Get on the Fish with the Best Bass Fishing Rods

The tools you need to land the fish you want to catch this season

The water is as smooth as glass and the morning fog swirls and rolls around. Your first cast lands the surface plug just to the edge of the lily pads. You let it settle for a moment and then start the slow, side-to-side retrieve. You see the rise just behind the lure for a split second and then the water explodes as the bass hits the lure. Your fingers touching the blank of the rod sense the pressure changes even before the rod tip bends. This moment is why you chose one of the best bass fishing rods for 2022. This moment is everything that makes fishing your passion.

The best bass fishing rods need to have the right combination of factors to be truly effective. They need to have enough backbone to haul in a hefty lunker, and be sensitive to feel the lure’s action under the water. The best rods are comfortable in the hand for fishing long days when the bite is on, and durable enough for many days of hard angling action. Who’s ready to go fishing?

Cover image by St. Croix

1. Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris Platinum Signature Casting Rod 2. St. Croix Bass X Casting Rod 3. Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris CarbonLite 2.0 Casting Rod 4. St. Croix Premier Split-Grip Casting Rod 5. Abu Garcia Veritas PLX Casting Rod Matching the bass fishing rod to the bass fishing technique FAQs

1. Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris Platinum Signature Casting Rod

SALE

One of the best values in premium fishing rods - Available in casting and spinning rods

There’s a lot to like about this casting rod from Bass Pro Shops. The first time I picked it up, I noticed just how light it really is. But does it give up anything by being so lightweight? Not at all.

“I purchased the 7’1 MH Fast action. The rod is stout but that is what I was hoping for. I bought it to throw heavy spinnerbaits which has worked great but this rod would double as a good jig/creature bait rod as well.” – dbarns22, Kansas

The rod has multiple layers of carbon fiber sheeting with a RTX5 graphite blank. This adds up to a rod that gives you the strong backbone for big fish, yet it still transmits those subtle bumps and twitches to your hands, letting you know what is going on beneath the surface. The handle, which is very slim and contoured to your hand, also exposes the blank to you, so you get that connection and feel you need. These premium rods are available in sizes ranging from 6ft-9in. To 7ft-10in. And with actions ranging from medium to heavy, and fast and extra fast. You’ll find that there is a rod for every type of presentation you choose. A cool Line ID system is built into the base, so you can remind yourself exactly what pound test line you have spooled up. I love skimming buzz baits over heavy cover, and with the sensitivity of these rods, you’ll pick up on which bumps are weeds vs. missed hits from fish.

Best Reel Option: Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris Platinum Signature Baitcast Reel

Pros/Perfect balance and options to fit every technique

Cons/I hope you like red fishing rods

Bottom Line/One of the best new bass fishing rods on the market today

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2. St. Croix Bass X Casting Rod

SALE

Engineered to put bass in the boat

This newer rod from St. Croix just hit the market, but everything about it says that it may well be your new favorite bass fishing rod. How do I know this? Well, St. Croix re-engineered their SCII carbon fiber blank, which many anglers have sworn by for a while – me included. Plus they produce 4 different actions, five different power rods and seven different lengths, meaning no matter what technique or presentation you want to use to put the fish in the boat, there is a Bass X rod that is perfectly suited to the job. The premium Atlas Performance hybrid guides are set in a manner to give you the best cast possible, and the seat and grip are among the best I’ve felt in my hand. This rod became one of my favorites before I even left the store with it.

Best Reel Option: Shimano SLX DC Baitcasting Reel

Pros/Everything about this rod says it catches fish

Cons/I'll let you know if I find one

Bottom Line/These bass fishing rods check all the boxes for what you need in a fishing rod

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3. Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris CarbonLite 2.0 Casting Rod

SALE

Construction technique makes for a great rod

The CarbonLite rods have been around for a little while, and the latest version, the 2.0 is the best yet from a line of outstanding fishing rods. It is easily one of the best bass fishing rods available.

“I’ve used and owned so many different rods and always keep searching for ”the one”. Never would have thought I would find it at this price point considering I’ve paid double the for others that just didn’t measure up to this one. I have a few of these rods paired with Lews reels and it is a match made in Heaven.” – Audie M, Texas

The construction of this rod is what sets it apart. The carbon fiber is arranged in a double helix configuration – Yep, just like a strand of DNA. The design gives it a small diameter, great strength and surprising sensitivity. Bass Pro then added Fuji FaZlite guides, a non-slip Winn grip and their Line ID system in the butt. It comes with a sweet 10-year warranty, too.

Best Reel Option: Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris CarbonLite 2.0 Baitcast Reel

Pros/Amazing warranty, available perfectly matched reel

Cons/The tips on the lighter models is a little thin, so make sure you watch what you're doing

Bottom Line/One of the best values in bass fishing rods, especially if you buy the matching reel

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4. St. Croix Premier Split-Grip Casting Rod

SALE

From St. Croix and Cabela's - Also available in Spinning Rods

Cabela’s has always partnered with amazing companies to build truly great fishing rods, and they have kept that tradition alive with this rod that came from their partnership with St. Croix.

“I bought this earlier this year and it is amazing. I have the 6.6 medium and it’s everything you could want for a crank bait rod!! Absolutely love it! It has amazing backbone and feels great in your hands!” – Anonymous customer review on Bass Pro

The Split Grip starts with St. Croix’s premium SCII graphite blank and two coats of proprietary Flex-Coat cure to give this rod an extremely precise taper. That taper helps you cast and work the lure exactly as you want it to. The premium guides and cork handle are the finishing touches to a rod you’ll find is worth every penny.

Best Reel Option:Lew’s Custom XP Baitcast Reel

Pros/Comfortable grip and quality construction

Cons/Select models felt a little top heavy

Bottom Line/Another great rod from Cabela's partnerships with St. Croix

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5. Abu Garcia Veritas PLX Casting Rod

SALE

Also available as a spinning rod

How much do I like the Veritas rods from Abu Garcia? I even use one for ice fishing. These are amazing, lightweight and responsive rods that have the oomph when you need it.

“I’ve had this rod for a couple of months and absolutely Love it!!Handles fish well,sensitive and crazy lite!! Very strong and balanced” – Tnprofisherman, Tennessee

Like every other rod on this list, the Veritas is extremely well balanced. It is made from carbon fiber strands that are arranged and then pressed into shape and baked with a resin material. This gives you the strength you want and the carbon fiber strands are aligned so you feel every action from the line. Abu Garcia uses titanium and zirconium in the guides for durability regardless of the line used and to aid in keeping that weight down. I like to cast swimbaits with this rod as well as slow walking a worm along the bottom. In both presentations, I feel every bump, twitch and structure I encounter. It puts fish in the boat.

Best Reel Option: Abu Garcia Revo STX REVO4 Baitcast Reel

Pros/An amazing, lightweight and balanced rod from Abu Garcia

Cons/A small amount of users have reported that rod tip can easily break

Bottom Line/A serious bass-angling tool that is well balanced

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Matching the bass fishing rod to the bass fishing technique

Bass caught on a crankbait — Crankbaits are one of the many techniques used to catch bass, and the best bass fishing rods are becoming more technique -specific every year. *Photo by Bass Pro Shops*

Crankbaits are a proven winner for catching bass and for this, the optimal rod choice is a 7ft. casting rod, and I tend to lean toward the carbon fiber rods to get the best feel for the action. Look for:

Preferred Style – Casting
Rod Length – 7ft
Rod Action – Fast
Rod Power – Medium or Medium Heavy

When you’re working spinnerbaits and buzzbaits, a 7-foot baitcast rod is perfect as it will give you better casting distance, added leverage and help with speed control.These are all imperative when you’re trying to cover as much water as possible. Look for a rod with:

Preferred Style – Casting
Rod Length – 7ft
Rod Action – Fast
Rod Power – Medium Heavy

For Pitching and flipping, you’ll want a longer, stiffer rod that can help you get the lure where you want it to go. You’ll want a heavy rod to be able to pull the fish from the dense cover you were pitching into. The optimum rod choice would be:

Preferred Style – Casting
Rod Length – 7ft 6 in
Rod Action – Fast
Rod Power – Heavy

If you’re chucking top water baits, look for a 6-½ ft. casting or spinning rod. I like to use a casting rod for plugs and poppers, and a spinning rod for working Zara Spooks and chatter walkers. You’ll want:

Preferred Style – Casting or Spinning
Rod Length – 6ft, 6in.
Rod Action – Moderate
Rod Power – Medium

If you’re skimming frogs or mouse baits over the lily pads or muck edges, you’ll want a rod with a lot of backbone, and some length to it. A 71/2 ft casting rod with a heavy action will let you reach out a little further. Look for:

Preferred Style – Casting
Rod Length – 7ft, 6in.
Rod Action – Fast
Rod Power – Heavy

When you’re fishing a worm rig like a Texas rig, or a shaky head, you’d want a good spinning rod in the 6-½ to 7ft range. This is the same type of rod that works great for skipping under docks. Look for

Preferred Style – Spinning
Rod Length – 6.5 to 7ft
Rod Action – Fast
Rod Power – Light to Medium and even Medium Heavy (good for skipping under docks)

How many bass fishing rods do I need?

The obvious answer is – Just one more, right? I mean, who can really have enough fishing rods? But if you’re trying to catch bass consistently, you should have at least three rods with you, of different lengths, and each set up differently. I usually have a minimum of 7 rods with me in the boat, with a mixture of casting and spinning rods of various types. I rig them all up before I go based on the weather forecast so that I can switch quickly to be the most productive.

If I could only get one bass fishing rod, what should I get?

If you could only have one bass fishing rod with you, I’d suggest a fast, 7ft., medium action casting or spinning rod depending upon which style you’re most comfortable with. It won’t do everything perfectly, but it will be perfectly adequate for most types of bass fishing.

Derrek Sigler

Derrek Sigler has been a professional outdoor writer for more than two decades since earning his Master’s Degree in creative writing with a thesis about fishing humor. But if you ask anyone that knows him, he’s been telling fishin’ stories since he was old enough to hold a pole. He has written for Cabela’s and served as editorial director for Gun Digest books. Over the years, he has also written for Petersen’s Hunting, North American Whitetail Magazine, Wildfowl, Grand View Media, and has worked with Bass Pro Shops, Hard Core Brands and Bone Collector. Successful Farming had him write for their magazine and he has appeared on their TV show to discuss hunting and ATVs on multiple occasions. He writes about the things he loves - hunting, fishing, camping, trucks, ATVs, boating, snowmobiles and the outdoor lifestyle he enjoys with his family in their home state of Michigan and more as they adventure around North America.

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