So, you’re on the search for the best fishing rods to use with spinnerbaits. Maybe you’re new to trying them out, or you have been for some time but not had much luck.
We here believe in the old saying that luck is where opportunity meets preparation, so have compiled a list of the best fishing rods that are compatible with spinnerbait.
We’ve clearly listed their pros against their cons and written a little about why we think they’re the tools for the job. This way you can be best prepared for those catches that others can only spin tall tales about.
If you’re of the curious kind, we’ve also included a buyers’ guide complete with a small FAQ.
They’ll help you to get clued into what makes not just a good fishing rod for spinnerbait but a good rod full stop.
This way your next purchase will be an informed one and your next fishing trip can go swimmingly.
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Fuji guides and reel seats.
Best Spinnerbait Rod – Reviews
- 36" Ugly Stik rod paired with a 30 size spinning reel that comes pre-spooled with 6 lb fishing line
- Cork and EVA grips with twist lock reel seats
- Ugly Tech construction with a combination of graphite and fiberglass to create a strong, yet sensitive rod
- Ugly Tuff one piece stainless steel guides provide excellent durability and eliminate insert pop-outs
- Ugly Stik Clear Tip design for strength and sensitivity
- SHAKESPEARE 5' SPINNING ROD: Shakespeare Micro fishing rods are perfect for fishing with lighter lures and lines. Have fun with one of the most enjoyable fishing experiences with the Micro series.
- DURABLE PERFORMANCE: Line rating of 2 - 6 lb with Ultra Light rod power deliver dependable performance at a great value.
- GRAPHITE COMPOSITE BLANK CONSTRUCTION: This spinning fishing rod features durable, lightweight graphite composite construction with perfect light and ultra-light actions.
- 5 STAINLESS STEEL GUIDES: The Micro fishing rod is made with stainless steel guides with stainless steel inserts capable of withstanding friction and rough treatment.
- COMFORTABLE GRIP: Premium full cork handles provide all day comfort and traction.
- PREMIUM IM8 GRAPHITE BLANKS in GC and GS models deliver strength, durability, and sensitivity
- PREMIUM IM8 GRAPHITE/COMPOSITE BLANKS in CC models offer the perfect action for cranking applications
- FULL CONTACT REEL SEATS on casting models provide increased blank contact and sensitivity
- REAR LOCKING REEL SEATS on spinning models offer a reliable, comfortable union between rod and reel
- SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED ACTIONS to meet specifications of Kevin VanDam, delivering expert performance every time
Best Spinnerbait Rod – Buyers Guide
How to choose the best spinnerbait rods
There are a few types of rods that will work with spinnerbaits for various styles of fishing. Within those types there are also three main factors to take into account when searching for a dependable rod.
For most anglers out there, the kind of rod that’ll do right by you will be baitcasting rods that are preferably made of graphite and won’t break the bank.
For any kind of fishing activities, these are considerations, but we’ll be talking about these in relation to fishing with spinnerbait.
The three factors are the power rating, the action rating and the length of the rod.
Power Rating
The power is relatively straightforward, in that like with many tool specs you’ll want moderation. You want a rod that has enough power to set the hook, but you don’t want it to be too powerful and rip the hook through the fish’s lips.
Depending on the kind of fish you’re hunting on the day, rods categorized from medium to medium heavy will be best for these purposes. They’ll give you enough punch for hooksets but not too much that the fish ends up being shaken free by the vigorous movements.
Remember that aside from being dependent on the size of the fish and the intent of your fishing, the weight of the lure you’ll be using will also need to be accounted for in the power levels of your fishing rod.
Action Rating
As for the action rating of the rod, this indicates how much of the rod bends at the tip during use. This can affect both casting distance and the sensitivity of the fishing rod when in your hands.
The fishing hooks have a big part to play in these classifications, e.g. fishing with treble hooks and crankbait is slower action but gives you more control over the fish out in the field, or more precisely the lake.
If you have a single hook like a spinnerbait, you will want to choose a hook with much faster action. For that reason, we’d recommend a fast or extra-fast action tip for more flexible reeling.
Length of Rod
For the length, there’s really no advantages to certain lengths for the purpose of spinnerbait fishing specifically. Instead the general rules of rod length apply and should be taken into consideration for the kind of fishing you prefer or have planned.
Those rules are:– Shorter fishing poles are going to give more control and are more accurate simply by being more compact.
— Longer rods make longer casts, which have more power to them but leave something to be desired in terms of accuracy.
You’ll want a pole long enough to cast a sufficient distance yet can also fish in tighter spaces if need be.
If we had to put a number on the best spinnerbait rod length, ours would come between six foot six to seven feet. The lower end of that range is suitable for a quarter to 38 ounce spinnerbaits, whereas the upper end of the length range is better suited to heavier lures, if combined with a medium to heavy power rating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a spinnerbait rod?
Where some rods are explicitly made with spinnerbait fishing in mind, and would usually be the no-brainer option for someone interested in the technique, you can get qualities in fishing rods that will compliment using spinnerbaits without being a “spinnerbait rod” by design.
These are invariably single-hooked, medium to heavy-powered fishing rods that guarantee a good hook set. This means they need a bit of force behind them, and the longer they are the better since spinnerbaits lose distance due to poor aerodynamics.
There are some similarities to a crankbait rod, sharing lighter action for those long-distance casts.
Assuming your spinnerbait is under half an ounce, a medium/heavy rod with fast action should suffice, but if the baits are heavier, you’ll need extra-fast action.
What does HM/IM mean with graphite rods?
HM/IM is a unit of measure. With fishing rods made of graphite blanks, the metric used to measure construction quality is called “tensile modulus” and comes in figures of millions.
Though not featured on this list there’s LM for Low Modulus, then there’s IM for Intermediate Modulus and HM for High Modulus, like number one on this list. Before you jump to conclusions, however, the higher modulus rating is absolutely not correlative with quality.
Rod construction quality varies between their methods of assembly and the brands to which they belong. Whilst High Modulus is great for anglers, some would even call it overkill and suggest that Intermediate Modulus is more than enough for fishing, and for a lighter price tag to boot, hence why most of this list’s products are IM-rated.
