March 2024

Fishing Rods: MetaRanking

This page highlights the aggregate summary of fishing rods rankings posted by key online experts, as of March 2024.

Summary

On 8 Mar 2024, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 81 fishing rod endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.

62 fishing rods were endorsed in total, only 13 made it into this month's ranking. (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included)

As of 8 Mar 2024, St.Croix Triumph takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed fishing rod with 5 expert endorsements. 3 experts out of 5 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 $1050 (Sage R8 Core Fly). Median fishing rod costs $55.98 (Sougayilang Telescopic Combos).
$19.99
$1050

At a glance - March Ranking

Scroll horizontally to browse this ranking table
Rank Change Price Fishing Rod
boatsafe.com
TheManual
OutdoorGearLab
Forbes
fishinggearcenter.com
BestReviews
Field & Stream
tripsavvy.com
Reviewed
bestfishkeeping.com
1
- Check price
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.
-
7
1
-
8
1
-
-
-
1
2
- $39
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.
-
-
-
-
1
4
-
5
-
2
3
- $50
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.
-
-
4
2
-
-
-
3
-
-
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.
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
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.
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1
-
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
6
- $45
KastKing Perigee II
The KastKing Perigee II fishing rod is highly praised for its quality, versatility, and performance, making it suitable for a wide range of fishing applications.
9
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
7
- Check price
Plusinno Elite Hunter
2
-
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
8
- $56
Sougayilang Telescopic Combos
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
3
12
- $260
Bubba Tidal Pro
-
-
-
4
-
-
4
-
-
-
13
- Check price
Okuma Celilo Ultralight
The Okuma Celilo Ultralight fishing rod is a durable and sensitive option for anglers looking for a lightweight rod for light fishing techniques and targeting smaller fish species, with its graphite blank construction, aluminum oxide guide inserts, and stainless steel hooded reel seats contributing to its overall quality and responsiveness.
-
-
-
-
4
-
-
4
-
-
14
- $54
KastKing Blackhawk II
The KastKing Blackhawk II is a highly portable and versatile telescopic fishing rod that has received positive reviews for its convenience, performance, and durability, making it a reliable option for anglers on the go.
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3
-
-
-
-
-
10
-
-
15
- $99
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.
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-
-
-
-
5
-
-
4
-
16
- $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.
5
-
-
-
6
-
-
-
-
-

; ; ;
#16 $37.99 Entsport E Series Camo Legend
#2 $38.74 Ugly Stik GX2
#6 $44.99 KastKing Perigee II
#3 $49.95 Ugly Stik Elite
#14 $53.99 KastKing Blackhawk II
#8 $55.98 Sougayilang Telescopic Combos
#4 $59.39 Plusinno Carbon Fiber Telescopic
#15 $99 Wild Water Standard Fly
#12 $259.90 Bubba Tidal Pro

We ranked St.Croix Triumph #1 in March 2024 because:

  • 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best fishing rods” rankings.
  • Out of those, 3 experts ranked St.Croix Triumph as #1.
Critic endorsements:
TheManual

Best Double-Handed Rod

Go to ranking

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.

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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.

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bestfishkeeping.com

Highly Recommended For The Highest Quality

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We ranked Ugly Stik GX2 #2 in March 2024 because:

  • 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best fishing rods” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Ugly Stik GX2 as #1.
Critic endorsements:
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.

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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.

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tripsavvy.com

Best for Crappie

Multiple lengths and powers to choose from
Crappie model combines sensitivity and casting distance
Seven-year warranty

Product information doesn’t specify rod action
Several customers say line guides cannot withstand braid

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bestfishkeeping.com

Simple But Durable

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 March 2024 ranking

We ranked Ugly Stik Elite #3 in March 2024 because:

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

Great for Small Fish

Strong
Versatile

Short handle, short casting distance

Go to ranking

Forbes

Best Budget Fishing Rod

Go to ranking

tripsavvy.com

Best for Bass

Durable, lightweight blank with extra graphite
One- and two-piece options available
Seven-year warranty

No slow or moderate action option
Some reviewers say line guides are easily grooved by braid

Go to ranking

We ranked Plusinno Carbon Fiber Telescopic #4 in March 2024 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best fishing rods” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Plusinno Carbon Fiber Telescopic as #1.
Critic endorsements:
OutdoorGearLab

Best Telescoping Rod / Editors' Choice

Easily portable
Excellent sensitivity
Durable construction
Affordable

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

Go to ranking

Reviewed

Reversible handle
Collapsible, telescoping rod

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

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We ranked Orvis Superfine #5 in March 2024 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best fishing rods” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Orvis Superfine as #1.
Critic endorsements:
TheManual

Best All-Around Fly Rod

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Forbes

Best Glass Fishing Rod

Go to ranking

We ranked KastKing Perigee II #6 in March 2024 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best fishing rods” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked KastKing Perigee II as #1.
Critic endorsements:
boatsafe.com

Flexible
Strong
Accurate
Powerful
Comfortable

Pricey

Go to ranking

tripsavvy.com

Best Overall

Great performance for under $100
29 length, power, and action combos to choose from
Twin Tip option gives you two different power rods in one

No extra-length rods for long-distance casting applications
Some reviewers report that the rod can be fragile

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We ranked Plusinno Elite Hunter #7 in March 2024 because:

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

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

Not as much sensitivity in the rod as other options

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OutdoorGearLab

Best Bang for Your Buck

Great balance
Ergonomic handle
Casting

Not as portable

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We ranked Sougayilang Telescopic Combos #8 in March 2024 because:

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

Best Budget

Includes rod, reel, and tackle for less than many rods on this list
Telescoping rod in a choice of three lengths
Reel has a high number of ball bearings for reduced friction

Reel’s low gear ratio is more suited to some techniques than others
Quality is unlikely to satisfy more experienced fishermen

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bestfishkeeping.com

Inexpensive And Durable

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We ranked Bubba Tidal Pro #9 in March 2024 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

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We ranked Okuma Celilo Ultralight #10 in March 2024 because:

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

Best Strength

Ultralight action rod comes with an awesome 7-foot rod.
It presents the amazing ultra lightweight action and lets you cast all day long without fatigue.
The lightweight quantum 20 reel makes it perfectly balanced.

Lack of quality control is a major drawback.

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tripsavvy.com

Best for Trout

Ultra-light and light models in a range of lengths
Fore and rear cork grips for added comfort
One of the most affordable rods on this list

Limited warranty is only valid for one year
No crossover for larger fish species

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We ranked KastKing Blackhawk II #11 in March 2024 because:

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

Best Telescopic Rod

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tripsavvy.com

Best for Backpacking

Collapses to less than a third of extended length
Can leave reel and line attached when collapsed
Available in spinning and baitcasting styles

A lack of alignment markers can make it difficult to line guides up
Warranty has significant limitations

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We ranked Wild Water Standard Fly #12 in March 2024 because:

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

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Reviewed

Quality materials
Rod breaks down for transport
Line and flies included

Users have reported product defects

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We ranked Entsport E Series Camo Legend #13 in March 2024 because:

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

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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.

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