I think you’ll agree with me when I say:
Owning a quality spinning rod will not instantly make you a better angler, but having a poor rod will be a limiting factor that could prevent you from catching more fish.
Having a premium spinning rod will allow you to get a better feel of what’s going on subsurface with your bait or lure. You’ll be able to feel rocks, mud, sand, as you work through structure and most importantly you’ll be able to detect even the slightest bite.
Over the years, I have been experimenting with a wide range of spinning rods all at different prices points. What I have found is the best performance and value you can find are typically spinning rods that are in the $120 to $200-dollar range
With that being said I have put together this guide of the best spinning rods that you can buy for under $200 dollars.
Let’s get started.
The 5 Best Spinning Rod’s
- St. Croix Premier Series Spinning Rod
- Lew’s Custom Lite Speed Stick
- Shimano Teramar
- St. Croix Triumph Spinning Rod
- Abu Garcia REVO Ike Spinning Rod
St. Croix Premier Series Spinning Rod
- Length 4’5”- 8’6”
- Power: UL to H
- Action: Moderate to Fast
The Premier rod series by St. Croix is one of those rare combinations of value and high end performance. It’s lightweight, durable and offers supreme sensitivity allowing you to detect even the slightest bite.
This rod is made in the US and is available in over 38 different spinning rod models, making it easy to find a rod for every fishing application and species. It’s also backed by a 5-year warranty.
If you are in the market for a premium spinning rod that doesn’t break the bank than I would highly recommend purchasing the St. Croix Premier Spinning Rod. It’s price, sensitivity and overall performance is tough to beat.
Lew’s Custom Lite Speed Stick
- Length 6’10”- 7’0″
- Power: ML to M
- Action: XF to F
I’ve been a huge fan of Lew’s rods for a long time and have had a lot of great experiences with their products. One of my all-time favorite rods is the Lew’s Custom Lite Speed Stick. It has the perfect combination of strength and sensitivity.
Everything on this rod is designed extremely well. It’s built with a multilayer construction for premium durability and performance. The split-grip handles are one of the best around and make for easy use on long days on the water. The titanium guide inserts are also built extremely well and allow the line to move through super smooth.
The Lew’s Custom Lite Speed Stick is a highly quality rod and would be a great addition to any anglers fishing arsenal. Go check out the link below for more information.
Shimano Teramar
- Length 6’6”- 7’10”
- Power: ML to EH
- Action: XF to MF
This wouldn’t be a proper top spinning rod list without having a Shimano rod on it. One of the best spinning rod’s made by Shimano is the inshore Teramar series. This is an outstanding rod that has everything you’d want in a quality fishing setup.
The Teramar is a light and highly responsive rod that is sure to enhance your fishing experience by allowing you feel every bait movement and detect every bite. It comes with all of the standard features that you’d expect in a quality rod such as grade A cork handles, hook keeper, premium guides etc.
Overall the Shimano Teramar is an incredible rod at a great price point. It has everything you would want and expect in a premium rod and is definitely worth checking out.
St. Croix Triumph Spinning Rod
- Length 5’0”- 7’0”
- Power: UL to MH
- Action: M to F
Another one of my top choices is the St. Croix Triumph Spinning Rod. This rod offers incredible value and is one of the most budget friendly rods on this list without taking a hit on performance.
The Triumph has been battle tested and is well respected and reviewed by many anglers. It’s strong, sensitive and durable and comes with premium features such as a graphite blank, cork handles, aluminum inserts and much more.
This rod is perhaps the best value per cast than any other rod out there. You still get the high end performance and features as the other St. Croix rods but at more affordable price.
For those of you that are looking for a high end rod at a great value than the Triumph rod series is the way to go. You can find more details about this rod by clicking the button below.
Abu Garcia REVO Ike Spinning Rod
- Length 6’10”- 7’8”
- Power: ML to MH
- Action: MF to F
The Revo Spinning Rod by Abu Garcia is an incredible spinning rod that is ideal for finesse fishing situations for any species. It has a balanced design that is light weight, sensitive and will hold up over time.
This rod was designed by Mike Iaconelli a professional bass fishing angler who spent 5 years dialing in the action and design of this rod. The dedication and hard work it took to make this rod really shows up its design and details.
It also comes in a wide range of power and actions to meet the specific needs of any fishing technique and species.
The Revo Ike Spinning Rod is an all-around great rod and ideal for many finesse fishing situations. I’d highly recommend giving this rod a try.
Choosing The Right Spinning Rod
Sometimes finding the right rod that best suits you and how you fish can be challenging, especially if you are just starting out.
If you are not sure what power, length or action you’ll check out this fishing rod guide where you will learn everything you need to know about selecting the right rod.
Final Thoughts
One of the most important components of any anglers fishing gear is the rod. A good spinning rod will allow you to feel much more of what’s going on with your lure, allowing you to detect more bites and catch more fish.
I hope that you have found this spinning rod buyers guide to be insightful and that it helps you find the right rod that best fits you and your fishing style. Tight Lines