9 Best Kayak Fishing Rods To Choose From

If you want to get as close to the action as possible when reeling in a fish, kayak fishing is the way to go!

To complete your kayak fishing gear kit and be prepared for whatever you might face in the water, you must strike the right combination of power, action, and size by ideally choosing a versatile rod and reel combo.

Having the right length rod that is durable and easy to handle can help you get the optimum control and accuracy you need when angling from a fishing kayak.

The best fishing rod and reel combos will not only assist you in catching more fish but also keep you from getting exhausted on those long sea fishing excursions.

Down below, we have compiled a list of the best kayak fishing rods that you should consider buying before setting out on your next kayaking adventure!

At A Glance

Top 9 Kayak Fishing Rods On The Market

The Dobyns Rods Fury Series Spinning Fishing Rod is designed to provide the best-in-class performance and features at an affordable price.

This fishing rod is an excellent example of how Gary Dobyns has used years of experience and field-testing data to design a $100 rod.

This kayak fishing rod offers fast action, therefore has a very stiff tip which provides it with power from the butt of the rod.

Using a 30-ton material, the Dobyns Fury is sensitive, balanced, and lightweight.

Pros

• Affordable Price
• Excellent Performance
• Fuji reel seat
• Versatile
• Sea-Guide guides have held up exceptionally well

Cons

• Guides can get a little bit flexible
• Not as sensitive as other higher-end rods

The Dobyns Rods Fury Series Spinning Fishing Rod is on our list of best kayak fishing rods because of its professional features and performance.

The rod offers an unmatched experience at a $100-150 price point.

The fury series of spinning rods are crafted with high modulus graphite that improves the balance and sensitivity of the rod as well as provides strength.

This also makes this rod extremely lightweight.

Equipped with a Fuji reel seat you can expect the rod to handle all kinds of hard-hitting fish.

Moreover, it is wrapped with kevlar to give more durability.

The Fury rod also features guides with zirconium inserts and a split grip handle with AA grade cork grip and a tough Hypalon butt.

The high-quality graphite blank of this provides sensitivity and nimbleness to the rod.

Dobyns has balanced the blank to provide anglers with a rod that is both sensitive and powerful.

Allowing kayak anglers to feel the slightest twitch and nibble on the hook, while also allowing them to tackle fish accordingly.

The Fury Series Spinning Rod is specifically designed to be lightweight, to make it easier for anglers to use for kayak fishing.

The high-modulus graphite blank, Fuji ECS reel seat, and Sea-Guide guides all work together to keep the Fury rod light and well balanced.

Kayak anglers have reported that this rod is best for fishing bass and casting large lures, crankbaits, jerk baits, and swimbaits.

Moreover, this particular rod has a long handle which offers you a good grip while casting large baits.

Overall, the Dobyns Rods Fury Series Spinning Rod is an excellent choice for kayak fishing because of its great features and excellent performance at a reasonable price point.

Therefore, if you are a kayak angler that is looking for a fishing rod that can be used for many applications you should consider the Dobyns Rods Fury Rod.

The Ugly Stik Elite Spinning Fishing Rod is an extremely strong and durable rod that keeps up with the heritage of previous generations.

It has been designed to last through many battles with large fish and comes with raw power and strength.

The Ugly Stik Elite Rod will catch your eye at the first glance because of its amazing looks.

You can choose a model with a rod length of your preference since each model is built to suit a variety of fishing styles and situations.

Moreover, if we compare the Elite rod with other offerings from Ugly Stik such as the GX2 series, it has 35% more carbon, which makes it lighter and stronger.

Ugly Stik Elite series rods also feature premium cork handles so that you can handle the rod with comfort, this series of rods also have Ugly Tuff guides for enhanced durability.

Pros

• Strong And durable
• Available in varying rod length
• Lightweight
• One-piece stainless steel guides

Cons

• A braided line can damage the tip of the rod

The Ugly Stik Elite Spinning Fishing Rod is the best kayak fishing rod because of its durable and robust build quality.

It has 35% more graphite as compared to the GX2 series by Ugly Stik, which makes it lightweight and also provides it with the necessary backbone to fight larger fish.

The lightweight design makes it an ideal rod for a kayak because you do not have rod holders in most kayaks therefore you must use a lightweight rod to keep your hands from tiring.

The Ugly Stik Elite Range has a variety of rod lengths ranging from 4’6” to 7’6”, with the rod’s power options ranging from ultra-light to medium-heavy.

Depending on the model you choose, your rod will either be a single piece or a 2 piece rod.

The rod features a premium cork handle that allows you to have maximum control while your kayak fishing adventures.

You will also get one-piece stainless steel guides that enhance the durability of the rod.

The one-piece construction eliminates the inserts that can pop out over time.

The rod also features a solid fiberglass clear tip, which is extremely durable and remarkably sensitive and gives excellent feedback even at the slightest twitch.

However, some users have complained that using a braided line can damage the tip but these occurrences are rare.

In short, the Ugly Stik Elite Rod is an excellent choice for anglers that want a durable rod that will last for years to come and has enough flexibility and sensitivity to handle all kinds of fish.

The Fenwick Eagle Spinning Fishing Rod is one of the many quality options currently available on the market.

This particular rod is also a great kayak fishing rod because of its ultra lightweight design.

This kayak fishing rod also offers a comfortable handling position, interchangeable reels, durability, and good aesthetics.

The rod comes with a burled cork handle and has an olive-bronzed look that is very pleasing to the eye.

Moreover, the chromium-plated guide inserts and a stainless steel blank provide the perfect balance and excellent performance to this rod.

Pros

• Excellent sensitivity
• Robust Guides
• Ergonomic handle
• Reasonably priced

Cons

• Poor packaging

Fenwick Eagle is the best kayak fishing rod as it is an affordable option that offers a great utility to anglers.

If we compare it to other expensive rods for kayak fishing it is significantly cheaper and offers the same performance and practicality.

This kayak rod comes with a cork handle that offers a better grip as compared to the EVA handles on other kayak rods.

The cork handle on the Fenwick Eagle offers more sensitive feedback because it allows the vibrations to spread out more evenly.

This makes it best for situations where sensitivity is important.

This lightweight fishing rod can pair up with multiple reels because it has interchangeable handles.

The use of modern technology while maintaining a traditional style allows Fenwick Spinning rods to have long-term durability and classic looks at the same time.

If you choose the Fenwick Eagle Spinning Ultralight option, you will be impressed by the parabolic bend along the fishing rod length.

The blank of this rod distributes the weight of the fishing line along the spine of the rod.

These rods are best for trout, basses, walleyes, and salmon.

While most of the options at this price point cannot handle tough braided lines, the Fenwick Eagle can do so.

The chromium-plated (SS304) guides can handle the stress applied by the braided line.

This makes the Fenwick stand out among other popular options.

The soft and sensitive rod tip is highly receptive when used with a braided line and enhances your kayak fishing experience.

But this also resulted in their tips snapping off very often, however, the company took note of this issue and since then it has improved its build quality.

In conclusion, Fenwick Eagle Spinning Fishing Rod is the best kayak fishing rod you can buy currently because of its mid-budget price and high-end performance.

The St. Croix Rods Mojo Yak Spinning Rod is a premium offering from the brand.

It is also the first rod that has been designed specifically by St. Croix for kayak fishing.

They have designed the Mojo Yak rods to be perfectly balanced in terms of performance and size.

The rod can be easily accommodated in a kayak and is great for saltwater fishing in both inshore and offshore settings.

Another thing you will notice is that the Mojo Yak rod has a shorter butt which allows easier maneuvering from a sitting position.

Shorter rods such as the St. Croix Mojo Yak can be highly effective in kayak fishing.

The blank on the St. Croix Mojo Yak is what they call an Integrated Poly Curve.

The IPC design helps make the rod blank lighter and stronger while providing more action.

Pros

• Lightweight
• Comfortable and ergonomic grips
• Great sensitivity
• Shorter, rounded handle

Cons

• The shorter, rounded handle could be a deal-breaker for some anglers.

The St. Croix Rods Mojo Yak Rod is one of the best kayak fishing rods because of its premium build quality and easier maneuverability.

What makes this rod stand out is its handle design, which is much shorter than your standard split-grip handle.

This feature makes it a great rod for kayak fishing because the butt of the rod will not tangle with your life jacket or shirt.

Moreover, it is a great rod for inshore fishing and its SCIII graphite blank gives it a strong and sensitive backbone.

The Kigan Master Hand 3D guides have aluminum oxide inserts and black frames.

These guides can handle all sorts of abuse and harsh conditions from the kayak angler.

You can also use these guides with a braided fishing line because they can distribute the pressure evenly along the rod length.

These guides reduce the chance of line interference by building the legs and ring frames separately.

This way the possibility of line wedging is eliminated and there is less friction.

This graphite rod is also equipped with a Fuji DPS reel seat; they provide a comfortable place for your fishing reel to land.

In short, if you are looking for a premium rod for kayak fishing then you should go with this option because it has all the premium features and comes with a shorter handle for easier maneuvering.

The Berkley Lightning Spinning Rod offers a great combination of essential features that must be present in a rod for kayak fishing.

The Berkley spinning fishing rods are lightweight, have a comfortable grip, and offer durability, easy maneuverability, control, and sufficient power to catch fish.

Plus it is available at a reasonable price point.

The rod is offered in a variety of sizes and comes in a two-piece design that is excellent for carrying around in a kayak.

Pros

• Reasonable price
• Great sensitivity
• Top Quality
• Strong backbone and balance due to eight guides and an ergonomic cork handle

Cons

• Not for big fish
• Stiff

The Berkeley Lightning rod is one of the best kayak fishing rods because of its excellent sensitivity.

You can feel the receptiveness of this rod by the way it reacts to small twitches and wobbles, making sure that you do not miss out on any possible catch while out on your trout fishing session.

It prevents premature hooksets that can cause loss of catches by using a specific design technique that allows it to detect bites even before the fish falls for the bait.

The rubberized cork handle of this rod gives you a comfortable and reliable place to sit your hand.

You can expect this cork handle to get dirty but you can clean it quite easily.

This rod is a go-to option for fishermen that are looking for an all-purpose rod for their kayak fishing.

It is also possible that you already have premium rods for kayak fishing so you can buy a Berkeley as a backup rod.

The rod is quite balanced and has a firm feel when you are fishing and tackling it.

The rod’s lightweight nature is the reason why it has made it to our list.

In the long term, this rod offers great durability, and with regular use, you will find it to be a well-built rod that will maintain its structural integrity and strength.

The use of stainless steel guides with aluminum oxide inserts is a great addition since it will allow you to use your line without fraying it.

In short, this is an excellent option for anyone who wants utility as well as a reasonable price.

The Fenwick Eagle Spinning Fishing Rod is one of the best lightweight options available for kayak fishing.

These fishing rods offer great utility and have a price range between $50-$125, which makes them an attractive option for people who are starting kayak fishing.

If we compare it to other expensive rods for kayak fishing it is significantly cheaper and offers the same performance and practicality.

This lightweight fishing rod can pair up with multiple reels because it has interchangeable handles.

The Fenwick Eagle utilizes modern technology and at the same time also maintains a traditional style.

This gives it increased utility and long-term reliability.

Pros

• Increased sensitivity
• Comfortable handle
• Reasonable price
• Robust Guides

Cons

• Complains about breakage

Fenwick Eagle is the best kayak fishing rod as it is an affordable option that offers a great utility to anglers.

This kayak fishing rod also offers a comfortable handling position, interchangeable reels, durability, and good aesthetics.

This kayak rod comes with a cork handle that offers a better grip as compared to the EVA handles on other kayak rods.

The cork handle on the Fenwick Eagle offers more sensitive feedback because it allows the vibrations to spread out more evenly.

This makes it best for situations where sensitivity is important.

The rod comes with a burled cork handle and has an olive-bronzed look that is very pleasing to the eye.

Moreover, the chromium-plated guide inserts and a stainless steel blank provide the perfect balance and excellent performance to this rod.

If you choose the Fenwick Eagle Spinning Ultralight option, you will be impressed by the parabolic bend along the fishing rod length.

The blank of this rod distributes the weight of the fishing line along the spine of the rod.

These rods are best for trout, basses, walleyes, and salmon.

While most of the options at this price point cannot handle tough braided lines, the Fenwick Eagle can do so.

The braided line is handled quite easily by the chromium-plated guides on this rod.

This makes the Fenwick stand out among other popular options.

The soft and sensitive rod tip is highly receptive when used with a braided line and enhances your kayak fishing experience.

However, the previous generation of Fenwick Eagle used to snap off very often due to the sensitivity of the tip, but the company has since worked on this issue and resolved it.

The Fenwick Eagle is an excellent option for anyone who wants a rod that can handle a braided line.

The Hurricane Redbone Inshore Rod is an amazing rod that has a firm and durable build that will allow you to catch hard-hitting fish without any difficulty.

The Hurricane Redbone has soared in popularity in recent times thanks to its promising fishing rod models.

The brand is still in its infancy and trying to maintain its quality by producing well-crafted rods.

As far as the Inshore Rod goes you will not find any flaws in it.

Redbone Inshore Rod is a one-piece rod made from durable IM7 rope and graphite.

Making it a great rod for inshore fishing and throwing live fishing baits.

These hand-rolled graphite rods have a high sensitivity and are made of premium material that gives them longevity.

It also provides the rod with elasticity and the necessary bend to catch and tackle the fish.

Pros

• Sensitive
• Elastic
• Durable

Cons

• Might break if regularly used for large fish
• Heavy action rod requires expert anglers

The Hurricane Redbone Inshore Rod is one of the best kayak fishing rods because of its sensitivity, excellent performance, and elasticity.

These qualities allow this rod to bend in shallow water for catching fish.

The hand-rolled blanks make the construction easy and convenient to handle.

The Fuji solid graphite reel seat gives your spinning reel a comfortable landing space.

We would recommend you choose the 7-foot rod size for both medium and heavy-duty action.

The rod also comes equipped with genuine cork handles and a triangular hook keeper.

And the guides are made of Fuji aluminum oxide to prevent corrosion.

However, there is one thing this rod cannot do such as pick up big fish because the rod is too flexible and breaks down under high stress.

The heavy action rods of this series are not for beginners, these are designed for experienced anglers who can handle and control them.

In short, this is an excellent choice for people who want a rod for kayak fishing because it offers excellent flexibility and performance for shallow saltwater fishing.

Moreover, it is very sensitive so you can easily sense smaller fishes that can be hard to detect from most rods.

The Shimano Solora 2 Piece Rod is an amazing rod that offers durability and a budget-friendly price point to kayak fishing enthusiasts.

The rod comes in a 2-piece system, therefore does not take up much space on your kayak.

This also reduces the chances of breaking it in transit.

The SHIMANO Solora 2-piece spinning rods come in a medium-weight fast action combo and there is no other power/action combination available.

Pros

• Great price
• Easier to transport
• Can handle robust situations

Cons

• Less flexible

The Shimano Solora 2 Piece Rod is one of the best kayak fishing rods because of its durability and 2-piece design.

This particular model is an aero glass rod that is highly durable and flexible.

It allows you to feel the softest fish bites and is very receptive to movements.

It also allows you to cast the rod further so you can cover a larger area.

Another feature is its aluminum oxide guides that are reinforced.

Allowing you to detect fish bites more easily because aluminum transmits the fish strikes faster and more accurately.

This material is also sensitive as a result of it being reinforced.

The rod comes with comfortable cork handles that enable you to hold it more easily while casting it at longer distances and catching bigger fish.

The solid graphite reel seat enables you to lock it quickly.

This minimal reel seat provides a firm place for your fishing reel to land.

Since this is a medium power rod with a fast action you can wrestle it with bigger fish.

It will require more power to bend the rod since the blank is stiffer.

The rod has a fast action that allows you to do swift tackles when fighting fish.

It also lets you have bigger catches for longer casts, for example, 14 yards. That means you will have wider areas to catch fish.

In short, the Shimano Solora 2 Piece is the best rod for kayak fishing because it is the cheapest option that offers durability and good performance.

The Abu Garcia IKE Signature Spinning Rod is the best kayak fishing rod out there because of its reliability and affordability.

This particular rod has a graphite blank that provides it with a strong backbone

The blank of this rod has a fast taper from the tip to the butt that distributes the power evenly and gives the rod a parabolic shape under stress.

The rod offers increased sensitivity which is important because it allows you to sense what is happening in the water.

Pros

• Powerful rod
• Durable and reliable
• Very lightweight
• Stainless steel guides

Cons

• Can get damaged

The Abu Garcia IKE Signature Spinning Rod is one of the best rods out there and stands out among other bass fishing rods because of its increased sensitivity, durability, and lightweight design.

The rod comes with a 36-ton graphite blank that gives it plenty of backbone and power.

It also boasts stainless steel guides with zirconium inserts.

The rod offers great sensitivity and allows you to identify the bites of smaller fish, giving you plenty of feedback to differentiate between a fish or any other obstruction.

Another great feature that makes this rod stand out from the competition is the level of control provided by it.

The rod also has excellent casting and control even though it is the spinning model.

This IKE signature has a heavy power rating that ensures smooth line dispensing and seamless casting.

For users, this is one of their favorite medium-priced rods.

We will recommend it to anyone who is not a pro angler, this series of rods would work very well for all types of fishing.

The rod offers plenty of power for open water, and enough backbone to get a solid hookset.

This particular rod is a great option for anyone who wants a kayak fishing rod for under $150.

It offers amazing versatility and utility to the buyer making it a great choice for people who have newly discovered kayak fishing.

Although a longer rod will give you a longer casting distance a shorter rod will be easier to move around, cast, and store in your kayak.

A good fishing rod will have a length of 6 to 8 feet.

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