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- #5 Catfish Sumo Chop Stick From Catfish Sumo
- #4 Temple Fork Clouser Rod From TFO
- #3 Avid Spinning Rod From St. Croix Rods
- #2 Shakespeare USESP702M Ugly Stik Elite Spinning Rod From Ugly Stik
- #1 KastKing Crixus Rod IM6 From KastKing
The 5 Best Catfish Rods Of 2021
Fishing for catfish can be a lot of fun, but it can also get a bit daunting. If you’ve never fished for one before, you want to make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into before you go. There are a lot of myths and legends that surround catfishing. Catfish fishing is exciting. They fight hard, are plentiful, and taste delicious when cooked. Catfish are frequently keen biters as well, and may be caught both from the bank and from a boat with a simple bait setup.
It’s a great sport that anyone can enjoy. When you’re in the mood for some serious fishing, these top-rated catfish rods will help you land one of those hard-fighting catfish.
They have everything you want in a catfish rod, with the added benefit of being lightweight and very responsive. The items mentioned are in no exact order, so be sure to stay to the end, so you don’t miss the perfect model for your needs.
We have analyzed 2623 customer reviews and looked at 63 products to give you this top 5 review.
#1. KastKing Crixus Rod IM6 From Kastking
Budget Option
Budget Option
The KastKing Crixus rod is an excellent example of why so many customers love this brand. It’s got a phenomenal feel and is made with premium-quality materials. The main drawbacks that most anglers will encounter with this rod are related to its weight and durability. This rod is available in 10 different sizes and is a great choice for any angler seeking a versatile, and affordable spin rod.
- 10 Different Sizes
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The KastKing Crixus rod is an excellent example of why so many customers love this brand so much. It is one of the most versatile rods that were looked at and is perfect for use with a variety of different line sizes and presentations. Whether you’re spinning, casting, or just enjoying some downtime on the river, this versatile rod will help you to land that big fish.
It’s got a phenomenal feel and is made with premium-quality materials. The Crixus is available in 10 different sizes and is a great choice for any angler seeking a versatile, and affordable spin rod.
The main drawbacks that most anglers will encounter with this rod are related to its weight and durability. As this rod can also get a bit heavy when used in heavier tackle applications. It’s not uncommon for the larger sizes to feel a little cumbersome when casting or reeling in larger fish.
However, most anglers will find that these issues aren’t deal-breakers and that they’ll be just minor drawbacks.
#2. Shakespeare USESP702M Ugly Stik Elite Spinning Rod
A Vervy Populare Choice
Top Pick
The Shakespeare USESP702M Ugly Stik Elite is a blank Shakespeare rod that has a smooth action and a fast tip. It comes with a forged blank with a super smooth corkscrew and 35% more graphite than many other rods for exceptional strength and feel. It has a 7’2 length and a medium fast action.
- Fast Action
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One of the most popular spinning rods in the world, the Shakespeare USESP702M Ugly Stik Elite is a blank Shakespeare rod that has a smooth action and a fast tip. It has a 7’2″ length and a medium fast action. It comes with a forged blank with a super smooth corkscrew. It features fast action and a generous power range. It has a quality guide that will help you find the perfect presentation for your needs.
And the Elite spinning rod has 35% more graphite than many other rods for exceptional strength and feel
#3. Temple Fork Clouser Rod From TFO
Best Overall Fly Rod
Best of the Best
Temple Fork Outfitters Clouser is the latest addition to their award-winning line of fly rods. This rod is a killer on the big game and excels in any condition. It has excellent balance and accuracy for casting large flies and also has a nice flex to help keep the line on the fish.
- High Quality Rod
- Excellent Balance & Accuracy
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The Temple Fork Outfitters Clouser is the latest addition to their award-winning line of fly rods, and in our opinion, is the best fly rod for the price. Temple Forks Outfitters has been producing quality rods for just about 20 years and has become somewhat of an industry standard. Though they have recently expanded into other areas, they are still known for producing some of the highest quality rods available on the market.
If you are looking for an all-around blaster that can handle big fish and sinking lines, you should definitely check out the Clouser. This rod is a killer on the big game and excels in any condition. If you want to fly fish for catfish, you need to get on one of these bad boys.
Some found it to be a little short on power, but it has excellent balance and accuracy for casting large flies and also has a nice flex to help keep the line on the fish.
We were very impressed with the performance of this one. It is a very versatile rod that is a good choice for a variety of situations and conditions.
#4. Avid Spinning Rod From St. Croix Rods
Best Overall Rod
Best of the Best
The St. Croix Avid Inshore is targeted at the saltwater inshore fisheries. It features a premium quality SC III graphite blank, Fuji reel seats with a gunsmoke hood, and a super-grade cork handle. The medium-heavy action that is fast and sensitive yet has a nice smooth feel. While the Avid is a very high-end rod, it is in the higher retail price range.
- SCIII graphite
- Medium-Heavy Action
- Sideways Hook Keeper
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The St. Croix Avid Inshore is a high-end spinning rod that is targeted at the saltwater inshore fisheries. It features a premium quality SC III graphite blank, Fuji reel seats with a gunsmoke hood, and a super-grade cork handle. It has a medium-heavy action that is fast and sensitive yet has a nice smooth feel. St Croix has used their Integrated Poly Curve tooling technology to eliminate all of the transition points in the rod, making for a rod that is light and extremely sensitive.
It has a nice smooth action that is quick and features their new Sideways Hook Keeper. The new Side Ways design eliminates the hook-nibble issue that can occur with some other rods, especially spinning rods.
Additionally, it features two layers of St. Croix’s Flex-Coat slow cure finish that gives the rod a nice sheen and durability. While the Avid is a very high-end rod, it is in the higher retail price range. If you are looking for that absolute high-end feeling and you are willing to spend a little extra then the St. Croix Avid Inshore is our recommendation.
#5. Catfish Sumo Chop Stick From Catfish Sumo
Best Bang for Your Buck
Best Value
Catfish Sumo Chop Stick is a newcomer to the catfish rod market, but it quickly rose to our list because of its unique design and great performance. Made of sturdy fiberglass, it can land big catfish and is designed for heavy action. The fluorescence tip offers a visual guide for even the lightest nibbles, perfect if you’re looking for a bite in the early morning hours.
- Long EVA Foam Handle
- 10 Lb To 50 Lb Line
- Fluorescence Tip
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The Catfish Sumo Chop Stick is a newcomer to the catfish rod market, but it quickly rose to our list thanks to its unique design and great performance. Made of sturdy fiberglass, it can land big catfish and is designed for heavy action. The medium-heavy power makes it ideal for casting large pieces of live bait or using heavy spinning reels. It has a long EVA foam handle that gives it extra comfort when gripping the rod.
It breaks down into two pieces for easy transport, and the high-gloss finish makes it easy to clean. At 6 feet 6 inches long, it’s quite lengthy. It can handle a 10 to 50 lb line. The fluorescence tip offers a visual guide for even the lightest nibbles, perfect if you looking for a bite in the early morning hours.
This rod is a little more sensitive than most, which is ideal when fishing for bigger catfish. It has a longer handle that some anglers prefer over traditional handles.
