Finding the perfect fishing rod can be a challenge. There are hundreds of options available on the market today and more being added all the time. The sheer number of casting rods available can make it difficult to tell which rods are better than the rest. Unless you are a veteran angler, you may not be able to understand all of the fishing jargon. There are key differences between bait casting rods, spinning rods, trolling rods, and any other rod you can find.
I’m going to focus on bait casting rods. These rods are designed for the reel to be placed in a way that it faces upward towards the angler. There is generally a trigger grip directly under the reel seat. The rod is designed this way for a very specific reason. When a baitcasting rod is paired with a baitcasting reel it ensures the angler complete control and increases the casting distance tremendously.
Table of Contents
Best Baitcasting Rod – Comparison
| Picture | Product Name | Rod Length | Power | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | KastKing Royale Tournament | 7’3″ | Medium | Check Latest Price |
 | Abu Garcia Black Max | 7′ | Medium-Heavy | Check Latest Price |
 | Piscifin Torrent Baitcasting | 6’8″ | Medium | Check Latest Price |
 | Entsport E-Series Rattlesnake | 7′ | Different | Check Latest Price |
 | Lew’s TP-1 Speedstick | 6’8″ | Medium/Light | Check Latest Price |
 | KastKing Crixus Casting | 6’6″ | Medium-Heavy | Check Latest Price |
 | Entsport E-Series Camo | 7’ | Medium and Medium-Heavy | Check Latest Price |
 | Ugly Stik USCA662MH | 6’6” | Medium-Heavy | Check Latest Price |
 | KastKing Perigee II | 7’ | Medium-Heavy | Check Latest Price |
 | Enigma Fishing IPPON Pro | 7’6” | Medium-heavy | Check Latest Price |
The Best Bait Casting Rod to Ensure Control
Once you have narrowed down your search to a specific type of rod, there are still countless options to choose from. This list contains some of the best baitcasting rods to ensure total control of the line and hook while also improving the casting distance.
1. KastKing Royale Tournament Quality Casting Model
This tournament quality, KastKing Royale baitcasting rod is all black with red accents. The rod provides the angler with a comfortable grip and is very manageable. The rod is fairly light and is recommended for use in both freshwater and saltwater.
This KastKing Royale Casting Rod is available in lengths ranging from 6’6’’ to 7’3”. The rod can be one-piece or two pieces depending on the length of the rod. You can also select a rod from medium to extra heavy in power ratings. Toray twenty-four ton carbon matrix makes this rod both sensitive and powerful. That is a rare and great combination.
The fishing, fast action, baitcasting rod offers a reel seat that is solid and made from high-strength nylon. The line weight varies depending on the length of the rod, but most of the Royale casting rods offer a line weight between ten and twenty pounds.
The abundance of length options allows the angler to choose a rod that fits their fishing style and techniques.
What We Like:
- The abundance of options
- The medium to extra heavy power ratings
- The solidly built reel seat
- The rod is equally sensitive and powerful
- The longest rod offers up to 30 pounds of line weight
- Recommended for use in both saltwater and freshwater
What We Didn’t Like:
- Some of the rods come in one piece and others come in two
- The rod is pretty light, which makes it feel flimsy
2. Abu Garcia Black Max Baitcasting Rod
The Abu Garcia Black Max is an all-black, sleek, and thin baitcasting rod. The Black Max Rod is available in three different sizes. They offer a medium power, 6’6” baitcasting rod that is in one piece. The same rod is also offered in two pieces. This is great because you can choose between the two rods based on your own preference. The third Black Max baitcasting rod is 7’ and offers medium-heavy power, all in one piece.
The Black Max baitcasting rod comes with a reel, which consists of a graphite frame and side plates. The stainless steel ball bearings along with the roller bearing provide a smooth retrieve.
The casting rod is made of twenty-four-ton graphite and provides a light feel, yet the rod seems durable and able to provide longevity. The light feel and thinness allows for incredible sensitivity, this increases your chance of noticing the fish at the first nibble.
What We Like:
- The medium to the medium-heavy power rating
- The lightweight design
- The coupling of the Black Max casting rod with the casting reel
- The reel allows for a smooth retrieve
- The incredible amount of sensitivity
- The rod is available in one or two pieces
What We Didn’t Like:
- The lack of variety in size and power
- The eyelets seem fragile
3. Piscifin Torrent Baitcasting Rod- Tournament Quality
This all-black rod with red accents looks awesome. The shape of the Piscifin Torrent baitcasting rod is impressive. The casting rod features three different grasping points to help you reel in a monstrous fish. This moderate fast to fast action, tournament quality rod is a beauty.
The Piscifin Torrent rod comes in lengths varying between 6’8” and 7’6”. Some models are in two pieces, but most models come in just one. The power of the rod varies by length but is generally medium, medium-heavy, or heavy. The line weight varies tremendously. The 6’8” casting rod offers a line weight of eight to twelve pounds. In comparison, the 7’6” casting rod offers an incredible line weight between fifteen and sixty-five pounds.
Each rod offers titanium-oxide guides fastened and wrapped at four different angles to improve the rod’s performance. The placement of these guides helps to transition power consistently and smoothly across the rod. The grips are made of thirty ton, sanded smooth, carbon blank, high-density EVA. This Piscifin baitcasting rod also offers a reel seat made up of high strength graphite. Piscifin’s Torrent baitcasting rod is a highly impressive piece of fishing equipment that is insanely durable and highly recommended.
What We Like:
- The awesome appearance
- The combination of guide angles
- The various sizes available
- The fast to fast action options
- The possible line weight of sixty-five pounds
- The level of durability
What We Didn’t Like:
- That some models are in two pieces
- That two models only offer a maximum line weight of twelve pounds
4. Entsport E-Series Rattlesnake- Portable Baitcasting Rod
The Entsport E-Series Rattlesnake is a two-piece baitcasting rod. This rod comes with three separate tips and an optional, black fishing bag. The Entsport E-Series aims to provide every angler, regardless of budget, high-quality fishing rods. The black rod hosts silver accessories and an outstandingly designed cork handle. The split-grip handle was designed to reduce weight, increase comfort, and provide greater control.
Regardless of which tip is placed on the rod, it comes to 7’ in length. The tips vary slightly in power level. The three tips provide the power levels; medium-light, medium, and medium-heavy. This rod’s three tips are made from a premium quality graphite to ensure the rod is lightweight and increase the rod’s sensitivity.
The reel seat is secured by a stainless steel hood that can be screwed down. The stainless steel guides are designed to provide smooth casts and retrieves. This rod provides a line weight of six to fourteen pounds.
The Entsport Rattlesnake is interestingly designed and convenient to carry on any fishing trip. The convenience of three tips allows for the use of one rod for a variety of fish and techniques rather than bringing three different rods.
What We Like:
- The rod comes with three separate tips.
- That each tip provides a different power level
- The versatility of the rod
- The appealingly designed cork handle
- The reel security due to the stainless steel, screw-down hood
- The reduced weight increases sensitivity
What We Didn’t Like:
- The lightweight makes the reel feel flimsy
- The two-piece aspect
5. Lew’s TP-1 Speedstick Casting Rod- Tournament Performance
The Lew’s TP-1 Speedstick features a thin and simple design. The design fits the name, Speedstick, perfectly. This tournament performance casting rod is offered in five styles. Each style is categorized based on the intended usage.
The first style is for Multipurpose use. The baitcasting rod is 7’ and offers a medium power rating. The second style is for Chatterbait or Bladed Jig usage. It is 6’11” and offers a medium power rating. A third style can be used for Spinnerbaits and Plastic usage. The rod is 6’10” and offers medium-heavy power ratings. Another style is for topwater and jerk bait use. This rod is 6’8” and offers a medium-light power rating. The final style is for target casting. The target casting rod is 5’9” and has a medium power rating.
Each Speedstick casting rod features IM8 graphite blanks. All five options are solely available in one piece. Lew’s uses the American Tackle Microwave Guide System for the TP-1 Speedstick to eliminate wind knots while improving the casting distance and accuracy. The Speedstick has Lew’s Skeletal Graphite reel seats.
This casting rod is beige in color. It’s thin and simple design means that the rod is super lightweight. The Speedstick brings together sensitivity and strength. The various rods allow the TP-1 Speedstick to suit an angler’s large amount of techniques and uses.
What We Like:
- The variety of options
- The options are based on their uses
- The elimination of wind knots
- The improved casting distance and accuracy
- The combination of sensitivity and strength
- Its ability to fit a variety of techniques and uses
What We Didn’t Like:
- The bland appearance is unappealing to the eye
- The lightweight aspect makes it feel flimsy
6. KastKing Crixus Casting Rod
The Crixus is another great casting rod developed by KastKing. The rod is thin, sleek, and available in six different lengths. The different lengths available range from 6’ to 7’ and have medium to heavy power ratings. Each Crixus fast action casting rod is available in two pieces and features a line weight somewhere between eight and twenty pounds.
These IM6 graphite casting rods are capable of catching freshwater and saltwater fish. The rod itself is recommended for fishing in freshwater and saltwater. The casting rods feature split rear handles that are durable and slip-resistant. Each Crixus casting rod offers high quality, stainless steel guide frames and Zirconium Oxide rings that provide the angler a smooth cast and retrieve. The rod features a graphite construction that allows the rod to have such a lightweight.
The KastKing Crixus baitcasting rod uses KastKing’s PTS technology. This is short for the power transition system. The system enables this lightweight rod to be both capable and durable. The Crixus baitcasting rod seems to provide an angler with good quality for their money.
What We Like:
- That it is recommended for freshwater and saltwater
- The slip-resistant, split rear handles
- The capability of a smooth cast and retrieve
- The rod is manageable
- That the rod is convenient to carry
What We Didn’t Like:
- The rod is only available in two pieces
- The lack of variance in the options
7. Entsport E-Series Camo Legend Bait Casting Rod
Entsport aims to provide anglers with a great value for their money. They did just that with their E-Series baitcasting rods. The Camo Legend is much like the Rattlesnake, both provide you with multiple tips. The Camo Legend is a two-piece casting rod that comes with two separate tips. The addition of each tip makes the rod 7’ in length. The first tip offers the angler medium power and the second tip offers a medium-heavy power rating. The two tips allow for generous room in line weight. The weight varies between ten and twenty-six pounds.
The Entsport Camo Legend gets its name from the appearance of the rod. The rod is black with camo design grasping points and yellow-gold accents. The rod is made from twenty-four-ton carbon fiber. This material enhances the rod’s sensitivity while maintaining the strength required of a casting rod.
This Entsport baitcasting rod features an enhanced reel seat that has a corrosion-resistant, aluminum hood. The casting rod also features high-density EVA handles. This heightens the rod’s durability while providing it with even more sensitivity. The rod features stainless steel guides to ensure that every cast is a smooth one.
The Entsport E-series was designed to create high-quality fishing rods at an affordable price that anyone can afford. Entsport drives this home with the Camo Legend casting rod.
What We Like:
- The unique and envy-inspiring appearance
- The versatility of the rod
- The convenience of being two casting rods in one
- The rods joining of durability along with sensitivity
- The generous range of line weight
- The corrosion-resistant hood on the real seat
What We Didn’t Like:
- The rod is only available in two-pieces
8. Ugly Stik USCA662MH Casting Rod
The Shakespeare Ugly Stik GX2 baitcasting rod is a one-piece casting rod that is 6’6” in length and offers a medium-heavy power rating. The rod is a perfect balance between old-school fishing rods and modern fishing equipment. The rod has a diamond wind and sleek form that is sure to catch the eyes of other anglers.
The rod is comprised of fiberglass composite and graphite. These materials enable the rod to feel balanced and lightweight while maintaining strength. The EVA grips provide a comfortable grasping point for reeling in large fish.
This Ugly Stik casting rod features a clear tip. This tip greatly enhances responsiveness and provides the rod with greater strength. This classic black rod with red accents is a great addition to any angler’s fishing collection.
What We Like:
- The combination of an old school feel with a modern design
- The diamond wind and a sleek form
- The rod feels balanced and is extremely lightweight
- The comfortable EVA grips
- The enhanced responsiveness
- The classic design
What We Didn’t Like:
- The lack of options and variation
- The rod will only fit specific fishing styles and techniques
- It feels like a beginner rod
9. KastKing Perigee II Casting Rod
The KastKing Perigee II baitcasting rod is available in fourteen different options. The options range from 6’ to 7’6” in length. Each of the fourteen options is a fast action casting rod. The options are available in medium, medium-heavy, and heavy power ratings. You also have the choice of whether the rod is one or two pieces. Depending on the rod the line weight falls somewhere between six and twenty-five pounds.
The Perigee II casting rod is black with silver accents. The casting rod is pretty straight and very slim which enables it to be exceptionally lightweight. The rod is comprised of Toray twenty-four-ton carbon matrix KastFlex technology blanks. This technology increases the power, accuracy, durability, and strength of the casting rod.
This rod features great quality materials. The reel seats are made of high strength graphite and the rod’s grips are high-density EVA. Fuji O-Ring line guides are added to this high-quality casting reel.
The KastKing Perigee II uses the same PTS as the KastKing Crixus. The power transition system smoothly transfers power across the fishing rod. The four angle wrapping ensures that the power flows easily. KastKing’s power transition system makes a two-piece rod feel the same in your hands as a one-piece casting rod.
What We Like:
- The enormous amount of options available
- That each option is a fast action
- The range in power ratings
- The rod is incredibly lightweight
- The great quality materials used
- The effects of KastKing’s power transition system
What We Didn’t Like:
- The two-piece casting rod is not available as a twin tip
- The lightweight of the rod can make it feel flimsy
10. Enigma Fishing IPPON Pro Tournament Series Casting Rod
The classic outfitting of black and white coloring on this casting rod is a beautiful sight. Though the color combination is classic the rod is anything but. This modern designed casting rod is packed with features and made up of only the highest quality materials. The Enigma Fishing IPPON is a pro-tournament series casting rod and you can tell simply by looking at it.
The Enigma IPPON is available in ten different options. Their lengths range from 6’6” to 7’6”. The rod is available in power levels; medium-light, medium, medium-heavy, and heavy. Every IPPON casting rod is a fast action. The rod is one piece and comes with a convenient bag to carry it in.
This modern design, baitcasting rod is comprised of thirty/forty-ton blended, Japanese Toray graphite blanks. These blanks are reinforced with fifty Ton X-Tape. This makes the rod extremely sensitive and lightweight. The frames are titanium coated with Zirconium rings. This assists with longer casts and allows the rod to balance precisely.
The handles are a golf-style e-grip and are double stitched by hand to ensure that they stay together for catches to come. This casting rod is a masterpiece. It is durable, sensitive, and it will make a veteran angler jealous. The Enigma IPPON baitcasting rod is worth every penny.
What We Like:
- The variety of options available
- The awe-inspiring appearance
- The high-quality materials used for the rod
- The range of power levels offered
- It comes with a bag to conveniently carry the rod
- The hand-stitched, golf-style handles
What We Didn’t Like:
- The rod is designed for experienced, veteran anglers
In Conclusion:
Every baitcasting rod is not created equally. There are a few things you should look for to ensure the rod is of great quality. The material used to create the rod, the amount of power the rod has to offer, the rods action, and the line weight.
The type of material used to create the rod has a huge impact on dictating how much the rod weighs. The amount of power the rod offers is a determining factor in the amount of pressure an angler must use to make the rod bend. This keeps tension on the line when trying to catch a fish. Action describes where exactly the rod bends, which plays a huge impact on response time. Finally, the line weight should be selected based on the size of the fish you are trying to catch.
Each of these qualities is dependent on a fisherman’s experience, preferences, and style of fishing.
My preferences lead me to favor the Entsport E-Series Camo Legend and the Enigma IPPON. These two casting rods both have a unique and striking appearance. The Entsport Camo Legend is extremely convenient. I especially like the three distinct tips that come with the rod. The Enigma IPPON is an extremely high-quality casting rod. The features and materials of the rod are beyond what I could ask for. These two rods are different enough that I could add them both to my collection.