Selecting the best spinning rod is one of the things an angler needs to do before fishing. However, the number of spinning rod options can get very overwhelming, and you cannot just choose any spinning rod as getting the wrong fishing equipment can ruin your whole fishing experience.
In this article, we hope to help you choose the best spinning rod for under $100. We laid out our top picks with some guidance on things you should consider to help you make an informed decision and get the appropriate one.
Top 10 Spinning Rods Overview
| Image | Name | Rod Power Options | Rating (1-5) | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. Ugly Stik Elite Spinning Fishing Rod | Ultra-light Medium Medium-heavy | 4.7 |  |
 | 2. KastKing Perigee II Fishing Rods | Ultra-light Light Medium-light Medium Medium-heavy Heavy | 4.6 | |
 | 3. St Croix Triumph Spinning Rods | Ultra-light Light Medium-light Medium Medium-heavy | 4.6 | |
 | 4. Fenwick Eagle Spinning Fishing Rod | 4.5 | |
|
 | 5. Cadence Spinning Rod | Ultra-light Light Medium-light Medium Medium-heavy | 4.5 | |
 | 6. SHIMANO Solora 2 Piece Spinning Rod | Medium | 4.5 | |
 | 7. Fiblink Surf Spinning Fishing Rod 2-Piece | Medium Medium-heavy Heavy | 4.4 | |
 | 8. Okuma Tundra Surf Glass Spinning Rods | Medium-heavy | 4.3 | |
 | 9. Shakespeare Micro Spinning Rod | Ultra-light Light | 4.2 | |
 | 10. Entsport E Series - Sirius Spinning Rod | Medium-light Medium Medium-heavy | 4.0 | |
A Guide to Choosing the Best Spinning Rod
When it comes to choosing the best spinning rod for your needs is a little harder than you imagine. There are tons of spinning rods available in the market today and choosing an appropriate one can be a bit of a challenge. Here are the things to consider in selecting the best spinning rod at an affordable price range.
Rod Length
Rod length is the first thing most anglers consider when choosing a new rod. There are various spinning rod lengths depending on how far you want to cast, it can typically range from 4 -14 feet. Whether you go for a shorter fishing rod or a longer one, each has its own trade-off.
Longer rods typically make for longer casts, but they’re a lot harder to handle. On the other hand, shorter rods are easy to handle and give you a lot more control, but the distance of your casting is pretty limited.
Say for example if you’re wading or throwing topwater walking lures, it would require you a longer rod, an 8’ rod or longer is the best option. On the other hand, if you’re fishing from a boat or a kayak, you can choose a 5–7′ rod, a shorter rod is best for this case as you don’t need to cast too far.
For beginner anglers, it is recommended to use a 7′ rod as it gives more flexibility to have a balanced amount of casting distance and accuracy as they hone their fishing skills over time through experience.
Rod Material
There are three common types of spinning rod material for fishing: fiberglass, graphite, or a mix of these two materials (also called composite). Each type has its advantages and disadvantages.
- Fiberglass. This is perhaps among the oldest materials used in fishing. They are also generally the most durable and are relatively less expensive compared to other fishing rod materials. This is why this type of spinning rod can be a good choice for beginning anglers. One disadvantage, however, is the feedback that this material provides. It may not be very sensitive to lighter bites, so if you’re not very observant, you may not be able to detect some bites. Its durability is also traded off by its weight. Because it is heavier, it might strain your arms after prolonged use.
- Graphite. This material for the fishing rod is lighter than fiberglass. This means it does not give your arm too much strain after longer use. Because of its lightweight material, it is also more sensitive to bites compared to fishing rods made of fiberglass. What the fiberglass material has that the graphite material lacks is durability. It may be more brittle than fiberglass materials, so casting much larger fish can be a challenge using a fishing rod with this material.
- Composite. If you’re looking for a balance between weight and sensitivity, then a composite rod – a combination of both graphite and fiberglass – is what you need. This is most useful when the location where you’re fishing varies because this material is very versatile among others. The drawback though is that it might be relatively more expensive than other materials.
Rod Action
Spinning rod action refers to where your fishing rod bends. Consequently, it controls the speed at which the bent goes back to its original position. There are three spinning rod actions: slow, medium, and fast.
- Slow Action. Slow action bends on the side of the rod near the handle. What matches slow action fishing rods are small lures for good casting.
- Medium Action. Medium action bends in the middle. It’s the most versatile and would work best when used with multiple hook set-ups.
- Fast Action. Fast action fishing rod bends near the tip. It is the most sensitive among all rod actions, detecting even the slightest bit.
Rod Power
A fishing rod’s power is its capability of withstanding pressure. The weight of the rod is directly proportional to the size of the fish it can catch, that is, heavier rods are for larger fish and lighter rods for smaller ones. The rod power also dictates the type of line you must use, heavier lines for heavy rods and lighter lines for lighter rods.
There are typically six types of rod power: ultra-light (UL), light (L), medium-light (ML), medium (M), medium-heavy (MH), and heavy (H) powers. Choosing in this spectrum depends on the fish you want to catch.
Top 10 Best Spinning Rod Reviews
Here now are our top pics for the best spinning rod under $100. Knowing the things to consider in buying the best spinning rod, you can choose from among these options on which works best for you:
1. Ugly Stik Elite Spinning Fishing Rod
The Ugly Stik® brand has been highly popular for manufacturing the best spinning rod, but it continues to present innovation to their fishing rods with the Ugly Stik® Elite series that is truly a great value for your money.
This type of fishing rod offers 35% added graphite for lighter weight and increased sensitivity while still retaining the durability you want for your spinning rod.
Among the product’s features is the Ugly Stik® Clear Tip® design giving you that extra strength and sensitivity you need when you set out in the water to go fishing. This will be a huge support, especially among beginner anglers.
That is not all that you get from this excellent spinning rod. It has premium cork handles, Ugly Tuff™ one-piece stainless-steel guides that provide extreme durability, as well as it removes insert pop-outs.
Overall, this is an all-around spinning rod that would easily handle fishing a number of speckled trout, redfish, or mangrove snapper with ease.
Pros
- Provide excellent durability and sensitivity
- Clear tip design enhances performance.
- Strong and durable fiberglass core.
- Premium cork grip
- Efficient reel seat and reel.
Cons
- Lighter weight and increased sensitivity comes at a cost of slightly reduced durability
- Some find the tip a little too flexible for the respective class.
2. KastKing Perigee II Fishing Rods
Among fishing communities, KastKing is a well-known brand of how they balance affordability and classy feel, and you can say that their products are among the best spinning rod under $100 in the market today.
You could be fishing for hours without experiencing fatigue or straining your arms for the KastKing Perigee II Fishing Rod is among the lightest spinning rods.
It features a high-quality carbon fiber blank, constructed with Toray 24-ton carbon matrix KastFlex technology blanks providing you with the power, strength, durability, and accuracy you are looking for in a spinning rod.
Fishing enthusiasts also love the excellent design and the quality of the components on it. It contains the world-renowned Fuji O-Ring line guides, high-density EVA grips, tuned ergonomic graphite, and ergonomic reel seat. Plus a sensitive finish carbon fiber and a Saf-T-Keeper hook holder.
The smooth transition of power throughout the fishing rod blank in this product is also possible with KastKing PTS (Power Transition System) spigot joints.
Pros
- Light and overall good components
- Zero movement in the rod no matter how hard you cast
- Lightweight and comfortable in the hand
- Rod tips that can be interchanged
- Premium features
Cons
- Tip-snapping incidents
- Gap between tip and the handle
3. St. Croix Triumph Spinning Rods
St. Croix offers one of the best spinning rods that you can get if you are going to fish for longer hours. As expected from the spinning rods made by St. Croix, their Triumph spinning rods are made of premium quality SCII carbon. A popular material used in providing durability, sensitivity, and lightweight feel that can handle any situation in fishing without the high cost.
This rod is ideal for beginner or experienced anglers who want to get that high performance in their spinning rods without hurting their wallets.
Even when fishing gets tough, there is no need for you to worry that your spinning rod would slip with the product’s premium cork handle. This will keep you having a strong grip on your spinning rod.
Other features of St Croix Triumph Spinning Rods are its slim aluminum-oxide guides. This also includes black frames on it. Their models have reel seats that have eco-friendly sandblasted hoods on them, too!
Pros
- Very lightweight and strain-free to hold.
- The graphite core makes it very sensitive to even the mildest touches.
- Smooth action and provides adequate strength as well
- Two-layer stunning finish and all other features make it durable.
- Cork handle is comfortable.
Cons
- Might not be as stiff as expected.
- Trouble with the reel seat locks.
- According to a few customers, the rod feels a bit cheap.
4. Fenwick Eagle Spinning Fishing Rod
Fenwick rods have been tested time and again by the market and they have always proven their worth.
Take one of the Fenwick Eagle fishing rod series on your next fishing trip for it is definitely one of the best affordable spinning rods under $100 in the market.
The proven Classic Fenwick Actions is featured in this spinning rod, ideal for catching any species of fish.
This spinning rod comes with premium cork and TAC grips that provide you comfort for long hours of fishing and tough conditions in fishing.
For this model of the spinning rod, it includes an upgraded stainless-steel guide along with aluminum oxide inserts. You can expect increased casting performance, all while experiencing less friction in this spinning rod.
This spinning rod also features a minimal reel seat that transfers even the lightest bite during fishing.
Pros
- Rod blank sensitivity
- Elegant cork handle with chip resistance
- Corrosion-resistance
- Lightweight and smooth action.
Cons
- Many find that the guides are not of the best quality.
5. Cadence Spinning Rod
You can still go fishing using high-performance, dependable yet affordable spinning rods, and products made by Cadence are some of the best spinning rods under $100 you can find.
Cadence CR5 fishing rods are made of a 30-ton carbon matrix graphite blank. You will find that this product has maximum durability, yet is still lightweight and more sensitive compared to other spinning rods.
You can also choose between the two handle configurations of this spinning rod: carbon split grip or full grip with the use of a cork or EVA.
It is also smoother and durable because of its stainless-steel guides.
Enjoy your fishing trip using this spinning rod wherever you want for you don’t have to worry about the hassle of traveling. In spite of having its unique 2-piece design, it is specifically made to be easily fit in a car, trunk, or boat.
This fishing rod is perfect for fishing freshwater species like bass and trout as well as inshore species such as redfish and flounder.
Pros
- Offers superior components
- Lightweight with strong carbon core.
- Very sensitive
- Good reel seat
- Variety of lengths and actions options to choose from.
Cons
- The rod could break if not carefully handled
- The eyes could be easily bent
- The metal cap in the nut that locks the mount and the reel would come off
6. SHIMANO Solora 2 Piece Spinning Rod
For decades, Shimano is known for its focus on precision engineering in its spinning rods and their Solara series are specifically designed to be an ideal fishing tool for beginner anglers who want to try out fishing as their new recreational activity. If you are looking for one of the best spinning rods under $100 today, you may want to try this one.
This rod is built with Shimano’s Aero glass construction. This means that the spinning rod is lighter compared to other fishing rods, and much more responsive than the traditional glass material perfect for various fishing situations.
It also features a graphite reel seat that would make the weight of this spinning rod a lot lighter.
And because of its components, their models offer to have medium power and fast action during fishing.
The manufacturer also did not miss the comfort you want on your fishing rod’s grip. This spinning rod comes with P-Cork grips for comfort for long hours of fishing.
Pros
- Graphite reel seats that ensure the safety and functionality of the reels.
- A strong and sturdy aeroglass core.
- Fast action and medium power
- Capable of handling both currents and larger species.
- Comfortable and effective handles
Cons
- Lower sensitivity with 2-piece design.
- Durability can be compromised if 2-piece interface becomes damaged
7. Fiblink Surf Spinning Fishing
If you are looking for the best spinning rod with a perfect combination of excellent design and performance in fishing, this spinning rod by Fiblink has you covered.
One of the main features of this spinning rod is its solid carbon fiber construction. That means you can expect high durability from this rod as well as increased sensitivity to it. And because it is made from graphite, this spinning rod can last for a long time without having corrosion.
Despite its low cost, this spinning rod is also built for high performance in fishing with its guide that is stainless steel varied with ceramic which prevents your fishing line from getting stuck in the guides and minimizing friction for a smoother, longer cast.
When your fishing turns rough, you can trust that your spinning rod would not slip with its non-slip rubber shrink tube handle with a tapered rear grip.
The 10’ spinning rod weighing 13.83oz has two pieces in 5’ length, providing medium-heavy power ratings; while the 12’ rod weighing 17.85oz has two 6’ pieces, providing heavy power ratings.
This spinning rod has a strong action blank that has the power to handle fish in a surf rod and bait fishing duties in a long-distance casting.
Pros
- High-quality reel seat
- Lightweight
- Ideal strength to weight ratio
- Guides increase sensitivity
Cons
- The rod handle below the reel is lean
- Easy to scratch
8. Okuma Tundra Surf Glass Spinning Rods
You definitely want to place this spinning rod by Okuma® in your fishing arsenal. It easily landed as one of the best spinning rods for its reputation in handling beatings even after several fishing trips.
A combination of durability and strength, this 41.5 oz. spinning rod, which is part of the Tundra series, would be best for surf fishing enthusiasts who want to experience high-performance fishing.
Okuma really knows how to make great medium-heavy action spinning rods like this product. You want to have this type of spinning rod when fishing tuna, sailfish, trout, or salmon.
This model features a durable glass fiber rod blank for increased durability in the spinning rod. This spinning rod also comes with double-footed guides.
The manufacturer also provides a heavy-duty reel that is already a great value given its price.
This spinning rod delivers for hours of fishing without causing strain because of the comfort given by the fore and rear grips made of EVA foams. It also has a sturdy rubber butt cap.
Pros
- Excellent strength
- The material gives good sensitivity
- With thick and non-slippery rubber grips
- Easy and longer distance casting.
Cons
- The fiberglass construction cause substantial weight to the rod
- Difficult to detach the rod sections
9. Shakespeare Micro Spinning Rod
It’s a graphite composite rod with perfect light and ultralight actions tested to perform flawlessly and provides an excellent value. The quality of workmanship and the relatively light weight of the rod are qualities of a rod costing much more.
It also features a stainless steel guide with stainless steel inserts, full cork handles, and a conventional reel seat with cushioned hoods.
Its rod finish is matte which will not cause bright reflections that could potentially scare away trout, unlike the bright or glossy finish.
Match it with a quality reel, this spinning rod will surely improve your fishing experience, perfect for fishing small wild trout.
Pros
- Works well in lightweight baits
- Cast very easily
- It has a great sensitivity
Cons
- The product is prone to breakage if the angler is not careful
10. Entsport E Series – Sirius Spinning Rod
The performance of your fishing tools does not have to be compromised by your low budget. You may want to check out this spinning rod made by Entsport, considered to be one of the best spinning rods you’ll find at lower price points with its combination of quality and craftsmanship.
This two-piece spinning rod is specifically made to be highly sensitive that would immediately transmit vibrations even from the lightest bite.
An added comfort during your fishing is the EVA handles which greatly decrease weight and add more comfort.
Despite the fishing rod’s lightweight, you can still expect increased strength in it during the actual fishing.
To resist corrosion, this spinning rod has stainless steel guides and inserts.
You will have great value in buying this spinning rod as it has a multi-purpose hook holder, as well as a hook keeper, which is good for your fishing adventure.
Pros
- It casts excellent
- Best in throwing light baits
Cons
- It is difficult in holding tension on the fishing rod due to its stiffness
Frequently Asked Questions
Now let us address some of the most popular questions about spinning rods.
What is the difference between a spinning rod and a casting rod?
A spinning rod and a casting rod are both similar when it comes to the variety of length, level of strength, and flexibility that an angler wants and needs in fishing. The only difference between the two is the type of reel you attach to the fishing rod and the reel seat and guides.
A spinning rod requires a spinning reel with a revolving bail to wind the fishing line. The spinning reel allows longer casts and casting lightweight baits. Meanwhile, a casting rod uses a baitcasting reel that has more power compared to a spinning reel and allows more precise casting during fishing.
When choosing a spinning rod in fishing?
Fishing enthusiasts or professional anglers prefer to use spinning rods when they want to cast lightweight lures. This type of fishing rod is ideal for using different kinds of baits like worms or poppers.
You will also notice that there is no resistance when casting a line because of how the fishing rod’s spinning reel works. This will enable you to make extraordinarily long casts. That is why this spinning rod is often chosen by fishing enthusiasts who love bait fishing.
What is the better fishing rod material?
Graphite, also called carbon fiber, has gained popularity through the years as a material for manufacturing fishing rods for its property of both strength and stiffness. It also has great sensitivity.
Meanwhile, rods made from fiberglass lack sensitivity compared to a graphite rod. But if you are tight on a budget, you may want to start on a fiberglass rod which is significantly cheaper.
Can I use a spinning rod when catching big fishes?
Due to its properties, you do not want to use spinning when you set out in the water to catch large species of fish. Compared to a baitcasting rig, this would not give you all the strength you need in battling out with a stronger, bigger fish.
Does using a spinning rod good when you are fishing on a windy day?
Using a spinning rod is also a big advantage during windy days. When your lure is on the light side, you will find that casting into the wind is more efficient with a spinning rod.
I’m a left/right-handed person, can I simply adjust the spinning rod?
Yes! Remember that a spinning rod uses a spinning reel? Most of its reel allows you to swap its handle between the left and right sides depending on your needs. This is the downside when it comes to baitcasters because you have to specifically purchase a left-hand model or a right-hand model. It does not allow its reel handles to swap sides.
Can I adjust the drag of a spinning rod?
When you find yourself in a tug of war with a fish, you can simply do a full-range adjustment with your rod’s drag.
What length of a spinning rod should l get?
Often overlooked, a rod’s length in fact has a huge impact on your fishing.
(a) Shorter fishing rods are fit for more accurate casts as it is more manageable and require less energy
(b) Of course, long fishing rods make long-distance casting possible. By increasing your casting distance, you are also sacrificing accuracy in fishing. On the other hand, long-distance casting will prevent you from spooking the fish and swim away from you.
(c) Varying from every angler, the length of a fishing rod affects the comfort you feel when fishing. Tall anglers often choose longer fishing rods than short ones. The same goes for shorter fishing enthusiasts. Just remember to be honest with yourself and choose a fishing rod according to your preference.
Shorter and lighter fishing rods have less leverage than longer, heavier fishing rods, which is crucial on a hook-set. A shorter rod moves less line slower compared to a longer fishing rod. Other anglers noted that keeping tension on a hooked fish is more essential than hook penetration, and this is when long fishing rods are often best.
How is the proper maintenance of a spinning rod done?
After using, wash the fishing rod using freshwater. Also do not forget to wash the grips. To prevent corrosion, you can use light reel grease on the fishing rod guides. You may also service your reel at least once a year or depending on how often you use your fishing tool to keep it performing smoothly.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right spinning rod for you may be challenging especially if you’re on a budget. This is however made easy by knowing the things to consider in buying a fishing rod and if you’re given options on the best spinning rod. It’s a matter of balancing price and quality, and with the options that this article has provided, you can surely make that the right choice!