Best Fishing Rod for Beginners in 2024

While there is technically no such thing as a “beginner fishing rod”, there are some rods that are a lot better for beginners.

In this guide, we go over some of the top fishing rods for beginner anglers. The best beginner fishing rod is one that is easy to use and inexpensive, but still a quality rod that won’t break on your first trip out to the lake.

Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod & Reel Combo – Best Overall Fishing Rod for Beginners

Pros

• Inexpensive
• Comes with reel
• High quality rod
• Comes in several lengths and powers

Cons

• The reel could be better

Overview

The Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod & Reel Combo is an excellent deal at under $50. Made by Shakespeare, one of the most trusted brands in fishing. This rod and reel combo comes in several different lengths and powers so you can choose the best option for your style of fishing, whether that be smaller fish like perch and crappie, or larger fish like walleye and trout.

The Ugly Stik GX2 is one of the most popular fishing rods on the market, with over 5,000 reviews on Amazon.com alone. We recommend this rod to any beginner looking for a high quality, inexpensive fishing rod.

Magreel Telescopic Fishing Rod – Best Budget Friendly Beginner Fishing Rod & Reel Combo

• Telescopic rod
• Comes with reel
• Inexpensive

Cons

• The rod can be a bit difficult to collapse

Overview

The Magreel Telescopic Fishing Rod & Reel Combo is a great option for those looking for an inexpensive fishing rod.

One of our favorite things about this rod is the fact that it’s telescopic, meaning it’s a one piece rod that is only around 16 inches when collapsed, but can quickly and easily expand to a full size fishing rod in a matter of seconds. This makes it great for portability, easily fitting in small cars or even inside a backpack.

Zebco Slingshot – The Best Rod & Reel Combo for Kids

Pros

• Inexpensive
• Includes spincast rod to prevent line tangles

Cons

• Not the highest quality rod

Overview

The Zebco Slingshot is a great option for kids looking to get into fishing. At only $10 for a rod and reel combo, the price cannot be beat.

It comes with a spincast reel, which is perfect for kids. One of the biggest issues kids and beginner anglers have with fishing is getting the line tangled in the reel. A spincast reel makes tangling the line in the reel almost impossible.

The only downside is the quality is not the best, so don’t expect this rod to catch monster fish, or take abuse. It is however, a great inexpensive rod to buy for the young beginner angler.

Berkley Cherrywood HD Spinning Fishing Rod

Pros

• Inexpensive
• Lightweight
• Sensitive
• Nice cork handle

Cons

• Not the highest quality rod
• Doesn’t come with a reel

Overview

The Berkley Cherrywood HD Spinning Fishing Rod is a great inexpensive rod that is perfect for beginners. It comes in several lengths and powers from ultra-light to medium-heavy. So no matter the style of fishing you plan on doing, this rod will likely be suitable.

One of the things we love about this rod is it features a cork handle, which gives a more comfortable feel and a better grip. The cherrywood color of the rod blank combined with the cork handle make this rod look really classy. And the best part is, this rod is very inexpensive, which makes it great for beginners.

PLUSINNO Fishing Rod and Reel Combo

Pros

• Telescopic
• Lightweight
• Comes in multiple lengths

Cons

• The rod can be a bit difficult to collapse
• Not the best for bigger fish

Overview

The Plusinno fishing rod and reel combo is a great telescopic fishing rod for beginners. With over 7,000 reviews on Amazon and a 4.3 average rating, this is one of the most popular and highly rated telescopic rods on the market.

This rod is best for catching small to medium fish and has a fast action. If you plan on catching huge 10+lbs fish, you may want to consider a different rod. But if you’re looking for an inexpensive and portable fishing rod that you can carry in your backpack, this is a great choice.

KastKing Crixus Fishing Rod and Reel Combo

Pros

• Comes in spinning or casting option
• Comes in multiple lengths and powers
• Lightweight

Cons

• None we could find

Overview

The KastKing Crixus Fishing Rod and Reel Combo is a great fishing rod for beginners at an excellent price. This is a great rod for those looking for a higher quality rod but still pay a low price.

The KastKing Crixus is made with carbon fiber, making it very lightweight and durable. It comes in a variety of lengths between five and seven feet, and four powers including: Light, Medium, Medium-light, and Medium-heavy. It also comes in two powers: Fast and Moderate Fast. So no matter your style of fishing, this rod should perform excellent.

With this combo, you have the choice of either a spinning reel or a casting reel. We recommend spinning reels for beginners, as they are easier to learn.

PENN Pursuit IV Fishing Rod and Reel Combo

Pros

• Comes in all powers – from light to heavy
• Long rod – up to 10′
• Great rod for saltwater

Cons

• None we could find

Overview

The PENN Pursuit IV combo makes an excellent saltwater rod for beginners. It comes in a wide variety of lengths and powers – from six to ten feet and light to heavy.

This rod can also be used for freshwater anglers that are trying to cast long distances for big fish.

For a heavy duty rod and reel combo like the Penn Pursuit IV, this is a pretty great deal, especially for the beginner looking to save on costs.

Pflueger President Spinning Combo

Pros

• Nice cork rod handle
• Very sensitive and responsive
• Great for mosttypes of fish species

Cons

• A little pricier than other beginner rods – but it’s worth it

Overview

The Pflueger President Spinning Combo is a great, high quality fishing rod and reel combo that’s perfect for beginners. While it comes at a higher price point than the other rods in this article, it’s a super high quality rod and reel that will last for years to come.

This rod is highly sensitive which makes it great for fishing a variety of species from panfish, to bass and walleye.

The Pflueger President Spinning Combo is lightweight and balanced, which makes a long day of fishing feel almost effortless. Consider getting this rod if you’re looking for a higher quality, lightweight rod that will last a long time.

How To Choose the Best Beginner Fishing Rod

There are a multitude of factors to consider when choosing a fishing rod including: price, type of rod, rod length, power, action, reel type, and fishing line. We’ll go through and explain each of these factors, but the most important ones to keep in mind are price, power, and reel.

Price

Due to the fact that beginners don’t typically know what they’re doing when it comes to fishing, and are likely to break or damage the rod, we usually recommend going with a rod and reel in a lower price range. This is especially recommended with children.

You can find many great rod and reel combos for under $100 and several under $50 as well. The more you spend on a rod does not necessarily factor into how successful you will be at fishing.

Types of Rods

There are three main rod types to choose from: spinning, casting (also known as baitcasting) and fly fishing. If you’re reading this article, there’s a good chance you’re probably interested in spinning or casting rods. Fly fishing is a whole other beast, and typically not the type of fishing most beginners start with.

Spinning rods are the most common types of rods, and are typically the recommended rod type for beginners, as they are easier to learn and master. Spinning rods tend to cost less than casting rods, which is another reason why we recommend them to beginners.

Casting rods take a little bit more work, and are usually for more advanced fisherman. There is a much higher probability that the line will get tangled in the reel, which is something beginner fisherman are likely to deal with no matter what, so using a casting rod will only increase this.

Length

Rod length isn’t a big factor for beginner fisherman. The longer the rod, the farther you can cast. Longer rods are typically less sensitive, which isn’t great for beginners.

A longer rod can make casting challenging, depending on where you’re fishing. If you’re in tight spaces, or if there’s trees or bushes right behind you, a shorter rod is going to be much easier to cast.

For beginners, we recommend a rod between 6 and 9 feet. Although a longer rod is perfectly fine if you’re planning on fishing bodies of water where you need to cast longer distances.

Reel

There are three main reel types that beginners should choose from. Spinning, spincast, and casting.

Spinning is the most popular and our recommendation for the best beginner fishing reel. These are very easy to learn how to use. Simply lift the bail, cast and close the bail. Spinning reels usually cost less as well.

Spincast reels are very popular with kids due to the fact that the line is enclosed and unlikely to get tangles. They are also very simple to cast. Just press a button, let go while you cast, and reel in once your lure is in the water.

Casting reels, also known as baitcasting reels are typically used by more advanced anglers. They sit on the top of the rod and use a button to cast the line. Inexperienced anglers will find themselves getting tangles and big messy rats nests, which will be discouraging.

Which Reel is Best for Beginners?

We recommend spinning reels for most beginner anglers as they are very simple to learn how to use and less expensive than casting reels. For the younger beginner angler, we recommend spincasting reels, as they won’t have to worry about getting the line tangled in the reel.

Action

A fishing rod’s action refers to where the rod bends. Fast-action will typically bend at the tip, medium-action will bend to the middle of the rod, and slow-action will bend all the way to the handle.

The faster the action, the faster the rod will return to a straight position after being bent. This means faster action rods result in quicker hooksets, while slower action rods will have a slightly delayed hook set.

Fast-action rods are usually best for fishing where you’re “working” or jigging your lure and need to be able to quickly set the hook.

Medium-action rods are great for a variety of different types of fishing techniques and species. They are in a good place between fast and slow and you can generally use a medium-action rod in most types of fishing.

Slow-action rods are good for reaction baits like jerkbaits, crankbaits or anything using treble hooks, when you don’t want to rip the hook out of the fish’s mouth. Slow action rods are also great for casting longer distances.

Most beginners would be perfectly fine using either a fast-action or medium-action rod.

Power

A fishing rod’s power basically means how much weight it can handle. Ultra-light and light can’t take much weight before the pole will completely bend over and possibly snap, whereas a medium or heavy rods are able to handle heavier fish without having to worry about the rod bending in half or snapping.

Which Power is Best for Beginners?

The power that you choose is entirely dependent on what type of fishing you’re planning on doing. Ultra-light and light are best for panfish and small trout, which is typically what most beginner fisherman are going after.

Medium rods are typically best for bass, walleye and medium to large trout.

Heavy rods are for big fish like pike, muskie, lake trout, etc.

Line

Choosing your fishing line is dependent on what type of fish you’re targeting. There are three main types of fishing line: fluorocarbon, monofilament, and braid.

Fluorocarbon first showed up in the 1990’s and is typically used as a leader, which is tied on at the end of your main line. It has a smaller diameter than the same strength of monofilament, is very abrasion resistant, and is also less visible than monofilament line, which makes it a great line for leader. Fluorocarbon also is more sensitive, giving you a better indication of what’s going on at the end of your line.

Monofilament is the most common fishing line, and is typically less expensive than fluorocarbon. Monofilament is commonly used as a backing line, in order to save money, while fluorocarbon is used as the leader. Monofilament is a little better for tying knots, especially with heavier line.

Braided line is popular among bass fisherman due to the fact that the line does not stretch, which makes setting the hook a lot faster. With monofilament or fluorocarbon, the line stretches, which could cause you to miss the hookset. Braided line is great for fishing heavy cover and deep water. The downside to braided line is cost. It is quite a bit more than monofilament and even fluorocarbon.

What Fishing Line is Best for Beginners?

For beginner anglers looking to save on costs and simplify things, we recommend keeping things easy and basic and going with a monofilament line. We highly recommend Berkley Trilene.

Average Rating / Reviews

This is a pretty obvious factor to keep in mind when choosing a rod, but make sure you look at the average rating of a rod, and reed individual reviews. We do our best to recommend highly rated rods, but if you end up looking at other rods not listed in this article, be sure to research them thoroughly.

A lot of times rods will get bad reviews, simply because it arrived broken, which is more of a review of the seller and not of the actual rod. Most, if not all online sellers will replace your rod if it arrives broken or damaged.

Reading individual reviews is also helpful because a lot of people will list out pros and cons, and what species of fish the rod is best for.

Summary

Choosing the best fishing rod for beginners really comes down to a few main factors: price, power, average rating, and reel style.

Because the rod will be used by a beginner, spending a lot of money on a rod might not be the best idea, as beginners are more prone to breaking rods. There is also a slight chance that the person ends up not enjoying fishing (highly unlikely as fishing is awesome).

Choosing the right power really comes down to what type of fish species you plan to go after. If you’re unsure or plan to target multiple species, a medium power rod is always a solid option.

Be sure to check out the reviews and average rating for the rod you plan to buy. A lot of anglers are very picky when it comes to rods, but generally anything above a 4/5 is good.

And lastly, the style of reel you choose is very important. We always recommend spinning reels for beginners and spincasting reels for young children.