There are many different trout fishing rods out there. And although I’d argue that location, hook, line, and bait are the most important keys for catching more trout, the rod does make a difference. A good rod will not only improve your hookups and fish landed, but it can greatly improve your comfort and confidence out on the water.
There are a few key points to look at before choosing the best trout rod for your situation. This article is meant to outline the steps to choose the best rod for you. But if you want a quick answer, the best all around trout fishing rod is the 7′ Daiwa Spinmatic D Spinning Rod. Keep reading to find out why, and whether or not this is the best rod for you.
What Makes A Good Trout Rod
Here are the points you need to understand to choose the best rod for trout fishing…
Type (Spinning Or Casting)
There are two common types of rods for trout fishing. Spinning and Casting.
Spinning rods are the most common, and what I recommend for trout fishing. They are easier to learn how to cast, and can cast very light weight baits and lures.
Spinning rods are much more flexible, allowing you to fish with lighter lines.
Casting rods aren’t great for most types of trout fishing. It takes time and a bit of a learning curve to get the reel dialed in for each type or bait or lure, especially when you are using lightweight baits.
Casting rods are much stiffer, which is great for sensitivity when bottom fishing, but you are more likely to break off a fish if you are using light lines. Also the stiffer the rod, the heaver your lure needs to be to make a good cast.
So the spinning rods are the best rods for trout fishing.
Length
As far as length goes, you’ll find that most trout rods are between 4-8 feet long.
There are pros and cons to both longer and shorter rods.
Shorter Rods
Pros:
- Easier to pack around
- Lightweight
- Easier to use in small overgrown creeks
Cons:
- Don’t cast as far
- Require a more powerful hook-set
- Setting the hook when bobber fishing is more difficult
Longer Rods
Pros:
- Cast farther
- Cast lighter baits and lures
- Better for setting the hook when bobber fishing
- More accurate casting
Cons:
- More difficult to transport
- You have to be more careful when walking through, and casting around brush
Ultimately length is up to you, but I never fish a trout rod under 7 feet. I’ve realized that smaller lures, hooks, and baits catch more fish. And in order to cast these farther and with more accuracy, you need a longer rod.
Even when I’m fishing small overgrown creeks, I prefer a longer rod. You do have to pay more attention to where your rod tip is, but a light flick of the wrist can give you good distance and accuracy.
When It comes to backpacking into small lakes, I use my 4 piece Daiwa Presso which is very similar to the Spinmatic, but breaks down to four short pieces which fit in my backpack.
For bobber fishing it is especially important to have a long rod. A longer rod will pick up the slack line faster and allow you direct contact with the fish on hook-set sooner. With a shorter rod, you may go to set your hook only to pick up some slack line and have to reel to get that contact with the fish. By then it may be too late.
If you want the best 4 piece trout rod for the money, then look at the Daiwa Presso. It comes in a few different lengths.
Action
Action is less important than length, but it’s still good to understand. As you see in the diagram above, fast action is stiffer than moderate or slow action.
Fast action rods are stiffer and will transfer more of the bite into your rod handle. This sensitivity is important for you to detect when a fish is nibbling at your bait so you can time the hook-set just right.
However a stiffer rod does require a heavier bait to cast the distance.
If you do mostly bottom fishing, then I recommend you get a fast action rod. That way you’ll have the sensitivity you need to feel the bite. Also, bottom rigs generally have plenty of weight to cast the distance you may need.
Slow action rods are great for casting very light weight baits. I’m talking like a grasshopper and a single small splitshot. Slow action rods are usually made of fiberglass, and are a little heavier. And due to their low sensitivity they aren’t great for bottom fishing.
I suggest getting a rod that is moderate to fast action. The rod I use most is the 7 foot Daiwa Presso. It’s a fast action rod, but has a line weight rating of 2-6 pound line and a lure rating of 1/32-1/4 oz. So I’m able to cast even the lightest of baits, but maintain the sensitivity if I decide to bottom fish.
Power
Power Just refers to how much weight your rod can cast. See Lure weight below for more info.
But the simple answer is to use an ultralight (UL) power rod for trout fishing.
Line Weight
Line weight is simple. If the rod is rated for 2-6 pound line then use fishing line in the 2-6 pound range. If you haven’t yet, check out my article on choosing the right fishing line for trout. Generally you want a rod with a line weight rating of around 2-10 pounds.
Lure Weight
Lure weight is more important. My Daiwa Presso for example says it’s rated for 1/32-3/8 oz. This means I can cast lures and weights that weigh within that range.
Using a weight less than the recommended lure weight rating won’t hurt anything, but the rod won’t cast as effective.
However, going over the recommended lure weight runs the risk of breaking your rod. I’ll sometimes go over the weight but I’ll be careful when casting.
Don’t whip the rod when you cast over weight, just do a nice even swing. I have broken a couple rod tips by trying to cast weights that were too heavy.
Piece
Most trout rods will come in 2 piece. This means that there is a ferrule in the middle of the rod where you can take it apart for storage and transportation.
One piece rods are generally stronger and more sensitive. But for trout fishing I don’t feel it makes a big enough difference to be worth the hassle of trying to get a 7 foot rod in my little car.
Two piece rods are the standard for trout fishing. This makes transportation and storage much easier.
Four piece rods are great for backpacking. They are slightly heavier because they require three ferrules instead of just one. But if you haven’t realized yet… I love my four piece Daiwa Presso…
I do a lot of bushwhacking to fish secret trout streams, and it is so nice to have the peace of mind knowing my rod is safe inside my backpack.
If you do a lot of backpacking or bushwhacking into your fishing spots, then you should definitely consider a four piece trout rod.
But if you mostly fish open areas, then go with a two piece rod. It’ll be lighter and more sensitive.
What Type Of Fishing Will You Be Doing?
Do you prefer bobber fishing? Bottom fishing? Lure fishing? Or do you like to change your tactics a few times throughout the day? Do you fish from a boat or kayak? Or do you fish from the bank? Do you like to backpack into remote lakes? Or maybe you like to find small unknown creeks filled with hungry brook trout…
These are all questions to ask yourself when choosing the perfect rod for you.
Of course if you don’t want to geek-out too much, just go to the store and buy a 6 foot spinning rod and reel combo that works okay in any situation for $15-$20 and you’ll have a blast. But this website is dedicated to taking things to the next level.
What Makes a Good All Around Trout Rod?
- Length: 6.5 to 7 feet
- Action: Fast
- Power: Ultralight
- Lure Weight: 1/32 to 3/8 oz
- Line Weight: 2 to 8 pound
- Piece: 1 or 2 piece
My favorite all around trout rod is the Daiwa Spinmatic D Spinning rod
What Makes a Good Bobber Rod?
- Length: 7.5 to 9 feet (long rod means better hook-sets)
- Action: Fast
- Power: Ultralight
- Lure Weight: 1/32 to 3/8 oz
- Line Weight: 2 to 8 pound
- Piece: 1 or 2 piece
What Makes a Good Bottom fishing Rod?
- Length: 7 to 8 feet
- Action: Fast or extra fast (you want a sensitive rod)
- Power: Ultralight
- Lure Weight: 1/8 to 1/2 oz
- Line Weight: 4 to 12 pound (use stronger line for more sensitivity)
- Piece: 1 or 2 piece
What Makes a Good Lure Rod?
- Length: 7 to 8 feet (longer rods mean you can cast lighter lures)
- Action: Fast
- Power: Ultralight
- Lure Weight: 1/32 to 3/8 oz (match to the size lures you throw)
- Line Weight: 2 to 8 pound (lighter lines cast farther)
- Piece: 1 or 2 piece
What Makes a Good Kayak Or Boat Rod?
- Length: 5.5 to 7 feet (casting distance isn’t as crucial)
- Action: Fast
- Power: Ultralight
- Lure Weight: 1/32 to 3/8 oz
- Line Weight: 2 to 8 pound
- Piece: 1 to 2 piece
What Makes a Good Bank Fishing Rod?
- Length: 7 to 8 feet (longer rods cast farther)
- Action: Fast
- Power: Ultralight
- Lure Weight: 1/32 to 3/8 oz
- Line Weight: 2 to 8 pound
- Piece: 1 or 2 piece
What Makes a Good Backpacking Rod?
- Length: 6.5 to 7.5 feet
- Action: Fast
- Power: Ultralight
- Lure Weight: 1/32 to 3/8 oz
- Line Weight: 2 to 6 pound
- Piece: 4 piece (keep your rod safe in your pack)
What Makes a Good Small Creek Rod?
- Length: 5 to 6 foot (shorter rods are easier in tight areas)
- Action: Moderate to fast (slower actions cast small baits better)
- Power: Ultralight
- Lure Weight: 1/32 to 3/8 oz
- Line Weight: 1 to 4 pound (small fish = light line)
- Piece: 2 or 4 piece
I hope this article helps you to choose the best rod for your style of trout fishing, so you can go out there with confidence.
