Therefore, in addition to using some of these rods for Michigan smallmouth and others for heavy cover largemouth on home waters like the Potomac, Outdoor Life gear editor, Scott Einsmann, and I took them to the Roanoke River in North Carolina to tussle with some hefty stripers, too. It doesn’t mean that certain ones aren’t better for specific applications, but rather that you can get a sense of how light and how heavy they can go. That extends from panfish to walleye to stripers to light saltwater use. The great thing about most spinning rods aimed at the bass market is that they can be used for a wide range of fishing applications outside of the bass world. How We Tested the Best Spinning Rods The author testing one of the best spinning rods. Croix Legend Glass Crankbait Spinning Rod 6’10” M

Best Travel Rod: Megabass Valkyri e World Expedition Travel Spinning Rods.

Best for Panfish: Lew’s Wally Marshall Speed Shooter.

Best for Flukes and Small Swimbaits: Shimano Curado CDS70MA.

Best for Dropshotting: Abu Garcia Zenon ZENS-610-4.

Best for Shaky Heads and Grubs: Dobyns Champion XP DC 702SF.

Best for Skipping Docks: Douglas XMatrix DXS 704F.

To prove their versatility I also tested the best spinning rods with the help of gear editor, Scott Einsmann, on a striped bass trip. While they’re bass leaning rods and targeted at the recovering bubba set, they can be applied to trout, walleye, crappie, inshore species, and even big game under the right circumstances. Since bass are America’s most popular gamefish, I focused this review on rods that were developed with bass in mind. Obviously, there’s a near-endless selection of spinning rods to choose from, and I can’t test them all. As I’ve started to consider my spinning tackle choices more carefully, I’ve not only caught more fish, but I’ve also had more fun doing it. Of course one rod can’t do it all and there isn’t one best rod, there are rods that are the best for specific purposes. They’re versatile tools with options for everything from pond bluegills to popping for giant trevally in the South Pacific. Savvy anglers know that spinning rods can handle the biggest fish around and throw the lightest lures while being both exceptionally sensitive and extremely powerful. We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs.

All star inshore saltwater spinning rod