Affordable Baitcasting Rods Under $100 That Actually Perform
My tackle collection keeps growing, and sure, I’ll spend more when it’s worth it—but Pete Robbins is all about using the least expensive gear that gets the job done. I’ve got plenty of rods in the $200–$300 range, and a few pricier ones, too, but expensive doesn’t always mean better. In fact, some of my favorite baitcasting rods cost under $150, and several under $100 consistently make the cut. I don’t have to use them—but I choose to.
Here are five that are in my rotation more often than not:
I’ve used a lot of different rods across the Dobyns lineup and love many of them, but this budget 704C doesn’t fish like a rod that should sell at this low price. It’s a great all-around option, whether you’re just beginning or a serious tournament angler.
I’ve been using the 7’ Medium Fast model as an all-around option when I need something slightly lighter than the 704C described above. Particularly good for small topwaters, flukes and weightless Senkos.
It’s four pieces, but it doesn’t suffer from the same maladies as some other bargain multi-piece sticks. We’ve battled some big fish on it and trust it for a variety of applications.
The BuCoo Series was one of the pleasant surprises of an Outdoor Life tackle test a few years back. Some of them are $109.99, but the ones I’ve used are $99.99. I particularly like the 6’8” medium-heavy for throwing topwaters and squarebills in tight spaces.
The H2OX reels were a pleasant surprise and star of last year’s Outdoor Life test and the rods overperform, too. Stetson Blaylock uses these on tour. They feature comfortable EVA foregrips and semi-micro Kigan SiC line guides.
At these price points, you can put together a solid and complete tournament arsenal. If you want to spend a little bit more on a technique-specific rod – like a flipping stick or crank launcher – it’s ok to do so, but it’s also nice to know that it’s not strictly necessary.
More Rods For Price Sensitive Anglers who Won’t Sacrifice on Performance
Since originally writing this article, I’ve found a few more worth the investment:
Fenwick Eagle Cranking Casting Rods (comes in a little above $100, but buy it on sale to get it into double digits)
It’s a long haul from Tokyo to Manaus, but the jet lag is worth it because lots of Japanese anglers make the journey to chase peacocks and other fierce jungle fish. It’s not surprising, therefore, that JDM manufacturers make gear specifically for and replicating Pirarucu.