Your Top 5 favorite rod and reel brands 2024

Texas Rig Adam reply :

Wanted to know what everyone’s favorite brand when it comes to Rods and reels

deep reply :

The reel part is easy. 14 casting reels. All Shimanos. (Don't fish spinning.)

I have and fish rods from 7 different companies. Love them all.

QUAKEnSHAKE reply :

Daiwa spinning reels

Shimano casting reels

Favorite spinning rod is St Croix Avid 8' ML/Mod

Favorite casting rod is Quantum Smoke 7' M/F gen 1

Mike L reply :

Don't have 5...

Shimano reels

Fenwick and Loomis rods.

Mike

Matt_3479 reply :

Reels would only be shimano and daiwa and a company we can’t say

Rods

- g. Loomis

- kistler

- st. Croix

- dobyns

- that same company

WRB reply :

Reels; Daiwa and Shimano

Rods; Custom ALX, Dobyns, IRod, Major Craft and G.Loomis, Lamiglas crankbait and swimbait rods.

That is what is in my rod locker today.

Tom

Stephen B reply :

Rods: Megabass, G Loomis, St Croix, Shimano, Daiwa (But mostly G Loomis and Megabass)

Reels: Shimano and Daiwa

Best of the best!

CroakHunter reply :

Dobyns rods

Daiwa reels

Log Catcher reply :

Bass Pro rods

Lews baitcasters

Daiwa or Shimano spinning reels

Texas Rig Adam reply :

Great comments guys!

As far as reels I only use is shimano and Daiwa

Rods is Kister. Kistler is my #1 go to rod then St. Croix and G. Loomis.. Iv been seeing a lot of good reviews on Dobyns I personally have never used one but interested in trying one out.. any suggestions on which rod to try.. I mainly do texas rig, jigs and poppers??

Djohn reply :

Reels - Quantum & Pflueger

Rods - whatever feels good usually in the $100-$140 range

d-camarena reply :

Rods- shimano, daiwa and lews

Reels- shimano daiwa and lews

ohboyitsrobby reply :

Reels- lews, shimano, pflueger. Rods- falcon, st Croix and the number above 12

WRB reply :

On 6/13/2018 at 7:28 AM, Texas Rig Adam said:

Great comments guys!

As far as reels I only use is shimano and Daiwa

Rods is Kister. Kistler is my #1 go to rod then St. Croix and G. Loomis.. Iv been seeing a lot of good reviews on Dobyns I personally have never used one but interested in trying one out.. any suggestions on which rod to try.. I mainly do texas rig, jigs and poppers??

For poppers with a bait casting reel Major Craft Don Iovino a splash-It Custom NAC-T681MS1 is ideal.

Texas rigged soft plastics requires more input from you; line type/lb test, o/a weight range of the rig and cover or structure you plan fish.

Tom

burrows reply :

Shimano baitcasters

diawa spinning reels

Rods-

st croix

powell

duckett

shimano

The Pond King reply :

My personal favorites for rods and reels are..

Reels: Shimano and Daiwa

Rods: G. Loomis and St. Croix

But don't get me wrong, I own rods and reels from many other brands as well and enjoy using them too.

The one brand I don't own, but want to own, is a Megabass rod. Those rods just look like a piece of art. One day.

BigAngus752 reply :

Casting reels: Daiwa

Spinning reels: Daiwa

Rods: Depends on what I need from the rod. I own Powell, Fenwick, Lews, and Abu Garcia. I’m thrilled with each for their purpose except for one Abu Garcia which will eventually be replaced with a Powell. But I have another Abu that I love so...

greentrout reply :

Rods >> BPS, Cabela's, Allstar, Abu Garcia and Fenwick.

Reels >> Pflueger, Shimano, BPS, Cabela's and Quantum.

Good fishing...

JoshFromBolo reply :

Reels: One and three fishing and Shimano

Rods: Dobyns and Shakespeare

DogBone_384 reply :

Rods: ***, Abu Garcia, Kistler, Fenwick.

Reels: ***, Diawa, Shimano, Pflueger (spinning).

Smallieseeker reply :

Reels

Spinning: Shimano

Casting: Diawa

Rods

Dobyns mostly with a few Shimano and St Croix

evilcatfish reply :

Reels: Daiwa

Rods: Dobyns and Megabass

CroakHunter reply :

On 6/13/2018 at 7:28 AM, Texas Rig Adam said:

Great comments guys!

As far as reels I only use is shimano and Daiwa

Rods is Kister. Kistler is my #1 go to rod then St. Croix and G. Loomis.. Iv been seeing a lot of good reviews on Dobyns I personally have never used one but interested in trying one out.. any suggestions on which rod to try.. I mainly do texas rig, jigs and poppers??

Dobyns fury 735c.

FryDog62 reply :

Baitcasting Rods:

1) Daiwa Tatula (I have 3 models: Tatula, Tatula XT, Tatula Elite). Best overall based on the combination of price (they are best for that in my list), sensitivity, power.

2) Megabass Orochi - outstanding! But because Daiwa is outstanding too, and the Daiwa price is better, Megabass is a close #2 on my list.

3) Kistler, great overall rod. Helium is lighter than air, I only have one of their rods, if I had more and a stronger opinion, they could potentially contend for #1.

4) Dobyns. The most expensive I own and I have 3 Extreme HP models. Light - and the absolute best balanced rod I’ve ever had (especially HEAVY models) but they fall down the list because they don’t have the sensitivity of the above models. A bit of a “numb” feeling for such an expensive stick! Otherwise great.

99) My former favorite rod that has been out-classed so much by the rods above is St. Croix. It pains me to say it after years of touting them as the best rods on earth - but they are the most tip-heavy rods I have ever had to contend with. Never thought this until I started using other rods (which I was reluctant to do for years) but the MH and H St Croix models are lead-tipped beasts.

Spinning rods:

I’m pretty much all baitcasting now, but I still occasionally use a Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth rod in 6’-8” Medium Extra Fast. The best spinning rod I have ever used regardless of price, and THE best handle ever made - and then they discontinued it!! Bring it back Fenwick - even if you have to raise the price.

Baitcasting reels:

If skipping is an option for anything you do, there is only one option IMO: Daiwa SV. I have Tatulas, Zillions and a Steez and they are the only baitcasting reels I can actually skip a lure and not pick out a rats nest every other cast.

If not skipping, I like Lews and Shimano too. Lews LFS at $100 is hard to beat from a value standpoint.

SMITTY0045 reply :

As far as reels go, I’m a huge fan of Abu Garcia and Lews. Both are on similar platforms and I love how both of them fish

I’m not near as loyal when it comes to rods, but out of my arsenal, I really like my Loomis rod and my Daiwa Rods. They both are super sensitive, and both companies make some of the best rods in the industry imo

fvogel67 reply :

Shimano/Lews -casting

Shimano/Daiwa-Spinning

St Croix/Loomis/Abu-Rods

basseditor reply :

I’m less inclined to have one favorite Reel, but I’ve been on a Daiwa Steez buying spree (and other Daiwa this spring).

In the last few years, I only bought Kistler Rods. I have 71 now.

I have a Browning rod from the late ‘80s that I love. It was very expensive for that time period, but it is a work horse and sensitive. 7’ heavy.

I sold my Loomis rods. I still have some Lamiglas Rods but I don’t use them any more.

Bankbeater reply :

Spinning Reels - Pflueger Presidents

Baitcasting Reels - Currently Abu Garcia, and Shimano

Rods - Daiwa, St. Croix, and Bass Pro

Yudo1 reply :

This one is easy. For reels, daiwa and shimano. For rods, loomis, megabass and kistler.

soflabasser reply :

Shimano and Penn reels

NYWayfarer reply :

At the moment, could change tomorrow, my top 5 favorite brands are:

Reels: Daiwa, Shimano, Kastking, ***, Lews

Rods: Powell, Denali, Kastking, Lews, Abu Garcia

Boomstick reply :

For reels, I like Daiwa, Shimano and Pflueger and it doesn't really matter if it's spinning or casting (The Pflueger Supreme XT is a great casting reel that most people don't know about!)

For rods, I like Daiwa, Dobyns and St. Croix in my normal target price range ($100-200), and Berkley or Abu Garcia when I'm on a budget.

new2BC4bass reply :

Spinning reels: Daiwa, Pflueger

Baitcast reels: Diawa, Shimano, Lews, Pflueger, Abu and the Pinnacle Primmus is a favorite, but have not used any of their other models.

Spinning Rods: Fenwick, Abu, Diawa

Casting Rods: Diawa, Megabass, ALX, Fenwick, Falcon. Have a Major Craft and Abu that are new-2-me but seem very good so far.

I agree that Fenwick should bring back the Elite Tech Smallmouth series even if they have to raise the price. They had to be one of the best values ever. The original Diawa Tatula rods are another great rod at their price point. I wouldn't mind seeing Falcon bring back the Expert series, but wouldn't be able to buy one until they went on closeout again.

Really like the one Dobyns casting rod I have.

SJex reply :

Rods - Shimano, Loomis, Megabass, Powell and Dobyns

Reels - Shimano, Daiwa, and Pflueger

GateToWire reply :

Casting Rods - Dobyns

Casting Reels - Lew's

Spinning Rods - St. Croix

Spinning Reels - Pflueger

RB 77 reply :

Reels: Shimano

Rods: G Loomis, Shimano, Falcon and Kistler

Rods (Salt): Batson, Calstar, Shimano and Daiwa

bunz559 reply :

I am somewhat of a Dobyns Fan Boy. All my bass fishing rods are Dobyns with the exception of 2, 1 Powell punching rod and 1 Shimano ultra light Expride. I'm sure there are other great rods made by others out there, but I have grown accustomed to knowing what I'm getting with some of the specs. I have tried a few companies, Phoenix and Shimano and their MH vs a Dobyns MH are slightly different. Because of this it's easier for me to just stick to one brand, a quality brand by the way, and bump up and down in powers and action as needed. Probably not the best way of finding and exploring new rods but I've been happy with my Dobyns.

All reels are Shimano. I stick to what I know and trust. Not that there aren't any other great companies out there.

LonnieP reply :

Reels - Daiwa and Shimano

rods - Daiwa,Dobyns,G Loomis,St Croix

BassThumb reply :

Shimano and Dobyns. No need to look any further, as far as I’m concerned.

St Croix and G. Loomis are no slouches either, but I sold all of mine to switch to Dobyns. I’m not going back.

The Kangler reply :

Shimano spinning reels

Lew’s casting reels

Megabass Casting Rods

St Croix Casting rods

St Croix spinning rods

Jar11591 reply :

Reels: Pflueger and Lews

Rods: Fenwick and St. Croix

Chance_Taker4 reply :

Reels: Daiwa, Abu Garcia, The name we can't say

Rods: I have one brand I fish: Kistler. I did enjoy my Phenix, Denali and Abu Garica when I used them. I'm more of a brand loyalist when it comes to rods.

thinkingredneck reply :

I am more blue collar than some, except with fly fishing. Some of it is old and clunky by today's standards, but this ain't a fashion show.

BC reel: Pfluger and my old Bass Pro Viper (workhorse)

BC rods: St Croix, BPS Tourney Special, Lamiglass, Daiwa, American Rodsmith, Ozark

Spinning Reel: Pfluger, Okuma

Spinning Rod: Ugly Stick!, BPS Tourney special, Okuma, Shimano (for salt)and I have a Fenwick travel rod that I am wildly inaccurate with

Fly reel: Pfluger, Hardy, Okuma, Orvis, Ross

Fly Rods: St Croix, Sage, Lamiglass, Loomis

Overall, St Croix and Pfluger are my favorite brands with Okuma right up there.

RevoSEMIpro reply :

Casting Reels - Lews and Abu

Spinning Reels - Pflueger or Shimano

Rods - Powell, Fenwick, Okuma (Helios/TCS), Duckett, G.Loomis

HogsNHawgs reply :

On 6/13/2018 at 6:18 AM, Mike L said:

Don't have 5...

Shimano reels

Fenwick and Loomis rods.

Mike

I’m liking that little shoutout to Fenwick.

ww2farmer reply :

Casting reels: Daiwa, and Abu Garcia

Spinning reels: Daiwa, and Pflueger

Rods: Daiwa, Fenwick, Abu Garcia, and Berkley

I used to be a big Shimano, and St Croix user, but I feel the above companies offer more bang for the buck performance wise, and have fantastic offerings at lower price points.

Further North reply :

We talked about this on the water yesterday. We were trying to zero in on a single "favorite" and I determined that, because I buy for specific purposes, I don't have a favorite. Opening up to "top five" opens the doors to preferences a bit, and I like it.

Reels:

Lamson
Nautilus
Abu/Diawa/Shimano in a tie

Rods:

Temple Forks
St. Croix
Orvis
Scott
Hav1

Rods are all a tie, IMO.

Yeah, some of those are gonna puzzle non-fly fishing folks. But it's what I use for bass...

Spankey reply :

Rods:

St. Croix

Abu Garcia

Fenwick

Reels:

Shimano

Daiwa

Mike L reply :

On 6/17/2018 at 11:25 AM, HogsNHawgs said:

I’m liking that little shoutout to Fenwick.

Fenwick's aren't as popular as they once were but my Techna AV is one of the best casting rods ever made by anyone.

Mike

lmbfisherman reply :

Reels - Basically all Shimanos. I do have 3 BPS PQ's but they are my beater or loaner reels.

Rods - Mostly Shimano, Fenwick and Loomis. I have some others that are 1 or 2 of. (Abu Garcia, St. Croix and BPS)

onenutinthewater reply :

Reels- Daiwa, Shimano

Rod- Edge, Loomis

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