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Bass fishing in the UK is going from strength to strength. Bass fishing rods have never been better quality or at a better price point and for under £100 you can get a really superb quality rod that will suffice in any bass fishing location in the country. Regardless of the conditions.
Whether you’re looking for a superb quality entry-level rod, a neat pack-away four-piece travel rod or the best of the best for sea bass fishing we’ve got you covered. If you’re a true beginner and a little confused about what rod and reel is best suited for your needs, you might want to consider a rod and reel combo.
Find your next bass rod from our favourite brands below.
Table of Contents
What bass fishing rods are we currently using?
We always carry a travel fishing rod to any fishing location because we spend so much time walking to fishing marks that having a lightweight, transportable option is essential. Right now the Savage Gear SG4 is a key part of our gear.
Then we need an 8.2″-9.2″ longer, more powerful rod that helps us reach marks slightly further out. The HTO Lure Game is a superb all-around rod and does a fantastic job for bass. It isn’t the most sensitive, supple rod we’ve used (that’s almost certainly one of the Tailwalk rods or the SGS8 Precision Lure Specialist), but it caters to any and every eventuality.
What makes a good bass fishing rod?
A good bass fishing rod should be flexible, with a strong lower and middle section and a supple, sensitive tip. Together these traits make for rods that allow for precision casting, with enough power to reach significant distance and enough sensitivity in the tip to ‘feel’ every take, snag and the ground beneath.
- Length: around 8’2″ – 9’6″ is perfect for targeting bass in almost any conditions. An excellent blend of casting distance, sensitivity and convenience
- Casting weight: somewhere around 9 – 35g is the ideal balance of casting distance and sensitivity. 7 – 28g is a lightweight bass rod whereas 15g – 42g is heavy duty when lure fishing
- Action: A fast-action rod with a sensitive tip is perfect for targeting bass on lures. The faster the rod action, the higher up the rod the bend is, making for an enhanced sensitivity
- Durability: typically a two-piece rod with a carbon body is best. Particularly if you find a saltwater-specific rod that is corrosion-resistant
- Power: a medium power rod should be more than capable of handling all sizes of bass without compromising on sensitivity
Savage Gear, HTO, Shimano, Major Craft and Tailwalk are our favourite brands for bass fishing rods. But many of the rods from these brands are discontinued or very tricky to find in the UK. Unless you’re willing to spend hundreds and hundreds of pounds.
What is the best bass lure fishing rod in the UK?
The best bass fishing rod is the Savage Gear SGS8 Precision Lure Specialist. With exceptional dexterity, precision casting and manufacturing quality, the SGS8 can do it all. Fast action. powerful, but supple, it’s ideal for casting light to mid-weight soft plastic and metals, feeling every bite, nudge and
How should I pick the best bass fishing rod for me?
It would help if you established what is important to you. Do you need a rod that is capable of covering large distances from the shore with heavier lures? In which case go for a larger, heavier rod that has a greater casting weight. If you’re looking for an all-around superstar that is capable of handling lighter lures and heavier metals, then be prepared to spend a little extra to get what you want.
Or are you looking for a rod that packs away easily and is brilliant for travelling long distances? On foot or by ulterior means. Then you should look for a travel rod that packs away into 4 pieces.
The 7 Best Bass Fishing Rods
Savage Gear SGS8 Precision Lure SpecialistThe best premium bass fishing rod
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Fishing, Tackle & Bait
- A sensitive rod with a fantastic whip, based on expert Japanese models
- Perfectly balanced with an unrivalled blend of power and sensitivity
- Made with high-quality fixtures and fittings – a rod made to last
Made in collaboration with Henry Gilbey, the SGS8 range of rods is absolutely perfect for bass fishing in the UK. The rod itself is perfectly balanced with a sensitive tip that is ideal for casting over shallower, rocky water with lighter soft plastics, whilst being equally proficient at distance casting into deeper waters. And the carbon fixtures and fittings used to make the rod are extremely durable and high quality.
The rod is made for precision casting too. The whippy action, powerful body and supple tip are designed or accurate longer casts and our preferred versions – 9’2″ and a 9′, 42g casting weight – is perfect for even the most rugged bass fishing mark. You are still able to manipulate lighter lures around shallow shingle marks whilst your heavier lures – seekers, IMO Hound etc – go the distance. Literally. It’s one of the very best lure fishing rods on the market full stop.
These specialist saltwater reels are perfect for lure fishing and essential to pair with a quality rod.
Tailwalk SSD Hi-Tide RodBest sensitive bass fishing rod
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- 9′ two-piece rod weighing just 135g
- Fast action, incredibly sensitive rod
- A Japanese rod made specifically for the UK sea bass market.
- Fuji reel seat, single and double-foot guides
Tailwalk’s SSD Hi-Tide Rod is an incredible quality, insanely lightweight Japanese rod from the lure fishing masters Tailwalk. Honestly, it’s a perfect rod. The issue will always be stock, availability and cost.
Now synonymous with sea bass fishing, Japanese rod manufacturers like Tailwalk have raised the bar regarding light lure fishing rods. The rod blanks are arguably the supplest on the market. You can feel every inch of ground and the casting accuracy and bite detection are off the charts.
The 9′ length and 7-35g casting weight is perfectly proportioned for the UK sea bass market. The super-sensitive tip perfectly complements the supple blanks and makes fishing in incredibly challenging conditions – rough and calm – much more enjoyable. Until you’ve tried lure fishing rods from Japanese manufacturers like Tailwalk, you don’t know what you’re missing.
The range goes far beyond just 9′ and 7-35g, so don’t think you’re limited with the Hi-Tide range. The reality is anything but.
Savage Gear SGS5 Precision Lure SpecialistThe best all-around bass fishing rod
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- In terms of price and quality, it doesn’t get much better than the SGS5
- The older model in the SGS series doesn’t have the same level of sensitivity or precision as the SGS8, but it’s still a superb rod
- A very good blend of power, precision and durability
Savage Gear’s SGS5 is another outstanding bass fishing rod from the same range as the SGS8. Our favourite bass fishing rod. Another rod that is superbly balanced and excellent for fishing rougher marks with real precision when it comes to casting longer distances. Hence the name.
The sleek finish and EVA handles make this range of rods aesthetically superb too and guaranteed to last through even the toughest UK conditions. And whilst the casting weights offer slightly less balance when it comes to lure fishing for bass than the SGS8 (the 9 – 42g SGS8 is perfect for lighter soft plastics and heavier seekers) it’s still a truly excellent all-around rod.
EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) is a rubber-like copolymer that provides a glossy finish whose primary properties – softness, durability and flexibility – are the perfect material for longer-lasting fishing rods. The stress-crack resistance, waterproof nature and low-temperature toughness make these rods an investment.
HTO Lure GameThe best-value rod
- The best value rod we have ever bought, that comes with us anywhere
- This rod has been fantastic at targeting almost any species in any conditions
- It is nowhere near as sensitive as the best bass fishing rods, but it is more durable than any other
I have an HTO Lure Game safely tucked away that comes with me on almost every fishing trip. The 10 – 55g is a little on the heavier side for more traditional bass fishing but is a sublime all-around lure fishing rod. But the 8 – 35g is perfect for bass. Lightweight, tough and made with high-grade carbon, the 9′ two-piece rod has a fast, responsive tip and tough, powerful lower sections.
Each version of the rod – from 8′ 7 – 28g to 9′ 30 – 80g – is extremely adept in rough conditions with a moderate-fast action that can handle it all. Whilst the HTO Luregame is less whippy and supple than the SG range, that shouldn’t detract from the overall quality of the rod. I actually used the 10 – 55g version to catch some serious pollock in the Beara Peninsula and it stood up to the most testing conditions possible in the UK.
What are the Best Conditions for Bass Fishing in the UK?
Shimano Dialuna S96MBest for distance casting from the shore
- A high-quality, lightweight Japanese-made bass rod
- Super sensitive, with a fast action
- Fantastic casting distance thanks to the powerful bottom sections
The Shimano Dialuna S96M is another extremely good quality bass fishing rod made by the Japanese fishing extraordinaire Shimano. The ever-increasing popularity of bass fishing in the UK has led to Japanese fishing brands delving ever deeper into the market. And the Dialuna is a product of such an environment. An excellent one at that.
The two-piece, high-quality carbon-made rod is relatively lightweight (141g, only 6g heavier than the SGS8) and seriously powerful. The ultra-fast action tip and supple, powerful bottom sections make for incredible casting distance.
If you’re looking for a specialist lure shore fishing rod that can cover supreme distance and is particularly adept on long, shallow shingle beaches, then this is it!
Major Craft Ceana Seabass Spinning RodThe best entry-level bass fishing rod
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- 9′ or 9’6″ in length with casting weighs of 10g – 30g or 15g – 42g
- Exceptionally good quality at this price
- Slightly less adept at handling large lures and soft plastics than the very best bass fishing rods
Major Craft’s new Ceana series of rods brings us the Ceana Seabass Spinning Rod. A fantastic quality, extra fast action bass rod that is specifically designed for the European market (and bass). A really good successor to the Turel Rod that Major Craft brought out a decade ago that is even better value.
The matte black, glossy finish is a nice touch and whilst you don’t get the same level of sensitivity, whip and suppleness, the individual rods are extremely good at what they do. The 10 – 30g is an excellent lighter-weight rod and the 15 – 42g is a great mid-heavy weight option. However, if you’re in the market for a rod that can do it all, the Major Craft Ceana isn’t the best option.
Major Craft Crostage Light Game Travel RodThe best travel rod for bass fishing
- One of the best travel fishing rods out there
- As sensitive as four-piece rods can be
- Durable in the context of travel rods, but not suitable for targeting bigger fish in rough conditions
Major Craft’s Crostage Travel Rod is a fantastic bass fishing rod for on-the-go fishermen. And – unlike most travel rods – this 4 piece can handle seriously tough conditions and decent-sized bass. However, if it’s distance casting you’re after on shallow shingle beaches, this rod is not the one for you. Even the 9-footer. In our opinion, it’s the best travel fishing rod on the market too.
However, if you’re anything like us, you’ll love this rod. Covering some serious distance on foot with nothing but a backpack and your fishing tackle is the ultimate fishing experience. And for that, this travel rod can’t be beaten. The 9′ 10 – 30g version has an excellent whip for a 4 piece and lets you cast soft plastics and mid-size metals without any trouble.
FAQs
For bass fishing in the UK, a fast-action lure rod that is around 8’6 – 9’6″ feet long, with a casting weight of around 9 – 35g is typically perfect for all-around bass fishing. You need the rod to bend near the tip for sensitivity purposes, so slow and moderate action rods are a little too inflexible.
Hi, I'm Harry. A keen, albeit exceedingly average fisherman. I've spent the last few years trawling London's waterways with - if I'm being kind - varied success and would love to help you avoid the mistakes I have made.
Hello Harry
Is the dialuna as sensitive as the SGS8 and is it(the dialuna) suitable for soft plastics and smallers lures 10g Dolive Stick for exemple ?
Hey Lamine
Well the SGS8 is arguably my favourite to of all time. It’s so well rounded that it’s a no brainer to have.
However I’d say that on balance Japanese rods are the most sensitive on the market and the Dialuna is slightly more sensitive than the SGS8. The 10 – 45g Dialuna is still very good with 10g lures too. But if you can find a version with a lighter casting weight that will be best when it comes to sensitivity
Thanks
Harry