Find the 6 Best Musky Rods for Your Next Fishing Trip

Here is our review of the best musky rods in 2022.

Musky or Muskie fishing is a very popular sport in North America. Though it can be difficult to find the best musky rods for your next trip, we have compiled a list of our top 6 ones that we think are well suited for different types of anglers. Whether you prefer baitcasting or spinning, these reviews will guide you through what makes each product special and which one best suits your needs.

Top 6 Best Musky Rod

Here is a list of musky rods that we think are the best for 2022:

1. St. Croix Premier casting Rod
2. St. Croix Mojo Musky Rod
3. Abu Garcia Veritas Casting Fishing Rod
4. Piscifun Torrent Baitcasting Rod
5. Zebco Spincast Reel and Fishing Rod Combo
6. Okuma EVx-C-861XHT-FG EVx Musky Telescope Rod

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St. Croix Premier Casting Rod

Summary

If you are looking for a musky fishing rod that is lightweight, durable and offers sensitivity- the St. Croix Premier casting may be your best choice. The SCII graphite construction gives this product durability while also being lightweight. 

This is made by Fuji real seats, which are well established in their field of work. Two coats of Flex-Coat slow cure finish ensures both protection and beauty for its exterior appearance. These features combined make the St Croix Premier Casting an excellent option to use in any setting! 

Pros

• super lightweight.
• If you’re one of those with large hands, full-corks are suitable and comfortable fo you.
• High-quality materials and feeling.
• ِA decent action with high sensitivity giving good and long casts.
• St. Croix offers a 5 year warranty.
• Great customer support.

Cons

• You will need to retighten the reel a lot.
• You will have to reseal the cork every few seasons.
• Expensive.

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St. Croix Mojo Musky Rods

Summary

The first thing you’ll notice about this musky casting rod is that it offers premium SCIII carbon construction, which means that it is durable and strong. It also has a split-grip handle for more control and comfortability when reeling in your catch.

The next thing you’ll notice about it, as mentioned before, is its slim aluminum oxide guides alongside a black frame to create an even better appearance with increased durability. Finally, there are two coats of flex coat slow curing finish to give protection against damage from water and sun exposure on top of creating a nicer touch.

The St. Croix is packed with Integrated Poly Curve (IPC) mandrel technology which delivers better action and higher sensitivity.

You can also read our detailed review of St. Croix Mojo Musky Rod here.

Pros

• An 8 feet long which is considered a sweet point for fishing musky rod length.
• A light weight.
• It offers a 5 year warranty.
• Great customer support.
• Supports a good range of lures including bucktails and top water lures.

Cons

• Not suitable for trolling or heavier baits than previously mentioned one.

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Abu Garcia Veritas

Summary

The Abu Garcia Veritas Casting Fishing Rod is designed for casting with lighter lures. 

A ROCS (Robotically Optimized Casting System) Guide train is implemented to it giving you a longer cast, and it has titanium alloy guides with ultralight Zirconium inserts for a lightweight balance. 

The closed-cell EVA grips increase the resistance to weather tear and wear. It is supplied with power lux which adds more strength while remaining lightweight.

Powerlux is a blend when the carbon fiber component is dispersed evenly in epoxy resin while making it a combination of carbon fiber and nano-silica particles

The ratcheting reel seat locks your reel in place with strength. It is made from special composite graphite that gives you sensitivity and power. Surely, The Garcia Veritas deserves to be one of our top 6 best musky rods in 2022!

Pros

• Comfortable and easy to handle.
• Lightweight and durable.
• Very strong.
• A good valuefor the price.
• Abu Garcia offers a 3-year limited warranty.

Cons

• The white color makes it look dirty easily.
• Poor shipping.

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Piscifun Torrent Baitcasting Rod

Summary

The Piscifun Torrent Baitcasting has some of the good features that you need in order to be successful at fishing. It’s constructed with High-Quality IM6 carbon which delivers high sensitivity, durability while keeping it lightweight. A specialized computer control wrapping at three angles (0⁰, 45⁰, -45⁰) paired with 8+1 guides for better casting experience and more smoothness.

For High-end features, they included 30 Ton sanded smooth carbon blank which makes it lighter and stronger. It’s packed with high-density EVA grips that add comfortability. The graphite reel seat is ergonomically designed to better experience and less fatigue and chronic issues.. The graphite makes it more lightweight so you don’t get arm strains in the long fishing tips.

Pros

• Lightweight.
• Durable.
• A 2 Pcs rod suitable for traveling. The connection works well.
• Super sensitive.
• You get high value for the money you pay.
• Piscifun offers a 1 year warranty.

Cons

• The tip is a little fragile and breaks easily.
• The tip design also is not the best.

Also, here is a review video of Piscifun Torrent Baitcasting Rod after 2 years of use:

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Zebco Spincast Reel and Fishing Rod Combo

Summary

The Zebco Spincast Fishing Rod and Reel Combo features a medium-fast action with a medium power making it great for big fish like musky, but also suitable for small ones like trout. Zebco features a fiberglass rod blank packed with a dial-adjustable (more control) drag that provides smooth cast and retrieves.

The reel has a corrosion-resistant stainless steel cover. It’s perfect for right or left-handed anglers because it has a changeable Right- or Left-hand Retrieve.

The cushioned Comfort Grip handle makes it comfortable for your hand. There is also an Anti-Reverse mechanism that helps to keep you focused in the fight by stopping your handle from moving backward creating a solid hookset in the mouth of any fish when reeling it in.

This is an excellent choice if you are looking to purchase a musky rod and reel combo while having a real tight budget. Just don’t expect to get the most premium features in the world from it!

Pros

• Super durable.
• High value for the money(our budget option).
• Lightweight.
• Suitable for beginners.
• You get a combo for a low price.

Cons

• The reel isn’t great, the rod is much better in terms of quality.
• Don’t expect premium features as it’s in the low price range.

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Okuma EVx-C-861XHT-FG EVx Musky Telescopic Rod

Summary

The Okuma EVx Musky Telescopic Rod is one of the best options out there. It offers durability and sensitivity with its Im-8 graphite blank construction. The Alps stainless steel guide frames provide a strong backbone for braided lines and are coupled with Zirconium guide inserts which are hard, resulting in less wear and friction, as well as less heat buildup.

The UFR technology provides 3 times more lifting power than previous versions for greater control over your catch, all while maintaining sensitivity. A premium Fuji reel seats (a well-established company in reel seats and guides) is included.

It also features double foot deep press stainless steel Sea guide (a leading fishing company for rod components) frames that can be used for braided lines. Stainless steel is a good and durable material for guides making Okuma EVx one of the best options for musky fishing.

Pros

• Light weight
• The telescopic style doesn’t affect casting quality
• Suitable for traveling
• The price is great considering the quality.
• Strong and comfortable.

Cons

• The guides can be considered weak points.
• The telescopic version isn’t the best considering that it’s vulnerable to collapse during fishing.
• Also, a telescopic one isn’t as powerful as a single piece fishing rod.

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Buying guide On The Best Muskie Fishing Rods

Picking the best musky rod isn’t an easy task, that’s why we put together a detailed buying guide to help you make a better decision when purchasing your next one:

Power

When buying a rod for musky fishing, it’s best to consider the best options for your type of fishing and the suitable power. The higher the power, the more weight of lines that you can use. Apparently, you need some strong line for musky fish, so you need a high-power rod. It also depends on the type of lure you’re using and its weight. Generally, you don’t want to go below medium-high power.

If you’re fishing from shore or an open water dock, you’ll want a medium-powered rod because there’s less opportunity for big fish to run away with the bait. Medium-powered ones are best for trolling and short casts.

If you’re fishing in heavy cover or deep water, you’ll need heavy-power because the chance of catching a big fish is greater and you want to be prepared for this possibility.

Rod Length

Good musky rods for some people will be those with the lengths that best accommodate their fishing style. If you are primarily casting, then it is best to get one with a shorter length. They will allow for more control when fighting larger fish. For trolling, longer rods are best for this task because they have the capacity to reach out over a wider area and have a bigger arm span so they can better reach out to grab onto fish in deep water. Rods come in a variety of lengths and it is best to be mindful of what best suits your needs when choosing one.

Generally, you need a length in the 7 – 9 feet range to get the most out of your musky fishing trip. if you’re using lightweight musky lures, go for a shorter one and vice versa. When buying, you need to consider that even small inches can affect the feeling of the rod in your hand.

Rod Action

Rod action refers at which point the rod starts to bend when pressure is applied to it. It ranges from slow to fast action rods. 

The best rod action for musky varies with the lure you’re using. Heavier lures or baits work best with medium action. Lighter lures work better with fast action range. 

A faster action allows you easily to whip the lure out leading to further distance by storing the energy in the top section of the rod.

Anyway, I recommend staying at the medium to fast action range for musky fishing.

Line weight

Line weight is important when choosing the best musky rod. Line weight not only refers to the thickness of the line but also how heavy or light that line is. A good musky rod should be able to handle over 65 Ib.(minimum) test line with 80+ being ideal. While there is some chance of catching musky at lighter weights, you need to be on the safe side instead of losing your catch.

Lure weight

One of the best ways to decide on a musky rod for you is to consider the weight of the lure that you plan to use most or if you’re going for musky fly fishing. This way, you can find a rod that best suits your needs and doesn’t break with just one fish. 

Musky rods are heavy and monstrous. That’s why we recommend a strong rod that’s not below a medium to heavy power. 

Durability

Durability is an important aspect to consider when purchasing your fishing rod. A musky rod should be able to withstand fighting with musky fish, changes in the environment, withstanding water and moisture, as well as sunlight or other conditions that might cause damage to it. The best musky gear should have optimum durability with regards to the materials that were used with their construction.

Warranty

A good warranty and customer service make you feel safer when purchasing. Musky fish is strong and their rods take some heavy-duty work. Make sure you buy your next one with a warranty long enough for the trip.

Rod Handles

Musky trips are long and need strong hands. A factor to consider is the handles. You need a comfortable handle and an easily controllable one. Longer split handles offer more controllability on a longer rod. It also allows saving some masculine power when dealing with longer rods. Here are 2 types of handles that I should talk about:

Corks Handles

Cork handles are high quality and comfortable. The drawback here is that they aren’t durable enough, which means you will have to look for a replacement more often.

Foam Grips

Foam grips are a great way to make sure your hands stay cool on the rod. They provide more cushioning and allow you to have it all day long without getting sweaty palms! Plus, they tend to be lighter than cork handles so wearing them won’t tire out arm muscles like it does with metal ones sometimes (especially if we’re talking about longer journeys). A huge advantage is that it has less absorbing features than cork meaning that cleaning won’t be a big deal. 

Reel Seats

Reel seats play a key role in how comfortable you feel while fishing for any given period of time because it is often positioned close to your hand. The best seats should have enough space to allow for maximum comfort while minimizing vibrations. It also needs to be easy enough for you to handle without too. A very popular name in the field of real seats is Fuji which offers some high-quality ones.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bottom Line

There are many factors to consider when buying a rod for fishing musky. Good rods should be a heavy tackle, fast action that can cast long distances and handle the power of this strong fish.

In this article, we’ve provided a buyer’s guide for the best musky rods on the market in 2022. Whether you need gear to fish freshwater or saltwater, want something that will help you cast longer distances, or is more suited to casting lighter baits – there are options out there for every budget and skill level. With our buying tips and FAQs section at your fingertips, it’ll be easier than ever before to find just what you need!  We hope these reviews have been helpful as well as informative – if not, let us know! We’re always looking for ways to improve our content so feel free to leave constructive feedback below.