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Last Updated on January 27, 2024 by Jeremy
Introduction
Hooking you into a wonderful article today, I want to go straight into why it is important to choose the best fishing rods for beginners. The number one main and only reason is operation.
Remember the day when all you had was a stick with some string and a mangled cricket or grasshopper near a pond, and you spent hours trying to catch a fish. Fast forward a dozen decades and you have rods that even I don’t know how to maneuver.
Let’s face it, I’m the greenest there is when it comes to fly-fishing for example, but I have spent a number of times on the water close to a campground, casting the old line out with my telescopic fishing rod, and the results…well, let’s save the fish tales for another day.
Anyways, its rather important to consider different factors when choosing a fishing rod. For example, as a beginner, you’ll want to decide on something that’s durable, versatile, and easy to operate, and this may include the main ingredient of the rod itself, a reel.
It’s also important to consider what kind of fishing you want to do. This opens up a variety of topics to think about, like fly-fishing, ice fishing, and even sport fishing. All versions of fishing rods you choose need to be for you, the beginner.
Below, let’s sink in 8 of the top picks out there to date, and give you a generalized overview of each one.
Top 8 Fishing Rods for Beginners
Regular Fishing
1) Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod
The Ugly stik is probably… Scratch that! The Ugly stik IS one of the best fishing rods for beginners. The GX2, is a brand that comes as a casting rod, or even as an ice-fishing combo rod. Quite simply, if you want to catch fish, get an Ugly Stik.
Pros: Durable, versatile, affordable
Cons: Heavy, not suitable for delicate baits
Where to purchase: Bass Pro Shops, Amazon
2) KastKing Perigee II Fishing Rod
The KastKing fishing rod comes in either a spinning version or a casting version. Both are exceptional for the regular fisherman. It’s the perfect well-balanced rod and really responsive for any type of beginner.
Pros: Lightweight, sensitive, affordable
Cons: May not be suitable for heavy fish or strong currents
Where to purchase: Kastking.com, Amazon
Fly Fishing
3) Orvis Clearwater Fly Rod Outfit
If you’re looking at getting into fly-fishing, so I’m told, you need to get the Orvis Clearwater fly rod. Supposedly it is hands down, one of the best fly rods you can buy. Let’s check out some pros and cons:
Pros: lightweight, has a comfortable grip, and is perfect for beginners.
Cons: It may not be suitable for long casting distances.
Where to purchase: Orvis.com, Amazon.com, and other outdoor sporting goods stores.
Have a watch of this fly fisherman testing out his new rod – Such a hoot!
4) Redington Classic Trout Fly Fishing Outfit
Another great beginner rod for fly-fishing is the Redington classic. It can be a little expensive if you’re just getting into fly-fishing, and have a rather stiff feel, but don’t let that take the fun out of catching the big one!
Pros: durable, reliable and easy to use.
Cons: It may not be suitable for more experienced anglers.
Where to purchase: Redington.com, Amazon.com, and other outdoor stores.
Sport Fishing
5) Ugly Stik Bigwater Spinning Rod
Another number 1 choice in the Ugly Stik category, only this time for sport fishing. Here’s a rod that’s been given a 5-star review by many customers, as an example, see what James had to say?
Pros: durable, has a comfortable grip, great for cat fishing.
Cons: It may not be suitable for long casting distances.
Where to purchase: UglyStik.com, Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Canadian Tire, Cabela’s
6) St. Croix Mojo Inshore Spinning Rod
I was leary to add this rod into the mix, due to the bad reviews, however it still is rated as a top-notch rod by some users. As a beginner, this wouldn’t be a terrible option to start with based on some pros of it.
Pros: Lightweight, sensitive, two-piece design.
Cons: Expensive compared to similar options, complaints of breaking.
Where to purchase: Tackle Warehouse, Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s.
Have a watch on this video about a personal review done on this exact rod. There may be a reason why those bad reviews were made in the first place…
Ice Fishing
7) Frabill Ice Hunter Spinning Rod
Perhaps one of my favorite types of fishing to do, I can relate more to this category of rods. The Frabill ice hunter rod is a really good first option for beginners. It’s a decent length at 26″ and looks super easy to handle, I can already taste those tiny little Perch!
Pros: Lightweight, durable, and designed for easy transport.
Cons: Not as sensitive as some other high-end rods.
Where to purchase: Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, Amazon.
8) Goture Twin Tip Ice Fishing Rod
The last best fishing rod for beginners comes in the form of the Goture twin tip ice rod. It’s a 32″ carbon fiber rod that comes with a cork handle, making it ready and available for beginners of all ages.
Pros: Sturdy, smooth guides and space-saving.
Cons: A little long for an ice fishing rod but it does have a version 4″ shorter than this.
Where to purchase: Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, Amazon.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Fishing Rod for Beginners
Now that we’ve gone through the list of the best fishing rods for beginners, let’s look at some considerable factors before you choose the right rod:
- – Length of the rod – As an ice fishing rod can hover around that 2 foot mark, the longest type of rod you could come across is a fishing pole at 14 feet. For the right type of fishing, you’ll want to look at a rod you can operate. Be comfortable with the length. As a beginner, suggestions of using a 7′ rod length is considered perfect for regular fishing using cast and spin poles.
Have a look at the following chart to help you choose:
- – Power and action – Another factor to consider is the power and action of each rod. You’ll want something that’s easy to handle and doesn’t take up too much power to use. In the event of a big fish fighting with your rod, you’ll want a rod/reel combo that is designed to take the brunt of the action.
- – Material – We all know carbon fiber is a really strong material, so consider this as your first choice, however if you want something lighter weight, then a fiberglass rod might be the way to go. Both options are good choices for beginners, but for durability purposes lean more towards the carbon fiber material in a fishing rod. There is of course graphite, bamboo and composite materials in fishing rods, but let’s not over-complicate things. Stick to the primary!
- – Comfort and grip – This is probably right up there with operation of the rod. The key factor in this scenario is to try out your rod. If you’re a window shopper and need to feel before you buy, then look heavily into comfort and grip as well. This is going to be your first beginner rod, so make sure it fits right.
- – Type of fishing – Lastly, you want to know what type of fishing you’ll be doing before you consider buying the best rod. Never use an ice fishing rod for sport fishing, unless you’re doing it on a bet and plan to lose the entire rod completely.
Conclusion
And there we have it folks, short simple and to the point. Here’s my recap of the top 8 picks for the best fishing rods for beginners.
We know that the main ingredient of getting hooked on fishing is the operation of the fishing rod. Along with it comes 8 really awesome choices for the different styles of fishing. And of course, we went through the factors to consider in choosing the right fishing rod.
The highlighted key factor to consider when choosing a rod for beginners, boils down to the length. After this, you should factor in how you’d categorize the remaining considerations such as comfort and grip, power and action, and what type of material you want your rod to have.
My suggestion, and it’s just because I had one, is the Ugly Stik Shakespeare GX2. It has been the best rod for the last 8 years, and I’ve taken it everywhere! Get yourself a decent reel, and away you go, you are ready to fish!
Another choice and available on our store page – KastKing Max Steel Rod.
WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND?
Have you heard of these fishing rods before? What is your experience with them if you have? Perhaps you have other suggestions you could let other beginner-friendly fisherman know about on which rods are good in the comments below?
If you still have doubts, perhaps you should have a watch of this 5-minute video titled: Fishing 101 – A guide for beginners.
Cheers!
I’ve been looking for this exact article Jeremy, as spring has sprung here in Oklahoma City and it’s time to get outside and wet a line!
I’m not a beginner myself but I have three young grandchildren and I know that two of them have never even held a rod and reel, let alone reeled in a fish.
The Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod looks like the perfect option, per your recommendation and a quick browsing of prices shows it is right in my price range! I do wonder about the durability of such a lightweight rig but think this will be outweighed by the number of fish the kids catch with it.
Joseph, I appreciate this comment, and I agree that it’s time to go fishing!
You have given me an idea to produce an article titled “best fishing rod for kids”. Perhaps you should bookmark this page and check in once completed in the very near future.
That said, I would tent to recommend an Ugly Stik for kids regardless of the weight, like as you said, once there are fish caught, it won’t matter what the rod is like. 🙂
Cheers!