- The best, most versatile setup for most anglers, whether they fish in freshwater or salt with bait or artificial lures, is a simple spinning rod and reel.
- After testing dozens of spinning rods and reels over the years, my favorite all-around affordable combination is an Ugly Stik Elite rod paired with a Daiwa BG reel.
- You can spend more on a spinning rod and reel, of course - a lot more - and you can find rods and reels for more specific applications, but it's hard to beat this rugged pairing anywhere south of $200.
Most people don't take the best care when handling and storing their fishing rods. They skip over the simple rinse-off, they put their rods and reels away wet, and when it comes time to dust off the cobwebs, they clumsily jam them through doorways and into their trunk or pickup bed. I know because that's me, at least with most of my gear. I don't want to have to worry about a simple fishing rod and reel - I've already got enough going on when making my way down to the beach or boat, as I imagine most other casual anglers do, too.
Enter Shakespeare's Ugly Stiks, the fishing rods made famous by commercials featuring them being used and abused in every way imaginable. Run over by cars, bent parabolically with purpose, jumped and sat upon by children in backseats of SUVs - you name it, they've survived it (more or less). I've only ever broken one, but that was only because I had put it through the throes of a full circle out of sheer curiosity, which I admitted to the company before they went ahead and sent out a replacement anyhow.
These are the principal reasons why I immediately recommend the Ugly Stik to most people looking for a basic fishing rod. These are by no means "high performance" fishing rods, and they don't lend to the same casting accuracy as a meticulously handcrafted rod, but they'll serve the majority of anglers. The number one problem with most fishing rods for the average person is that they're made of high-modulus graphite, which is lightweight, but often terribly brittle, especially for something that not only has to withstand the elements but merciless human hands.
Spinning reels, while generally more sturdy, still fall victim to the elements (namely the sea) and general carelessness. While I've yet to find a fully sealed drag at a reasonably affordable price, the seals on Daiwa's updated BG line are as impressive as I've seen on a reel under $100, to date. I've had mine for two years, during which time I've left them in the rod holders of my skiff on the marsh, dropped them in the sand, mud, sea, and countless times onto fiberglass decks, and I haven't even cleaned them once. This past weekend, my 3500 series caught me multiple striped bass in the 20-30-pound range without so much as the suggestion of a groan.
In short, this is the most battle- and fool-proof spinning rod and reel combination I've discovered, and with marginal care, should survive most hands as long as - if not longer than - most rods and reels on the market, regardless of price.
Here are the best fishing rods and reels:
- Best overall: Ugly Stik Elite spinning rod and the Daiwa BG spinning reel
- Best trout/freshwater fly rod and reel: Orvis Clearwater IV package
- Best saltwater fly rod and reel: Temple Forks Outfitters Clouser 9-Weight with the Redington Behemoth fly reel
- Best bait and bottom fishing rod and reel: Tsunami Airwave Elite spinning rod with the Shimano Baitrunner D spinning reel
- Best trolling rod and reel: Shimano TLD trolling rod and reel combo
- Best rod and reel for deep-sea bottom fishing: Tsunami MH Slow Pitch Jigging/Casting Rod and the
Shimano TLD conventional reel
Updated on 10/22/2019 by Owen Burke: Updated prices, improved formatting, and added new picks for trout/freshwater fly fishing and for trolling.
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