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Shopping for a rod and reel can be a bit of a guessing game if you buy them separately. What size spinning reel do you need for each rod? And which action and power rod do you need for specific techniques? What’s a good gear ratio? It can make selecting the right setup a bit tricky. Fortunately, several companies pair a well-suited rod and reel in a good catch-all size range and sell them as complete packages.
We sourced eight spinning combos from leading brands across the bass fishing industry to see which are the best. To determine the winners, we spooled them all up with comparable lines and set out on the lake for a couple days of testing. There were certainly some rods that clearly outperformed others, while there were also a few that were of equal quality. After the testing concluded, we were left with five front-runners. Here are the best.
- Best Two-Piece: 13 Fishing Sync Spinning Combo
- Best One-Piece: St. Croix GXR Bass Spinning Combo
- Lightest: Lew’s Mach Smash Spinning Combo
The Rest of the Best Spinning Combos
Best Two-Piece: 13 Fishing Sync Spinning Combo
Specs
- Rod Length: 6’ 6″
- Rod Power: Medium
- Rod Action: Fast
- Reel Size: 2.5 (2500)
- Reel Gear Ratios: 5.2:1
- Ball Bearings: 6+1
Pros
- Five combinations to choose from
- Affordable
- Sensitive
- Strong
- Well-balanced
Cons
- Some might not
Released at last year’s ICAST show, the Sync combo is a well-balanced, affordable package. The drag is sensitive and easy to adjust on the fly, and the rod is strong enough to handle big bass. While testing, I mostly fished a 3.5-inch jighead minnow on the 6’ 6” medium/fast model. It was sensitive and offered excellent feel and touch. This setup excels at fishing Ned rigs, although not ideal for drop shots, it will still get the job done. The two-piece construction is a plus for anyone who breaks down their rods or likes to travel, but serious anglers might prefer the strength and consistency of a one-piece instead. Overall, this combo is light and offers great value for a full rod and reel setup.
Best One-Piece: St. Croix GXR Bass Spinning Combo
Specs
- Rod Length: 6’ 10″
- Rod Power: Medium light
- Rod Action: Extra fast
- Reel Size: 3000
- Reel Gear Ratios: 5:1
- Ball Bearings: 8+1
Pros
- Strong
- Sensitive
- Light
- Well-balanced
Cons
- Expensive
The St. Croix GXR combo performed really well during our test. I caught a few quality fish on this setup, and the combo’s sensitivity really showed. While most of my fish came on Live scope, I detected multiple subtle bites without forward-facing sonar. In addition to the rod’s sensitivity, I also found it to be strong, well-balanced, and fairly lightweight. I liked the Seviin reel as well. The carbon fiber frame, paired with the metal handle and EVA foam knob, suggests this is a sturdy reel capable of withstanding a fair amount of abuse.
Lightest: Lew’s Mach Smash Combo
- Rod Length: 6’ 10″
- Rod Power: Medium light
- Rod Action: Fast
- Reel Size: MJ200 (2000)
- Reel Gear Ratios: 6.2:1
- Ball Bearings: 9+1
Pros
- Lightweight
- Well-balanced
- Strong
- Sensitive
Cons
- Expensive
The Mach Smash Spinning Combo was by far the lightest of our test. Besides the lightweight design, it is strong and sensitive. The rod and reel pair well, with Winn Dri-Tac Ultra Pro-Weave split grips and a reel knob. This creates a really nice grip for both the rod and reel handle. With 10 bearings in the reel, it is extremely smooth. The drag pulls out easily and consistently, and even with the lightweight build, this combo still packs a punch to handle bigger baits and fish.
Abu Garcia Vendetta Spinning Combo
Specs
- Rod Length: 7′
- Rod Power: Medium
- Rod Action: Fast
- Reel Size: 3000
- Reel Gear Ratios: 5.2:1
- Ball Bearings: 6+1
Pros
- Quality build
- Fairly light
- Well-balanced
Cons
- Only one combo option
The Abu Garcia Vendetta Spinning Combo is very durable, and I’d recommend it to someone looking for a tournament setup. There’s no frills with this combo. It is a simple setup with a strong build and a reliable reel. There’s a little EVA foam on the split grips and a rubberized knob on the reel handle, both of which should hold up well to regular and long-term use. The rod and reel feel sturdy in hand and held up well to the fish I landed during the test.
Lew’s Speed Spin CRX Spinning Combo
Specs
- Rod Length: 7′
- Rod Power: Medium light
- Rod Action: Fast
- Reel Size: (200) 2000
- Reel Gear Ratios: 6.2:1
- Ball Bearings: 10
Pros
- Lightweight
- Well balanced
- Smooth reel
Cons
- Only 2 combo options built for bass fishing
With an EVA foam butt and a Winn Dri-Tac grip, this rod is comfortable to fish with and provides a secure point of contact in hand. The bare spool is textured to help grip braid more easily when spooling. This allows you to tighten your slip knot on the spool without using tape. The rod is sensitive and well-balanced, while the reel is smooth and offers a strong drag.
How We Tested Bass Spinning Rod and Reel Combos
To test the spinning combos, I went to a local pond to get a feel for balance, castability, and weight. But I really got the chance to test their bend, drag, and sensitivity on the next outing at a stocked lake. Despite tough conditions, I was able to boat around 15 fish in the 2- to 4-pound range on these rods and reels. While testing, we considered quality, weight, price, strength, and smoothness. Above are our results.
What to Look for When Choosing a Spinning Rod and Reel Combo
The best spinning reel and rod combos will quickly get anglers on the water. When you’re choosing one, you’ll first want to consider the type of fish you plan on targeting and the techniques used. Both of these will influence the rod length and power you need.
Rod Length
Most bass rods fall in the 6- to 7-foot range. A spinning rod of that length is usually versatile enough for most major bass scenarios, especially finesse techniques. Ultralight panfish rods are typically much shorter, although some “spider rigging” rods for crappie can be as long as 12 feet.
Many bank and surf fishing scenarios call for longer 8- to 13-foot rods. The longer length helps make lengthier casts to where the fish are hiding.
Action and Power
Action and power are sometimes mixed up or used interchangeably. However, they are two distinct features of a rod. Action refers to the amount of flex. A rod with a fast action will see more flex at the tip. Conversely, a rod with a slow action flexes more towards the butt of the rod.
Power refers to how much effort it takes to bend a rod. You might hear it referred to as the backbone. Rods with a stronger backbone have less flex, which is ideal for tiring out larger fish. For most angling scenarios, a medium or medium-heavy power is adequate. Those powers are ideal for everything from bass and walleye in freshwater to inshore species like redfish and drum.
Drag Systems
These systems keep the fish from simply running off with the bait once hooked. Thus, it’s important to select a drag system that’s strong enough to handle the targeted species. Drag isn’t a super important factor for some species like panfish. However, it becomes a major factor with larger species like pike and muskie or saltwater fish like tuna and tarpon.
Look carefully at the maximum drag on each reel when sizing for a species. It’s usually better to err on the side of too heavy rather than too light. We also recommend a sealed drag for saltwater applications.
Freshwater vs. Saltwater
While a saltwater rod can easily transition to fresh, most freshwater rods aren’t built to protect from the corrosive effects of saltwater. I like to look for reels that have waterproofing for extra protection.
FAQs
Q: How do you cast a spinning rod and reel combo?
While holding the reel in your dominant hand, open the bail and hold the line with your finger. Bring the rod back past your shoulder. I like to keep my eye on the bait to ensure it doesn’t snag something behind me.
Q: Is it better to buy a rod and reel combo or buy them separately?
Experienced anglers usually like to buy separately because they can better customize their setup to specific species or techniques. However, beginners usually find a combo a much better option because there’s no guesswork in matching the rod and reel. Combos can also save you some money.
Q: What is the best length for a spinning rod?
It depends on the intended use of the rod. While 6 to 7 feet is popular for most bass and walleye applications, shorter rods in the 5-foot range are great for smaller panfish species. Spinning rods 8 to 10 feet long are popular for bank fishing for larger species like catfish. Surf fishermen sometimes use rods in the 14-foot range.
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