You want to start steelhead fishing, but don’t know which rod will fit your needs while staying within your budget. Rogue Rods, Fenwick, G-Loomis, and St. Croix are some of the many choices out there for bait/lure steelheaders. This article will try to assist with making that choice easier.

The two most important questions that you will need to answer are “how much will I use the rod” and “how much can I spend”?  With rods ranging from $75 to over $300, the answer to the above questions will really help you decide how much to spend.  There are several good rods out there for the occasional steelheader that will perform well without spending too much. For those of you that are lucky enough to spend many hours on the river, or have enough money to afford a top of the line rod, you can definitely invest in the advantages that higher quality rods offer.

I believe that the four rods listed below will satisfy most steelhead fishing needs, whether it’s price, quality, or both.

1)      Fenwick HMX 2-Piece Spinning Rod at $99.95

This fast-taper, fast-action IM7 graphite rod offers light weight, and quick hookset ability at a very reasonable price. This particular rod has a line weight from 4-15lbs that will allow you good feel and enough back bone to land most smaller steelhead. Along with the above mentioned qualities, Fenwick is a well known manufacturer that stands behind the rods that they manufacture. This rod is a great value for the steelhead fisherman that is getting in the sport, but might not have the budget to spend on the higher priced rods.

2)  St. Croix Wild River 2-Piece Spinning Rod at $150

This premium quality SC graphite rod gives you outstanding strength and sensitivity. With medium/heavy power, and fast action this 8-17lb line weight rod will land many different size steelhead on various sized rivers. St. Croix rods definitely can be considered as a best bang for your buck rod. This rod is reasonably priced for a quality rod.

3)        Rogue Rods 9’6” Steelhead Rod  at $233

In my opinion, this rod manufacturer offers top quality rods that perform with the best manufactured rods out there, while not priced as high as some of the other top of the line rods.  This 8-17lb medium power moderate action will allow you the feel to hook 5lb steelhead, and the back bone land a 20lb monster.  Backed with Rogue Rods quality hand made manufacturing process, and guarantee against defect in materials and workmanship, this rod will land steelhead for a lifetime. Visit www.diggsoutdoors.com to view additional details on this rod and all rods manufactured by Rogue Rods.

4)  G-Loomis Steelhead Series Rod at $350

For those of you that the ability to spend the money on a great steelhead rod, G-Loomis offers rods that are at the top of the line.  This 8-17lb line weight medium power fast action rod gives you the ability to catch almost any steelhead out there. A combination of feel, power, and quality really make this rod a great product for the avid steelheader. 

In closing, if you can afford to purchase a Rogue or G-Loomis rod, then you will definitely be on the river with the best stick out there. But, if you choose one of the lesser priced rods above, you will still get a decent rod that will perform relatively well in most cases. Good luck and good steelheading.  See you on the river.

Samuel Diggle

www.diggsoutdoors.com