7 Best Musky Rods Reviewed You Should Pick From

Musky fishing is no easy feat! Muskies are perhaps one the most aggressive fish out there to catch with reel and rod and take our word for it; they don’t go down without a fight!

When going out to catch muskies you must be prepared for some serious action.

Therefore, it is important to pack your fishing gear kit with heavy-duty musky rods that are loaded with all the kit needed to handle the power of such a mighty fish.

But not just any rod would do. You need a rod that strikes the right combination of power, action, and size, as well as, a reel rod combo that works!

There is no denying the importance of a well-balanced and durable rod when it comes to catching musky, otherwise, you may as well not try. You must be 100% sure that your rod is capable of handling the toughest of fights.

Therefore, we have compiled a list of the best musky rods that you should consider buying before the next musky season!

At a Glance

Top 7 Musky Rods For the money

Some people tend to go for the gold standard of everything they tend to buy. The St. Croix Legend Musky Rod belongs in that same category.

The St. Croix Legend Musky Rod provides you with all the premium quirks and features.

Muskie fishing requires an angler to use a high-strength rod but the rod should also have an ample amount of control and sensitivity.

The St. Croix Legend Tournament is loaded with all of this and provides exceptional functionality.

It strikes the perfect balance between strength, power, and rod action.

The rod blank is equipped with a Deluxe Fuji Reel Seat and a split-grip cork handle to ensure comfort and control when handling these rods.

When buying the St.Croix rods that are from the Legend Tournament Musky series you can either buy the casting rod model or the spinning rod model.

Therefore, finding the right musky rod for you will be quite easy.

Pros

• Best for glide baits.
• Versatile
• Lightweight

Cons

• Expensive

The St. Croix Legend Musky Rod is on our list of best musky rods because of its premium features and overall excellent performance.

This St. Croix rod is the favorite rod of musky anglers due to its ability to fight and tackle aggressive fish and robust build quality that lasts for years to come.

Therefore, it is the best musky rod for people who have perfected their fishing technique and have become seasoned anglers.

Some of the stand-out features of this rod are Fuji ring guides, machined-aluminum wind check, and trim pieces.

This musky rod also has two coats of flex-coat with a slow cure finish which gives it a premium look while protecting it from harsh environmental conditions.

This musky rod is great for sweep-like action for throwing glide baits.

The legend St.Croix rod is compatible with multiple types of musky lures including topwater lures and crankbaits in heavy chop for a shorter accurate cast.

These rods are highly accurate and make it easier for musky anglers to cast their rods with precision.

Therefore, it is a great rod for use in wooded areas and vegetation.

These rods come with a moderate fast to fast action and medium-heavy power to extra-heavy power.

We would recommend you to get this musky rod if budget is not a constraint for you because it will catch you big fish and last for years to come.

The St. Croix Mojo Musky Casting Rod is another musky fishing option produced by the brand.

The Mojo Musky Casting Rod is a new musky rod that was released in 2020 and therefore it is equipped with all the latest quirks and features.

The rod blank of this rod is constructed from SCII carbon, which makes it durable and sensitive.

This musky rod comes with a purple finish that is aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

But this particular finish is not for someone who wants a conventional-looking rod.

This series has several models, with varying rod length and power options.

The recommended rod length for most people is 8 feet because it is perfect for a number of applications and does not weigh too much.

Another important point to note is that all of the models of St. Croix Mojo Musky Rods have a fast action.

Pros

• Versatile
• Lightweight
• Can accommodate a range of lines and lure

Cons

• Not the best rod for heavier baits

The Mojo Musky Rod is the best musky rod because of its modern design and great performance.

This musky rod is equipped with the latest and premium features for which St. Croix rods are famous.

The St. Croix Mojo Rods are capable of casting 1/2-ounce bucktails and 3-ounce swimbaits.

Most musky lures currently available in the market are plastics but bucktails and spinnerbaits are the number one when it comes to catching musky.

And since St. Croix Mojo can cast bucktails, it is your best bet when going out for musky fishing.

You can use a variety of fishing lines ranging from 40. lb to 80 lb, this gives you a nice range of options.

These musky rods also sport a comfortable split-grip handle design and Kigan Master guides.

Premium-quality materials and superb ergonomics make this rod a joy to use.

Another good reason that makes this rod popular is its lightweight design and strength.

It provides it with sensitivity without compromising on reliability.

In short, the St. Croix Mojo Musky Rod offers modern features, the same premium build quality, and great performance that rods from St. Croix are known for.

If you are someone who is looking to upgrade their collection of musky rods or want a casting rod for musky fishing you should choose the St. Croix Mojo Musky because it will not leave you disappointed.

The Okuma Musky Telescopic Rod is one of the few musky rods made by the brand.

It is very reasonably priced and is one of the best telescopic musky rods you can buy right now.

At the center of this rod is a carbon rod blank that provides it with great strength and durability.

Users have found this rod to be very robust since it is able to handle the fight against aggressive fish quite easily.

Therefore, it is the best rod for handling big muskies.

However, it is possible that the rod might break for some reason, but worry not because it is covered by a lifetime warranty.

Pros

• Telescopic rod; therefore more convenient
• Carbon rod blank
• Lifetime warranty
• Reliable customer service from Okuma

Cons

• Guides do not live up to expectations

The Okuma Musky Telescopic Rod is one of the best musky rods on our list because of its convenient design that offers the same level of performance as other higher-end rods.

The best feature of this rod is its telescopic design which allows it to collapse into itself.

Therefore allows you to conveniently store it in your kayak or boat.

Since this is the 8-foot 6-inch model it would have been extremely difficult to store it if it would have been a one-piece rod.

However, you must secure it safely before using it, otherwise, it could unintentionally collapse while fishing.

It is a very versatile rod and you can expect it to perform extremely well in all sorts of conditions.

This musky rod is best for using jigging lures, with a rod length of more than 8 feet and extra heavy rod power you can easily bring in large hooks home.

The only thing that is not up to the mark is the quality of the guides.

These guides are nowhere near the level of other components of the rod

However, once they do come loose you can opt to get them fixed for a minimal amount.

This musky rod has a very strong tip, therefore, allowing you to work with big lures.

It boasts of a solid build with a perfect mechanism for storage and loading baits.

Its long length helps you in throwing big baits at a longer distance and with more accuracy.

In conclusion, the Okuma Musky Telescopic Rod is the best musky rod that you can buy with the telescopic design.

Moreover, it is very reasonably priced and has all the features that are found on more expensive musky rods.

The St. Croix Premier Musky Rod is another musky offering from the brand.

This musky rod is so popular among anglers that most of the time it remains out of stock.

If you call yourself a muskie fisherman then this rod is a must-have for you.

It is considered the best musky rod because of its exceptional combination of strength, durability, and economical price.

These rods lie in the upper mid-range price point, costing you anywhere between $190 to $240, depending on the model you pick.

All the models of this series have a fast action and the rod power ranges from Medium to Extra Heavy.

These muskie rods are the best you can get in terms of quality and performance.

Pros

• Highly durable
• Comes in multiple models
• Can hold lure weight of around 8 oz
• Has a line weight capacity of 80 lbs

Cons

• You might feel the rod power is heavier than the rated value

The St. Croix Premier Musky Rod is the best musky rod because of its unmatched durability and utility.

This musky rod comes in multiple models, however, we will recommend you to choose the model with the 7-foot 6-inch rod length and heavy rod power, because of its versatile application.

As far as the rod action goes, this series is only offered in fast action.

The blank of this muskie rod is made from SCII Carbon which provides it with a parabolic bend along the rod length.

The rod also features premium-grade cork handles, Kigan Master Hand 3D guides, flex-coat slow cure finish.

Users are obsessed with the muskie rods offered by St. Croix mainly because of the success of the premier series muskie rods.

St. Croix has left no stone left unturned in perfecting this particular rod and has surely created a rod that will remain undefeated in all kinds of conditions.

With a 7 and a half foot length, this rod will help in casting heavy lures of around 8 oz.

With a heavy rod power, your fighting big muskies will be seamless and quite easy.

However, you might find that the rod tip is very stiff but that is something we can overlook because at the end of the day we will be using this rod to catch big fish.

The St. Croix Premier Musky Rod is the best musky rod that you can currently buy on the market.

We would definitely recommend you to get this if you want a high-performing durable rod.

The Redington Predator Fly Rod is the best fly rod available for musky fishing.

This fly rod is a mid-budget option for fly fishing muskies because it can handle high winds and cast bigger flies.

The Redington Fly Rod is an 8-weight rod which means that it can catch medium-sized muskies without any difficulty and can be a great companion for your musky fishing trip.

This musky rod weighs around 4.3oz which is a little heavy but you will get used to it fairly quickly and have a great experience.

This fly rod has fast rod action which makes casting more accurate even at longer distances.

You can expect to cast it at distances of 80-90’ with relative ease and precision.

To go any further you will need a heavier fishing line.

Depending on your fishing technique you will be able to flex the rod efficiently as compared to other rods.

The rod bends in a parabolic arch along its spine with fantastic action and gives more power to the musky angler.

Pros

• Reasonable price
• Good action
• Best to catch musky

Cons

• The rod is not so forgiving to newer anglers.

The Redington Fishing Rod is the best musky rod because of its fly rod design and ability to cast bigger flies.

This fly rod can easily handle the aggressive muskies because although it is rated as an 8-weight rod it feels more like a 9 or 10-weight.

It has plenty of rod power that comes from the butt and middle of the rod, therefore allowing it to lift, and fight the biggest fish.

Since it has a fast rod action, it is not so forgiving while you are casting and it will require you to do more practice to perfect your technique.

When it comes to musky fishing with flies we will definitely recommend you the Redington, because of its ability to cast and retrieve lures at the higher end of rated capacity.

This is one of the best muskie fishing rods out there since it allows you to cast all day without tiring you, thanks in part to the slightly softer butt section.

However, it is important to keep in mind that fly fish rods require you to show some patience and you will need to do practice for a couple of weeks before going out on a musky fishing trip.

In short, the Redington Fishing Rod is the best fly rod you can buy if you want to fish flies.

The Okuma EVX Muskie Rod is the best telescopic rod available for musky fishing.

There are many different musky rods available but none of them offers a telescopic design.

The Okuma EVx fishing rods are very convenient and offer excellent performance.

It is a great choice for casting big lures.

The Okuma EVX musky rod has incredible strength, durability, and sensitivity.

It pairs well with most line weight options and you will surely enjoy a full day of casting baits of all sizes with this rod.

The lure weight rating for this rod is between 4 and 12 ounces.

This lure weight rating makes it more suitable for use with large baits that most rods struggle to keep in place when casting.

Most types of bait such as jerk bait and crankbait can be handled by this muskie rod effectively.

It does not require the cumbersome loading process experienced with many under-powered fishing rods.

Pros

• Best for heavy lures
• Nice build quality

Cons:

• Not for lighter lures

The Okuma EVX is the best musky rod because of its great versatility and convenient design philosophy.

Just like muskie rod manufacturers, Okuma has given strength a priority when designing this rod.

It is made with unidirectional fiber-reinforced rod tip technology (UFR) that increases its tip lifting power by at least three times.

Therefore, when using this musky rod you will have no difficulty lifting a big musky.

As far as the ergonomics of this rod go, you will find that it is a very simple rod.

Okuma has primarily focused on providing more functionality and therefore equipped the rod with extra sturdy features.

This rod is designed to be big, beefy, and long therefore you will have to cast it with two hands like a longer rod.

The Okuma EVX Rod is one of the best muskie rods because it is very easy to use with large baits.

Although it is a very long rod you will not feel any difficulty in loading baits and performing other actions.

The longer rod length provides more power to launch large baits at a longer distance.

Overall the rod is extremely smooth and you will not need to put extra effort while using this rod.

The only downside is that this rod requires big baits when fishing muskies and using smaller baits can make it difficult to control it.

The Daiwa DXM Muskie Rod is the best musky rod because of its exceptional performance and amazing quality.

It comes in a heavy rod power option with a rod length of 7 ft. 6 in. and can be used for different applications

It has a fast rod action which provides it with a stiff and sturdy construction.

Although it is on the shorter side of the length, we should not undermine its capabilities.

While it is generally recommended to go with longer rods when fishing for musky, a sub-8 foot rod will still suffice in this case.

The rod has the ability to hold 65lb. test line therefore, you can catch musky with it in most cases.

Pros

• Well constructed

Cons

• Short at 7 ft. 6 in.
• Can only use bait up to 6 oz.
• Only 65 lb. line

The Daiwa DXM Muskie is the best musky fishing rod because it offers amazing features and rugged build quality.

The rod blank is constructed from IM-& construction, which provides the rod with amazing strength and durability.

It is important to keep in mind when fishing musky you must have the strongest and toughest rod because musky fish can be very aggressive and they can easily snap a weaker rod.

The rod also comes equipped with Fuji SiC tip-top plus Fuji Aluminum Oxide guides that allow smooth loading and retrieval of line.

The Fuji T-DPS reel seat makes sure that your rod and reel are secured together and the reel does not fiddle around.

The rod also features natural cork grips and a hook keeper and offers great utility.

Daiwa also offers a five-year limited warranty to its users making this rod a great overall package.

According to users, this rod can be fished without fear on those 20-35 pound yellow tails and muskies.

And you can pair it with a Lexa 400 reel to get the most out of it.

The only drawback of this rod that you might feel is that it cannot throw larger lures.

In conclusion, this is the best musky rod that you can get your hands on right now.

It is durable and well-equipped for catching your next trophy fish or for just developing your own musky fishing style.