Trout Fishing Rods Compared

Why Specific Rods Are Needed for Trout Fishing

How to Choose a Quality Trout Fishing Rod

Rod Composition & Construction

Rod blanks are most commonly made from graphite to stay lightweight but also have enough strength to pull in trout. Older rods were made of glass, and newer varieties are made out of fiberglass. Some are made of carbon or wrapped in carbon, and stainless steel is often used for line guides and other accents on the rod body.

Rod Length & Action

The length of a rod determines casting distance and the line weight capacity. The longer the rod, the heavier fishing line it can support and the larger fish it can usually handle. Shorter rods are great for smaller bodies of water and fishing in tight spaces around lots of cover and structure.

Rod action describes how much the rod will bend under pressure, which is key information for casting. Trout rods are usually fast action, meaning the bending of the rod stops close to the rod tip. That means the blank should have a strong enough backbone to pull a trout in.

Rod Handles

Split grip handles are in two sections, one at the very butt of the rod and the other above with the space in between taken up by the reel seat. A pistol grip is a shorter handle with a trigger-shaped extension on the underside.

While they're a bit out of fashion lately, they are still good for fishing small rods in tight quarters. A full-grip handle takes up all the space underneath the reel, and it's great to use in a rod holder or for additional leverage with a tough fish.

Power Rating

A rod's power rating indicates how much pressure is needed to bend the rod wherever the action rate dictates it will bend. Heavy-rated rods will not bend without a heavy fish on the line while light rods will bend with small fish on the line. Since trout are often very clever and small, trout rods are usually light rods.

Line Weight & Guides

Spinning Reel Seat

The reel on a fishing rod needs to be able to take lots of pressure from a fish as well. For this reason, the reel should fit on a reel seat snugly without any worry that it will come undone. Devices to fix and attach a reel can also be part of the reel itself. In any case, the last thing you want is for the reel to get pulled off your rod by an angry fish.

Price & Warranty

Price is obviously a deciding factor in many anglers' reel selection. That being said, a higher price doesn't guarantee the best performance all the time. Many rods come with warranties to protect against improper procedures in the manufacturing of the reel. These warranties are usually one or two years. If you're lucky, it might be for the lifetime of the original purchaser.

1. OKUMA Celilo

2. St. Croix Triumph

For the experienced trout fisher, this is a great rod with plenty of length options ranging from 5 feet to 7’6”. Trout fishing gear doesn’t get much better suited than this, even if amateur anglers might not be able to tell the difference. For one thing, while many rods are made of graphite, this one is built with SCII graphite (equivalent to an IM6 or IM7) that is nearly incomparably lightweight and sensitive. It also takes more strain than most of the competition.

The included double coating of Flex Coat slow-cure epoxy finish will help keep the rod from weathering as quickly while also keeping water away from the blank itself. Fast action models will give enough power to get the clean hook set you want, even at longer casting distances.

Bear in mind that while this St. Croix trout rod does boast an impressive 5-year warranty and what is easily one of the most helpful customer support teams you can find, there may be some additional fees to get one repaired under warranty. For the Triumph line, you should be able to make a warranty claim and get your rod repaired, replaced, or even upgraded for less than a benjamin.

The Fuji DPS reel seat on the Triumph line is built to be strong enough for common targets found while boat fishing, fly fishing, and beach fishing. Pair that with the action on this rod, and you have enough strength to take it out with you on a wide variety of fishing trips.

3. Wild Water Fly Fishing Combo

Newcomers to fly fishing will love this all-inclusive combo, and experienced fishers of fly might even find some appeal in the low cost and the one-stop-shop aspect. Like all the most popular fly fishing rods, this is a four-piece, the practicality of which is readily recognized if you try to envision packing this 9-foot fly rod into the trunk of your car.

Upgrades in rod tech have made it possible to manufacture these rods in four (and even up to seven!) pieces without sacrificing any of the strength or action you need to reel in trout with a lightweight fly lure. The IM8 graphite blank in this Wild Water combo is no exception.

The reel seat is machined aluminum, which is heavier than graphite but more durable, too. It also has double lock rings to make sure the reel can take a heavy hit from an anxious trout. The stripper guide, which is the first line guide after the reel that marks the length each pull of line with your left hand should be, is stainless steel, while the other guides have silicon carbide rings that are super hard to keep your line under control.

The rod can take 5 or 6 wt line, and its slow action is perfect for beginners because it generates a more gradual line speed, thereby granting them more control over casts as they learn the proper technique. Now for all the extra trout fishing gear. This is a package deal, and Wild Water really wants anglers to have the best trout rod combo possible. 

There's a rod case with storage pockets, a fly box that holds up to 372 flies, 9 flies to get you started, a 9-foot tapered monofilament leader to disguise your line from the trout when it lands, a retractable reel, line nipper, and a poker to clean the eyes of your fly hooks out. The reel that comes with this combo is a left-right reversible 85mm that’s preinstalled with chartreuse weight-forward 5 wt line with orange backing and also has an adjustable-disc drag system for a nice cast.

4. Cadence CR7

5. SHIMANO Solara

6. G. Loomis Classic

This is the blank canvas of trout spinning rods. The specs on this G. Loomis are so slick it's like having a moldable rod to suit whatever kind of trout fishing you enjoy most, or whichever kind you can try out depending on the time of year.

The seven-foot length will give a great long cast, and the fast action will provide you with the rod tip you need to get a hook set. While it may be too long to use in a narrow creek or stream, there's always the five-foot model for that kind of scenario. Like all the rods from G. Loomis, this one is made with a fiber blend not used by any other company, giving it a unique character that makes it an elemental part of many experienced and pro-anglers’ trout fishing gear.

This is an ultralight rod, which makes it enormous fun to use in running water with flies, spinners, and even nymphs, designed to mimic a favorite food source of trout. While the comparatively low line weight might dampen enthusiasm, anything you'd want to throw at a freshwater trout is going to be handled ably on the G. Loomis Classic Trout Panfish.

It's more than understandable that the price tag on this trout rod is going to keep it out of the hands of amateurs and less frequent trout anglers. Still, to be completely honest, most of the benefit of this rod is in the diversity of its performance in different applications and, therefore, most likely to appeal to upper-tier trout fishers anyway. Regardless of who purchases one of these rods, they can enjoy a limited warranty that lasts the lifetime of the original buyer.

7. KastKing Calamus

8. Ugly Stik GX2

Fly Rod vs. Spinning Rod for Trout Fishing

Fly rods are infamous for being difficult to use, although this is usually overstated by anglers who got burned out on them and quit trying. In reality, they aren’t so hard to figure out, although they do require practice.

Fly rods’ line capacities are measured in weight to match the line they’re best suited for. A 5/6 weight fly rod is best for trout, though a 7/8 weight might be advisable for larger steelheads. Trout fly rods usually have a medium-fast action.

Trout Fishing Rod Setup

Ideally, you’ll have a fast action light or ultralight spinning rod and reel combo and mono line, about 8 lb. test. There are a variety of ways to set your rig up.

Check out a few methods for setting up your trout rig and line, including a fly/lure, weights, a split shot, and possibly even swivels and floats.

Tips on How to Use Trout Rods

Trout Fishing Gear

In addition to the rod and reel, anglers will need a few other things to fish for trout. To fish from the banks, waders that go over your clothes to keep them dry are ideal.

A fishing vest with storage pockets will help keep gear in order. A net to scoop the trout and pliers to de-hook them are a good idea to have too.

People Also Ask (FAQs)

What size/length rod is the best for trout fishing?

It depends on your skill level and where you're fishing. A short rod is best for smaller bodies of water and fishing in tighter spaces. A long rod is suitable for casting out further, and an even longer rod is best for fly fishing.

What lures do trout like?

Most of what trout eat are aquatic insects in a larval state. For this reason, they love nymph lures. Match the color with the type of water you’re fishing. For clear water, get grey or shiny metallic colors. Big trout also like larger lures like frogs and even mice lures toward the end of the day from time to time.

What is the best time of day to fish for trout?

You can fish for trout all day, but they are very smart fish. Don’t overfish one zone with one type of lure. Make sure to go back with a new type of lure if you think there were trout who were too shy to bite at one type of lure before. You can fish for trout from sunrise to sunset if you have the time and the know-how.

What depth do trout feed at?

In lakes, they hand out between 35 and 45 feet when it’s cooler outside. In warm summer months, they tend to go deeper, say 55 to 65 feet. In rivers, rainbow trout and many other types eat below the surface and also eat from the surface. You can tell where they are from the ripples they create as they feed.

Where do trout hide in streams?

Anywhere they can get some rest from the current. Ideally, they also want a place where food is easy to come by. Look for cover like rocks and submerged trees to try and find trout in a stream.

What is the difference between one-piece and two-piece models?

There used to be a big difference in action, strength, and that sort of thing. Nowadays, two-piece rods perform just as well as a one-piece but remain more portable.

Light vs ultralight rod for trout fishing – which is best?

An ultralight rod will make every fish a lot more fun to reel in since it will feel like more of a fight. That being said, ultralight trout fishing may be too delicate for new anglers, and in that case, a light setup is just fine too.

Conclusion

Trout fishing is a ton of fun and a great challenge to anglers of all experience levels. For its superior construction, including the thru-blank handle design, we recommend the OKUMA Celilo for anyone who feels like going trout fishing.

At the end of the day, of course, the type of rod you chose to use will depend largely on your fishing style and experience, but the OKUMA Celilo is extremely adaptable for anglers of all sizes.