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Best Overall
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Editor's Choice
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Best Value
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Product Name:
St Croix Legend Tournament Walleye 2
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Product Name:
Fenwick Elite Tech Walleye Fishing Rod
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Product Name:
St. Croix Eyecon Spinning Rod
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Feature 1:
It comes with a light power blank
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Feature 1:
With hidden handle design to fish comfortably
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Feature 1:
Constructed with SCII graphite blank
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Feature 2:
With integrated poly curve technology
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Feature 2:
Extremely durable and virtually bulletproof
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Feature 2:
With EVA trim for a strong grip
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A high-quality rod is the key to successful walleye
This guide reviews the seven best walleye rods and breaks down exactly what you need to look for to choose the right one for your style of
7 Top Walleye Rods
- Lightest & Most Advanced – St Croix Legend Tournament Walleye 2
- Most Sensitive & Comfort-Driven – Fenwick Elite Tech Walleye Fishing Rod
- High-Performing & Cost-Effective – St. Croix Eyecon Spinning Rod
- Best Walleye Rod for Bigger Fish – Cadence Spinning Rod
- Best for Deep Water
Fishing – Tica WMVA Bass & Walleye Casting Fishing Rod - Best Walleye
Fishing Rod for Beginners – Shimano FX Spinning Rod - Best For All Ages – Shimano FX Casting Rod
1. St. Croix Legend Tournament Walleye
Best Overall
The Legend Tournament series is a professional-grade tool built for serious walleye anglers. Its high-modulus carbon fiber blank delivers unparalleled sensitivity for feeling the lightest bites. The extra-fast action provides a lightning-quick response for setting hooks when vertical jigging or rigging. It’s an investment in top-tier performance.
- Who It’s For: Tournament anglers and serious enthusiasts who need the absolute best in sensitivity.
2. Fenwick Elite Tech Walleye Spinning Rod
Editor’s Choice
Engineered for sensitivity and comfort, the Fenwick Elite Tech features a responsive, extra-fast tip that allows anglers to feel everything their lure is doing. Its hidden handle reel seat and premium grip provide exceptional comfort for all-day
- Who It’s For: Anglers who prioritize comfort and a high degree of sensitivity for techniques like jigging and rigging.
3. St. Croix Eyecon Spinning Rod
Best Value
The Eyecon brings the legendary St. Croix performance to a more accessible price. Built with a quality graphite blank, it offers excellent sensitivity for a wide range of walleye techniques. It’s a workhorse rod that will handle everything from casting spoons to dragging Lindy rigs.
- Who It’s For: Anglers who want high performance without the premium price tag.
4. Cadence Spinning Rod
Best for Bigger Fish
The Cadence CR5, built on a 30-ton carbon blank, offers the backbone needed to handle larger walleyes and incidental catches like pike or lake trout. It’s a versatile rod with a medium-power rating perfect for throwing larger baits and
- Who It’s For: Anglers who need a rod with enough power to handle bigger fish.
5. Tica WMVA Walleye Casting Rod
Best for Deep Water
This casting rod has the power needed for deep-water trolling and heavy jigging techniques. The strong graphite blank and non-slip cork handle provide a secure platform for managing heavy lures and fighting fish from the depths.
- Who It’s For: Anglers who primarily troll or use heavy jigs in deep-water environments.
6. Shimano FX Spinning Rod
Best for Beginners
The Shimano FX is a durable and reliable rod perfect for new anglers. Its composite blank includes fiberglass, making it more forgiving than high-modulus graphite rods. Paired with a spinning reel, it creates a balanced combo for various freshwater applications.
- Who It’s For: Beginners or anglers on a tight budget who need a durable, all-purpose spinning rod.
7. Shimano FX Casting Rod
Best Casting Rod
For those who prefer a baitcasting setup, the Shimano FX is a strong, affordable option. Its medium-power and fast action are well-suited for casting crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and heavier jigs for walleye.
- Who It’s For: Anglers who prefer the control of a casting rod.
How to Choose the Best Walleye Rod: A Buyer’s Guide
1. Rod Length: What size rod for walleye?
- 6’6″ to 7’0″: This is the sweet spot for most walleye applications, offering a great balance of casting distance, leverage, and sensitivity. A 7-foot rod is arguably the most versatile.
- Shorter Rods (Under 6’6″): Best for vertical jigging directly below the boat.
- Longer Rods (Over 7’0″): Ideal for trolling with planer boards, long-line rigging, or slip-bobbering to keep slack line off the water.
2. Rod Power: Medium Light vs. Medium?
Power describes the rod’s strength. For walleyes, Medium-Light and Medium are the primary choices.
- Medium-Light (ML) Power: The most versatile power for walleye. It’s sensitive enough for light jigs (1/8 – 1/4 oz) and live bait rigs, but still has enough backbone.
- Medium (M) Power: A great choice for heavier jigs (3/8 oz+), casting blade baits and Rapala Rippin’ Raps, and
fishing in areas with current or vegetation. - Medium-Heavy (MH) Power: Generally too stiff for most walleye techniques, except for heavy-duty trolling applications.
3. Rod Action: The Key to Sensitivity
Action describes where the rod bends. For walleyes, fast is the standard.
- Fast Action: Bends in the top third. Provides good sensitivity and power.
- Extra-Fast Action: Bends only at the very tip. This provides the ultimate sensitivity to detect light bites. It’s the best action for any jigging rod.
4. Rods for Specific Walleye Techniques
Trolling: Requires long, durable trolling rods (7’6″ to 8’6″+) with a more Slow Action to absorb the shock of strikes and handle the strain of planer boards.
Jigging: The #1 technique. Requires the most sensitivity. The ideal jigging rod is a 6’6″ to 7’0″ spinning rod with Medium-Light Power and an Extra-Fast Action. This setup is perfect for vertical jigging with minnows or casting light hair jigs.
Rigging (Lindy Rigs): The ideal rigging rod is often a bit longer (7’0″ to 7’6″) with a slightly softer tip (Fast Action instead of Extra-Fast) to allow walleyes to take the live bait without feeling resistance.
FAQ: Your Walleye Setup Questions Answered
Yes, many anglers prefer it. Braided line has zero stretch, which means you feel every single bite. The best setup is to use 10-15 lb test braid as your main line, then tie on a 3-4 foot leader of 8-12 lb fluorocarbon. The fluorocarbon is nearly invisible and provides some abrasion resistance.
A great all-around combo is a 7’0″ Medium-Light, Fast Action spinning rod paired with a 2500-size spinning reel. This setup can handle jigging, rigging, slip-bobbering, and casting most common walleye lures.
For jigging, 10 lb braid to a 10 lb fluorocarbon leader is a popular choice among NWT pros. For trolling, many still prefer 10-12 lb monofilament for its stretch, which acts as a shock absorber.
A 1/4 oz lead-head jig tipped with a live minnow has probably caught more walleyes than any other lure in history. Other staples include paddle tail swimbaits, jerkbaits, and crankbaits like the Rapala Shad Rap.
Conclusion
Walleye
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