Trout fishing is one of the most popular forms of fishing the world over, and especially in the USA.
Trout live in often beautiful lakes and rivers that are found in almost every state.
After considering all the options our top picks were…
Not only is trout fishing accessible but a lot of fun too, it’s a great species to target for beginners and pros alike.
Having the right trout fishing rod is the key to enjoying your day on the water; without the right rod, you could miss out.
The Best From The Review
Here are our top three choices from the best trout fishing rod lineup, each one in its own category…
Top Pick
St. Croix Triumph
The balance of quality and affordability make these trout rods ideal for trout fishing and other small species.
St. Croix Triumph
The all-round best trout fishing pole is the St Croix Triumph.
The balance of quality and affordability make these rods ideal for trout fishing and other small species.
The range of fish rods available is ideal for whether you want a dedicated trout rod or one that is more versatile.
Best Value
OKUMA Celilo
It’s made from top materials, has all the features you’ll need from a dedicated smaller species rod.
OKUMA Celilo
The best pole for fishing trout on a budget is the Okuma Celilo.
It’s hard to believe that something so great to fish with could be so affordable.
It’s made from top materials, has all the features you’ll need from a dedicated smaller species rod, and your wallet will be smiling at the prospect.
Editor’s Choice
G.Loomis Classic Trout Spinning Rod
If you’re looking for the best performance, with the most durability. This is the one to choose. This spinning rod, in particular, is designed specifically for trout, unlike any other rod in the review.
G.Loomis Classic Trout Spinning Rod
My personal choice is the G.Loomis, and it usually is.
G.Loomis are one of the best manufacturers around.
Their quality is almost unbeatable.
If you’re looking for the best performance, with the most durability. This is the one to choose.
Our Best Trout Fishing Rods
Here are all the top rods we reviewed.
Each one’s a winner in its own right and they all have their different strengths…
Top Pick
St. Croix Triumph
The balance of quality and affordability make these rods ideal for trout fishing and other small species.
St. Croix Triumph
St. Croix is one of the best rod manufacturers around.
Their dedication to making quality but affordable fishing rods is what has made them so popular over the years. And you’ll see a lot of people using them when trout fishing.
Available Options
The Triumph range of rods incorporates everything from ultra light spinning rods to heavier longer options for targeting bigger fish than trout.
Each one of the rod is a one-piece, giving them a high level of performance, but this does make it harder to travel with them. Despite that, I would still consider the Triumph as one of the best travel fishing rods.
Build
The rod is made from premium SCII graphite, a mid-modulus graphite fiber that makes the rod light, durable, sensitive, and affordable.
You’ll be able to cast well, feel every bite, and have some backbone for a good hook set, the key ingredients to a successful day out on the water.
Made with a premium grade cork, it features aluminum oxide guides that are great at reducing friction, while the Fuji DPS reel seat is excellent at resisting corrosion.
Real Seat
The Fuji reel seat does seem to come loose and can drop your reel at critical points when fighting a fish.
This could be a user error, however, it is worth thinking about as having your reel fall to the floor while fighting the trout of your life, is nothing any fisherman wants to go through.
Power
The rod model chosen below has a medium-light power, with fast action and a length of 6ft 6 inches.
This combo is awesome for trout fishing and also targeting larger, stronger fish like bass. You can also see this is the case when looking at the line you can use.
The largest line to use on this rod is 10lbs, which is a heavy enough line for those trophy targets.
Specs
- Model: TRS66MLF2
- Power Rating: Medium-light
- Length: 6’6”
- Line: 4-10lbs
- Lure Weight: ⅛-½ oz
- Action: Fast
Pros
- The range of rods covers lots of combinations of action, power and length
- High quality rod made with graphite for sensitivity and strength
- The model chosen will work well for trout and larger fish
- This trout fishing rod is excellent in terms of performance and casting
- Made with premium grade cork
- The Fuji reel seat is excellent at resisting corrosion
- Comes with one awesome 5-year warranty
Cons
- Reel seat comes loose from time to time, dropping your reel at critical fish moments
- One-piece rod is harder to travel with
Best Value
Okuma Celilo
It’s made from top materials, has all the features you’ll need from a dedicated smaller species rod.
Okuma Celilo
The Okuma Celilo is a range of ultralight trout spinning rods that is incredibly affordable for the quality.
They come in a range of lengths from 5-8 feet, and the model we have chosen is 6ft 6inches, the best trout rod length, ideal for fishing near close snags.
Build
The fishing rod is made from graphite making it durable, sensitive, affordable and lightweight rod. All the ideal things for fishing gear.
It comes with aluminum oxide guides and a stainless steel hooded reel seat. The rod is easy to maintain, but don’t let that stop you from doing so anyway.
Other Features
Both the guides and the reel seat are durable and perform well, but you might need to keep checking if the reel seat is tight.
Specs
The fishing rod model below is a two-piece, ultralight with medium power.
This is one fun fishing combination, as you’ll feel every pull of the trout while still having the action’s sensitivity.
It might be better as a fast action rod but that combination isn’t available in this range of rods.
It can take line weights from 2-6lbs, ideal for fishing for shy fish, as the small diameter of this light line makes it inconspicuous.
Although the limited line range does make targeting larger fish a bit of a no-no.
Specs
- Model: CE-S-662-UL-1
- Power Rating: Ultralight
- Length: 6’6”
- Line: 2-6 LBS
- Lure Weight: 1/32-3/8
- Action: Medium
Pros
- One of the best trout rods if you’re on a budget
- Graphite rod, giving you all the best trout rod features you might need
- The power and rod action make it a fun pole for trout fishing
- Two-piece rod makes it easier to travel with
- Ideal as a dedicated rod for smaller fish
- Comes with aluminum oxide guides and a stainless steel hooded reel seat
Cons
- Reel seat loosens on its own
- The trout rod is a bit bendy for medium action
- This will have to be a dedicated rod for smaller fish and trout
Cadence CR7
The model chosen below is the best trout combo, giving you the strength but fun of a medium-light power with the supersensitivity of extra-fast action.
Cadence CR7
Cadence is another manufacturer who knows how to make some of the best affordable rods.
Their range covers every combination you might be looking for, allowing you to pretty much hand select your action, power, and length to build your ideal rod.
Specs
The model chosen below is the best trout combo, giving you the strength but fun of a medium-light power with the supersensitivity of extra-fast action.
Fishing with this will be a lot of fun, you feel every bite and every part of the fight without fail.
Build
The rod is made from 40-ton graphite, again an ideal material for ensuring the rod is durable, light, sensitive, and affordable, covering all your fishing needs.
The rod is a one-piece, ideal in terms of performance, but not ideal for traveling with.
If you’re looking for portable rods you might want to consider checking out this review.
Guides
There are some drawbacks to this rod, but only a few.
The guides are very small in diameter and your line can get stuck, especially when connecting mono to braid, as the knot is quite bulky.
Rod Tip
The tip of the rod is also a little delicate and some people have had it snap in moments when it shouldn’t.
These negatives are few and far between and they shouldn’t deter you from taking a good look at the CR7.
Overall it’s one fun fishing pole that is ideal for targeting trout and smaller species.
Specs
- Model: CR7-631S-MLXF
- Power Rating: Medium-light
- Length: 6’3”
- Line: 4-8lbs
- Lure Weight: 1/16-3/8 oz
- Action: Extra Fast
Pros
- The range covers a great amount of rod action, power, and lengths
- Made from great materials to make it light, sensitive, and durable
- The rod casts beautifully for trout fishing
- One-piece gives it great spinning rod casting performance
- It’s affordable considering the quality
Cons
- The guides are very small and the line can get stuck
- Rod tip is a little delicate and snaps in some cases
- Comes in 1 piece making it hard to travel
Shimano Solara
The Shimano Solara is one great fishing tool. Made with a special material called Aeroglass. The rod is also extremely light compared to others, ensuring your arm doesn’t suffer from casting fatigue
Shimano Solara
The Shimano Solara is one great fishing tool and a lot of this comes down to the material it is made from.
Unlike the other fishing poles in the review, it is made from aeroglass.
Build
Aeroglass is like a hybrid of fiberglass that instead of being soft and sluggish, is tough, durable, and sensitive, great for fishing for trout.
It actually provides the middle ground between carbon fiber, graphite, and fiberglass giving you the best of both worlds.
Guides
The rod’s guides are made from aluminum oxide inserts to ensure no friction when you’re casting. This will help with both your distance and accuracy and improve your fishing.
Locking Mechanism Feature
It also comes with a locking graphite reel bed, one of the only trout rods with a locking mechanism to ensure your reel doesn’t pop off.
Specs
The action, power, length, and line range on the rod is aimed at smaller fish, ideal if you want a dedicated rod for them, but it does reduce its versatility.
The rod is also extremely light compared to others, ensuring your arm doesn’t suffer from casting fatigue on those long days hunting for your trophy fish.
Specs
- Model: SLS56UL2
- Power Rating: Ultra Light
- Length: 5’6’’
- Line: 2-6 lbs
- Lure Weight: 1/32-3/16 oz
- Action: Fast
Pros
- Aeroglass material used makes the rod very sensitive to all bites
- The rod is light and you won’t get tired casting it all day long
- The ultralight and fast combination makes fishing for small fish a lot of fun
- Ideal as a dedicated rod for smaller species
Cons
- A little too light to handle larger species
Editor’s Choice
G.Loomis Classic Trout Spinning Rod
If you’re looking for the best performance, with the most durability. This is the one to choose. This rod, in particular, is designed specifically for trout fish, unlike any other rod in the review.
G.Loomis Classic Trout Spinning Rod
Loomis are one of the best at making rods in my opinion, and if I had the money, I would only buy from them.
This spinning fishing rod, in particular, is designed specifically for trout, unlike any other rod in the review.
Build
It uses a carbon fiber blend only G. Loomis uses and is an amazing performance spinning fishing rod.
The fiber blend makes it tough, durable, sensitive, light, and expensive. But, if you want your fishing experience to be the best possible fishing experience, then it might be worth spending a bit extra on this rod.
Other Features
The guides and the reel holder are all top-notch.
Your line will flow through the guides effortlessly and you’re reel once tightened in, isn’t going anywhere.
This means you can fish and catch trout in peace without the worry of your reel landing by your feet.
Weight
The spinning rod is light to ensure you don’t get tired casting all day, and it also casts beautifully thanks to the design and balance.
This means that less effort is required from each cast, and if you cast 300 times a day, that’s going to make a big difference to your arm and your state of mind.
Available Options
The spinning rods for trout are available in a large range that mixes length, rod power, line weight, and action, so you can find the ideal match for your fishing needs.
Whether you want some dedicated rods for trout or some all-rounders, is up to you.
Specs
- Model: SR782-1 IMX
- Power Rating: Light
- Length: 6’6”
- Line: 4-8lb
- Lure Weight: 1/16-5/16 oz
- Action: Fast
Pros
- Made from carbon fiber, it’s one of the toughest rods in the review
- The rod comes in a large range to pick what suits you best
- Top-quality guides and reel holder makes for stress-free fishing
- Perfectly balanced for great casting and fishing
Cons
- The rod is very expensive compared to the others
Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod
You’ll be able to feel every bite that comes along but still have the backbone you need for a good hook set.
Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod
Well-Known Brand
The Ugly Stik from Shakespeare is a bit of a legend in the rod market.
The Ugly Stik rod has been around for years and has made a name for itself as one of the hardest rods to break the world over.
Some say it’s unbreakable, which is a sure sign of lasting durability.
The only concern is that some Ugly Stik veterans have seen a drop in quality and believe the build is a bit different and not as tough as it used to be.
Build
The Ugly Stik spinning rods are made from a composite of fiberglass and graphite.
This makes the Ugly Stik spinning rods very strong but still quite sensitive.
You’ll be able to feel every bite that comes along but still have the backbone you need for a good hook set.
The composite is also what allows this Ugly Stik rod to be so affordable but it also makes it heavy.
Weight
Heavy spinning rods cause fatigue when fishing on the water, especially when doing your best trout fishing, as you’ll be casting and retrieving the entire time.
Length
The series has quite a large range of rod lengths and the model below is the best trout rod length at 5’10”.
This will give you the length you need for casting well while trout fishing but not be too long to see you snagging yourself on the bank.
Specs
This is a fast action rod for trout that has great sensitivity in the tip to help your trout fishing excel. It comes as a two-piece that packs up pretty small making it much easier to travel with.
The line rating on the model below is a bit of a higher line rating than all the others.
The top end of the line is perhaps a little high for trout fishing but is ideal in terms of versatility. You could very easily find yourself fishing for larger species with this rod.
Specs
- Model: USSP5102M
- Power Rating: Medium
- Length: 5’10”
- Line: 6-15lb
- Lure Weight: 1/8-5/8 oz
- Action: Fast
Pros
- Made from strong fiberglass/graphite composite
- Comes in a variety of models to suit your differing needs
- Excellent stainless steel guides to ensure long-lasting durability
- Exceptionally affordable for the quality your getting
- Comes in two pieces making it easiest to travel with
Cons
- The rod is a little heavy and you might get tired fishing with it all-day
- Some are concerned they are not maintaining the quality they used to
Why Do You Need A Specific Rod For Trout Fishing?
Trout are a relatively small species, the average size you’ll be catching is around 1-2lbs.
Catching small saltwater or freshwater fish on heavy gear isn’t fun at all; without feeling the fight or the fish you won’t get to enjoy the challenge.
Feeling the eat and the battle is all part of the joy of trout fishing.
The aim is to experience the excitement of catching trout, rather than just winching them in. You want the trout to give you a run for your money.
How to Choose a Spinning Rod Specifically for Trout
The best spinning rods for trout are designed to provide as much contact and feeling as possible.
If you recently bought a trout spinning reel, you’ll want the best possible rod to go with it.
The best trout spinning rod is light, with a length around 6-7ft, and has the right power and action ratings, which we will discuss later.
Trout spinning rods are also designed for using lighter lures and a light line. This review about lake trout lures can help you find one.
NOTE
You’ll use small or light lures because trout eat small things, and fool them into eating it with the light fishing line they can’t see.
Length
The length of the rod of a trout spinning rod defines a few things and can range from 5-8ft long.
The longer the rod, the further you can cast as you’ll get a bigger load and therefore more momentum.
But, you’re often fishing tight to trees or bushes when trout fishing and a long rod length could mean you end up hooking shrubbery on your backcast.
Ideal Length
The ideal length of a spinning rod for trout is around 6-7ft, in the middle of the range.
This will give you a long enough cast while being short enough to fish tight to any snags that might be behind you when trout fishing.
Power Rating
The spinning rods power rating defines how stiff, thick, and therefore how powerful it is.
The best spinning rod for trout is designed to provide enough bendiness to enjoy catching them, and because trout are on the smaller side, the best trout rod for fishing will be a one that bends easily.
Ideal Power Rating
The best spinning rod power rating for trout is either ultralight, light, or medium-light power rating. This means you’ll feel the fight and have a great time trout fishing.
You can pick between any of the three when looking for a trout fishing rod.
For most trout fishing, aim for an ultra light to light action fishing rod. If you’re targeting extra large trout, you can opt for a medium or heavy rod.
Ultralight
Ultralight spinning pole power will be the most sporting and maybe the best for fun, but it would have to be used as a dedicated rod for trout fishing and other fish of similar size.
Medium-Light
A medium-light rod power will allow you to enjoy trout fishing for smaller fish and be more versatile as it will handle larger fish species.
Action
Rod action defines which part of the rod will bend.
Rod action is measured between slow and extra-fast, with the medium in the middle.
Slow action rods will bend near the butt section, a medium in the middle, and a fast action rod at the tip.
But what does this mean for one’s fishing?
How Action Affects Fishing
The faster the action, the more sensitive a rod is, meaning you’ll feel any fish bites a lot more. This is especially useful when fish like trout are likely to bite very subtly.
Fast Action
Fast rods are the best for trout, especially when using the best ultralight spinning rod.
You feel every bite and still have the fun of a bendy fishing rod.
Slow Action
Slow rods bend at the butt and are helpful when casting.
The rod bending near the butt section allows the full length of the rod to load, giving you extra momentum for your cast, and hopefully increasing your distance.
Slow rods are a bit sluggish when it comes to sensitivity though, and more suited to heavy weight fishing where currents are prevalent and the longest of casts required.
Materials
The fishing rod materials used for the best trout fishing rods vary quite a bit. The main three materials trout fishing rods are made from are fiberglass, graphite, and carbon fiber, graphite is one of the most common.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass is one of the least expensive materials and bends a lot.
It is handy for use in a slow action rod for trout where presentation is key, but it’s got nothing on graphite or carbon fiber when it comes to strength and sensitivity.
Slow action is not something we want, as it will make the rod sluggish and harder to feel bites. In the end you may end up missing a lot of opportunities with a slow rod.
Graphite & Carbon Fiber
Graphite and carbon fiber are much stronger, powerful, and more sensitive materials.
They are the best for a trout fishing rod, as they will provide the fast action, strength, and sensitivity that is best for trout fishing.
You’ll feel more bites, have a better hook up rate, and cast more accurately.
Graphite
Graphite is a bit less expensive than carbon fiber, and you’ll find the most affordable performance rods are made out of graphite.
If you’re on a budget you could look to a graphite composite fishing rod, which is when graphite is mixed with fiberglass.
You would still get the benefit of the graphite in the spinning rod but for a smaller price.
Weight
The weight of the fishing rod you choose is an important thing to think about.
When fishing for trout, you are inevitably casting all day long, trying to cover as many pockets of fishing water as you can.
This does get tiring no matter what rod you choose, but the last thing you need is for your rod to hold you back.
TIP
Weight is also affected by the reel you choose and is worth thinking about when looking for a reel to pair with your rod.
Consider Other Features
My advice is not to focus on weight as a buying factor initially but to focus on all the other more important features first. Maybe you use spinnerbait lures a lot and might benefit from investing in one of the best spinnerbait rods on the market.
Then once you have found a few trout rods that make the cut, begin to look at the weight of each one to make your final decision, knowing that the lighter the rod, the better your long days on the water will be.
Now that you know what to look for when choosing a great rod for trout, here’s a quick recap of our top three trout fishing rods.
Here’s a quick recap of our top three picks…
Top Pick
If you want a rod you can rely on, has high standards and is still pretty affordable, then the St Croix Triumph is your best bet.
The range covers all rod lengths, powers, and actions for trout, allowing you to choose if you want a dedicated setup or something a bit burlier that’s more versatile.
Best Value
If you’re looking to spend as little as possible but still want a setup worth having, the Okuma Celilo is the one to go for.
Light, powerful, sensitive, and ideal for smaller species only, it’s amazing that it’s so affordable.
Editor’s Choice
Looking for the best trout fishing rod that might be with you forever?
Then G.Loomis is the pole to go for. The quality, performance, and durability are undeniable.
You’ll have to spend a bit more, but you’ll understand why it’s better than the rest once it’s in your hands.
From the Author
I hope you learned a thing or two from choosing the best trout rod from the review. You might want to match your trout rod with the best trout fishing reel for a great trout fishing experience.
Feel free to check out my other articles, such as this guide on how to set up a fishing rod or this Shakespeare fishing rods review, and don’t forget to share this with your friends or fellow trout anglers. You can also share your trout fishing experience by dropping a comment below.
