Casting Rod reviews from Reddit
Summary
We analyzed 257 Reddit reviews across 10 subreddits and 83 posts to rank the best Casting Rod brands recommended by redditors, including communities like r/bassfishing, r/Fishing_Gear, r/Fishing, r/SurfFishing, r/FishingAustralia. Top-rated brands include Dobyns (4.6/5), Shimano (4.5/5), Daiwa (4.6/5).
Stats
Reviews257
Subreddits10
Posts83
Brands49
Products89
257 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Dobyns
4.6
(47)
"Dobyns Kaden 610-4 cb , $179 , amazing jerkbait and crankbait rod"
"+1 for Dobyns Fury!"
"If you can pay a bit more or wait for a sale, I recommend a dobyns fury rod 734C."
"Dobyns fury dude."
"Dobyn’s Fury rods are right in the price range."
"Would pick dobyns over the other two any day."
"Dobyns fury for the extra $30 bro! Can’t go wrong"
"Dobyn’s would be my go-to."
"Dobyn’s Fury $129 or Daiwa Tatula XT $100."
"Get a dobyns check out their warranty"
#2
Shimano
4.5
(45)
"Shimano anything is killer."
"I use a Shimano FX series."
"Shimano zodius!"
"Daiwa Tatula XT or Shimano SLX."
"The nice thing about the SLX/Tatula is that they’re a full line of rods for all techniques."
"Thanks everyone!!! I went with Shimano SLX 🤙😁"
"I’d vote for the SLX. Or if a Fenwick HMG could be found on sale. I own both. Great rods."
"I have the new shimano slx it's nice and lite."
"Can’t go wrong with the slx for that price."
"The Shimano SLX is a great rod."
#3
Daiwa
4.6
(25)
"There is nothing as bulletproof (and forgiving on novice casters) as a Daiwa SL30SH"
"Daiwa Tatula XT or Shimano SLX."
"The Daiwa Tatula XT is a great choice as well as the Shimano SLX line."
"I have a tatula xt MH and a 13 Omen black 3 in a M."
"I like daiwa, so Tatula XT has been really good to me this summer."
"Daiwa Tatula XT or Shimano SLX. Buy them during Black Friday and they'll be like $80"
"It’s the only ~$100 rod that stays on my deck next to NRXs/Poison Adrena/Steezs."
"The Fury and Tatula XT are fantastic."
"Best $60 I’ve ever spent."
"Daiwa AirdtX I use a 7’ M for crank baits and jerkbaits."
#4
St. Croix
4.4
(23)
"St. Croix 7’4”, heavy/ fast action Mojo Bass rod."
"St. croix mojo bass are excellent rods and come in around 120"
"I'd have a very hard time believing you'd beat a st croix victory for 200."
"St Croix makes some excellent rods for under $200."
"St croix bass x. Extra fast version is an excellent jerkbait rod."
"I’ve been hard pressed to find anything better than the mojos."
"St. Croix makes excellent rods for around 100-150. I have a St. Croix bass x and I love it."
"St croix mojo bass or bass x. You should be able to find either of those given your budget."
"I went with a st croix mojo bass in medium heavy fast 7'1"."
"The St. Croix Mojo Bass use-specific rods would also fit in that price range."
#5
Abu Garcia
4.4
(12)
"Abu Garcia Veritas"
"I really like the Abu Garcia Vendetta series."
"I’ve been very happy with the Abu Garcia Veritas."
"Abu Garcia Vendetta is my #1 choice regardless of price point."
"If you want a catfish reel with a clicker, I’d recommend a abu Garcia ambassadeur 6500 size."
"You are looking for the Abu Garcia Vendetta or Vengeance."
"Abu Garcia Veritas. Great rods for the money."
"I've heard good things about the abu garcia veritas rods too."
"I’ve now bought the Abu Garcia Rayrex II: 10’6 and 1-5kg line weight. Relatively cheap rod for how light it is."
"Abu Vengeance is solid. Feels nice and has a very slick look to it."
#6
Ugly Stik
4.2
(12)
"I really love Whisker Seeker FMJ or Ugly Stik GX2 for rods."
"I use a $50 ugly stick from Walmart when I go catfishing."
"The ugly stik gx2 heavy action 7 foot rod is amazing for only $50."
"Uglystik gx2 might have a light or medium around that length. Supposed to be pretty Durable rods."
"Try ugly stick, very good for the price point."
"Ugly Stik GX2."
"Ugly stick baby!!!"
"Mines paired onto a gx2 I had laying around tho. Great reels and well worth the money."
"$40 will get you an Ugly Stik"
"Ugly stik gx2, nice for the price."
#7
Falcon
4.5
(8)
"Falcon rods are the shit id stick with them."
"Falcon BuCoo."
"Look at falcon."
"Incredibly light rods and great sensitivity considering the price. All Fuji hardware as well if I remember correctly."
"Or the falcon elite"
"Falcon has a couple product lines that come in under $100."
"Walmart has carried Falcon rods in the past, and some still have some in stock that they're trying to get rid of."
"I'd look at a 7' medium moderate rod. Falcon Bucoo, the new Carbonlite 2.0 looks pretty interesting."
#8
Berkley
4.0
(8)
"Can't get much better than a Berkley Lightning Rod at that price point."
"The Berkley Lightning Rod is available as a 2 piece rod."
"I have Berkley lightning rods on my shimano Curado MGLs."
"You can pick up a cheaper rod from Academy or a Berkley Lightning rod for ~$50 and be fine."
"I got a Berkeley lightening on one of my spare rods not bad at all lol."
"I’ll see your duckett and raise you a Berkeley Amp Rod haha."
"Most people of bass resource recommend Berkeley lightning."
"This isn’t the best but it’s been working well enough for me for the past year."
#9
Fenwick
4.1
(7)
"I love my Fenwick HMG, never lets me down."
"I'm a big fan of fenwick's hmg rod. Super light weight but good back bone."
"I’m really enjoying my fenwick hmg 3 piece!"
"How about a fenwick eagle or hmg?"
"I know it’s not one of your two options but the Fenwick HMG is on sale at sportsman’s warehouse for $69 and change right now."
"Daiwa airds and the berkley cherrywood and lightning or the fenwick eagles."
"Personally I like the fenwick eagle for a light travel rod but I’m not sure if they sell that as a casting rod."
#10
Phenix
4.6
(5)
"I have the Phenix M1 72ML and love it for jerkbaits!!!"
"Phenix M1"
"I bought a Phenix feather rod for my Tatula and I love it."
"I use Phenix rods for my setups."
"I like my Phenix Feather Rod and my Phenix M1."
#11
KastKing
4.3
(4)
"Check out Kast King. They load like a champ and if the reel is tuned properly, throw a country mile."
"I’m satisfied with my kastking perigee II MH. The sensitivity isn’t the BEST, but it certainly gets the job done."
"Amazon they got some real decent blanks from Kastking and a few others which are very good quality and right around that 50 $ mark."
"Kastking"
#12
13 Fishing
4.3
(4)
"13 fishing Omen Black."
"13 omen black or gold."
"13 fishing has a few good options. Very accurate rods"
"I like 13 fishing and all the rods I have got from them were under $200."
#13
Shimano Expride
5.0
(3)
"If you want to stay with Shimano, then the Expride."
"Expride all day."
"I just got some and really like them."
#14
Expride
5.0
(3)
"Expride 72MH/F"
"I see nice sub 200 Exprides all the time on FB marketplace and those are terrific rods."
"I love the expride rods, its pretty much all I fish anymore."
#15
Okuma
4.7
(3)
"Great rod, and some of the best customer service from OkumaUSA"
"Great rod, and some of the best customer service from OkumaUSA."
"I've seen good reviews of Okuma SST and Shimano Clarus."
#16
Ark Rods
4.7
(3)
"I really like the Ark Rods Cobb series."
"The couple times I have used it, it feels more like it should be in the $160+ price range."
"Ark Rods Cobb series. Currently on BOGO sale as well. Get you 2 for $100."
#17
Duckett
4.3
(3)
"The Duckett Ghost is what id recommend strongly, have had this rod and caught many fish on it."
"Duckett fishing around $100."
"Honestly for the $100 mark try a Duckett Ghost."
#18
Tsunami
4.0
(3)
"I’d go with a tsunami shield 4000 on 10’ lamiglas insane surf or a carbon … 300 bux for that combo"
"Tsunami shield is a good reel I have one of them. Only use it for lures though."
"The tsunami trophy 2 is 150 I’d say it’s good for chucking things out"
#19
Johnny Morris
5.0
(2)
"I absolute adore my Johnny Morris Carbonlite that i got from Bass Pro."
"Johnny Morris Carbonlite or St. Croix Triumph."
#20
Breakaway
5.0
(2)
"Here to also endorse the Breakaway HDX, worth every penny."
"Breakaway HDX. Ive put that rod through the ringer and has lasted through all of it."
#21
Whisker Seeker
5.0
(2)
"Whisker seeker fmj is my favorite."
"I really love Whisker Seeker FMJ or Ugly Stik GX2 for rods."
#22
Denali
5.0
(2)
"I’m huge fan of the Denali AttaX series - it’s around $129. I have a 7’2” MH and it’s my favorite rod."
"I have had this for two years now and it's been awesome!"
#23
Megabass
4.5
(2)
"Megabass Levante, can't beat it for $199, it feels like a $400+ rod."
"Mega bass Levante, Shimano Zodias. Lot of good options in that price range."
#24
DSG
4.0
(2)
"DSG has jawbone rods for about $20."
"DSG jawbone rod. It's about 20 bucks and is super strong."
#25
Bass Pro
4.0
(2)
"Recently and reluctantly grabbed the BPS carbonlite 2.0 7' MH Fast."
"Close second is the bass pro carbonlite 2.0 though the medium seems a little more stiff."
#26
Offshore Angler
4.0
(2)
"Their Offshore Angler Ocean Master Travel Casting Rod might fit your needs."
"Offshore angler ocean master is rated 6-12 oz and under $200."
#27
Tatula
5.0
(1)
"I have a Tatula elite on my go to set up. I love the feel and action."
#28
G Loomis
5.0
(1)
"It's probably going to be a loomis nrx or megabass destroyer."
#29
TFO
5.0
(1)
"They are $60 bucks and fantastic rods."
#30
Jigging World
4.0
(1)
"9-6" Jigging World Onyx surf rod and 5000 Spheros for lures."
#31
Alx
4.0
(1)
"Alx ikos line of rods"
#32
iRod
4.0
(1)
"I use, and enjoy, my irod 6102c it loads well."
#33
Powell
4.0
(1)
"Powell Endurance rods"
#34
H2O
4.0
(1)
"My first baitcaster setup was an H20 Mettle on a 7' Laguna MH. Dirt cheap and still my go to."
#35
BPS
4.0
(1)
"One is called the pro qualifier 2. It's available in 3 or 4 length/powers in 3 pieces."
#36
Zebco
4.0
(1)
"My local Walmarts have a ML Zebco Rhino Tough Casting Rod that is 2 pieces. Very under your price point, but this is a solid rod."
#37
M1
4.0
(1)
"Amazon handing rods I just got two of the M1 rods can’t beat them for 30 bucks"
#38
Defender
4.0
(1)
"Favorite defender series makes a 7 ft or 7’2 two piece at exactly 100 dollars."
#39
MajorCraft
4.0
(1)
"MajorCraft Solpara could be a good option."
#40
Gander Mountain
4.0
(1)
"The gander mountain in my area is selling a $60 rod for $20."
#41
Star
4.0
(1)
"Star makes quality rods, their Stellar Surf (12') is rated to 10 oz."
#42
Quantum
4.0
(1)
"Quantum Strive is your combo sealed like a Spin Fisher but WAY more affordable."
#43
Irod
4.0
(1)
"Irod fiber."
#44
Penn
4.0
(1)
"Or you could look at the Penn prevail"
#45
Purelure
4.0
(1)
"Purelure has a 9 foot rod listed as a croaker rod that would be a good size for the surf"
#46
LEW's
3.0
(1)
"I use a LEW’s custom lite MF….decent for the price."
#47
Suyang
3.0
(1)
"I've had some good luck with the shorter 7' & 8'6" suyang for backpacking. I believe they make a 10'er for surf."
#48
Jawbone
3.0
(1)
"I used the jawbone medium heavy casting rod for a few months and it performed pretty good for what you pay."
#49
Trophy Titan
3.0
(1)
"Hub sports has them new for 200"
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