Father’s Day is right around the corner, and this year, let’s get dad something that he actually wants, right?
This year, Father’s Day is set for Sunday, June 21st, and for once in my life, I’m gonna get ahead of my shopping and get started right away. My dad doesn’t wear ties, he doesn’t golf, he doesn’t wear cologne much… most of your basic Father’s Day gifts are off the table. But, he does love to fish, and lucky for him, that’s my specialty. But let’s be honest… if your is anything like mine, he’s probably been fishing with the exact same rod since the late ’90s. Half the cork is missing from the handle, the tip was snapped off in a truck door and super-glued back on, it’s so thick it has the sensitivity of a broomstick. My dad actually has a catfish rod in the rotation… for bass. With a spincast reel like a toddler… it’s absurd.
Dads are notoriously stubborn, mine included, which means they will almost never spend the money to buy themselves a good rod. And a good rod doesn’t have to break the bank either. You don’t need a $1,000 Shimano Poison Ultima to catch bass. You just don’t… and a lot of pro angler’s don’t even use rods like that since they have so many on the front deck at all times. So this Father’s Day, it is time to drag the old man into the modern era of bass fishing. If you want to skip the cheap novelty lures and actually become the favorite child this year, you need to hand him an upgrade
Here are 5 bass fishing rods that Dad actually wants this Father’s Day.
1. Fenwick Eagle: $99.95
Fenwick completely overhauled everything in their lineup in the past couple years, the the result is phenomenal. The Eagle is their most affordable line of rods, and with 19 different models, you can easily cover all the bases… and then some. I personally use the 7’5″ Heavy as my flipping stick, and specifically for light punching. Caught my PB largemouth on an Eagle last summer. They look great, they feel great, they fish great, and the best part is that they won’t break the bank.
2. St. Croix Black Bass: $155 – $195
As a Wisconsin resident, I’m fairly partial to St. Croix, and use a number of rods across various lines. The Bass X is a great entry-level line, The Mojo Bass line is super popular, but to me, the Black Blass line gives you a great for a great price. The best bang for your buck, so to speak. Your dad will LOVE it.
A relatively newer line from St. Croix, the cheapest models start around $155 which is a pretty good price point for a bass rod. I have rods that cost $400 and I have some that aren’t much more than $40, and I promise you that you can get a really nice rod for about $150 bucks… this is one of them. And one of the great things about St. Croix is that actions stay pretty consistent across all of their lines, and you can find a TON of rods in each line. Whatever kind of rod you’re looking for, they have one dialed in for that specific purpose.
3. Fenwick HMG: $149.95 – $179.95
If you want to take it a step up with Fenwick, go for the HMG. I have a bunch of these, a few spinning rods in particular, and they’re just so fantastic. Fenwick is largely credited with inventing the first High Modulus Graphite fishing rod in the ’70s, and the HMG name is a nod to that iconic legacy. I love everything about these rods, but the reel seat in particular is something special. SO comfortable to fish all day long. It won’t break the bank, and their actions seem to be really consistent across all rod lines and price points.
4. Daiwa Tatula Cork: $179.99
At under $200 bucks, it’s tough to beat the Daiwa Tatula line. Lightweight, sensitive, and offered in a ton of models to cover all the bases, it’s really one of the best starting points when you when to make the jump up a level from a more budget-friendly rod. A new design for 2025, the SVF Super High Volume Fiber blanks offer up a whopping 14% weight reduction from the previous model. And a 5-year warranty? Not bad at all.
5. Daiwa Tatula Elite: $219.99
If you want to take it a step up from the standard Tatula Cork rod, the Tatula Elite Rods are the move. Crafted with input from elite Daiwa pros like Seth Feider, Takahiro Omori, Patrick Walters, Chris and Cory Johnston, Brent Ehrler and more, these rods are optimized for various bass fishing techniques, such as flipping, cranking, and various finesse applications. More sensitive blanks, better quality guides, and just over $200 bucks a rod, that’s a really solid price point.
Personally, I use the Randy Howell dock skipping/swim jig rod just about every day in the summer, but the Brent Ehrler multi-purpose and Chatterbait rods are tough to beat too.
Tatula Elite Glass Cranking Rod
*This post contains links through the Tackle Warehouse Affiliate Program. While all products are independently selected by our expert Riff Outdoors team, if you use these links to make a purchase, we may earn a commission.
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