Over the past week or so, we’ve been walking you through how to navigate the options and get yourself a quality bass setup without breaking the bank. In short, what are the best rods and reels I can get for less than $100?
We’ve already tackled spinning reels and baitcasting reels; now, I’m going to detail my favorite casting rods for under $100. And this isn’t bargain-bin junk… these are quality rods, many of which I use every single day. Although, living in Wisconsin, my days out on the water are rapidly coming to an end. And then it’s ice fishing season… it’s not the same, but it scratches the itch. I digress…
That being said, during the offseason or wintertime, I like to take stock of my rod arsenal and make some decisions about what I liked, what I didn’t like, and what I think I could upgrade. I actually do most of my bass gear shopping between the months of October and February, so I have everything I need for the entire season.
So without further ado, here are four of my favorite rod lines that will cost you less than $100.
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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 punching 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. And if you’re looking to upgrade into a higher price-point rod, you can snag a more expensive model with the same exact action as the Eagle line… that kind of consistency across lines is SO underrated.
2. Shimano SLX A – $99.99
The Shimano SLX line is a gold standard in the budget category. You just can’t go wrong with the rods, or the reels, and if you are looking to outfit yourself with a ton of different technique-specific options, you can buy a handful of SLX rods and be good to go.
For $100 bucks, you’re getting a fantastic rod that can hang with rods well above its price point. The 7′ MH Fast SLX A is a go-to for me, and I also have a 7′ ML Extra Fast SLX A spinning rod rigged up at all times, but they have plenty in the lineup (17 different rods I believe) to cover all the bases. It’s TOUGH to beat.
3. Daiwa Tatula XT – $99.99
I’m admittedly a BIG Tatula guy. I LOVE the Tatula Elite rods, the regular ol’ Tatula line is great, I have a few different Tatula reels that I’m using at all times… but I’ll tell you what, the budget-friendly Tatula XT always seems to find its way into my hand.
The Tatula XT line has 15 great rods including a budget-friendly frog rod, solid jig rod… I just really love this lineup at the $100 price point. If you’re looking to get into bass fishing on a budget, you just can’t go wrong with the Daiwa Tatula XT. They just look so clean too… if that matters to you at all (let’s face it, nobody wants to fish an ugly rod).
4. Abu Garcia Vendetta – $94.95
Abu has a couple models under 100 bucks that own and fish pretty regularly, but I get the most action out of my Vendetta casting rod. With a number of different lengths, actions and powers, you can cover all the bases at a great price.
I’ve spent a lot of this year flipping around a power shot (maybe you call it a Bubba shot or flip shot, but it’s basically a beefed up drop shot), and it’s been an INCREDIBLE technique for grass line fishing. When a Texas rig or a jig isn’t getting bit, this finesse power approach has really shined for me this year.
I’ve put together some of the biggest largemouth bags of my life this summer, and I did it exclusively on a 6’9″ medium heavy Vendetta and a $65 Abu Max reel… a whole combo less than $200. I have combos that are up over $750, and yet, I got GREAT results this summer using this rod. Don’t sleep on it…
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