8 Best Catfish Rods in 2022 – With Buying Guide & Comparisons

Catfish are absolute monsters—they are fierce and powerful fighters, and they can grow at an exponential rate. The largest catfish ever recorded was over 9 feet long and weighed 646 pounds. If you plan on catching a monster fish like this, you will need specialized equipment, first and foremost, a catfish rod. You probably also know that not any catfish rod will do—you need the best catfish rod that you can find in order to catch the largest catfish there is.

8 Best Catfish Rods - Comparisons

8 Best Catfish Rods - Reviews

Here are 8 of the best catfish rods of 2020.

The Ugly Stik Catfish Spinning Combo is part of Shakespeare’s Ugly Stik line which is known for its durability and toughness. This two-piece catfish rod features the brand’s durable Ugly Tuff stainless steel guides which make it easier to cast and retrieve the line, as well as their Clear Tip design, which makes the rod more sensitive. This catfish rod has over sized handle knobs to give you more fighting power when handling big catfish. The combo comes with a size 50 spinning reel that has a durable aluminum spool.

If you’re looking for a tough and affordable catfish rod, the Ugly Stik Catfish Spinning Combo is something you should definitely checkout.

The Battle Cat from Okuma is a professional-level rod that may be just what you need if you’re planning on catching tough catfish. The rod features a durable E-glass rod blank and double-footed stainless steel guides that will give you the confidence you need to conquer those hard-to-catch catfish. The fishing rod’s tenacious backbone delivers unwavering power for reeling in large fish. It has a comfortable EVA fore grip and cork rear grip which make it easier to control the rod. The Okuma Battle Cat Catfish Spinning Rod comes in 2 different sizes with different tensile strengths.

If you’re looking for a mean catfish fighting machine, you can’t go wrong with Okuma’s Battle Cat rods.

The Catfish Commando Fishing Rod from Abu Garcia was specifically designed for anglers who want a powerful pole with a superb performance. The 7-feet long catfish rod has a composite blank construction that makes it durable yet lightweight. It features heavy duty stainless steel guides and high-density EVA split grips that will hold up to the largest and most powerful catfish. The rod comes with a 5.1:1 gear ratio bait caster reel that has 2 stainless steel ball bearings and a Carbon Matrix hybrid drag system to ensure consistent and smooth drag across the entire drag range.

If you’re looking to catch catfish like a professional, take a look at this excellent rod and reel combo from Abu Garcia.

Also Read: Best Spincasting Rods – Spinning Rods Compared & Reviewed

This one-piece catfish rod from Shakespeare’s Ugly Stik line does extremely well in catching large catfish thanks to its virtually indestructible backbone. This one is a sensitive and flexible graphite composite rod that has durable stainless steel guides and comfortable split EVA grips to give you absolute control. It also has a glow-in-the-dark tip which is very useful when night fishing. This catfish rod comes at an affordable price.

If you’re looking to catch large catfish or if you’re planning to go fishing at night, you should definitely take a look at this tough Ugly Stik catfish rod.

The stunning SuperCat Casting Rod from Rippin Lips was designed by master catfisher John Jamison. This rod comes at 6 different lengths to handle different types of fish. The rod features a durable S-glass blank construction that has been developed specifically for fishing, making these rods stronger, lighter, and more durable than their E-glass counterparts. It has chrome-plated stainless steel guides with ceramic inserts that allow for smoother casting. The glow-in-the-dark tip makes this rod handy for night fishing, and its split EVA grip handles were designed to tame even the toughest of catfish.

The SuperCat Casting Rodfrom Rippin Lips is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a strong but lightweight catfish rod at a great price.

The Ugly Stik Catfish Round Combo consists of a 7-foot long fishing rod specifically designed to catch catfish. It features reinforced Ugly Tuff stainless steel guides that allow for a smooth cast, as well as a Clear Tip design which makes this fishing rod more sensitive. This catfish rod comes with a size 20 baitcasting reel that has 2 balls bearings and a double-padded aluminum handle for additional stability. Plus, as a nice little extra, the reel also has a bait clicker to help you catch more fish.

Check out this Ugly Stik Catfish Round Combo if you’re looking for an affordable and high quality catfish rig.

The Eagle Claw Catclaw Casting Rod was custom made to provide anglers with high performance and ease of use. This catfish rod hasa high quality E-glass blank for durability as well as 7 aluminum oxide guides for a smooth cast. The fishing rod features a graphite reel seat that provides stability and balance. Its soft EVA foam handles are comfortable and offer a firm grip.

If you’re looking for a powerful and flexible catfish rod that will last for a long time, you might want to give the Catclaw Casting Rod a try.

Also Read: Best Baitcasting Rods – Top Models After Thorough Tackle Test

Ready 2 Fish offers a great beginner’s catfish rig that contains everything you need to head out and catch some fish. The 7-feet catfish rod is made from fiberglass and comes with a graphite reel seat, chrome guides, a split EVA handle, and a high visibility tip. The included reel is a size 55 spinning reel that has 1 ball bearing and an aluminum spool. The fishing rod also comes with its own waterproof kit complete with all the bare necessities, such as treble hooks, weights, catfish worms, pole float, and a fish stringer—it even contains a “How to Fish” guide.

So if you’re just starting out and want to explore the joys of catfish fishing, this affordable rod and reel combo from Ready 2 Fish is probably your best bet.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for the best catfish rod, then we are sad to say that there isn’t one—in fact, all of these catfish rods are of superb quality and we really can’t decide which one is the best.

However, if you’re looking for the perfect balance between price and quality, then we highly recommend any of the models from Shakespeare’s Ugly Stik series—these rods are known for their durability and toughness, which are the two most important features that a catfish rod should have. While the rods offered in this series are not the cheapest,they aren’t really expensive either, especially if you consider their quality—they are a sensible middle ground with an unbeatable quality-price ratio.