Best Baitcasting Rods for Bass 2023

Last updated on February 17th, 2023 at 12:29 pm

For bass anglers, finding the right baitcasting rod can be a daunting task. With so many options available out there, it’s hard to know which one is the best for your needs. Here we cover why baitcasting rods are superior to spinning rods, and the features to look for when selecting the right one for you. So if you’re in the market for the best baitcasting rod for bass that will get you more bites and bigger catches, read on to find out what makes these bait casters stand out!

Luckily if you get the best one, it’s all more professional fishing involved with heavy baits and lines with more control over the cast and ending up with a trophy bass catch even after a tough fight.  

Baitcasting rods are always the professional anglers’ priority, especially when fishing bass when different techniques are tested.  Using a baitcasting rod and reel you can easily control the lure speed without spooking bass.

In this article, we’ll be looking at the best baitcasting rods to ensure that you get that perfect catch every time. We’ll go through the features of each rod and what makes them ideal for bass fishing – so read on to learn more!

Moreover if you are interested in the best baitcasting rods not specific to bass check this guide. Or if you are in search of some budget friendly options check “Best baitcasting rods under $100“.

Benefits of using baitcasting rods

Whether it is bass or any other specie type, many freshers are curious why professional anglers prefer baitcasting rods over spinning even though the advanced spinning rods are all updated with more power and capacity to tackle bigger catches.

Yes, we can’t deny the fact that spinning rods’ are enhanced in performance so far. But check out some facts where baitcasting is still superior to them.

• Baitcasting rods work great when using heavy lures of more than 1 oz. as well as heavy fishing lines
• For bigger and heavier fish catches, baitcasting rods are more suitable
• You can control the lure dropping speed into the water with your thumb on the spool due to the placement of the reel above the reel, and you can slow down its speed to reach the bottom to better tackle skittish fish without spooking.
• Casting accuracy is achieved with baitcasting rods
• Baitcasting setup offers longer casts with more line capacity on the reel, if you have spinning and casting reels of the same size, the latter will have a larger spool.
• Allow fast retrievals, especially when jigging
• Have a greater number of line guides than spinning rods

4- Shimano Expride B Casting Rod

best baitcasting rods for jerk baits

When we talk about Shimano products it is more professional fishing gear with smooth casting operation but at higher prices, as compared to other brands. The only reason why I mentioned it after 3, 4 products is its price.

The graphite rod is lightweight but still durable to handle bigger catches. Whether it’s throwing swimbaits, crankbaits, jigs, jerkbaits, or topwater lures, it’s a versatile rod that quickly accepts any fishing techniques following any bait presentation.

Its high-end features like Caron Monocoque butt make sure the angler wouldn’t miss any slightest vibration that leads to a missing catch. The unique part about these handles is the presence of both the cork and EVA foam there. Taking cork grip and EVA comfort to another level.

It also comprises of CI4+ reel seat and the popular Fuji SiC guides that are one of the recommended guide materials for frictionless line movement with smooth and longer casts.

It’s a sensitive baitcasting rod whether it is its butt section or rod tip, the rod transferred the slightest fish nibbles vibrations to the angler’s hand. If you are really into the search for sensitive baitcasting rods, Shimano Expride is a powerful.

5- Ugly Stik Elite Casting Fishing Rod

best baitcasting rod for smaller bass

I am a big fan of the Ugly Stik Elite spinning rod and now the casting. Ugly Stik makes sure to deliver performance without reducing any quality factor and sacrificing the standard and adding additional charges.

These are long-lasting rods with specialized Ugly tech construction to add sensitivity to the rod with more added graphite to the blank construction. It is a reliable rod for bass fishing but catches relatively smaller fish.

The rod is all set to be used in saltwater as its stainless steel guides are resistant to corrosion and can bear saltwater abuse. Rather than regular reel seats, it features the latest style reel seats with a portion of the blank exposed. By placing a finger on this exposed blank you’ll be able to detect even the most delicate bite.

Many anglers who don’t like the split grip design will appreciate these full grip handles and will consider Ugly Stik. The Ugly Stik Spinning rod users are fully introduced to this rod’s performance, the same rod with the same component construction will be easier for them to shift to its baitcasting version.

Stainless steel guides aren’t easy to bend and retain their shape for a longer period. Ugly Stik is a trustworthy brand and offers durable rods as expected. You can easily catch some smaller bass using spinnerbaits with this rod.

6- St. Croix Rods Mojo Bass Casting Rod

best medium-heavy baitcasting rod for bass

For serious bass anglers, there is always something extraordinary offered by the top brands. St. Croix Mojo Bass anglers are one of those. I wouldn’t recommend these rods to anglers going with the high-end rods at the initial stage isn’t a wise choice.

The Mojo bass comes with SCIII graphite construction. The rods aren’t flimsy and have enough backbone to target bigger sizes and aggressive bass. They are perfect when throwing heavy lures. You can freely cast a lure of more than 2 oz.

Its integrated Poly Curve Tooling technology enhances the rod performance and increases its strength to perform unbeatable under heavy loads.

Adopt any fishing style, any technique, or any location the St. Croix Mojo Bass will not disappoint you. Mostly baitcasting rods for bigger catches and heavy lures and lines are challenging to hold and are load on arms. Mojo bass eliminates this issue with a perfect balance of weight, durability, and comfort.

In addition to this, the other top-quality features like its Kigan Master hand 3D guides, and a Fuji hooded reel seat polishes its casting ability, and add superior strength.

In order to make sure it doesn’t slip from wet hands the rod feature quality split-design cork handles that are sensitive enough to transfer vibrations that leads to successful catches at the end.

7- Cadence CR7B Baitcasting Rods

best bass rod for Carolina rig

We all want the best baitcasting rod to match our fishing needs and the environment we are in. The Cadence CR7B lure is the perfect rod for this. 

With a tradition of excellence, these are the best baitcasting rod for bass. It’s a fast Action and Super Lightweight rod. They are Sensitive Casting Rods with 40 Ton graphite blank construction, carbon Fuji Reel Seat and Stainless Steel Guides with SiC Inserts.

Whether it is jigging or bass fishing with frogs, Cadence CR7B is one of the recommended go to rods for full fun fishing. Each rod component is resistant to corrosion, so a fully budget-friendly rod also suitable for saltwater fishing conditions.

Its heat resistant line guides are light in weight and offer smooth and longer casts with accuracy. They are durable that can withstand the wear and tear of repeated use.

Its super sensitive tip detects every fish, rock, or any other underwater object that touches line and transfer vibrations directly to the angler’s hand.

Overall the rod lasts longer if you wouldn’t exceed its line and lure limit. Any rod can snap in half when loaded more than its capacity. Make sure to read the rod specification before buying and pick according to your requirements.

They are the best baitcasting rods for the price with all the premium quality features still on budget, and accessible by any angler. Also comes with one year warranty so fully backed up.

8- Falcon Lowrider Casting rod

best all-rounder baitcasting rod

Falcon lowrider is a kind of all-rounder option. You can use it for different bait applications and this wouldn’t disappoint you. These rods offer the perfect balance even when casting heavy lures.

I appreciate the versatility of the Falcon lowrider models each model is designed according to the specific lure application from weightless worms to crankbaits pick the rod according to your requirements.

You don’t have to steal the bank to buy these high-end rods they are budget-friendly and can be a good alternative to other high-end expensive baitcasting rods.

The rods have the capacity to land some ideal catches with a max 30 lb. line test. So if you are up to something big and exciting and an enthusiastic bass angler, these rods are made for you.

The versatility and variations among models in power, action, lengths, and handle design never disappoint a buyer. But if you get confused with so many options simply go with its “All-round” model.

When the classic style mix with the latest it is always something incredible. The same is the case with the Falcon lowrider. It is an enhanced and advanced form of the model first introduced in 1965.

The only reason why I listed it in the last is it available so if you get these available anywhere make sure to add any of the models to your fishing arsenal.

How to choose the best baitcasting rod for bass

Let’s discuss what features make baitcasting rods the ideal choice for bass fishing, so grab your tackle box and get ready to learn all about how to choose the right rod for your next bass fishing adventure!

Length

Often anglers focus on rod material, power, and action but neglect the length even though the length of the rod prominently influences the cast. It is an underrated rod factor.

Picking the right length for the baitcasting rod depends on many factors whether it’s the angler’s height, fishing technique, location, and top of all that the weight you can hold in your hands because, with the increase in the length, the weight of the rod also increases because more material is added.

Although Baitcasting rods are available in multiple length variations, from 5 to a max of 12 feet, the right rod length for bass is something between 6.6 to 7 feet.

For larger water bodies 8 feet is also recommended because exceeding the 8 feet might be problematic for bass anglers. Both short and long rods are chosen according to the type of cast you require.

Shorter length rods i.e. 5 to 6 feet make accurate casts with pinpoint accuracy but where longer casts aren’t required for example heavy cover or dirty water conditions or fishing topwater lures.

Shorter rods are good with maneuverability and require less force for action.

Long-length rods i.e. 7 to 8 feet offer to achieve the long distance casts but accept the fact that this cast lacks accuracy. But longer rods are incredible at setting fast hooks.

Longer baitcasting rods are specifically used when casting deep diving crankbaits as they reach the bottom level when thrown far with much distance. These longer rods offer more leverage and can be used with multiple lures and lines of different weight and pound tests.  

With all these factors your comfort raises to the top, there is much difference when a 6 feet long angler uses an 8 feet long rod and 4 feet anglers use the same length rod. The level of comfort is different for both whatever the fishing location is.

Rod Material

The material of the rod used for its construction is its base. When the base is right, 50% problem is already solved. The same is the case with fishing rods. The fishing rods’ natures, action, motion, and weight are all influenced by rod material.

Usually, two materials are used for rod construction. One is graphite and the other one is fiberglass, another material is also an option that is the combination of both materials i.e. composite rods. Each has tons of pros as well as some cons.

Graphite rods are stiffer ones with more sensitivity to detect the slightest nibbles. These rods are lighter in weight and this also causes are slight raise in their price as compared to fiberglass. They have more fighting power but are prone to breakage this material rods are recommended for worm fishing and jigging.

On the other hand, fiberglass rods are flexible ones with more durability. Being a bass fisherman, I prefer graphite for its sensitivity over fiberglass rods. However, if you have fresher-to-teach bass fishing, novice angler fiberglass rods are recommended for those.

Composite rods are a combination of both materials so have qualities of both. These rods are more prominently expensive than the other two but are a good choice to pick.

Power

When finding the best baitcasting rod for bass, make sure to pick the rod with the right power. Power indicates the strength of the rod i.e. the pressure required to make the rod bend. This factor of the fishing rod tells how much weight your rod can bear before snapping. This is the maximum limit of the rod.

There are different power ratings of a fishing rod starting from heavy, medium to light, or ultra-light rods. Many in-between options i.e. extra heavy, medium-heavy, and medium-light rods.

The selection of the rod power is directly proportional to the size of the fish, lure rating, and line test. The higher the power rating is, the heavier lure, line, and bigger fish you can catch.

For bass fishing, I prefer medium to medium-heavy fishing rods. These power rods are versatile and work with the right size lure and line rating that is appropriate for bass fishing to target multiple sizes of fish. Medium-heavy rods have enough power to land a heavy bass.

To learn more about each power rating check out this guide for more understanding of rod power.

Action

After rod power, next comes the action of the rod. The action can be the rod’s stiffness ratings or its flex rating. This is also how fast the rod returns to its original rating after making a bend.

Fishing rods are fast, moderate, or slow action rods. The rods can also be moderate-fast, or extra-fast in action. The higher you go up with the rod action rating, the less the rod bends.

Fast-action rods only bend from their tip, moderate action bend from mid-section to the tip while the slow-action rods bend their whole length as a whole.

Fast-action rods are a great choice for flipping and pitching, these rods are great in detecting the slightest fish strikes and moderate to moderate-fast action rods when fishing with spinnerbaits or blades. Slow-action rods are used to target smaller-size fish with lighter lines and lures and aren’t the ideal pick for bass.

For bass fishing, fast-action with a medium power rod is an ideal pairing they are good with treble hook lures.

Learn more about rod action in this guide.

Line Guides

The line guides on the baitcasting rods are placed facing upward and are relatively smaller in size as compared to the guides on the spinning rods. They are placed in descending size order from the butt to the tip.  

Line guides play an essential role in casting distance and accuracy. These line guides keep the line away from rubbing directly with the rod, tighten it to remove coils, and balance the rod’s overall weight by evenly distributing stress on the rod and line.

As they play role in rod balancing, in that case, their weight also matters. The line guides are made of different materials the popular and top-quality ones are ceramic, titanium, and stainless steel. They have a high corrosion resistance rate and are hard to bend under heavy pressure.

The stainless steel guides with titanium or ceramic inserts are the perfect treat for baitcasting rods.

Reel Seat

An underrated factor that especially novice anglers don’t even bother to consider. The main part where your reel gets attached to the rod is the reel seat.

It is important to have a quality material reel seat that works well and doesn’t loose the reel. The major disadvantage of using cheap fishing rods is the unreliable real seat.

Handle Material

The second factor that affects the angler’s comfort is the handle whether is it its design or material. The two most common rod handles are offered i.e. the cork and EVA foam.

Cork handles offer a firm grip and has a non-slippery texture. The best part about cork handles is that they offer a firm grip even with wet hands but they can’t retain their shape for a longer time especially if placed in a rod holder.

EVA foam handles are lighter in weight than cork, retain their shape for a longer period, and are less expensive than cork handles. They feel warmer to the hands so a good choice for winter fishing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion    

We’ve discussed the best baitcasting rods for bass, what makes them great and how to select one that is right for you. Whether you are an experienced angler looking to upgrade your equipment or a beginner just starting, these rods can help get you off on the right foot.

In conclusion, a baitcasting rod is an essential tool for bass fishing. When selecting a rod, you should consider the type of water you will be fishing in and the size of fish that you are targeting. The right baitcasting rod can make all the difference between having a successful day on the lake or returning home empty-handed. We hope our guide has helped you find the perfect one to fit your needs!