Find your spinning rod at West Marine.

Spinning rods are used for active styles of fishing, where the angler casts and retrieves the bait or lure frequently. Compared to conventional rods, they tend to be lighter and are equipped with graduated ring guides that reduce friction on the line as it passes to and from the reel. Spinning rods also tend to be light, sensitive and ergonomic, with features like cork grips and a long butt that support active fishing techniques.

Spinning Rod Lengths

Spinning rods typically range from about five and one half to around seven feet in length—although surfcasters use much longer spinning rods so they can clear rocks or the surf line when they cast. The action of a spinning rod is mainly governed by its taper, or how fast the rods diameter changes from thick to thin. If you see a rod you like in a West Marine store, give it a wiggle. Rods that bend more toward the top are better for casting and offer greater sensitivity to feel the fish.

Spinning Rod Materials

Spinning rods can be made of fiberglass, graphite or a composite of fiberglass and graphite. Fiberglass rods are the most economical and are a good compromise between performance and price. Graphite is lighter, stiffer and more sensitive than fiberglass, but at a higher price. Composite rods are a third option. They combine the advantages of fiberglass and graphite without the high price of a pure graphite rod.

Match the reel to the rod.

Of course using a spinning rod requires a spinning reel. When selecting a spinning reel for a spinning rod (or vice versa) make sure the two match (are “balanced”) in terms of the line class for which they are designed.

Spinning Rod Brands

At West Marine, you will find premium spinning rods from companies like Daiwa, Penn, Pflueger, Shimano and Okuma.

For more help choosing the right rod for you, check our article on 9 of Our Most Popular Saltwater Fishing Rods