity
- Excellent customer support to help you if you run into trouble with their rods.
- A stylish and good-looking rod that makes an excellent gift
- Beginner-friendly.
- Affordable and worth the price.
Cons
- It is slightly firmer for some angler’s taste.
- Some users find it too lightweight for their taste.
3. Goture Travel Casting Rod: Finest Rod for Traveling
If you are an angler that travels a lot, you need the Goture Travel Casting Rod. It is made of a 30-carbon matrix, and it comes with fast action and a responsive monolithic rod tip. It excellently combines power with responsiveness. Here are the features that come with it.
7+1 Guides
The rod comes with 7+1 corrosion-resistant guides. Their inserts are made of ceramic, one of the smoothest materials for guide inserts.
4-Piece Design
The reason why Goture Travel casting rod is so excellent for traveling is the fact that it comes with a 4-piece design. With such a feature, it means you can effortlessly back your rod in your backpack and travel to wherever you want.
Spigot Ferrule Construction
This technology ensures smooth transition throughout the rod, allowing it to have similar power and feel to a one-piece rod. Therefore, you can still use it even for smaller fish because it is pretty responsive.
Pros
- It provides a comfortable and strong grip since it comes with EVA split handles.
- Lightweight and portable
- A sensitive rod for all type of fish
- They offer free replacement if your rod breaks and you are using Goture products for the first time.
- One-year manufacturer’s warranty
Cons
- The reel seat is made of plastic
- The line guides are too small for some users.
4. Ugly Stik GX2 Casting Rod: Finest Budget Casting Rod
Ugly Stik GX2 casting rod features contemporary tech construction that combines fiberglass and graphite to provide a sensitive, durable, and sturdy rod. It is affordable, lightweight, convenient, and beginner-friendly. Here are the key features that separate it from most cheap casting rods.
Perfect Balance
Ugly Stik combines power and sensitivity to provide you with a perfectly balanced casting rod. Furthermore, its EVA foam handles are both lightweight and super comfortable. It is a rod that you can use in various fishing locations and handle difficulties superbly.
Medium/Heavy Action
Like other medium action rods, Ugly Stik GX2 bends closer to the tip but not as close as a fast action rod. This means that it exerts enough force to cast your lures over longer distances, and it is still super sensitive. With a medium/heavy action rod, you can fish in practically all locations. They are quite versatile, meaning you can use Ugly Stik GX2 for small, medium, and larger fish.
Clear Tip Design
Typically, rod tips are prone to snaps. Ugly Stik has added extra strength to the tip to ensure that it lasts longer. Still, the tip is sensitive and responsive even with the slightest bites.
Ugly Tuff Line Guides
Like other Ugly Stik fishing rods, it comes with high-quality line guides. They are designed in such a way that they eliminate insert pop-outs. Furthermore, they are quite smooth and will not wear down your fishing line.
Pros
- An affordable casting rod for all anglers
- A durable rod that handles big fish excellently
- Available in combos if you want to buy a reel too.
- Excellent line guides and reel seat
- Its color pattern on the tip is slightly different, and it allows you to notice when there is a fish on the fishing line.
Cons
- The finger hook is not ideally located, and some anglers develop blisters after many casts.
- Some people find it quite stiff for a medium/heavy action rod.
5. Abu Garcia Veracity & Villain 2.0 Casting Rod: Top-Notch High-End Choice
Abu Garcia is one of the most respected fishing product manufacturers in the world. They manufacture high-quality rods, and they don’t disappoint with this one. Its manufacturing technology provides a perfect balance between sensitivity, power, durability, and reliability. It is a rod that will meet all your needs as a professional angler. Here are the features that make it shine against its competitors.
Graphite Rod
Abu Garcia Veracity 2.0 is made of a perfect blend between 40-ton and 30-ton graphite. This combination provides the rod with enough strength to handle fish of all sizes and still makes it quite lightweight. Furthermore, the rod includes the 3M Powerlux Resin System that ensures the rod does not bend or crack easily.
Fuji Soft Reel Seat
It comes with a reel seat of the highest quality. Furthermore, the line guides are made of titanium alloy, making them quite durable. What’s more, the inserts are made of zirconium oxide, one of the smoothest materials for guide inserts. They allow the fishing line to flow off the reel effortlessly, making it easy for you to make accurate casts.
Cork and High-Density EVA Split Grips
When you combine EVA foam and Cork, you create super comfortable and durable handles. You can cast all day and not develop blisters on your palms. Furthermore, wetness cannot affect your grip. Therefore, you can still fish while it is raining, and it won’t affect how you handle hard-fighting fish.
Pros
- Lightweight and durable
- Comfortable and durable grips
- It comes with titanium alloy guides with zirconium inserts that are durable and smooth.
- Responsive rod tip that senses even the slightest bites
- A powerful rod that can handle larger fish with ease
- It makes an excellent gift
Cons
- Fairly expensive, although worth the price
6. St. Croix Rods Legend Tournament Bass Casting Rod: Top Pick for Tournament Series Rods
The St. Croix tournament series has produced some top-notch casting rods. However, it is the bass casting rod that has stood out for most anglers. It is a one-piece rod that has all it takes to make your fishing experience easier and more fun. Most people use it to catch bass, but that does not mean you cannot use it for other types of fish. Here are the key features that come with the rod.
Lightweight and Comfortable
If you are a tournament angler that fish in various events, you need to ensure that your gear is as comfortable as possible. The St. Croix Legend Tournament Bass Casting Rod is designed to help you win in all your tournaments. That’s why it is super light for a 7-foot rod and quite comfortable to fish with. You can use it with swimbaits, football jigs, and more. Furthermore, it is quite ergonomic and balanced. Therefore, it fits in your hands perfectly, and you can fish with it all day without feeling too tired.
15-year Transferable Warranty
St. Croix believes in their craftsmanship so much that they provide a 15-year transferable warranty. This means that you can return the rod for repairs or replacement if it develops a manufacturer’s fault within 15 years after purchase. What’s more, if you sell the rod to another person, the warranty will still be valid. Most company warranties don’t cover second-hand owners.
SCIV Graphite
SCIV graphite is lighter than other degrees of stiffness of graphite. With such a material, you can be assured of extra sensitiveness to help you notice even the tiniest nibbles. Don’t let the lightweight nature of the rod make you think it is not durable, though. It is quite durable. Its Advanced Reinforcing Technology (ART) provides the rod with more strength without changing the size of its diameter.
Pros
- A super lightweight and durable rod
- It comes with cork handles that provide comfortable and strong grips to fight hard-fighting fish.
- The rod comes in one piece, eliminating all transition points for smoother action and increased sensitivity.
- It comes with a hook keeper for safe storage of the hooks.
- A good-looking rod that makes an excellent gift
Cons
- Not the best packaging for such a high-quality rod.
- Slightly more expensive than most rods.
- It is worth every buck, though.
7. Daiwa Tatula XT Casting Rod: Best for Bass Fishing
If you are looking for an affordable but high-quality bass fishing rod, the Daiwa Tatula XT casting rod is a perfect choice. The rod incorporates high-volume fiber carbon with graphite construction to provide a lightweight, sensitive, and sturdy rod. The rod has received a lot of love from its users, and here are some of the features that make people love it.
X45-BIAS Graphite Construction
The rod combines carbon with graphite, just like many quality rods. It is, however, the X45 BIAS graphite design that makes the rod even more admirable. The construction ensures that you have zero blank twists when using the rod.
Fuji-O Line Guides
The line guides are quite durable and smooth, thanks to the aluminum oxide inserts that come with them. Aluminum oxide is a super smooth material that will not cause friction that can affect the accuracy of your cast or durability of the fishing line.
Comfortable to Use
The Daiwa Tatula XT casting rod is quite comfortable to use, thanks to its high-quality custom Daiwa reel seat. Furthermore, its handles are made of EVA foam, sturdy but comfortable material for rod handles. If you pair the rod with a Tatula Type E reel, you can be assured of an extremely castable combo.
Medium-Heavy Action
With medium-heavy action, you can be sure that the rod is super sensitive but can still cast over a long distance. Such a rod is quite sensitive, and you can use it in different fishing locations, including streams, rivers, and freshwater lakes.
Pros
- It comes with a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty
- Super lightweight and sensitive
- Beginner-friendly and comfortable to use.
- One-piece rod for extra sensitivity and strength
- It is excellent at casting large baits and lures
Cons
- It is not perfect for traveling since it is a one-piece rod
8. Entsport Camo Legend Casting Rod: Excellent Choice for Bass Fishing
Entsport Camo Legend is a two-piece rod that comes with two-rod tips. The extra rod tip provides the rod with more flex and power rating. Its oversized handles make it easy for you during a battle with a hard-fighting fish. Furthermore, it is quite lightweight, meaning you can use it all day without feeling too tired. To help you make an informed decision, here are the features that come with it.
6+1 Rod Guides
Made of a corrosion-resistant material, the rod guides are quite durable. They are then fitted with super smooth inserts made of aluminum oxide. Furthermore, they are perfectly spaced to ensure that they don’t affect the accuracy of your cast.
High-Density Eva Handles
The Entsport Camo Legend casting rod comes with oversized high-density EVA handles that provide you with both comfort and a strong grip. Its handles’ design also increases the sensitivity of the rod. Therefore, you can feel it on your hand when a fish takes the bait. The good thing about oversized EVA handles is they give you the upper hand when battling a hard-fighting fish. You can also hold them all day with minimum fatigue.
Unique and Professional Design
Unlike most baitcasting rods, this one comes with two different rod tips. You can choose to use the medium-heavy rod tip or the medium tip. This provides you with options when casting lures and baits of different weights. Therefore, instead of carrying two rods, you carry the rod tips and use each at the right time. Furthermore, if one breaks, you can continue using the other one. If that’s not good value for your money, I don’t know what is.
24-Ton Graphite Construction
Like many high-quality rods, the Entsport Camo Legend is made of graphite. This means it is lightweight yet strong enough to handle all your catches without snapping. Graphite is also quite sensitive, so you can feel even the slightest bites.
Pros
- Good value for your money
- Lightweight and super sensitive
- A comfortable rod for anglers of all skill levels
- It comes with two-rod tips
- It comes in a 2-piece design, making it an ideal rod for traveling.
- Plenty of backbone even for the largest pike
- Excellent customer support from Entsport
Cons
- The rod tips are prone to breaks, so you need to be careful with them.
9. Cadence CR7B Baitcasting Rod
Are you looking for a versatile and long-lasting baitcasting rod? Well, look no further. The Cadence CR7B is the answer. Constructed with 40-ton graphite and wrapped in a carbon veil, you can expect a lightweight and strong baitcasting rod. Here are a few features that make the rod quite reliable and worth the price.
Premium Grade Cork and EVA Handles
When buying a baitcasting rod, it is always important to consider the type of handles that come with it. They need to be comfortable, durable, and they should provide a strong grip. Well, nothing beats the grip of cork handles and the comfort of EVA foam. When the two are combined, you get unbeatable handles, and that’s what Cadence CR7B has. You can be sure to fight the biggest catches with ease.
Stainless Steel Guides
Stainless steel line guides are usually quite durable and corrosion-resistant. However, they need to come with smooth inserts if you want your fishing line to last for the longest time. Cadence CR7B stainless steel guides come with SiC inserts, one of the smoothest materials for inserts. The material minimizes the friction, ensuring that the fishing line is not stuck in the guides while casting.
One Year Warranty
All Cadence products come with a one-year warranty, and that includes the CR7B models. Therefore, if your rod develops a manufacturer’s problem, you can return it, and it will be replaced or repaired for free.
Multipurpose
Cadence CR7B baitcasting rod is excellent in both fresh and salt waters. Therefore, you don’t need to buy two rods when you can use CR7B for both purposes. You can also use it for kayak, trout, bass, and surf fishing.
Pros
- Lightweight rod
- Comfortable and durable EVA handles that provide a strong grip.
- You can use the rod in both fresh and saltwater.
- Affordable baitcasting rod that is worth its price
- Super sensitive even with the tiniest nibbles
Cons
- It has some plastic parts, although they are still quite durable.
10. KastKing Speed Demon: Ideal Casting Rod for Crankbaits
Even before I talk about its functionality, the KastKing Speed Demon is such a cute rod. Furthermore, it comes at an affordable price. Beyond the physical appearance and affordability, it is also such a functional rod. Here are the features that make it special.
Fuji Guides and Reel Seat
The Fuji reel seat keeps the reel secure. Then, the line guides are also Fuji, so you can expect durability and smoothness when casting. The Alconite rings that come with the guides minimize the friction tremendously.
Carbon Blanks + Nano Resin
Combining the Nanotechnology with carbon blanks ensures that the casting rod has more lifting strength while reducing its weight. This means the KastKing Speed Demon casting rod is very strong and sensitive despite being super lightweight.
S-Glass Material
The S-glass material that comes with the rod provides it with more overall balance.
Pros
- Excellent design and craftsmanship
- It is designed for crankbaits
- The rod comes with Fuji guides and reel seat
- It is at least 30% stronger than a standard graphite rod
- KastKing Speed Demon is relatively affordable and worth the price.
Cons
- Problems with misaligned eyelets
- It is too light for some users
How To Choose the Best Baitcasting Rod
Buying a baitcasting rod can be as easy as walking to the local store and picking the rod that catches your eye. While that is easy, it is not ideal. You might end up using too much on a worthless rod or buying a rod that does not sit right by you. I use these four factors to choose the best rod for the job:
Price
First, I set a budget for the casting rod and begin from there. If I’m willing to spend between $100 and $150, I search for rods within that price range. Trust me; you will always find a quality rod within your price range.
Rod Material
Baitcasting rods are available in different materials, including graphite, fiberglass, and a blend between the two. Graphite is high-end, lightweight, and durable. However, it is not always ideal in challenging fishing conditions. Therefore, if you are to fish in vegetated or rocky areas, you might want to consider a fiberglass or composite rod. Keep in mind that fiberglass is slightly heavier than graphite, though.
Grip
Remember, you will be holding the handles of the rod for the better part of your fishing trip. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that the grip is as comfortable and strong as possible. EVA foam is quite comfortable, and cork handles provide excellent grips. Most anglers prefer split grips, but each person is different.
Power and Action
Power is the amount of pressure a rod can take before bending. The higher the power, the stronger the rod is. Action, on the other hand, is where the bending starts—the closer to the rod tip, the faster the rod action.
Typically, fast action rods are super sensitive, but they are usually not powerful enough to handle large fish. Slow action rods are not super sensitive, but they are very strong, and they can cast over long distances. If you want to combine strength, casting distances, and sensitivity, choose medium action rods.
Wrapping Up
This wraps up our review of the best baitcasting rods of 2021? So, which one do you choose? Our best overall is, undoubtedly, the KastKing Perigee II Casting Rod. It is ergonomic, affordable, versatile, and comfortable to use. However, if you are on a low budget, you can always choose the Ugly Stik GX2.
