Last Updated on March 18, 2025 by Afsar
Kayak fishing rods are not the same as regular fishing rods. Many people are interested in kayak fishing, and the majority of kayak owners have tried fishing from a kayak at least once. Kayak fishing is becoming increasingly popular, and as a result, most large fishing poles manufacturers are attempting to provide kayak-specific accessories and gear. Despite the fact that the number is small, some companies offer excellent fishing rods that are ideal for kayak fishing. A good fishing rod will not only allow you to catch fish more easily, but it will also reduce fatigue and increase your chances of success. If you follow our guide below, selecting a good kayak fishing rod will be a breeze. We offer a guide to selecting the best fishing kayak as well as a list of the best fishing rods for kayak.
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Top Best Fishing Rods For Kayak 2025
Best Kayak Fishing Rod Under $100
PLUSINNO Fishing Rod and Reel Combos
If you are looking for a rod and reel combo for fishing from a kayak, you are in luck. Plusinno’s fishing rod & reel combo is loved by thousands of anglers around the world for its amazing quality, performance, and reasonable price.
High-density carbon fiber is mixed with fiberglass to maintain great elasticity and to make the pole hard and durable for a long time. You will find an EVA foregrip that will surely offer great comfort. It uses stainless steel hooded reel seat which is anti-seawater corrosion.
A thick coiled bail spring is used in the reel. You will also find an s-curve oscillation system for a very good line winding. Its deep aluminum spool comes with double color and a one-line hole. The right/left inter-changeable handle is one more reason for it to be on your top list to be considered for your next kayak trip.
You will be getting a carrier bag, a fishing rod, reel, line, and lures. Since this telescopic fishing rod has a small closed length, it is highly portable and can be carried around easily. This is a great fishing rod and reel combo for kayak fishing and sea fishing.
Okuma Classic Pro GLT Downrigger Rod
Best Cheap Kayak Fishing Rod: This is a very good rod for a low price. With the solid and strong construction, it offers high durability within a few bucks. This casting rod is great for land fishes below 15kgs to 20kgs. It comes in several sizes. As a result, you can choose it by yourself. You can easily use it in your kayak. If budget is an issue for you then this is the best fishing rod for your kayak.
Best Cheap Fishing Rod For Kayak
Pros:
- Very reasonable price
- High durability: glass fiber blank construction
- Easy to operate
- Durable shrink tube
- Sleek design
- graphite and stainless reel seats on the rod
Shakespeare Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod Combo
This is a spinning rod combo that comes in several sizes. It’s very popular among kayak anglers. This fishing rod for kayak offers great performance along with durability. This fishing rod offers great balance which helps you for good casting. It’s a fishing rod and reel combo for kayakers. It comes with a very decent price tag (check price at Amazon).
Best Fishing Rod and Reel combo for kayakers
Pros:
- a great spinning reel which goes excellent with the rod
- graphite and fiberglass to make a strong and sensitive rod
- great balance
- very stylish look
- Very good casting
- Good gripping system
- Strong yet lightweight
- doesn’t spook the fishes
Cadence CR6B Baitcasting Rod
Cadence CR6B comes with an awesome ergonomic design. The exposed blank reel seat along with the premium grade EVA handles will provide the firm grip you need to pull those hard-fighting fishes. The lightweight material and the design make it highly portable and can be transported almost anywhere. It is great for kayak fishing, bass fishing, surf fishing, and more.
- Available in multiple variants: eight different lengths and actions
- Lightweight design yet strong materials: 30-ton carbon
- Stainless steel guides with SIC inserts
- Premium-grade EVA handles
- Exposed blank reel seat
- Fits most car and highly portable
- Highly durable and has a long life
- Long casting distance
- Great for kayak fishing, bass fishing, trout fishing, and more
Zebco Dock Demon Spinning Reel and Fishing Rod Combo
- Great value for the price
- Comfortable EVA handle
- Black reel
- Line capacity: up to 135 yards/6-lb mono
- Pre-spooled with 6-lbs line
- Ball-bearing drive
- Changeable left/right hand retrieve
- Solid core Z-glass
- Length: 30 inches
Abu Garcia Max Low Profile Medium/Heavy Baitcast Combo, 7-Feet
This is a slightly expensive fishing rod for kayaks. However, it is totally worthy of the price tag. It’s amazingly easy to use and cast. No matter whether you are new to fishing but this kayak fishing rod and reel is excellent. This is the best combo you will get for this amount of money.
Excellent value for the price
Pros:
- Sleek and stylish design
- Lightweight
- superb casting
- Excellent value for the price
- Sufficient crankbaits
Best Fishing Rods for Kayaking Below $200
Okuma NOMAD Travel Spinning Rod (30 -60 Lbs, 7-Feet, Medium-Heavy)
If you are into fishing trips, then this is a good kayak fishing rod for you. It is actually made for people who are interested in traveling. It creates two rods in one. Its two different action tip allows you the ability to fish in different scenarios depending on the fish are biting and the environment you are facing. With the brilliant and innovative design, it provides you with the ability to catch fish efficiently. It can be joined easily and take very little time to do that.
Best Spinning rod for kayakers
Pros:
- Innovative design
- waterproof carrying case included
- High functionality & efficiency
- Great fishing rod for kayaks and boats
- excellent value for the money
- versatility on catching fishes
- high efficiency on almost all environment
Daiwa Sealine X’Treme Interline
If you don’t care about the budget and looking for the best fishing rod, then this will do the work for you. It’s powerful, stylish, offers great service, and has brilliant performance on the water. No matter whether the fish is small or big it can easily land on your kayak. It has been made in such a way it can even handle a 100kg heavyweight giant fish. It’s the best fishing rod for a kayak if money is not a problem for you.
Undoubtedly the Best Fishing Rods For Kayak
Pros:
- High performance
- Ability to catch small fishes to 100 kg giant fishes
- Powerful yet weight is 450 gram
- Very stylish
- 2 parts
How to choose a kayak fishing rod?
Price:
One of the biggest things that you need to check before buying a kayak fishing rod is its price. From cheap to super expensive, there are many kayak fishing rods that will do the work. We need to check with our budget first and then approach other benefits. If you are into a family picnic or a tour for a few days or just a beginner, I would suggest you get moderate kayak fishing rods for beginners. However, if you are hardcore or frequently fish in the water, then you should get a good kayak fishing rod.
Length
Even though you can use any size of fishing rod, it’s better to use a fishing rod that suits your need. There are different sizes of fishing rods available and you need to choose the comfortable one. Conventional fishing rods are usually longer than kayak fishing rods. It’s better to use shorter fishing rods to use in kayaks. We will choose kayak fishing rods that are shorter yet feature-rich. It’s better to use kayak fishing rods that are comfortable to hold, have a leash, and have a fitting system that helps it to mount easily on the kayak. Since we have less space for casting, we usually choose the ones which allow you to cast easily in a compact space. However, if you have a big kayak, you can go for long kayak fishing rods.
Short Butt Section
Most kayak fishermen advise using fishing rods that have a short butt section. Having a shorter butt section will allow you to move easily and access compact areas. Having a shorter butt section gives you more place to cover and the flexibility you want.
Mounting:
Almost all fishing rods can be mounted. However, you need to double-check whether it requires any particular mounting system or not. I wouldn’t worry that much about this as the fish rod mounts can mount almost all rods.
Leashes
Just another small factor while choosing the best fishing rods. Some kayak fishing rods come with leashes to make sure that it doesn’t get lost in the water. You can attach the leash to the fishing rod to keep it with the kayak.
Fishing is fun, especially if kayaking is involved. We have already mentioned that any fishing rod can be used from a kayak. However, getting these kayak fishing rods will give you the advantage and benefit of catching fish easily. Remember to have fun while fishing and do not catch more than you need and don’t forget to wear PFD. Happy fishing !!!
Good read:
Afsar is an avid kayak blogger born near the coast. He has a passion for kayaking and started as a child. He has paddled in various conditions and locations and promotes responsible kayaking. Afsar’s blog is widely read, and they are a respected voice in the kayaking community, offering valuable content on kayaking trips, gear, tips, and tricks. Afsar collaborates with other bloggers and brands and continues to inspire others through their writing and social media.
I read your article, it’s very informative for me, last week I bought a fishing rod. thanks for your information.
Can you please suggest me a lightweight kayak fishing rod? I am trying to buy one for my husband, and he has trouble lifting heavy objects. Thanks.