The Best Baitcasting Rod For The Money of May 2023: Rankings & Reviews

#1. St. Croix Rods Mojo Bass Casting Rod – Best Overall

Since its conception over 70 years ago, St. Croix has always been among the most prestigious fishing equipment manufacturers. The main reason for this success is its commitment to quality. 

A prime example is the St. Croix Rods Mojo Bass Casting Rod leading its competitors in every aspect.

View on Amazon

With just one glance, you will fall in love with the pole thanks to its high-strain, high-modulus carbon fiber material. Any fisherman with some experience knows how sensitive yet strong carbon fiber is as a material. These two characteristics are perfect for a baitcasting rod.

Besides, the pole has a built-in poly curve tooling tech, which eliminates any transition points. The lack of transition points means that the rod’s sensitivity is amplified even more. Its strength and smoothness are also improved significantly, making it the best baitcasting rod for bass.

To add to its effectiveness against bass, the creators put in some additional aluminum-oxide rings. With these rings, we doubt that there is a bass capable of fighting back fiercely.

We are also quite pleased with the customer service from St. Croix, both pre and post-purchase. Our questions are answered immediately and with great details. Moreover, you get a 5-year warranty, the longest out of all options on this list.

Our only complaint is that this rod can be a little bit stiff for its rating. We believe that the correct rating for the rod should be either an M or an MH. If you are not experienced, you can lose the fight with the fish the first few times you use it.

Specifications:

• Technique: Dock Sniper
• Power: H
• Length: 7’
• Action: Fast
• Line Weight: 14-25 lbs
• Pieces: 1
• Rod Weight: 4.8 oz
• Handle: 3

Pros:

• High-strain, high-modulus material
• No transition point
• Highly sensitive
• 5-year guarantee

Con:

• A little bit too stiff

#2. Ugly Stik GX2 USCA662MH Baitcasting Fishing Rod

Baitcasting is a type of finesse fishing, and when it’s finesse, sensitivity and responsiveness are the most vital aspects. For this reason, we want to introduce to you the Ugly Stik GX2 Baitcasting Fishing Rod. With its innovative tip design, nothing can beat its responsiveness.

View on Amazon

With the Clear Tip design, you can easily detect any nibble, no matter how faint they are. As a result, you will be able to time the hook set perfectly, significantly improving the catch rate. We doubt that there can be a baitcasting rod as sensitive as this one.

If you think that this rod has sacrificed its durability to be as sensitive as imaginable, you are wrong. The Ugly Stik GX2 still retains the durability and the strength that made a legend out of the original Ugly Stik.

This two-piece best baitcasting rod and reel combo for the money is crafted from fiberglass and graphite composite. Due to this choice, it is well-balanced yet still compelling. Of course, graphite is as durable as it can get, so this rod is virtually indestructible.

Last but not least, this rod has the newest EVA grip tech, offering a comfortable yet firm handhold. With this grip, you can have an easier time fighting most hard-to-catch fishes.

We do want to note that this rod can be on the slightly heavy side. As such, people who are not familiar with it can be thrown off balance at first. Don’t worry; it only takes a short while for you to familiarize yourself with the rod fully.

Specifications:

• Grip: EVA
• Blank: Composite 
• Power: M 
• Handle: Full
• Pieces: 1
• Line Weight: 8-17 lbs
• Lure Weight: 1/4 - 5/8 oz
• Action: Fast

Pros:

• Clear Tip design improving sensitivity
• Composite material providing ultimate durability
• EVA grip

Con:

• Relatively heavy

#3. Cadence CR7B B07MRJFHH5 Fast Action Baitcasting Rod 

There is one thing that most fishers know about Cadence, their commitment to the blank. You can say that Cadence is lacking in grip or line tech, but their rods’ blank quality is simply through the roof. A good example is the Cadence CR7B Fast Action Baitcasting Rod.

View on Amazon

Specifically constructed from 40-ton graphite, this rod’s blank is a perfect mix of sensitivity, durability, strength, and power. You can feel every single movement of the fish and fight it to your heart’s content without worrying about the pole snapping.

This rod’s guides are made from stainless steel, providing a level of smoothness unseen before. Adding to these guides are the SiC inserts, which further decrease the line's chance of stuck within the guides. There will be practically no friction to speak of.

You also get a Fuji reel seat, famous for its capability to stick to the line, easing the fish-fighting process. Furthermore, there are also the EVA handles, which offer a firm handhold. This grip eliminates any chance for the pole to snap out of your hands.

Despite being rated as a “Moderate” rod, we have observed that this rod is, in fact, much stiffer. This stiffness can prove critical while you are fighting the fish, as it is a delicate process. It does loosen up pretty quickly, so we don’t consider this as a deal-breaker.

Specifications:

• Power: H 
• Length: 7’3”
• Handle: Full
• Pieces: 1
• Line Weight: 10-20 lbs
• Lure Weight: 1/4 - 1 oz
• Action: Fast

Pros:

• 40-ton graphite blank offering both strength and sensitivity
• Stainless steel guides providing smoothness
• Fuji reel seat
• EAV comfy but sturdy handle

Con:

• Stiffer than a “Moderate” rod should be at first 

#4. Dobyns Rods 734C FH Champion Series Baitcasting Rod – Best Versatility

There is nothing as good as the Dobyns Rods 734C FH Champion Series Baitcasting Rod when it comes to versatility. 

Without a doubt, the Dobyns Rods’ employees outdid themselves with this new rod. You can fit it with practically any bait, from spinnerbaits to seniors or jigs.

View on Amazon

The main reason for such a versatile nature is the guides decorated with SiC inserts. This design means that the guides can fit virtually any type of bait and line. Also, the high modulus graphite blank means you can use it in both saltwater and freshwater.

This rod has a very soft tip, offering you the capability to make perfect casts through tight spaces. You should not underestimate this feature, as many good catches tend to hide in the tightest of places. With this rod, you can surprise them, improving your catch rate.

The 7’ long body allows the rod to have a perfectly balanced feel, making it incredibly easy to handle. You will never feel that the tip is too heavy, unlike most products currently available on the market. This lightness on the tip can work wonders when you are fighting a powerful fish.

However, we are not that pleased with the build quality of this rod. It may break in a fairly short time if you use it to fight strong fishes frequently. Nonetheless, we don’t see this issue as too damaging, as the versatility more than makes up for it.

Specifications:

• Blank: Composite 
• Power: H 
• Length: 7’3”
• Handle: Full
• Pieces: 1
• Line Weight: 10-20 lbs
• Lure Weight: 1/4 - 1 oz
• Action: Fast

Pros:

• Incredibly versatile with baits
• Effective in both saltwater and freshwater
• Capable of casting into the tightest of places
• Balanced and easy to handle

Con:

• Not durable under frequent encounter with big fishes

#5. KastKing Perigee II B0725HDN77 Carbon Fiber Casting and Spinning Rod – Best Value

If you have been questioning yourself: “What is the best baitcasting reel for the money?” look no further. The KastKing Perigee II Carbon Fiber Casting and Spinning Rod will surely satisfy you. This product is made from the newest of techs, yet its price is fairly affordable.

View on Amazon

Having the famous KastKing Power Transition System means this rod can transfer power smoothly across the whole blank. To be more specific, this system makes use of hybrid spigot joints to make the transition. There are also four computer control wrappings to take care of the flow of power.

That’s not all; this fishing rod is among the lightest you can find in its price range. If you think that this means the rod has sacrificed its strength to become lighter, think again. Thanks to the 24-ton carbon material, the rod’s blank is both light and strong.

Furthermore, you are not limited to any specific setup with this rod. You are free to choose among a total of 29 options for sizes and many more for tips or power. For instance, you can pick a medium-light blank with a medium tip or vice versa.

The only weakness that we observed from this rod is the same one plaguing the Dobyns 734C. Namely, its durability leaves a lot for desire. This case is especially true for the rod’s tip, as it can easily break if you happen to use a little too much force.

Specifications:

• Blank: Composite 
• Power: M - H 
• Length: 7’
• Handle: Full
• Pieces: 2
• Line Weight: 10-20 lbs
• Lure Weight: 1/4 - 1 oz
• Action: Fast

Pros:

• KastKing Power Transition System
• Light yet strong
• Many available options

Con:

• Weak tip

How To Choose A Baitcasting Rod For Bass Fishing

Picking the best baitcasting rod for the money is not always an easy task. That is why we add this little section to alleviate the burden on your purchasing process.

Power = Pressure

Power describes how much force is needed for a specific fishing rod to bend. In other words, it let you know how much pressure a rod can take before bending. Together with action, this parameter can tell you approximately how strong and durable a rod can be.

After all, baitcasting rods are generally used for fighting substantial fishes such as bass. 

Action = Confusion

The action rating of a rod signifies where it will bend when the fish fights back. For example, fast ones tend to only bend at the tip and remain stiff everywhere else. With a fast action rod, you can perform finesse techniques like jigging to confuse the fish.

We hope you can now make your own decision after reading through our best baitcasting rod for the money buying guide. The rule of thumb is to rely on action and power.

We believe that the St. Croix Rods Mojo Inshore Carbon Baitcasting Rod is perfect for our recommendation. Its compassionate nature and aluminum-oxide rings can help when fighting big fishes tremendously.