{"id":3313,"date":"2022-03-13T17:18:29","date_gmt":"2022-03-13T17:18:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gofishingoutdoors.com\/?p=3313"},"modified":"2023-06-27T23:12:26","modified_gmt":"2023-06-27T23:12:26","slug":"the-best-fishing-rods-for-soft-plastics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gofishingoutdoors.com\/the-best-fishing-rods-for-soft-plastics\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Fishing Rods for Soft Plastics – 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
Soft plastics are one of my favorite ways to catch bass. From worms to craws, flukes to swimbaits, sot plastics are some of the most lifelike baits you can use. They\u2019re almost always guaranteed to get bites when other hard plastics won\u2019t.<\/span><\/p> So you should devote one fishing rod in your arsenal just to soft plastics if you can. Thankfully, most soft plastics fish very similarly so having one all-around rod for your soft plastics is very doable, from beginner to professional.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> Below are 5 great rod choices for your soft plastic rod and then some information on why the specifications are ideal for soft plastics.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t If I had to pick the best rod at a reasonable price to use for soft plastics, it would be the Fenwick HMG Spinning Rod – HMGPX70M-FS.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> Fenwick has long been an underappreciated brand in the fishing industry. They were on the forefront of innovation when the graphite rod was created years ago and they continue to provide high quality fishing rods year after year. For the price, it\u2019s hard to beat a Fenwick Rod.<\/span><\/p> The HMG in particular is a great offering because it is constructed with spiral carbon wrapping – making it more durable but still nice and light to use. Line guides are updated from standard stainless steel guides to Fuji guides – making it more sensitive. The cork grip is also easy on the hands and is more comfortable to handle than felt for most anglers. And it comes with a limited lifetime warranty!<\/span><\/p> Those features and more are what make the Fenwick HMG the perfect soft plastic rod. The guides help with sensitivity so you can feel even the lightest of bites when fishing something like a plastic worm. The strength from carbon wrapping is helpful to pull a bass from brush or get unstuck from a rock without breaking anything.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> I haven\u2019t found many rods that can match the Fenwick at this price point, and the HMGPX70M-FS would be my #1 choice for soft plastics.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t If you don\u2019t have $100 to put on a fishing rod, you might want to look at the entry level Bass Pro rod – Bass Pro Shops Graphite Series Spinning Rod – GRS70MS.<\/span><\/p> You\u2019re going to sacrifice the carbon wrapping, upgraded guides, and overall enhanced features that something like the Fenwick HMG provides. But in return you get a rod that will work well for a long time for only $35. Is it going to impress your fishing buddies? Probably not. But it will absolutely put fish in the boat.<\/span><\/p> Unlike many rods at this pricepoint, the Graphite Series from Bass Pro is made from complete graphite construction which makes it durable and sensitive. It even has a full cork grip which puts it above competitors like the Ugly Stik at this price. My father has had a Graphite Series rod and has put it to use over several years. Usually a cheap rod will have the reel seat come unscrewed, guides break off or chip. The Graphite Series has held up more like a $100 rod.<\/span><\/p> If you are budget-conscious – there is nothing wrong with the Bass Pro Shops Graphite Series GRS70MS. There are better options available though that will keep you happy for years and be much lighter, more sensitive, and durable.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t I recommended spinning rods with the best overall because I believe it is more versatile – something we will get into below. But baitcasters can make great soft plastics rods too if you get one that can handle the lightweight and sensitivity soft plastics can require.<\/span><\/p> For me, there isn\u2019t a better option than the St. Croix Bass X rods when it comes to meeting this need. And the BAC71MF in particular will make a great all around soft plastic rod.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> Bass X rods are the closest competitors to the Fenwick HMG rods in my opinion – with a solid graphite blank coated in two layers of Flex-Coat to prevent breakage. It also has an upgraded Fuji reel seat, aluminum rod guides, The handles are not only cork, but split grip which makes the rod lighter overall while providing great feel.<\/span><\/p> St. Croix is perhaps the most well-respected vendor in bass fishing rods as well, so you get a trusted brand to boot. For $120, it\u2019s one of the best rods you can buy. But only comes with a 5-year warranty, so durability may be a concern.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\tBest Overall<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
Fenwick HMG Spinning Rod - HMGPX70M-FS<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Best Budget<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
Bass Pro Shops Graphite Series Spinning Rod - GRS70MS<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Best Baitcaster<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
St. Croix Bass X Casting Rod - BAC71MF<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Best if Price is Not a Concern<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
G.Loomis Greenwater Spinning Rod -
GWPR843S<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t