Top 5 Best Spinning Rods 2023:
- Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod
- St. Croix Mojo Inshore Spinning Rod MIS70MHF
- Daiwa Mini System Minispin Ultralight Spinning Reel and Rod Combo
- SHIMANO Solora 2 Piece Spinning Rod
- Shakespeare Micro Spinning Rod
Whether you’re fishing just for a hobby, or you need to meet commercial needs for a business, we’re sure you are aware of how crucial a good spinning rod is. Especially if you’re a beginner.
Choosing the ideal spinning rod can be very difficult and exhausting, and the large number of available options doesn’t help.
If you’re not sure how to select the best spinning rod for your fishing needs, don’t worry, we’re here to help! Our list of the best spinning rods on the market will make finding the perfect rod a simple and fun process.
So, if you want to find out more about the best spinning rods available, keep on reading!
Related: The Best Ice Fishing Line; The Best Ice Fishing Rod
5 Best Spinning Rods In 2023: Detailed Reviews
1. Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod – Best Overall

Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod was designed by an organization with more than 70 years of experience. Ugly Sticks are known for their durability and strength but also for their creative and innovative design. With the elegant, aesthetically pleasing appearance, this rod will be a great addition to your fishing gear and supplies.
Materials used to make this rod are fiberglass and graphite which are known to be very strong – perfect for a balanced rod. The guides are Ugly Tuff one-piece, corrosion-resistant stainless steel. The end has a Clear Tip component for strength and sensitivity, and the handle has EVA grips for lightweightness, comfort, and durability. The Clear Tip design actually assists in visually detecting the slightest of strikes.
An amazing thing about this Ugly Stik rod is that it offers a variety of choices when it comes to configuration. You can choose from a large number of weights and lengths, from long to short, and ultralight to heavy, and any combination in between.
Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning rod is a great choice for fishing in rough rivers. It is very strong, durable and you can be sure that it will not break easily. It’s also good for shallow rivers, freshwater, ocean, and sea. All in all, it is a good rod for catching fish like trout and bass.
Pros
- A strong and durable rod
- Suitable for all bodies of water
- Comes at an affordable price
Cons
- It is one piece and therefore it is less portable
2. SHIMANO Solora 2 Piece Spinning Rod – Two Piece Design

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly, portable and strong rod, then this by SHIMANO is perfect for you. The two-piece design makes it easy to carry and even easier to store!
The blank aero glass construction of the pole makes the rod light and flexible, yet highly strong and durable. The guides are made of reinforced aluminum oxide which increases the sensitivity of the rod. The aluminum oxide also gives it a smooth surface and retains durability in the long run.
The handle has a classic cork body design that provides a comfortable and firm grip so you can easily handle large fish. The rod has a graphite reel seat for a reliable and safe connection with the reel. When it comes to weight, you can choose between medium light and medium-heavy, and lengths between 5.5 and 7 feet.
SHIMANO Solora 2 Piece Spinning Rod can be used in all bodies of water, including saltwater as well as freshwater. You can also use it along the shore of the river or the ocean. It is perfect for bass fishing and it offers longer casts for trout fishing at lakes or at the riverside.
All things considered, this is an inexpensive spinning rod that can cast far in all water conditions and for all species of fish. The manufacturer offers a one-year limited warranty in case you are not satisfied with it.
Pros
- It is two-piece, portable and easy to store
- Made with strong, durable materials
- Reasonable price
Cons
- Weights and lengths are limited
3. St. Croix Mojo Inshore Spinning Rod MIS70MHF – Premium Pick

With St. Croix Mojo Inshore Spinning Rod you get your money’s worth. This is a premium rod created for saltwater and made to be tough so it can survive the abuse that saltwater causes.
You can be sure that this stylish spinning rod will provide top performance for successful and effective fishing every time.
The blank is made of graphite which is a premium quality material that ensures durability for long-lasting use. There are also extremely hard aluminum-oxide guides with 316 stainless steel frames. This works amazingly to ensure that the line flows smoothly and stops corrosion from saltwater.
St. Croix spinning rod is perfect for big, aggressive fish thanks to the high-quality Fuji reel seats that ensure that the reel always stays in place. The handle has tactile cork grips that make it easy to cast and fight fish for an extended time and in all conditions.
When it comes to weight and length, you can choose from 7 and 7.6 feet, medium-light and medium-heavy powers with fast action. This means it can cast a good distance and it is suited for inshore saltwater fish, like flounder, trout, and redfish. Thanks to its sensitivity, you’ll be able to feel even the slightest bites.
Overall, it is undoubtedly a premium choice that will give you the ultimate fishing experience if you don’t have a limited budget!
Pros
- Stylish design
- Made of premium materials
- Lightweight and sensitive
- Strong, durable construction
- Corrosion-resistant parts
Cons
- A bit expensive
4. Daiwa Mini System Minispin Ultralight Spinning Reel and Rod Combo – For Anglers on the Move

Daiwa Mini System Combo is a kit that consists of three items – a reel, a rod, and a carrying case. It was made to have an ultra-compact and practical design and is therefore highly recommended for anglers on the move. You can easily throw it in your truck, a boat, or even a backpack.
What makes it so convenient is the fact that it is an ultralight to lightweight setup. It also breaks down into five pieces that can all fit into the hard case that has built-in tackle compartments.
The reel on this model is an MS-S500T. It has a multi-disc drag system for smooth and fast retrieves. It also features Twist Buster Line twist reduction and a GyroSpin technology which provides balance and efficiency. Daiwa five-piece rod is made of carbon and it’s 4.5 foot long. This makes it ideal for lightweight fish.
Overall, this is an amazing setup for people who like compact and practical things. It doesn’t take up a lot of space and you can put it anywhere when you’re on the go. It may not be the best idea if you wish to catch bigger fish but it is perfect if you need it for lightweight prey.
It also comes with a limited manufacturer’s warranty, but you get more details on this included in the package when you purchase it.
Pros
- Good value for the price
- Ultra-compact and practical
- Perfect for traveling
- Includes a reel and a hard carrying case
Cons
- Not suitable for heavier fish
5. Shakespeare Micro Spinning Rod – Not To Be Missed

Shakespeare is one of those brands that knows exactly what their customers need. They created this Micro Spinning Rod with a purpose to make the fishing experience successful depending on the target species and the type of tackle. All of their micro spinning rods are made for ultra-light angling.
This spinning rod has a strong graphite construction that makes it lightweight, sensitive, responsive and, at the same time tough and durable. The fishing line guides are made of stainless steel.
There are different lengths available and you can choose from 4.6 to 7.6 feet and ultra-light to light power. The power depends on the distance you want to cast and the size of the fish you’re trying to catch.
Shakespeare Micro Spinning Rod is also very practical for traveling. The shortest rod with a length of 4.6 feet has a one-piece construction and all the other ones have a two-piece construction.
It also features a conventional reel seat with cushioned hoods and the full cork handles ensure that handling is easy and comfortable in all conditions.
This spinning rod was made for clean, open bodies of water where you can use it to catch small fish like trout, panfish, bream and so on.
On top of all this, the price is really affordable!
Pros
- A variety of length options
- Durable construction
- Easy to travel with
- Perfect for lightweight, small fish like trout or bream
Cons
- Keep in mind that it doesn’t work well with large fish
Factors To Consider Before You Buy A Spinning Rod
When you need to choose the best spinning rod, it may seem that there is so much to consider. The truth is, there are only a few characteristics that separate the best spinning rods from the rest. These key features include features like rod power, action, length…
1. The Handle
You may think that the handle is not very important but it’s actually one of the key things to consider before you decide which spinning rod to get.
Most handles are made of two different materials. One is EVA foam and the other one cork. It’s important that the handle is constructed to be sensitive so that it will feel even the lightest fish getting the bait.
2. Rod power
Rod power, or rod weight, is the foundation for the strength and fighting ability of your spinning rod and it refers to its pulling strength. It correlates the amount of bend per unit weight.
It depends on what kind of fish you wish to get hold of and the general rule is “the bigger the fish the bigger the rod.” A heavier weight rod will be able to pull in big fish with almost no bending. A lightweight rod will not be able to pull nearly as much weight, and it works well with smaller fish.
There are a number of weights you can choose from, including ultralight, light, medium and heavy. It is also possible to find some that are between these four, but they are not very common.
3. Length
You should choose the length of the rod to fit your specific needs. Spinning rod lengths go from 2 feet up to 12 feet, and rarely, even longer. With this wide range, we are sure you will be able to find the one that’s best for you.
The length of the rod depends on what type of fishing you will be doing like beach casting or casting from a boat and heavy lures in the surf or ice fishing and so on.
Longer rods will, of course, be able to cast further so they are better for surfcasting. However, shorter rods provide better accuracy because of their limited casting distance.
4. Action
The term “action” refers to how much the rod can bend. Spinning rods usually have one of three actions: slow, moderate and fast. The fastest ones bend only on the tip and slower ones bend throughout the entire length of the rod.
Which action you will choose depends the most on what kind of fish you want to catch. For heavier lures, it’s better to get a faster action rod, and when it comes to lighter lures, a slow action spinning rod will do the job.
The crucial thing for the ultimate experience is to find the perfect balance between rod weight and rod action.
Read More: The Best Fishing Plier
Types Of Spinning Rods
The three most common and popular types of spinning rods are lightweight, medium and heavyweight.
1. Lightweight
A moderate, slow action rod with a length of about 7 feet is the best option if you’re going to catch smaller fish.
This is ideal for fish like trout, smaller bass, panfish and so on. However, if you want to catch slightly bigger fish, it’s always better to choose a medium weight spinning rod.
2. Mediumweight
A spinning rod with moderate action and a 10 feet length is great for moderate weight for longer distances. If you’re going to fish for catfish on the shore, then a medium weight spinning rod is the best choice.
The moderate action and medium weight are a good combination that offers a variety of baits, good hooksets, and flexible fighting ability.
Additionally, the 10-foot length will improve the rod’s ability to launch bait and lure longer distances. It’s perfect if you’re trying to catch steelhead or salmon.
3. Heavyweight
If you wish to cast big lures for predatory fish, you should opt for a fast action 8-foot spinning rod.
Final Thoughts And Recommendations
We know how difficult it can be to pick the best spinning rod that will fit all your needs and that’s why we hope this list was helpful for you. We believe you will not regret buying any of the top five rods featured in this article.
After careful consideration, we are confident to say that these are our top choices.
Best Overall: Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod
- Ugly Stik is known for making high-quality, durable spinning rods and this one is no exception. It is suitable for all bodies of water and it comes in a variety of lengths and weights, so you can for sure find the one that’s the best for you. On top of all that, it has a reasonable price!
Premium Pick: St. Croix Mojo Inshore Spinning Rod MIS70MHF
- This spinning rod by St. Croix has a special inshore saltwater design that provides superior performance. Premium graphite construction, split-grip cork handle, and stylish appearance make this rod one of the best choices on the market.
Best Budget-Friendly Option: Daiwa Mini System Minispin Ultralight Spinning Reel and Rod Combo
- Daiwa designed this spinning rod to be a practical and functional tool. Not only is it budget-friendly, but it’s also portable and the entire rod consists of five pieces that can be taken apart and put in a hard carrying case. It’s perfect if you’re on the move often since it can fit under your seat or in your backpack.