The Best Bass Fishing Rods You Can Buy at Bass Pro Shops

Walking through the rod racks at Bass Pro Shops can be overwhelming because the choices are seemingly limited. It can be tough to find your grandpa’s pistol-grip, 5-foot-6-inch fiberglass rod, but even that is possible, and in most cases you’re looking at something much better. The knowledgeable salespeople will be happy to help you pick out the right tool for your specific needs, but here are ten of the best bass fishing rods we found in their extensive selection.



These USA-made rods are a joy to fish, thanks to the fact that St. Croix has done everything to make them the best in their class, including Torzite guides with corrosion-resistant titanium frames, a sensitivity-enhanced blank-touch reel seat, and premium cork on the handles. You can feel the fish breathing on them, but that sensitivity doesn’t come at the expense of durability. These are rods you can buy to last a lifetime, and once you own one, you’ll want another—or more.

Read more: Best Bass Fishing Rods



These rods are light as a feather and remarkably sensitive, so it may feel like you’ve lost a fortune, but rest assured, they’re up to the task of catching big fish. The multi-taper designs work well for everything from drop shots to wacky worms to small crankbaits. The 6’10” and 7’ lengths offer casting distance and shock absorption in a manageable size. If you’re going to splash out on a spinning rod, this is one set where you can be sure you’re getting a premium product that can do more than just that.



Fenwick was one of the first brands to market themselves with technique-specific tools for a variety of angling applications, and they’ve rebuilt the brand to their exacting standards. That includes some higher-end rods, but with this series you can compete at the highest level without breaking the bank. They feature stainless steel guides with zirconia inserts and an exposed blank reel seat on a cork handle. They’re comfortable to fish with all day long and would have been the best option a few generations ago.



I’ve been fishing with several of these BuCoo rods for years and find that I prefer them over rods costing two or three times as much. That’s because they use premium components like Fuji grips and a visible reel seat, but also because they just feel like an extension of my arm and brain. They have perfect taper and respond instantly to every action or reaction you make. I also like the striking gray color, which makes them easier to find on the deck of my boat.



Most manufacturers have a single rod they call “ultralight,” but Bass Pro Shops has expanded the category to include models ranging from 4-foot-6-inch, built for tight quarters on small streams, to 7-foot-6-inch, built for taming hard-charging beasts on the Great Lakes, along with oversized trout and walleye. There are one- and two-piece models, but they all feature IM6 blanks and stainless steel guides with titanium oxide rings. They’re super light yet built to take a beating, right down to the stainless steel reel seat caps that keep the reel from jumping out in choppy water or during battle.

Read more: Best Ultralight Spinning Reels



The 7-foot, 11-inch, heavy-action whipping stick in the Signature Series lineup was designed by veteran bass pro Greg Hackney to get lures into the thickest cover and pull giant bass out through those same holes. It’s built for close-range shock absorption, thanks to a graphite blank crafted with FOCAS blank technology for added strength, but it’s also extremely lightweight, so a day of repetitive whipping with a 1-ounce tungsten weight or big jig won’t wear you down. The Winn Dri-Tac Ultra split grips are surprisingly sensitive, allowing anglers to maintain a sure grip in the rain or when sweating.



Many consumers may not know it, but before he became America’s premier outdoor retailer and conservationist, Johnny Morris was a successful competitor in the Bassmaster tournament. When he puts his name on something, you can bet it’s made specifically for high-end fishing, and this 7-foot, 10-inch baitcasting rod is great for casting deep-diving crankbaits long distances, even those weighing over an ounce. It’s parabolic, so the fish can inhale the bait and then stay hooked as it rises. Compared to other rods in its class, it’s also a steal.



The 7-foot 9-inch, heavy-action, fast-action rod in this series is built for swimbaiting, tested by big bait freaks like Ish Monroe to not only cast big baits and stay connected through the cast, but also to drive the hook home from a distance and hold the fish. Built on Daiwa’s Compile X blank and reinforced to take a beating, it features AGS carbon fiber guides and a matching carbon fiber reel seal on a split-grip cork handle. Whether you’re just getting started with swimbaiting or have been fishing big bait waters for years, this will help you achieve your personal best.

Pete Robbins