The Finest Walleye Rods of 2024, Examined and Reviewed

Walleye rods are like golf golf equipment. Typically you want a driver, and different instances, a 5 iron, a sand wedge, or a putter — and all of the golf equipment in between. Like golf golf equipment, there’s actually nobody greatest walleye rod that does every thing completely. Some get near being the last word versatile walleye rod, however right this moment’s walleye fishing may be very approach particular. 

I’ve spent the final yr testing all kinds of walleye rods on waters starting from the Mississippi River, St. Croix River, Mille Lacs Lake, and different notable walleye lakes all through Minnesota. So, in case you’re searching for the perfect walleye rod to catch a trophy Walter or a restrict of eaters, listed here are my high picks. 

How We Examined the Rods

With the assistance of my fishing buddies, I fished every rod utilizing a wide range of strategies whereas noting sensitivity, rod energy, weight, steadiness, castability (together with distance), ergonomics, and total fishability. 

The strategies included vertical jigging, pitching, rigging, slip-bobbering (aka energy/velocity corking), casting, trolling crankbaits, pitching blade baits, drop shotting, and nearly every thing else you possibly can think about. The purpose of this on-the-water testing was to search out the approach every rod excelled at the perfect.

Finest Walleye Rods: Opinions & Suggestions

Finest Price range All-Goal: Daiwa 24 TD Eye (TDEYE701MLXS)

Key Options

• Size Examined: 7 ft 1 inch 
• Motion and Energy Examined: Medium-light energy, extra-fast motion
• Gentle and Sturdy Cork Grip
• Fuji guides
• Fuji reel seat
• HVF (Excessive Quantity Fiber) carbon development
• X45 carbon weave
• MSRP: $130

Professionals

• Light-weight
• Delicate clean, deal with, and tip
• Inexpensive
• Carbon weave will increase power, sturdiness, and rod twist prevention

Cons

• Jack of all trades, grasp of none

Daiwa took all of the know-how from their premium rods and put them into this price-point walleye rod. I discovered the 24 TD EYE to be as mild, delicate, and well-designed as Daiwa’s Kage rods, which value $100 extra. 

And it’s not simply me. My buddies have been impressed, too — particularly with the sensitivity. We used a TD Eye on Mille Lacs and the Mississippi River to energy cork and pitch walleyes. The rod allowed us to really feel refined bites and simply forged our mild jigs. It really works effectively for jigging, rigging, pitching, casting cranks, and might play a Swiss Military Knife for about anything within the walleye fishing playbook. 

I talked to Prime NWT, AIM, and multi-circuit walleye match phenom, Tom Huynh, who has been extensively fishing the 24 TD Eye rods this yr. He’s been evangelizing their advantages, particularly for pitching tremendous mild jigs with forward-facing sonar to hook large, conditioned walleyes. “I can actually see and really feel the chew on a slack line after I’m sniping large walleyes out in open water with FF sonar,” says Huynh. Given Huynh may use any rod available on the market, it says lots that he makes use of price range Daiwa technique-specific TD Eye rods. 

Learn Subsequent: Walleye Fishing Ideas from the Consultants

Finest Mid-Priced All-Goal: St. Croix Legend Walleye Event “Mid Rig” (73MLXF)

Key Options

• Size Examined: 7 ft 3 inches
• Motion and Energy Examined: Medium-light energy, extra-fast motion
• SCIV+ carbon fiber clean
• Alconite and chrome steel guides
• Nylon, aluminum, and chrome steel reel seat
• Tremendous grade cork and composite cork deal with materials
• IPC, ART, TET, and FRS proprietary applied sciences
• MSRP: $280

Professionals

• Size permits for quite a few walleye strategies
• Delicate
• 15-year guarantee

Cons

I’ve been a giant fan of St. Croix Legend Event rods since they have been first launched, and the final redesign hasn’t modified that enthusiasm. The second-generation Legend Walleye Event rod household is lighter and extra delicate total, thanks primarily to utilizing SCIV+ carbon fiber clean materials. 

This rod proved nice for rigging (because the identify implies), pitching, casting swimbaits and small- to mid-sized crankbaits, hair jigs, slip bobbering, trolling #5 Shad Raps, and drop-shotting. It’s somewhat lengthy for vertical jigging, however that’s its solely limitation. When you’re searching for a mid-priced, all-purpose walleye rod, that is the stick. 

Finest Price range Pitching Rod: Fenwick Elite Walleye (ELTW70ML-FS)

Key Options

• Size Examined: 7 ft 
• Motion and Energy Examined: Medium-light energy, quick motion
• 36/30 ton Powerlux 200 graphite mix with proprietary reinforcing resin
• Tailor-made foregrip
• Multi-material break up and full-length grips
• Titanium information frames with super-thin zirconia inserts
• MSRP: $170

Professionals

• Restricted lifetime guarantee
• Sturdiness
• Improbable guides
• Affordability
• Ergonomic deal with

Cons

• Quick motion is a bit slower flexing than rival fast-action rods

Notice: I examined the 2023 model of this rod, which has been redesigned barely for 2024.

First, a bit about Fenwick. Given I’m practically 50 years outdated, I keep in mind the Nineteen Eighties when Fenwick made the perfect walleye rods. My dad fished them, as did lots of my uncles and different anglers I knew. Often, I’d get to make use of one among their rods and was all the time impressed with their mild weight and sensitivity. 

Then sooner or later Fenwick was outmoded in identify and gross sales by different manufacturers. Whereas there are nonetheless a variety of walleye anglers on the market fishing Fenwicks from the previous, it’s taken some work to get the identify again on the market once more. However they now provide walleye anglers a number of technique-specific rods at numerous value factors and plenty of high execs like John Hoyer and Mark Courts fish Fenwick rods.

I fished the 7-foot Fenwick Elite in a medium-light energy, quick motion, which I feel is an efficient deal at $170. These specs make it an all-purpose rod and it fished like one. 

When you’re searching for an reasonably priced, throughout rod that may accomplish a number of completely different duties, this can be a champ. It labored effectively for jigging, pitching swimbaits/cranks, working glide baits, rigging, drop-shotting, slip bobbers, and even long-lining crankbaits behind the boat on the troll. The one adverse factor I can say is that it feels extra like a medium-power rod than a medium mild. 

Braid slips simply by the zirconium-inserted titanium guides, which contributes to the Elite Walleye’s sensitivity. The tailor-made foregrip with diminished size and added taper make for good really feel. One other think about its capability to really feel mild faucets is the clean’s direct contact with the reel seat, which I personally actually like for jigging and rigging functions. Mixed with braid and one thing like a tungsten jig head, you’ve acquired a setup that detects the slightest walleye bites. 

Finest Price range Jigging/Rigging Rod: 2B Fishing Genesis (7’ ML Quick)

Key Options

• Size Examined: 7 ft 
• Motion and Energy Examined: Medium-light, quick motion
• Precision-engineered graphite clean
• Ergonomic, blank-through Military cork deal with
• Hand-wrapped PVD coated chrome steel guides
• MSRP: $189

Professionals

• Designed by Gregg and Paul Thorne
• Delicate and light-weight
• Nicely balanced
• Inexpensive

Cons

Once I was 10 years outdated I constructed a customized fishing rod within the outdated Thorne Bros. customized rod store in Spring Lake Park, Minnesota. The homeowners, Gregg and Paul Thorne, held my hand by the method.  

Now, some 39 years later, the proof of their onerous work and dedication to rod constructing excellence is obvious of their manufacturers Eliot and Two Brothers (2B), which have been just lately bought to Acme Fishing. Guess which means extra fishing for the brothers.

2B Fishing presents some nice rods for below $200. The 7-foot, medium-light energy, fast-action rod I examined had many deserves, together with its unimaginable mild weight, sensitivity, and stable development. Speced as an all-purpose 7 footer in medium-light energy, quick motion, the performance-to-value ratio proved particularly excessive. Used as a jigging rod, the clean was very delicate and felt feathery within the hand with little fatigue. 

I additionally used the rod for casting small- to medium-size swimbaits, #5 crankbaits, and different minnow crankbaits. Might you drift or slow-troll a rig or spinner with it? Completely. Or fish a slip bobber? Yep.

So far as our year-long testing goes, that is our advice for greatest jigging/rigging rod on a price range. Nonetheless, their Ceres line (which we didn’t take a look at) may additionally qualify in the identical size, energy, and motion for even much less injury on the pocketbook at a really reasonably priced $129. 

Finest Price range Ahead Dealing with Sonar Rod: Rosemore Open air Whiskey Flats Jig Rod

Key Options

• Size Examined: 6 ft
• Motion and Energy Examined: Medium-light energy, extra-fast motion 
• Graphite development
• Cork deal with
• Weight: 2.9 ounces
• Worth: $130

Professionals

• Straightforward to pitch baits nearer to the boat with accuracy
• Extraordinarily light-weight
• Additional-fast motion and brief size make for fast hooksets
• Tremendous reasonably priced

Cons

• Quick motion nearing moderate-fast motion
• A bit mild for lots of walleye strategies

At a mere $130 the Rosemore Open air Whiskey Flats 6-foot, medium-light energy, extra-fast motion rod severely outperforms its price ticket. Examined on the advice of profitable NWT/AIM match ace, Tom Huynh, as a result of it was his forward-facing jig and reside bait rod selection for nearly three years. It performed a giant a part of his profitable program and he caught fish as much as 30 inches with it. 

I examined this rod by making exact pitches to FFS-located walleyes at 40- to 50-feet from the boat. Though utilizing a brief rod appears counter-intuitive, it permits the angler to place small baits instantly over the pinnacle of sonar marks over open water. It’s a method that has change into a staple with match anglers and is one thing to attempt. This rod has a pleasant, fast tip bend, giving it an extra-fast motion. When it’s paired with a slow-retrieve-ratio 1000-size reel, the motion prevents the angler from enjoying large walleyes too onerous and quick. 

That’s fairly cool contemplating that it feels ultralight within the hand, weighing solely 2.9 ounces. And it’s delicate, too. Whiskey Flats Jig Rod is price having within the arsenal in case you’re making exact pitches to walleye marks on FFS. 

Learn Subsequent: 7 Ahead Dealing with Sonar Ideas: Settings, Mounting, and Strategies Defined

Finest Vertical Jigging Rod: St. Croix Walleye Legend Event “Jig & Rig” (LWTS66MLF)

Key Options

• Size Examined: 6 ft 6 inches
• Motion and Energy Examined: Medium-light energy, quick motion
• SCIV+ carbon fiber clean
• Alconite and chrome steel guides
• Nylon, aluminum, and chrome steel reel seat
• Tremendous grade cork and composite cork deal with materials
• IPC, ART, TET, and FRS proprietary applied sciences
• 15-year guarantee
• MSRP: $280

Professionals

• Extraordinarily delicate for vertical jigging
• Nice cork deal with really feel
• Mid-price level

Cons

• A bit brief and light-weight for some walleye strategies

My buddies and I do a variety of vertical jigging on the Mississippi River and put a variety of rods by the paces. Our findings? The St. Croix Walleye Legend Event “Jig & Rig” LWTS66MLF is the stand-out champion for this type of fishing. Fished with every thing as much as 3/8-ounce jigs and paired with 8-pound hi-visibility monofilament for jig loft and chew detection, the rod merely kicks butt.

This rod is a pure workhorse, but feathery and very delicate because of its SCIV+ carbon fiber clean development. We additionally admire the no-frills parts which might be constructed to final. 

Farthest Casting: TRIKA 6X

Key Options

• Size Examined: 7 ft
• Energy and Motion Examined: Medium-light energy, quick motion
• EkkoChamber know-how
• Axial-weave carbon clean know-how
• MSRP: $280

Professionals

• Clean-through reel seat makes it extraordinarily delicate
• Farther casting in comparison with different rods
• Light-weight at 3.8 ounces
• Nice pitching and casting rod
• One yr money-back assure

Cons

• Direct-to-consumer gross sales solely

Two winters in the past I ran right into a buddy on the St. Paul Ice Present who had retired from St. Croix Rod however went again to work for this firm, TRIKA, which he insisted was “doing revolutionary issues” with rod design. My pal was enthusiastic in regards to the rods, their casting distance, and total engineering. 

Nicely, it wasn’t hype. My associates and I examined the $280, medium-light energy, quick motion, 7-foot TRIKA 6X alongside different 7-foot sticks in the identical powers and actions. The rod did forged noticeably farther. Why? TRIKA explains that it has to do with the “restoration” of their proprietary carbon-weave clean design which returns to kind quicker after the forged. The reel seat additionally has a extremely delicate titanium body, and the carbon weave clean options one thing known as EkkoChamber and Axial Weave know-how for vastly diminished weight, and it additionally contributes to casting restoration. 

Though the rod excelled for vertical jigging, we discovered it particularly worthwhile for pitching and far-casting jigs, plastics, or meat. It launched small jerkbaits and crankbaits too, which is necessary when fishing walleyes on ultra-clear waters the place fish will be spooky and troublesome to method with a ship. That stated, it’s change into a favourite rod for one specific pal of mine who fishes walleyes from shore all yr lengthy. He nonetheless marvels at his casting distance, even with baits as small as 1/8-ounce. And the sensitivity is fairly unreal. 

Learn Subsequent: Trika 6X Rods Evaluate

Finest for Snap Jigging: St. Croix Legend Walleye Event (6’8″ MXF)

Key Options

• Size Examined: 6 ft 8 inches
• Motion and Energy Examined: Medium-power, extra-fast motion
• SCIV+ carbon fiber clean
• Alconite and chrome steel guides
• Nylon, aluminum, and chrome steel reel seat
• Tremendous grade cork and composite cork deal with materials
• IPC, ART, TET, & FRS proprietary applied sciences
• MSRP: $280

Professionals

• Wonderful quick-bending extra-fast tip for fast hooksets
• Strong construct
• Sturdy
• Will work with quite a few strategies: hair jigs, glide baits, plastics, Rattlin’ Raps, and heavier jigs
• 15-year guarantee

Cons

For walleye anglers searching for one rod that works nice for snap jigging hair and jigging raps, the St. Croix Legend Walleye Event 6 foot 8 inch MXF is the perfect rod we examined for each strategies. Though there are different rods that most likely make a greater devoted Jiggin’ Rap Rod, this rod does double obligation with glide baits and hair jigs, making it tremendous helpful. The medium energy is ideal for Jigging Raps as much as dimension 9 or hair jigs to a half ounce. The additional-fast tip is beneficial for jigging strategies and maintaining walleyes pinned. If I may solely select three walleye rods, the St. Croix Legend Walleye Event could be a kind of picks.

Finest Slip Bobber Rod: JT Open air MAG Gentle

Key Options

• Size Examined: 7 ft 3 inches  
• Motion and Energy Examined: Gentle energy, quick motion
• Proprietary Toray carbon fibers spun with zonal know-how
• SeaGuide Hero excessive grade with silicon nitride insert and recoil guides
• Clean-through SeaGuide Alien reel seat deal with or Certain-Grip Tennessee deal with choice
• Obtainable in 4 completely different shade mixtures
• MSRP: $330

Professionals

• Extraordinarily delicate from the tip by the butt part
• Wonderful hand-built, customized rod high quality
• Superior steadiness with reel
• Good for pitching small jigs or finesse velocity or energy corking/slip bobber functions
• Could possibly be used for different walleye strategies like drop-shotting

Cons

For years, my buddies and I didn’t assume there was a slip bobber rod that beat the performance-to-price ratio of a 7 foot 6 inch, or 8-foot St. Croix Eyecon — till now. Particularly for extra refined casting and smaller, finesse shows like energy or velocity corking with forward-facing sonar. 

This JT Customs 7 foot 3 inch JTX MAG Gentle has extra finesse and sensitivity than an Eyecon and in addition doubles as a very good stick for lengthy casting small jigs to suspended fish in ultra-clear waters. It triples as a lethal drop-shot rod, in addition to a smallmouth bass marabou jig fluff-chucker. 

Finest Spinning Rod for Lengthy-Lining Crankbaits: St. Croix Legend Glass (LGS72MM)

Key Options

• Size Examined: 7 ft 2 inches 
• Motion and Energy Examined: Medium-power, reasonable motion
• Weight-reduced linear S-glass fiberglass clean with IPC mandrel know-how
• MSRP: $275

Professionals

• Average motion for long-line trolling crankbaits; casting cranks; or fishing medium- to bigger glide baits

Cons

• Takes a bit to get used to after fishing graphite fast-action rods
• Perhaps a bit overpriced (however price it)

This can be a rod to think about in case you’re long-lining cranks like Shad Raps, Flickr Shads, and stickbaits. Whereas many anglers love a baitcaster with line-counter reel, we desire the short and simple fishing spinning sort out offers, particularly when fishing round vegetation. 

Alongside these strains, the St. Croix Legend Glass LGS72MM medium-power, moderate-action spinning rod is a superb rod. We discovered it particularly excelled when sizing as much as deeper-diving crankbaits like #7s. We fished it with 2500 and 3000 Daiwa Tatulas and 10-pound Trilene XT or 10-pound braid with a 10-pound fluorocarbon chief. In the identical vein as utilizing an Ugly Stix for its reasonable motion and talent to maintain fish buttoned on the troll, the LGS72MM has a high quality fiberglass, reasonable motion which makes it nice for maintaining trebles pinned. 

The rod additionally works nice for fishing large creek chubs on snells in mid-summer/fall, in addition to a big glide bait rod, rattle-bait rod in a pinch, or heavier slip bobber walleye rig. I additionally plan to make use of it for fishing reside frogs through the fall run for walleyes from shore. It’s an excellent all-around rod with a cool, traditional look that proves we must always severely take into account fiberglass once more for some walleye strategies. 

Finest (Lindy) Rigging Rod: 2B Fishing Genesis

Key Options

• Size Examined: 7 ft 
• Medium-light, quick motion
• Precision-engineered graphite clean
• Ergonomic, blank-through Military cork deal with
• Hand-wrapped PVD-coated chrome steel guides

Professionals

• Designed by Gregg & Paul Thorne
• Delicate
• Nicely balanced
• Inexpensive

Cons

When you’re searching for the best-buy Lindy rigging rod, take into account Gregg and Paul Thorne’s 2B Fishing Genesis, which presents mild weight, sensitivity, and stable development. The Genesis caught loads of fish for us with its unreal sensitivity for the value. Whereas fishing a Lindy rig with a finger on the road and the bail open, we had no hassle feeling that refined Morse code walleye faucet.

Will it do different issues? Completely. It covers all of the bases very well and is available in at below $200.

Finest Bladebait Rod: JT Open air JTX-Magazine

Key Options

• Size Examined: 6 ft 10 inches
• Energy and Motion Examined: Medium-light energy, quick motion
• Proprietary Toray carbon fibers spun with zonal know-how
• SeaGuide Hero excessive grade with silicon nitride insert and recoil guides
• Clean-through SeaGuide Alien reel seat deal with or Certain-Grip Tennessee deal with choice
• Obtainable in 4 completely different shade mixtures
• MSRP: $330

Professionals

• Extraordinarily delicate from the tip by the butt part
• Nicely-balanced with reel
• Wonderful hand-built, customized rod high quality
• Good for working bladebaits, jigs/swimbaits, or small spoons/glidebaits

Cons

Of all of the rods my buddies and I examined over the previous yr, that is my favourite. I take advantage of it for vertical jigging, pitching, and fishing bladebaits in chilly water, one thing I do lots on the Mississippi River from October by Might yearly. 

Every part about it simply looks like an extension of my arm, and it’s light-weight and delicate. I like the flexibility of the 6-foot 10-inch mannequin, which might vertical jig a minnow, hair jig, or fish bladebaits vertically as a substitute of pitching them. 

The carbon fiber clean may be very delicate, telegraphing when my bladebait picks up a small piece of vegetation or zebra mussel and isn’t working straight. A part of that’s due not solely to the distinctive clean however the distinctive clean by rod deal with development (Seaguide Alien reel seat). I feel the design is about the perfect on the market by way of feeling each bait and fish nuance. 

I plan to purchase not less than yet another of those to verify everybody in my boat will get a rod that works nice for fishing the river October by Might. The recoil rod guides should not solely troublesome to interrupt, they’re very chilly resistant and don’t freeze up as dangerous throughout winter open-water runs. Particularly while you squirt somewhat little bit of PAM canola on them to fish in sub-zero temps. 

There’s simply one thing in regards to the medium-light motion of this rod that catches extra fish with the identical bait fished the identical manner when standing subsequent to a different angler.

Finest Rattlebait Rod: St. Croix AVID Walleye (ASWS71MF)

Key Options

• Size Examined: 7 ft 1 inch
• Motion and Energy Examined: Medium energy, quick motion
• SCIII+ carbon fiber clean
• Stainless-steel guides
• Nylon/EVA reel seat and nut supplies
• Tremendous grade cork deal with
• IPC, ART, FRS, TET St. Croix construct applied sciences
• MSRP: $220

Professionals

• A beefy rod constructed for casting bigger rattlebaits, even glidebaits and bigger swimbaits
• Strong spine and true, quick motion 
• Enticing value

Cons

• Beefy guides for some strategies, however good for rattlebaits and bigger baits on braid

I’ve to confess, my buddies and I are comparatively new to fishing rattlebaits for walleyes within the aggressive method of Mille Lacs Lake information Tony Roach. He’s an skilled at utilizing that approach and steered we do this rod. Nicely, he was proper. It turned out to be an excellent stick for Ripping and Rattle Raps, Traps, and the remaining, both for long-bombing pods of fish or ripping by or alongside cabbage edges or over rocky humps and reefs.

It additionally makes an excellent Jigging Rap or mid-to-large swimbait rod. With its large guides, I favored it for fishing bigger, weighted slip bobbers. If I have been to suggest a Mille Lacs-specific walleye rod, I’d say it’s essential to have not less than one among these in your boat. 

Finest Premium Rod: G. Loomis GLX Walleye

Key Options

• Size Examined: 7 foot 
• Motion and Energy Examined: Medium energy, quick motion
• Excessive-modulus graphite development
• Multi-taper design reinforces potential stress factors
• Full-cork deal with
• REC guides

Professionals

• Sturdy, but extraordinarily delicate
• Nice steadiness
• True, quick motion
• Wonderful craftsmanship
• Lends itself to quite a few walleye strategies

Cons

Let’s speak high-end rods, a topic I’m a bit opinionated about. I’ve owned a pair St. Croix Legend Elite rods, and so they’re magic within the palm. And I nonetheless personal a 7-foot, medium energy, quick motion Legend Xtreme that was given to me years in the past as a present, a rod that I reserve for fishing equally costly Megabass stickbaits or Husky Jerks for each smallmouth bass and walleyes. 

That is the primary Loomis I’ve ever owned, and I put it by the paces. It’s extremely delicate, however a bit heavier and stiffer than the imilarly priced St. Croix Legend Elite, which I didn’t count on, however truly like. 

Did it work as a jig rod? I caught fish with it, seldom lacking a chew, which it telegraphed electrically by their high-end clean, guides, and deal with. Did it forged rubber effectively? Certain. Did it carry out as a rigging and drop-shot rod? You betcha. 

In truth, it does every thing fairly rattling effectively — and it ought to for $500. It’s the high-end rod you’d need to convey to Canada with out having to pad it in a case or deal with gently. If all I needed to do was jig, I’d select the Legend Elite, however for all-around walleye fishing, this Loomis rod is the juice. 

Do you want one? In all probability not, however it’s a cool showpiece and enjoyable to fish with. Mine is a superb companion for particular fishing journeys while you need to use the easiest walleye rod that cash should buy. 

Find out how to Select a Walleye Rod

That you must first decide whether or not you want a particular approach walleye rod to spherical out your arsenal or a rod that does-it-all. 

When you’re searching for a generalist rod, a 7-foot, medium-light or medium-power rods are probably the most versatile. The appropriate mixture of size, motion, and energy for approach particular rods will range by the meant approach and even the physique of water. Speaking to your buddies or a trusted retailer about rods that work for them is an efficient place to begin. 

When you’re buying in individual, take the reel you’re going to make use of and check out it on quite a lot of completely different rods and maintain the complete combo in your hand. Really feel how the reel balances the rod and if it feels proper to you. You’ll be able to place the tip part on a carpeted retail flooring (eyelets up) to get a really feel for the place the clean begins to bend, which reveals its motion. Most quick motion rods ought to begin to bend about 4 eyelets or so again, with further quick rods near the tip. 

Remaining Ideas on the Finest Walleye Rods

All the greatest walleye rods examined above proved nice at their respective strategies. Some have been even spectacular Jack of all trades that may fish absolutely anything you need to current to walleyes. Whereas there are rods that exceed $500, there are many nice choices that present a variety of worth. This information ought to assist you discover the rod that most closely fits the way you’ll fish and your price range.