When looking for the best spinning rods under $100, versatility is key. There are lots of budget spinning rods under $100 on the market that can cover most fishing applications that you may encounter. Important considerations to make before selecting a spinning rod are rod power, action, length, and material which I will simplify in this article. The best spinning rod under $100 should be versatile and applicable to a wide variety of fishing techniques.
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Best Spinning Rods Under $100 (Quick Summary)
- Fenwick Eagle Spinning Rod
- 13 Fishing Fate V3 Spinning Rod
- St Croix Triumph Spinning Rod
- Shimano SLX Spinning Rod
- Shimano Sellus Spinning Rod
Table of Contents:
- Rod Power
- Rod Action
- Rod Length
- Rod Material
- The Best Spinning Rods Under $100 (More Specifics)
- More Information
Choosing Spinning Rod Power:
The power of the rod signifies how stiff it is. For example, a light power rod will easily bend and is designed for lighter lure applications. Meanwhile, a heavy power rod is much stiffer and ideal for heavier lures and larger fish. The power that you choose depends on the type of fishing that you plan on doing.
Summary Table:
| Common Rod Powers: | Applications: |
| Light | Best when fishing for panfish or smaller game fish. Typical lure sizes range from 1/16 oz to 1/4 oz. |
| Medium | One of the most versatile rod powers available. Best when fishing lures between 1/8 oz to 1/2 oz. |
| Heavy | Best for heavy cover and large fish applications. Use when flipping cover with heavy gauge hooks or throwing lures over 1/2 oz in weight. |
Recommended Choice: A versatile spinning rod power is medium, which will cover most applications. A typically recommend avoiding spinning rods that have a heavy power since they tend to get very heavy and uncomfortable to fish with. When looking for a heavy power rod, opt for a baitcasting rod instead of a spinning rod.
Choosing Spinning Rod Action:
The action of the rod signifies how much bend there is in the tip of the rod. A fast action rod will have a shorter tip section and will transition into backbone early. A moderate or slow action rod will bend throughout the entirety of the rod, not just the tip. A general rule of thumb is that moderate/slow action rods are better suited for treble hook baits, while fast action rods are better suited for jigging applications with a single hooks lure. If this doesn’t make total sense, the picture below helps to illustrate the various rod actions.
Summary Table:
| Common Rod Actions: | Applications: |
| Fast | Best for bottom contact baits with a single jig hook. Additionally, good when fishing weeds since it allows you to rip the bait free much easier. Generally better for thicker gauge hooks. |
| Moderate-Fast | Good all around action that can be used for both jig hooked lures and treble hooked lures. Not necessarily the best for either technique, but works for both. |
| Moderate | Ideal when fishing treble hooked lures or live bait. Best when used with thinner gauge hooks. |
Recommended Choice: A versatile spinning rod action is a medium fast taper. This will cover most scenarios, and allows you to get away with techniques that are better suited for either a moderate or fast tapered rod.
Choosing Spinning Rod Length:
When choosing a spinning rod, rod length is a very important consideration to make. Generally, most rods fall within 5′ to 8′ in length. Shorter rods are better when space is limited for travel purposes, kayak fishing, shore fishing, etc. Longer rods are ideal when space is not an issue and long casting is imperative.
Summary Table:
| Typical Rod Lengths: | Applications: |
| Less than 6 ft | Best when fishing panfish or smaller game fish species. Good when casting distance isn’t paramount, but casting accuracy is. |
| 6 ft to 7 ft | Good all around size, and probably the most common. Good balance between casting distance and sensitivity, making this the most versatile length range. |
| Over 7 ft | Best when fishing open water scenarios for game fish species. The longer length will allow you to increase your casting distance, which can make a big difference for pressured fish. |
Recommended Choice: For most applications, I recommend starting with a 6’6″ to 7′ rod.
For a more in depth guide into spinning rod length, check out this article
Choosing Spinning Rod Material:
The main rod materials on the market today include glass, fiberglass, and graphite. For most casting applications, a graphite rod is the way to go. Glass and fiberglass rods typically heavier than graphite and have a more parabolic bend, making them ideal for trolling applications with treble hook baits. Graphite rods are generally lighter and more sensitive, making them the go to option for jigging applications when bottom contact is imperative.
Summary Table:
| Common Rod Materials: | Applications: |
| Graphite | Best when fishing bottom contact lures or when sensitivity is important. Graphite excels for single jig hooked lures of all sizes. |
| Fiberglass/Glass | Best when fishing treble hooked baits where sensitivity isn’t as important as the parabolic bend of the rod. |
Recommended Choice: I would recommend starting with a graphite rod since it will cover a much wider range of techniques compared to a glass or fiberglass rod. If you plan on using treble hooked lures or trolling a majority of the time, choose a fiberglass or glass blank rod.
The Best Spinning Rods Under $100 (More Specifics)
Fenwick Eagle Spinning Rod
General Information: 24-ton Graphite Blank, Full Cork Handle, and Stainless Steel Guides With Aluminum Oxide Inserts.
Pros: Budget friendly, comes in many great sizes, and comes with a limited 5-year warranty
Cons: Less sensitive than some of the other options and full cork handle may have decreased longevity if not properly maintained.
13 Fishing Fate V3 Spinning Rod
General Information: Japanese 36 Ton Blank, Evolve Hook Keeper, Soft Touch Carbon Grip, Custom Reel Seat, and Stainless Steel Guides With Zirconia Inserts.
Pros: Very lightweight and sensitive for a rod at this price point. The soft touch carbon grip is durable and still preforms well when wet.
Cons: Hook keeper is located towards the bottom of the rod which some anglers may not prefer, and the white grip accumulates dirt over time when not properly maintained.
St Croix Triumph Spinning Rod
General Information: SCIII Carbon Blank, Full Cork Handle, Sea Guide Guides, and Sea Guide Reel Seat.
Pros: Lots of great lengths and powers to choose from and comes with a 5-year warranty.
Cons: More expensive than some of the budget options
Shimano SLX Spinning Rod
General Information: Full carbon blank, Shimano Hardlite guides, and a custom VSS reel seat.
Pros: Lots of great lengths and powers to choose from and has high quality components and a durable construction for the price
Cons: More expensive than some of the budget options
Shimano Sellus Spinning Rod
General Information: 24-Ton Composite Blank, Custom EVA Split Grip, and Aluminum Oxide Guides
Pros: Most budget friendly option, comes with a limited 1-year warranty, and the blank used is very versatile.
Cons: Less sensitive than some of the other options, hook keeper is located towards the bottom of the rod which some anglers may not prefer, and less model options to choose from.
More Information
I hope you enjoyed this article and found it to be informative. If so, we’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments down below.
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For angler’s who primarily target Walleye, check out our article about the Best Spinning Rods Under $100 For Walleye
If you are new to fishing and looking for a fishing combo to get started, check out our article about the Best Rod and Reel Combos For Beginners
For spinning rod recommendations under $150, check out this article
More Rod Reviews:
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- Top 5 Best Spinning Rods Under $150 [2023 Guide]
- Top 5 Best Spinning Rods Under $100 [2023 Guide]
- Top 3 Best Walleye Trolling Rods For Planer Boards [2023 Guide]
- Top 3 Best Trolling Rods For Walleye Fishing [2023 Guide]
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