One of the most anticipated categories at ICAST each year is rods. The field is wide and varied, with entries ranging from telescopic travel models to beefy sticks built for the biggest muskies. We scoured the aisles to bring you the latest and greatest for everything from panfish to predators, compiled in a neat list. This year, we also updated our round up to highlight the new fishing rods for 2025 that you can currently purchase. So if you’re in the market for a new rod, consider this the must-have list. And if you don’t see what you’re looking for here, you can check out our roundups of the best ultralight fishing rods, dropshot rods, crankbait rods for bass fishing, travel rods, catfish rods, jerkbait rods, and rod and reel combos.
BASS
G LOOMIS GLX BASS G
G Loomis rolls the GLX Bass series of rods in their Woodland, Washington, facility on stepped mandrels machined with micro-tapers within the overall taper to create technique-specific rods to eliminate weak spots. Constructed using a proprietary blend of high-modulus graphite and advanced resin technologies, the blanks feature boosted strength-to-weight ratios, heightened balance, and pumped sensitivity. Models include: Mag Bass, Jig & Worm, Flip & Pitch, Carolina Rig, Spin Jig, Shakeyhead, Jerkbait, Drop Shot and Bladed Jig.
SHIMANO POISON ADRENA B SERIES
Shimano announces the all-new Poison Adrena B series, a lineup of casting and spinning rods engineered for serious bass anglers. The new rods are built with Shimano’s proprietary Spiral X Core technology and Toray Nanoalloy to enhance torsional rigidity by 10% and compressional rigidity by 15%, so the technique-specific rods exhibit excellent strength and durability while remaining light. A redesigned carbon monocoque handle and Shimano’s CI4+ reel seat further add to the sensitivity while keeping weight down. The guide train consists of Shimano premium X-Guide and Fuji SiC guides.The Poison Adrena B series offers two spinning models that feature Shimano’s Taftec Infinity technology provides anglers with a high-strength solid-tip design that delivers exceptional action for strolling-style lures.
ST. CROIX BLACK BASS
Wired2fish fans will likely be enthused by the most comprehensive bass series ever developed by St. Croix Rod. The experience-focused Black Bass Series was developed to open new doors on the water for all bass anglers with 36 purpose-driven casting (24) and spinning (12) models that excel in all of today’s technical bass presentations. Black Bass rods feature premium, high-modulus SCIII carbon fiber blanks, lightweight stainless-steel guides, and progressive split-grip premium EVA handles. Offered with a five-year warranty. Currently available for pre-order with arrival on November 3, 2024.
ST. CROIX GXR BASS SYSTEMS
New GXR Bass Systems bring St. Croix performance and SEVIIN reliability to the bass combo market. Offering eight technique-specific precision-matched models (four casting and four spinning), GXR Bass Systems combine proven SCII carbon fiber blanks, stainless-steel hybrid guide trains, premium-grade traditional split-grip cork handles, and smooth and powerful SEVIIN GXR casting and spinning reels for elevated fishing experiences in all of today’s top bass presentations. Offered with a five-year rod warranty and a one-year reel warranty.
ST. CROIX PHYSYX
St. Croix is expanding the PHYSYX line for 2025. Conceived and executed in science, PHYSYX rods were designed to increase angler control in every technique. SCIV+ carbon fiber blanks, titanium guides, and anthropometric design combine to create an incredibly sensitive and responsive line of rods. A molded carbon fiber TRIGON handle, DYNAMIX reel seat, and rear trigger afford bionic-level control, balance, tactile feedback, and maximum comfort. Three all-new spinning models designed for minnow-shaking techniques expand the PHYSYX series to 28 rods for 2025. Handcrafted in the USA with a 15-year warranty.
CASHION ELEMENT BAIT FINESSE SYSTEM ROD
If you’re looking for a rod that’s designed for peak performance across all BFS techniques, you should check out the ELEMENT Bait Finesse System Rod from Cashion. This American-made ultra light rod is built using a CR4r raw finish blank, ceramic guides, and an exposed reel seat for direct blank contact. The size 5 ceramic guides offer a blend of balance, sensitivity, and knot clearance. A cork grip provides all day comfort, and combines with the exposed reel seat with cut-down threads for sensitivity. Perhaps best of all, Cashion’s proprietary manufacturing processes keep costs down, so you get a rod that performs well above its $130 price tag. The 6 foot, 10 inch rod is covered by a year-long warranty.
CASHION ICON FORWARD FACING SONAR SERIES
Forward-facing sonar is certainly changing the way many anglers fish. Cashion is helping folks get the most out of this new tech with a series of rods designed to provide pinpoint casts so you can hit that mark you see on your screen. Plus, Cashion’s Forward Facing Sonar series rods give you exactly what you need to suspend Damiki rigs, minnow baits and jigs, dropshots, and jerkbaits right in the strike zone and impart action that fish just can’t resist. Built on Cashion’s most sensitive rod blank, the CR6r with K-Frame #6 tangle-free guides with Zirconium inserts designed for braided line, casting distance, and knot clearance. A carbon fiber/fiberglass butt grip provides increased sensitivity and durability. Available in 7 foot, 4 inch fast action, medium power and 7 foot, 5 inch fast action, medium-light power models.
CASHION ICON BAIT FINESSE SYSTEM ROD
The Bait Finesse System is one of the hottest things to hit fishing in recent years. Cashion’s ICON BFS or “Bait Finesse System” was designed specifically for ultra-light finesse fishing with baitcasting tackle, with a light power and fast action tip, ideal for finesse fishing small baits around cover with the control that only a baitcasting rod can offer. The CR6r blank makes this rod so sensitive, rolled unidirectionally so they transmit vibrations from the tip of your rod to the tips of your fingers. Hand-made carbon fiber and fiberglass grips provide a secure grip with enough sensitivity to feel even the slightest tick on your line. The 7 foot, 2 inch medium-light, fast action stick is equipped with micro guides that enhance casting distance and accuracy.
SPRO BRONZEYE RODS
Developed by professional angler Dean Rojas, SPRO says their line of Bronzeye Rods are well worth the wait! Specifically designed for the SPRO frogs by Rojas to give anglers the best rod for the technique. Each rod in the series is designed to provide the best combination of comfort, action and power to maximize your SPRO frog fishing experience. Available in three actions and lengths: Bronzeye Jr., 7 foot medium-heavy; Bronzeye, 7 feet 2 inches, heavy; King Daddy, 7 feet 4 inches, heavy.
DENALI ATTAX PRO
Denali Fishing is improving one of their most popular rods series for 2024, the AttaX Pro. The newly redesigned AttaX Pro series gets a facelift and upgraded components, including carbon grips, a proprietary reel seat, Duraloc guides, and aggressive styling. All blanks were retooled for crisper actions and precise delivery, and the finished rods will weigh up to 20% lighter than their predecessors. Available in three spinning and 12 casting models, to offer anglers a rod for a variety of techniques.
TRAVEL
DAIWA ARDITO JITTE TELESCOPING TRAVEL ROD
Daiwa is rewriting the travel rod category with the introduction of a premium telescopic rod, the ARDITO Jitte casting and spinning rods. The first-of-its-kind assortment is designed to be stashed just about anywhere: planes, trains, cars, trucks, bikes, motorcycles, UTV’s, golf carts—just about anywhere you can think. The 6 foot, 7 inch casting and spinning rods collapse into their handles for storage, despite the full complement of eight guides, for protection on the road. Thanks to Daiwa, you can have a rod wherever your travels take you.
DAIWA ARDITO PREMIUM TRAVEL RODS
Daiwa built an entire line of rods for the road, including the four-piece ARDITO rods that fit inside an easy-to-transport tube for travel or compact storage. These capable rods are constructed using Daiwa’s HVF Nano plus carbon blank material for lightness and sensitivity, with DAIWA’s X-45 Bias construction which prevents blank twisting. Both models sport high-quality Fuji Alconite guides and come standard with a sturdy yet pliable, semi-hard travel case. There are several models designed for everything from light trout to big bass.
DAIWA ARDITO PREMIUM TELESCOPING TRAVEL RODS
Daiwa’s ARDITO Premium Telescoping Travel Rods collapse down to a small size for travel, but feature cork handles. This means you can’t store them inside as with the Jitte series, but they offer a familiar feel. Both the 6 foot, 10 inch casting and spinning models are rated to handle lures up to 5/8-ounce and for use with 7- to 16-pound test line, making them well-suited for everything from panfish to pike. Both are equipped with a softshell travel case.
ON DECK
While many new rods from this year’s crop are available, there are some that haven’t hit store shelves yet. Here’s what you have to look forward to. And don’t worry, we’ll update these when they show up in stores.
UGLY STIK GX2
The Ugly Stik GX2 has been one of America’s favorite rods since 1976, owing to its seemingly unbreakable construction. The new GX2 builds on this legendary toughness and adds new features that make it perform better than ever. The renowned Clear Tip design, Ugly Tech construction, and Ugly Tuff guides are now joined with a proprietary guide coating to improve performance, an extra durable rubberized diamond EVA handle for better grip and improved durability. Alignment dots on multi-piece models make assembly easy, and each has Ugly’s signature clear tip. Finally, a new reel seat designed for better hand feel and increased sensitivity all packed under a 10-year warranty. Available September 2024.
MSRP: $49.95
13 FISHING OATH SERIES
13 Fishing says the Oath line of rods are born from the depths of their angling obsession, and represent the pinnacle of craftsmanship and innovation. The Oath series consists of seven baitcasting models from 6 foot, 8 inches to 7 foot, 11 inches, three specialized crankbait models from 7 foot to 7 foot 9 inches and four spinning rods ranging from 6 foot 10 inches to 7 foot 6 inches. All Oath rods feature premium components, including Evolve stainless steel guides with Alconite inserts, Evolve custom reel seats and split grip 3A cork handles.
MSRP: $99.99
13 FISHING MYTH SERIES
The Myth series of rods consists of 11 baitcasting models ranging from 6 feet, 8 inches to 8 feet and six spinning models ranging from 6 feet 9 inches to 7 feet, 4 inches. The Myth rods feature Japanese PVG40T blank construction with Zonal Action Technology, Fuji Stainless Steel K Frame Guides with Alconite inserts, Evolve reel seats and split grip 4A cork handles.
MSRP: $199.99
CASHION ICON PANFISH/TROUT SERIES
Trout, panfish, and other ultra-light tackle enthusiasts will appreciate the ICON Panfish & Trout line up of rods from Cashion. The graphite and EVA reel seat matched with Cashion’s proprietary carbon fiber split grip handle make these the most sensitive, ergonomic, and technologically advanced ultra-light rods on the market—as well as some of the lightest. Made in the USA, the carbon fiber is rolled at the Cashion facility in Sanford, SC and delivers unmatched performance for the ultra-light techniques used for panfish and trout. So whether you fish micro tubes, trout magnets, or even the occasional live cricket, give these lightweight wonders a look.
MSRP: $234.95
ST. CROIX LEGEND TOURNAMENT BASS & MUSKY GRASPII
Legend Tournament Bass large-lure models (LBTG710HF, LBTG710XHF, and LBTG711HMF) and all Legend Tournament Musky models have been updated with the all-new GRASPII angler-adaptable reel seat for 2025. An interchangeable trigger system allows anglers to quickly and securely switch between a full-sized GRASP palming handle, a smaller standard trigger, or no trigger at all with a flat insert that covers the attachment area. The GRASPII system requires no tools, and a premium accessory pouch containing all GRASP II attachments is included with each rod. Handcrafted in the USA with a 15-year warranty. Available December 1, 2024.
MSRP: Legend Tournament Bass $340 to $360, Legend Tournament Musky $400 to $520 
ST. CROIX MOJO BASS & MUSKY GRASPII
Mojo Bass large-lure models (JOG710XHF, JOG711HMF, and JOG83XXHFT) have been updated with the all-new GRASPII angler-adaptable reel seat for 2025. In addition, the Mojo Musky series of rods will incorporate the anthropometric St. Croix TRIGON handle in both split-grip and modified full-grip configurations plus the all-new GRASPII angler-adaptable reel seat on all models for 2025. The interchangeable trigger system allows anglers to quickly and securely switch between a full-sized GRASP palming handle, a smaller standard trigger, or no trigger at all with a flat insert that covers the attachment area—without the use of tools. The reimagined Mojo Musky Series for 2025 offers 17 versatile lengths, powers, and actions; 10 existing and seven all-new. Available December 1, 2024, with a five-year warranty.
MSRP: Mojo Bass $230 to $270, Mojo Musky $285 to $380
ST. CROIX RAYFIN
St. Croix hopes to deliver elite-level performance to passionate multi-species anglers around the globe with the all-new international Rayfin Series. The comprehensive new line offers 25 diverse casting and spinning models built with St. Croix’s most advanced materials and technologies, including SCIV+ hybrid carbon fiber blanks, titanium guides, split-grip premium EVA handles and ergonomic carbon fiber reel seats in a complete range of lengths, powers, and actions optimized for elevated performance in any freshwater pursuit. Handcrafted in the USA with a 15-year warranty. Available December 1, 2024.
MSRP: $415 to $540
