Likely the best spinning rod for catching the widest variety of targets, the Ugly Stik Elite is best known for its nearly unparalleled durability. With so many power and length options, this line of rods is a great addition to a wider arsenal or as a solo or go-to rod for less avid anglers. With more graphite content in the blank than most of the competition, these composite rods have great flexibility and sensitivity but retain the toughness of fiberglass rods.

The seven guides on the length of this Ugly Stik Elite spinning rod are one solid piece of stainless steel, which makes them strong and prevents them from popping out during a fight with a fish. On the two-piece Elites, all the line guides are on the top piece, removing the need for aligning the first guide with the remaining ones. 

Whether you go with the two-piece or a single-piece rod, the Ugly Stik Elite is really lightweight, even in the medium-heavy models. The cork handle is comfortable and easy to prop on a stomach or hip for additional leverage. This is hands down the best spinning rod under $100 for common sport fish targets in the 10- to 15-pound range.

Perhaps the only drawback is the small foregrip that doesn't have much use as an additional source of torque. However, the lower cork grip is plenty long enough, and the blank is exposed in the reel seat for additional sensitivity.

For a flexible ultralight rod and matching ultralight reel, there’s no beating the convenient Daiwa Mini System. Despite its size, it hauls in some good-sized fish. The lightness of the rod and its slow action will make fighting 2- and 3-ponders more challenging and more fun. You won’t find much backbone in this rod at all, but if you get lures with trebles or any kind of lure designed to set the hook on their own, they’ll work just fine on this rod.

Not just the best travel spinning rod but arguably one of the best ultralight spinning rods, this Daiwa works well for fishing crappie and trout with a simple hook and live bait method, soft plastics, lighter crankbaits, and spinners. If you’re skilled and lucky enough, small bass and bowfin can also be brought in with this combo.

As is the case with most spinning rod combos, the line that comes with this one is pretty cheap, so make sure to switch it out. The reel has a slower ratio, but for a rig this small, it works fine. Make sure to set the drag before you use it.

Storing this combo in the included hardshell case keeps it organized and out of the way, and the dedicated storage bins inside allow it to double as a tackle box. It's not for distance casting but built for accuracy in small inlets and branches around the outside of lakes or to fish for river trout.

Hooking trout requires a strong, sensitive, and flexible rod. This KastKing spinning rod uses design and materials to achieve that goal. The blank is made of graphite, which is then wrapped with layers of carbon fiber, which makes it extremely light. Weighing in at just 2.5 ounces and disassembling into two pieces, this rod is really easy to transport and won’t be fatiguing no matter how long you spend casting out with it.

The reel seat fits in the hand well, although the lock may spin during use from time to time. The EVA foam grips are split, and both are smaller to preserve weight. Smaller-diameter titanium guides and inserts enhance sensitivity and add extra strength for fighting your targets.

This spinning rod works fantastically for bluegill and panfish, to a point where the wrong lure may draw in tons of bites from minuscule panfish that are no fun for anglers. Try the right lure, like shad baits, and you can avoid too many nibbles from uninteresting fish.

Considering its lightness, this rod has excellent moderate-fast action, ideal for common trout lures like spinners, spoons, wet flies, and nymphs. The rod is light and responsive enough for anglers to give these lighter baits the realistic presentation needed to persuade trout to attack. Pair it with the right saltwater spinning reel, and it will even work on small snapper bluefish.

When the opportunity for a quick couple hours of fishing presents itself, having easily portable gear is a huge advantage. Shimano spinning rods in the Solara line offer that portability and the right power to whip sizable fish.

These rods are built with aero glass, which offers the durability of fiberglass without as much weight. While aero glass isn't as lightweight as graphite, it makes up for that with toughness. The reel seat is made of graphite, and once it's locked up tight, it will give the angler tons of stopping power and a comfortable grip.

The best budget/cheap option for an all-purpose spinning rod that can help reel in just about any common sport fishing target, the 6’6” medium-power Solara is perfect for anglers who are just getting started and also makes a great addition to more experienced anglers’ equipment collection.

Sturdy aluminum guides and a comfortable cork split handle make for a comfortable, secure rod. Be careful not to slam the rod pieces into a trunk or truck bed too hard as the line guides may get bent out of alignment that way.

This rod is very responsive to make lure presentations more lively and alert the user to bites on the line. You might find yourself graduating to more technically advanced rods, but a solid baseline spinning rod like this one will never lose its appeal for anglers of any experience level.

Inshore fishing requires a rod that can handle heavier test, hooks, and lures, and it should be no surprise to seasoned sport fishing enthusiasts that St. Croix spinning rods have you covered. Casting out near the shore is commonly done with live baits or whitebait; the St. Croix Mojo Inshore has the length you need to cast that heavier bait a reasonable distance.

Available rod lengths are all over seven feet, and they all have a fast action to set the hook in tougher ocean targets with ease. Now, they are all one-piece, so if that's more than you can transport without breaking down, then you might want to get a smaller two-piece rod, but you will notice the difference in strength right away.

This rod is inexpensive for an inshore model, but it's still made with quality parts and the components found on more costly rods. The guides are hard aluminum to help you fight fish, reduce line friction, and make the overall operation feel very smooth.

A Fuji reel seat locks in the spinning reel of your choice very soundly. The blank is made of premium graphite, which has been treated with two coats of an epoxy finish to prevent corrosion and make it more durable. With its cork handle and long-lasting construction, this is the best spinning rod under $200 for inshore anglers.

This Fenwick spinning rod has everything an angler needs to put a spinning reel to good use. There are plenty of lengths, powers, and actions available to cover any kind of fishing scenario, although they do offer more in the light to medium power end of the spectrum.

However, they have constructed this classic spinning rod with a spiral carbon binding to add durability to the lightness afforded by the graphite blank. It may not catch any state record catfish, but this rod is plenty strong enough for all manner of bass, walleye, and flatheads, and other sport fish.

The line guides on this rod are securely fastened and built with inserts made of a unique ceramic called Alconite that gives the line a smooth performance. The lock on the reel seat feels closed all the way the whole time this rod is in use.

The medium-heavy rod can handle ripping through vegetation and structure like rocks, making it a fine option for river fishing as well as lake fishing and even inshore saltwater fishing. With its high line rating up to 17 pounds, the Fenwick HMG can catch 10-pounders or bigger with just about any lure you care to try.

If you like to fish for long periods, this rod is versatile enough to change up lure types as many times as you want, and the cork handle will keep your hands from getting fatigued.

Besides the standout neon colors, this Lew’s spinning rod also has a lot of draw on anglers who want to fish in open water where they can cast really long distances with lighter crankbaits or drop-shot rigs. Its 9-foot length might seem like absolute overkill to most anglers, but there are actually many applications where this rod will come in use, like flipping for bass.

If you fish off the bank or fish from a boat around banks frequently and you don’t already know about pitching and flipping, this rod is the perfect one to get to try out both methods. The medium action on this rod might not impress folks who have fixated on fast action rods and accept no substitutes, but fishing for crappie and tossing jigs can be much more fun with a rod that has more bend to it. 

There’s still plenty of backbone in this rod, thanks to the IM8 graphite blank. There are some more powerful rods for larger targets, but for more of a challenge with those larger fish and a rod geared more toward particular techniques, take this Lew’s spinning rod out on a fishing trip. The guide eyes and inserts are made of aluminum, there are plenty of them, and though they could be tougher, they nonetheless give this rod great sensitivity.

As mentioned earlier, pairing a spinning rod with the right setup is key to success. To do that, it's imperative to consider the target. Of course, it's impossible to know precisely what you'll land, but having a general idea can be helpful. The best thing to do if you’re unsure is to get a rod that can handle a variety of situations and bring plenty of different types of lures.

If you fish in saltwater with your spinning rod, make sure to clean it after each use to avoid corrosion. Wipe down the line as well, and make sure the hook is attached to something to prevent tangles. Give the whole outfit a good wipe down with a cleaning protectant and make sure to store the rod in a place where it isn't bent at all, and the tip won't be damaged, preferably in a rod sleeve.