Best Baitcasting Rods Under 100 Dollars
Perhaps you are new to baitcasting and you have seen the TV shows and the cool reels and thought, I want to give that a try. Or, maybe you are a seasoned fisherman and just want a new rod in your arsenal, or your friend is and you are looking for a present for them. Picking a rod is a hard thing to do. It is something you are going to spend a lot of time with and you need to make sure that you are going to be well suited to each other. You want a rod that adds to your fishing and one that has your back in any and all situations.
Here I have listed, in my opinion, the best baitcasting rods under 100 dollars. We are going to look at a few different options, from travel rods, to 2 pieces to telescopic rods, just so there is a bit of everything in there for you to choose from.
OUR TOP PICKS
 | Fiblink 4 Pieces Travel Casting Rod
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 | Shimano FXC
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 | Daiwa Ardito Travel Rod
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 | KastKing Crixus Fishing Rods
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 | Cadence CR5 Spinning Rod
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 | Abu Garcia Vengeance Spinning Rod
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 | KastKing Blackhawk II Telescopic
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 | Shimano Solora
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 | Uglystik GX2
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Fiblink 4 Pieces Travel Casting Rod
Fiblink make a great baitcasting rod at an excellent price point and this rod is no different. The reason it is in this line up though is because it is a travel rod. Fishing is a world wide hobby these days, and it is always worrying when you travel with your equipment, especially if it has to go in the hold. This 4 piece rod comes with a travel bag and is cabin ready, so you won’t have to say bye to it down the airport conveyer belt.
The casting rod is made from carbon fibre meaning it is strong, sensitive and lightweight all at the same time. It comes with stainless steel and ceramic guides and a cork handle, the most comfortable type of handle in my opinion. Fishermen have reported it as being a bit stiff and that is doesn’t have the best action, but this is normal when you drop down to a 4 piece baitcasting rod. If you are a nomadic fisherman, this is a great choice for you.
Pros
- Sensitive
- Strong
- Great for travel
- Lightweight
- Comfortable cork handle
- Great caster
Cons
- Not the best action
- A bit stiff
Shimano FXC
We all know Shimano knows what they are doing. They are one of the best and they have not missed a trick here. This baitcasting rod has been designed for all ages, all anglers, and all situations and it comes in at around $15.
You can’t really ask for better value than that. The casting rod is made from an aeroglass blank, making it strong but very sensitive and has aluminium oxide guides for maximum fishing line flow. The comfortable handle is made from EVA foam and is in a split-grip style. This rod really does put to the test quality v’s price, I do not think it can get any better.
Pros
- Amazing value
- Very sensitive
- Comfortable
- Great for kids and beginners
- Well made
Cons
- Quite heavy
- A bit floppy
Daiwa Ardito Travel Rod
Daiwa have done what they do, make great fishing stuff. The rod is made from high quality, Daiwa exclusive hvf graphite and it’s really pretty too. Remember the hot clever matrix? This one is a bit of a unicorn. It is a steal at under $100 and you are getting a baitcasting rod with more than you would expect at this price. It is very sensitive and durable and a lot of fishermen have described it as ‘casting as well as a 1 piece’.
And with all this quality it is also a travel rod. It comes in 4 pieces with an awesome case that includes dividers so your casting rod is safely tucked away while you are travelling.
Pros
- Well made
- Excellent sensitivity
- Amazing action
- Perfect feel
- Strong and powerful
- Great travel case
Cons
- A little heavy
KastKing Crixus Fishing Rods
KastKing pride themselves on offering performance and features at great value. The rod is made from graphite, making it powerful and lightweight, ideal if you are planning on casting all day. The guides are made from a stainless steel/zirconium oxide mix and are designed to last.
Their comfortable non-slip handles are made from a superpolymer, so you can be sure not to blister or drop your casting rod when you are going for that long cast. This baitcasting rod comes in a load of options, so you can find one to suit all your fishing situations.
Pros
- Very sensitive
- Great action
- Comfortable
- Lightweight
- Excellent value
Cons
- Short handle
Cadence CR5 Spinning Rod
Cadence is quite new to the market and they are trying to come out with a bang. They have put a lot of thought into the CR5 and are striving to provide quality and features at an affordable price. The casting rod is made from a carbon matrix graphite blank, making it light, durable and sensitive. The blank is also carbon coated for extra resilience, they really are pulling out all the stops.
The guides are a carbon 30/stainless combination and it comes with a cork/EVA handle for comfort. Cadence provide a 3 year warranty with their baitcasting rods which is a huge bonus, most manufacturers only give you 1 year. This baitcasting rod comes in a lot of options, so you can pick one that is just right for you.
Pros
- High quality for the price
- Good value
- Great feel
- Lightweight & sensitive
- 3 year warranty
Cons
- Handle is a bit thin
- A little stiff
Abu Garcia Vengeance Spinning Rod
Abu Garcia are well known in the industry and make great products. This is one of the few baitcasting rods they sell for under $50 and it is great value. The graphite design provides good action and sensitivity. This baitcasting rod comes with a comfortable high-density EVA handle for increased durability.
It is available in both 1 and 2 piece options, great for your avid fisherman but it is known to feel a little fragile. On the negative side, the guides seem to crack quite quickly for a lot of anglers, and need replacing.
Pros
- Sensitive feel
- Lightweight
- Good action
- Great value
Cons
- Feels fragile
- Fishing line guides seem to crack easily
KastKing Blackhawk II Telescopic
If you have fished for while you have probably tried a telescopic rod and thought to stay clear of them ever since. Well it might be time to change your mind. KastKing have got it right, well almost. This baitcasting rod is made from a high quality carbon matrix blank. It is lightweight, tough and being telescopic, has great portability. You can put it up and take it down in no time, perfect for a quick fish on your way home from work.
A few issues have come back from users; the segments do seem to loosen during use, but it doesn’t collapse which is great. We have all been there when a telescopic rod collapses mid-session. The eyes seem a little tough to line up but this is something that would come with practise. All in all this is a high quality rod and it has solved some the issue telescopic rods used to have. If you are looking for a telescopic, this is a good choice.
Pros
- Good action
- Very compact
- Lightweight
- Great portability
- Tough
Cons
- Segments do loosen
- Hard to get the guide alignment right
- Rod protector does not cover the last eye
Shimano Solora
Shimano have done it again. This aeroglass baitcasting rod provides everything you need from a rod for a very affordable price. Its strong, durable, sensitive and has great action. The handle is made for cork, again a favourite and you can be confident it will have your back, the Shimano brand always seems to. I may seem biased but it has been true in my life to date. The reel seat has been reported to be a little small, so be sure to check that if you plan on buying one.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Easy to use
- Strong
- Good value
- Sensitive
- Great action
Cons
- A little stiff
- Small reel seat
Uglystik GX2
The Uglystik has been around forever. Generations have used this rod and it is a testament of quality that it is still in production today. If you fish everyday and are looking for a rod that can keep up and wont fail you, this is it. The rod is tough and durable while being sensitive to bites. It is a little stiff, which helps when you are trying to hook fish you really have to hit hard. It is made from a graphite and fibreglass blank and includes 1 piece stainlees steel Ugly Tuff guides. Meaning there is nothing to pop out which can happen when you have a ceramic/stainless mix. If you want a baitcasting rod you can treat badly which will still smile at you everyday, you have found it.
Pros
- Tough and durable, it wont break
- Its sensitive
- It can handle everyday use
- Good value
- Good action
Cons
- Stiff for a medium action rod
What To Look For – A Buyers Guide
A good baitcasting rod will be made of quality materials and have carefully placed guides along the backbone which will remain straight and not twist in either direction when a fish is hooked.
Baitcasting rods vary in length from 5-8ft and different lengths help in different situations. Long baitcasting rods help you to make longer casts, ideal for big lakes where casting distance is key. Their length will also put a good fight against a large fish. Short rods are, you guessed it, are for shorter, tighter casts. They are great when you have to cast accurately around structures. They also handle fish well due to their stocky construction.
In terms of materials, you are looking for quality and durability. Fiberglass baitcasting rods are very affordable but are less sensitive than graphite counterparts. Fiberglass is good when you do not to cast too much and targeting large fish as it is quite heavy but strong. Graphite is the most popular material, it is lightweight, sensitive and casts really well. Graphite is the ultimate material for flexibility and fighting power and is a carbon-fiber blend.
Action is how fast it takes for the rod to return to the straight position after a cast. A slow action rod will bend from near the butt section, and take longer to get back in the straight position than a fast action rod, which will bend near the tip. You would use a medium/fast action rod when you want your rod to be a little stiff but not too stiff, so you can cast far and hit fish hard. Slow/medium action rods are good for multi hook baits, like crankbaits.
Our Favourites
If you are on a budget, the Shimano FXC is a clear winner. This rod will give you everything you need for around $15, what more can you ask for. It is well made, durable and affordable enough that you won’t worry when you give it to your nephew to mess around with.
- The FX series of two-piece rods was created for anglers for all ages and skill levels
- These versatile rods cover a wide variety of applications and lengths; and they can be enjoyed on any stream; river or lake; or for light saltwater applications
If you are in the business of traveling to fish, and more and more of us are these days, the Fiblink Travel Rod is the best choice. It is made by a brand you can believe in. The rod is extremely sensitive, strong, has great action and is comfortable to fish with. It comes travel-ready in its protective case, so can just throw it in your car or on the plane and know that you’ll have a baitcasting rod you haven’t had to compromise on when you arrive are your fishing hole.
- Portable Design: 4-Piece design & sturdy rod protect bag make it easy to carry; great for carrying out and having a fishing trip
- Sensitive and Solid Carbon Fiber Construction: Enhanced sensitivity of carbon composite rod; light weight with tremendous overall strength, though and strong solid carbon fiber construction, maximizes strength while maintaining sensitivity
The overall winner, if you are willing to blow the $100 budget and spend $97 of it is the Daiwa Ardito Travel Rod. This may shock some of you, as I probably should have gone for a 1 or 2 piece set-up but this rod does what they do and you can travel with it. Daiwa has made a rod everyone loves and hasn’t compromised the quality of a 1 piece in a 4 piece.
- Daiwa’s exclusive HVF (High Volume Fiber) Graphite construction
- X45 Bias Graphite fiber construction for flexibility, strength and virtually zero blank twist