You don’t have to spend a fortune on a fishing rod to catch amazing fish and enjoy the beautiful outdoors. Any one of these incredibly budget-friendly rods is sure to help you land some amazing aquatic critters that you can lie to your friends about later.
Best Fishing Rod Overall
KastKing Perigee II
These spinning rods from KastKing can be bought in a wide range of sizes, and they all use a high-quality carbon fiber matrix that is rated for 24 tons. The rods have a multi-layer design to provide a mix of flex and power, making them suitable for bass fishing, trout, walleye, or similar prey.
Although you can get this rod for under $50 (depending on the size), these rods are cutting edge in terms of materials and design. The strength-focused design makes it a true next-generation product.
This is a two-piece rod, making it more compact, but thanks to the design it performs on par with a one-piece fishing rod.
If you’ve been fishing for a long time, you might not like the way these modern rods feel or perform. Times have changed and you’ll have to decide if that’s a good thing.
While the new technologies employed in a rod like this can be divisive, there’s no arguing that the KastKing is an affordable way to access the upper class of modern fishing rods.
Main Features
- Rod Length: Various
- Rod Type: Casting or Spinning
- Reel Included: No
- Accessories Included: No
Best Spinning Rod Under $50
Okuma Celilo Graphite Spinning Rods
This spinning rod from Okuma sells for a ridiculously low price and yet somehow manages to be a decent rod. Not just for the price, but in general. The rod is made from a graphite composite material and the inserts are aluminum oxide, so it’s resistant to corrosion no matter where you want to fish. Fresh- or saltwater.
Looking at the actual catches people make using the Celilo dispels any doubts that you can make some serious catches. Folks have caught large salmon, halibut, perch, and other great linefish with this rod. So you know it’s up to it!
The grips are cork, which is a clear cost saver, but then again there’s nothing wrong with cork grips and if you ask me they feel nicer than many of the other synthetic options. In any event, if you feel like it, you can simply use gloves or put other grips on the rod at a later date.
One brave fisherman caught a largemouth bass on the line, but this proved to be too much for the poor Celilo and it snapped. However, realistically if that’s what you’re looking to catch, a cheap fishing rod like this is far from the ideal choice!
If you want to catch something big enough to eat, but not big enough to eat you, then this is one of the most cost-effective ways to get into (or back into) the fishing hobby.
It just shows how far we’ve come, I remember using cheap fiberglass rods for around this price as a kid and those rods were barely fit to catch garbage. It’s all a matter of perspective.
Main Features
- Rod Length: 9’6” / 2.9M
- Rod Type: Spinning
- Reel Included: No
- Accessories Included: No
Best Spinning Rod Under $100
Cadence Ultralight Spinning Rod
Cadence claims that their rods offer premium features at budget prices. On paper that’s a great deal no matter how you slice it, but if that were so easy everyone would do it. For the very low price this rod is going for, how true can it be that premium materials and workmanship are involved?
This is a spinning rod with a carbon fiber base, rated for 30 tons. The reel seat is designed for “hard fighting” fish and the guides are stainless steel. The basics for a good spinning rod are there!
It’s very rudimentary and you still need to pair it with a good reel to make the most of the rod.
There’s nothing else fancy about it. It seems that by focusing on the fundamentals, Cadence has managed to make a good rod within this budget.
However, much of the experience will depend on which reel you choose to pair it with. While there is nothing stopping you from matching a pricey reel with this cheap rod, I think most people are probably not going to like that idea.
Still, it’s worth spending a little more on a decent reel. Cadence really seems to be punching above its weight, and you can theoretically make something even better than the sum of its parts.
Absolutely worth the price!
Main Features
- Rod Length: Various
- Rod Type: Spinning
- Reel Included: No
- Accessories Included: No
Best Casting Rod Under $100
St Croix Mojo Bass Casting Rod
This is a graphite fishing rod with an emphasis on strength. The company itself has been around since 1945, so they know a thing or two about making rods. They have quite the list of proprietary technologies developed to make the action of the rod smooth while not losing its durability.
This is a casting rod that comes in a range of sizes and, therefore, in a range of prices as well. You have to be lucky to find this fishing rod under $100, like on Black Friday maybe, but it’s such a good bass casting rod that we just had to include it in our list.
This particular rod is the medium-heavy, fast model. That means it is designed specifically for high-strain fishing to handle bass that are going to give you some fight.
I especially like the bold offer of a five-year warranty, which speaks of the confidence that the company has in their rod.
These St. Croix rods are actually a little stiffer than each rating would suggest. This can be fixed, though, by choosing a rod with one-step lower rod power.
The rod is very fast and requires practice and dexterity to use properly, but there’s almost universal praise for the quality, feel, and performance of the rod.
Once you get the hang of it, the Mojo will have you casting like a champ!
Main Features
- Rod Length: 6’8” / 2M
- Rod Type: Casting
- Reel Included: No
- Accessories Included: No
Best for Fly Fishing Beginners
Wild Water Fly Fishing Starter Package
I love it when manufacturers come up with affordable starter kits to get people into a hobby quickly. This Wild Water kit is perfect in that case. Fly fishing is one of the more esoteric fishing disciplines, though, so even seasoned anglers may feel like beginners when first trying it out.
This is a nine foot fly rod made from graphite. The rest of the rod is made from some pretty good materials as well, including stainless steel, silicon carbide and aluminum.
The kit is quite comprehensive. It includes a hard zippered case, which holds the rod and all the other bits of the kit. Making it easy to travel to your fishing location and get down to business. Apart from the rod and reel, you also get a fly box, tools, nine flies, and all the other pieces of the fly fishing puzzle.
WIld Waters sells this kit explicitly as a way for people to learn the art of fly fishing. They recommend it for medium-sized ponds and streams. Suggesting that it be used to catch trout and small bass. So if that’s too small for your tastes, look elsewhere.
Customer reviews for the fishing rods and reels from Wild Water are glowing. Mostly from people who are trying fly fishing for the first time.
If you’re a seasoned pro, then obviously this kit is not for you. If you don’t know if the art of fly fishing is for you, but you really want to try it out, then this is the perfect product to buy.
Main Features
- Rod Length: 9’4” / 2.74M
- Rod Type: Fly Fishing
- Reel Included: Yes
- Accessories Included: Yes
Best Spinning Rod for Infrequent Anglers
PlusInno Telescopic Rod / Reel Combo
PlusInno is selling this rod and reel combo and an optional carry case kit for chump change. To make things even better, this is a carbon fiber and fiberglass mix. So it offers quite a lot of flexibility without sacrificing strength.
People who have bought this spinning rod and reel compare it favorably against expensive non-telescopic rods in terms of performance. But the compact carry size and low price make up for the small tradeoffs against those more professional rods.
If you just want to keep a rod in your car or close at hand to get some fishing in when you have time, this is one of the best budget fishing rods you can get right now.
This is not a product for regular use. Some users have complained that there are durability issues, although that’s to be expected when you sell so many rods. The problem is more that this rod is a bit of a jack of all trades – it’s not extremely good for catching bass or redfish, for example, let alone bigger fish. So only go for this one if you intend to fish on occasion and don’t want to put down too much money.
The basic offer includes the fishing rod and reel, but for a little more you can get a full kit that includes the case, a lure, a line, and the rod and reel from the base combo.
This rod is suitable for use in saltwater conditions and uses materials and treatments to work against corrosion. Overall a really good choice, for a wide range of fish.
Main Features
- Rod Length: 5’9” – 8’9” / 1.8M – 2.7M
- Rod Type: Telescopic
- Reel Included: Yes
- Accessories Included: Optional
Best for The Fast And The Furious Fisherman
Piscifun Torrent Baitcasting Rod
The “fun” in Piscifun is certainly not aimed at the poor fish, but this light and fast carbon rod is an absolute joy to use. It’s a one-piece carbon baitcasting rod that may need an open window to fit in your car, but will feel like it’s made of air when you finally reach the waterside. There’s also a two-piece option, with the traditional trade-offs.
This baitcasting rod is light and strong and looks more expensive than it is. Even the two-piece option exhibits most of the advantages of a traditional one-piece rod (in terms of strength and flexibility).
Premium materials are evident here, such as the titanium oxide guides and high-density EVA grips, rather than cork.
Like many budget carbon rods, the Piscifun seems to have the occasional problem with tip breakage. It’s not widespread, but be aware.
This is a solid all-round fishing rod that won’t break the bank and gives you the option of one- or two-piece configurations. A good balance between premium design, materials, and final cost.
Main Features
- Rod Length: Various
- Rod Type: Casting
- Reel Included: No
- Accessories Included: No
Best for Travelling
KastKing Blackhawk II
Anglers always have to trade off the strengths of a one-piece rod with the convenience of multi-section rods. KastKing say they’ve solved that problem and offer the performance of a single-piece rod in a six-piece telescoping format. If that’s true, this might just be the best fishing rod for most people to buy.
KastKing’s “soloscopic” proprietary technology offers the space-saving of a telescopic rod and the strengths of one-piece systems. At least in theory.
It’s a carbon rod with a glass tip meant to solve the common tip breaking issues of such rods. Fast assembly is also a big plus point.
We’ve seen complaints about breakages, poor build quality, and breakages. This isn’t the norm however and of course, you can return faulty goods.
Based on what users have to say, this does not match the strength of a traditional one-piece rod. However, it is remarkably good when compared to other travel rods and so if you need to carry your rod in luggage, it’s a great choice.
Main Features
- Rod Length:Various
- Rod Type: Telescopic
- Reel Included: No
- Accessories Included: No
Best for Short-Notice Fishing Adventures
Sougayilang Spinning Rod Combos
As budget solutions go, this combo kit from Sougayilang definitely looks appealing. Who doesn’t like getting a whole of stuff for one price? Even the biggest rod in the range comes in well under $100, so it definitely feels like good value for money.
You get a bag, a carbon fiber rod, a reel, a line, three lures, and some nice molded foam inserts for the bag itself. Wow. Just wow.
At this price with this many components, you can’t expect it all to be top quality. Which is also probably why this rod only comes with a 1-year warranty.
There’s a place for products like this and I think it’s the perfect product for people who just want to dabble in sports fishing without a big financial commitment on fishing gear.
Alternatively, if you’re invited out for some sports fishing or are going on a once-off trip and don’t plan to fish every weekend, this is the perfect virtually disposable kit.
It will let you enjoy the sport in short bursts, and if it doesn’t last longer than a year you’ve spent so little money on it that no tears will be shed. If your buddies suddenly want to take a fishing trip on the coming weekend, this could be a real lifesaver.
Main Features
- Rod Length: Various
- Rod Type: Telescopic
- Reel Included: Yes
- Accessories Included: Yes
Best for Old School Trout Fishing
Redington Classic Trout
While this design of the Redington might be the classic take on a trout rod, the manufacturing and materials are anything but. Using graphite for the blank, rosewood for the reel seat, and a ballistic nylon rod tube, it’s got it where it counts.
Given how fancy even the cheapest rods on offer look, you might be doing a double-take with this Redington rod and its absolutely minimal design.
Redington offers a lifetime warranty on this rod, which makes the moderately high price worth it in the long run.
Users of the Redington compare it favorably to fishing rods that cost five times as much. Great casting, accurate feedback, and detailed feel are all commonly cited plus points.
A small number of people have reported quality issues with their rods that led to breakages during casting, but both Amazon and Redington’s own warranty should have you more than covered there.
If you just want a classic, quality experience while freshwater fishing for trout or similar species, it’s hard to think of a better budget rod than this.
Main Features
- Rod Length: Various
- Rod Type: Casting
- Reel Included: No
- Accessories Included: No
Fishing is still one of the greatest pastimes to involve water, but paging through angling magazines you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s become a rich person’s game.
Not true!
There are actually many excellent budget rods to choose from and the ones above impressed me the most, for one reason or another.
