January 2025

Fishing Rods: MetaRanking

This page highlights the aggregate summary of fishing rods rankings posted by key online experts, as of January 2025.

Summary

On 9 Jan 2025, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 101 fishing rod endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.

88 fishing rods were endorsed in total, only 9 made it into this month's ranking. (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included)

As of 9 Jan 2025, St.Croix Triumph takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed fishing rod with 4 expert endorsements. 2 experts out of 4 recommended it as the '#1 fishing rod' this month.

Brand breakdown
Show all brands

Price breakdown
As can be seen in the chart below, lowest high-ranking fishing rods start at $19.99 (Goture Breeze Stream) and go up to $436.90 (Megabass Great Hunting Huntsman). Median fishing rod costs $79.99 (Cadence CR7).
$19.99
$436.90

At a glance - January Ranking

Scroll horizontally to browse this ranking table
Rank Change Price Fishing Rod
Wirecutter
Reviewed
OutdoorGearLab
Forbes
fishinggearcenter.com
BestReviews
Field & Stream
TheManual
boatsafe.com
wired2fish.com
1
- $165
St.Croix Triumph
The St. Croix Triumph fishing rod is a versatile and high-quality spinning rod that offers excellent performance, durability, and sensitivity, making it a top choice for anglers of all skill levels.
-
-
1
-
8
1
-
7
-
-
2
- Check price
Ugly Stik GX2
The Ugly Stik GX2 fishing rod is highly praised by experts for its exceptional construction, durability, and performance, making it a versatile and reliable choice for anglers of all skill levels.
3
-
-
-
1
4
-
-
-
-
3
- Check price
Ugly Stik Elite
The Ugly Stik Elite spinning rod is a versatile and durable option for anglers of all levels, offering excellent sensitivity and strength for a variety of fishing situations.
2
-
4
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
4
- $59
Plusinno Carbon Fiber Telescopic
The Plusinno Carbon Fiber Telescopic Fishing Rod is a versatile and reliable fishing rod that offers convenience, durability, and exceptional performance for anglers of all skill levels.
-
1
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
5
- Check price
Orvis Superfine
The Orvis Superfine is a highly regarded fiberglass fly rod that offers a slower, full-flex action, making it ideal for delicate and precise casts in small bodies of water, with its construction and build quality praised for its classic feel and comfortable cork handle.
-
-
-
3
-
-
-
1
-
-
6
- Check price
Plusinno Elite Hunter
-
-
3
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
12
+1 Check price
Bubba Tidal Pro
-
-
-
4
-
-
5
-
-
-
13
-1 Check price
Wild Water Standard Fly
The Wild Water Standard Fly fishing rod is a versatile and reliable option for beginners, offering different lengths for versatility and maneuverability, a forgiving slow action, and a decent budget option with quality materials and a lifetime warranty.
-
4
-
-
-
5
-
-
-
-
14
- $38
Entsport E Series Camo Legend
The Entsport E Series Camo Legend baitcasting rod is highly praised for its lightweight yet strong construction, versatile design, and affordable price, making it a top choice for bass fishing and other species.
-
-
-
-
6
-
-
-
5
-

Fishing Rod
#14 $37.99 Entsport E Series Camo Legend
#4 $59.39 Plusinno Carbon Fiber Telescopic
#3 $63.69 Ugly Stik Elite
#1 $165 St.Croix Triumph

We ranked St.Croix Triumph #1 in January 2025 because:

  • 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best fishing rods” rankings.
  • Out of those, 2 experts ranked St.Croix Triumph as #1.
Expert Consensus
(as of 17 Sep 2023)
The St. Croix Triumph fishing rod is a versatile and high-quality spinning rod that offers excellent performance, durability, and sensitivity, making it a top choice for anglers of all skill levels.
Critic endorsements:
OutdoorGearLab

Best Overall Fishing Rod / Editors' Choice

Excellent feel
Great casting
Portable

Slightly difficult to take apart
Line guides easily bent

Go to ranking

fishinggearcenter.com

Best for Budget

You don’t have to put a lot of strength while using it.
Beginners find it quite easy to get started with the hobby of fishing.

The piece isn’t good for the spin-casting followers. For them, buying a more high-end model will serve.

Go to ranking

BestReviews

Best of the Best

High-quality spinning rod with SCII carbon construction for impressive sensitivity and power.
Cork handle for comfortable grip. Boasts black aluminum oxide guides and double-coated slow cure finish.

A little pricey. Warranty will still cost money.

Go to ranking

TheManual

Best Double-Handed Rod

Go to ranking

We ranked Ugly Stik GX2 #2 in January 2025 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best fishing rods” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Ugly Stik GX2 as #1.
Expert Consensus
(as of 18 Sep 2023)
The Ugly Stik GX2 fishing rod is highly praised by experts for its exceptional construction, durability, and performance, making it a versatile and reliable choice for anglers of all skill levels.
Critic endorsements:
Wirecutter

A clunkier, cheaper option

Go to ranking

fishinggearcenter.com

Best to Buy in 2022

You’ll get the availability of a good Price to value ratio.
The lightweight and durable design make it stand out.
You’ll get lots of weights available.

Foam vs. cork handle is a major drawback.
When the package arrives, the 2 piece comes apart.

Go to ranking

BestReviews

Balanced & Sensitive

Several lengths available between 5.5 and 7 ft. graphite and fiberglass construction lasts a long time. Two-piece construction for traveling convenience. Good price point. Well-constructed.

Eyes on the rod may come loose or spin out of position. Heavy.

Go to ranking

Methodology: combine opinions of key experts

Identify Experts

We identify key publishers and experts that consistently review and recommend fishing rods.

Capture Rankings

For each publisher we find a currently recommended "top 10" list of fishing rods, it must be updated in the last 9 months.

Aggregate Rankings

We put all those lists together and aggregate them. The more frequently a product is recommended, the higher it is in our ranking

Experts chosen for January 2025 ranking

We ranked Ugly Stik Elite #3 in January 2025 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best fishing rods” rankings.
Expert Consensus
(as of 14 Sep 2023)
The Ugly Stik Elite spinning rod is a versatile and durable option for anglers of all levels, offering excellent sensitivity and strength for a variety of fishing situations.
Critic endorsements:
Wirecutter

A lighter-duty option for ponds and lakes

Go to ranking

OutdoorGearLab

Great for Small Fish

Strong
Versatile

Casting
Short handle

Go to ranking

Forbes

Best Budget Fishing Rod

Go to ranking

We ranked Plusinno Carbon Fiber Telescopic #4 in January 2025 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best fishing rods” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Plusinno Carbon Fiber Telescopic as #1.
Expert Consensus
(as of 10 Nov 2023)
The Plusinno Carbon Fiber Telescopic Fishing Rod is a versatile and reliable fishing rod that offers convenience, durability, and exceptional performance for anglers of all skill levels.
Critic endorsements:
Reviewed

Reversible handle
Collapsible, telescoping rod

Some users report telescoping breaks
Some users report guides snap off easily

Go to ranking

OutdoorGearLab

Best Telescoping Rod

Easily portable
Excellent sensitivity
Durable construction
Affordable

No built-in hook holder
Segments may stick if extended too far

Go to ranking

We ranked Orvis Superfine #5 in January 2025 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best fishing rods” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Orvis Superfine as #1.
Expert Consensus
(as of 10 Nov 2023)
The Orvis Superfine is a highly regarded fiberglass fly rod that offers a slower, full-flex action, making it ideal for delicate and precise casts in small bodies of water, with its construction and build quality praised for its classic feel and comfortable cork handle.
Critic endorsements:
Forbes

Best Glass Fishing Rod

Go to ranking

TheManual

Best All-Around Fly Rod

Go to ranking

We ranked Plusinno Elite Hunter #6 in January 2025 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best fishing rods” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
OutdoorGearLab

Best Bang for Your Buck

Great balance
Ergonomic handle
Casting

Not as portable

Go to ranking

boatsafe.com

Two pieces
Stainless steel guides with ceramic inserts
Comfortable grip
Lightweight
Durable

Not as much sensitivity in the rod as other options

Go to ranking

We ranked Bubba Tidal Pro #7 in January 2025 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best fishing rods” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Forbes

Best Spinning Fishing Rod

Go to ranking

Field & Stream

Best for Saltwater

Nonslip Grip
1-Piece Rod
Corrosion Resistant Guides

Grip scratches easily

Go to ranking

We ranked Wild Water Standard Fly #8 in January 2025 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best fishing rods” rankings.
Expert Consensus
(as of 18 Sep 2023)
The Wild Water Standard Fly fishing rod is a versatile and reliable option for beginners, offering different lengths for versatility and maneuverability, a forgiving slow action, and a decent budget option with quality materials and a lifetime warranty.
Critic endorsements:
Reviewed

Quality materials
Rod breaks down for transport
Line and flies included

Users have reported product defects

Go to ranking

BestReviews

Simple yet Solid

A good choice for beginners, this set includes a rod, reel, and 9 flies. The 9-foot rod has a comfortable cork handle and a locking reel seat. The aluminum reel arrives loaded with a floating fly line that has a monofilament leader. The set includes the necessary tools.

Poor quality control results in incomplete sets being delivered.

Go to ranking

We ranked Entsport E Series Camo Legend #9 in January 2025 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best fishing rods” rankings.
Expert Consensus
(as of 15 Oct 2023)
The Entsport E Series Camo Legend baitcasting rod is highly praised for its lightweight yet strong construction, versatile design, and affordable price, making it a top choice for bass fishing and other species.
Critic endorsements:
fishinggearcenter.com

Best Warranty

You will always get a sturdy solid connection between the casting rod and reel.
The quality of EVA handles will reduce the overall weight and provide pressure strength.
There are guides that will give friction-free flow and cutting performance.
It is an ergonomic design model that allows direct contact with the fingers.

Catching big fish is a problematic one.

Go to ranking

boatsafe.com

Affordable
2 different tips; medium and medium-heavy
Strong
Lightweight
Comfortable

Rod tip can break if you have the wrong size combined with the wrong type of fishing line

Go to ranking