There are several key qualities anglers need to consider when choosing the best musky fishing rods. Strength, durability, length, action, and versatility are just a few of the important attributes that make up a quality fishing rod. In this article we’ll take a deep dive into the world of musky rods and highlight the best musky fishing rods available for anglers today.
Best Musky Fishing Rods for Small to Medium Sized Baits
Musky anglers need a wide variety of baits to effectively fish for muskies all season long. In many instances, particularly when targeting pressured muskies, smaller baits tend to work better. The following rods are the best musky fishing rods for throwing smaller sized baits (under five ounces) like bucktails, topwater baits, and jerkbaits.
Thorne Bros Stealth Musky Rod: 10-foot/ Medium-Heavy
Thorne Bros Stealth Musky Rods are built on a one piece ten-foot ultra-sensitive blank and constructed from highest quality materials. The ten foot length makes precision casting and figure-8’s much easier. They come standard with 18” full cork rear grip and two different fore grip options. It’s offered with either a traditional Fuji bait cast seat or a Fuji palm seat. The 10-foot, medium-heavy Thorne Bros Stealth musky rod is incredible versatile and perfect for bucktails, topwater, and jerkbaits alike.
Legend Elite Musky Rod: 9-foot/ Medium-Heavy/ Fast Action
Simply a must-have for an avid musky angler the St. Croix’s Legend Elite musky rod in a 9-foot, medium-heavy power is one of the best musky fishing rods available. It’s lightweight and built with superior components allowing the angler to fish day in and day out without fatigue. Perfect for burning blades and working jerkbaits the St. Croix Legend Elite is truly one of the premier musky rods on the market.
Best Musky Fishing Rods for Big Baits
Big baits appeal to big muskies with big appetites, plain and simple. Magnum tubes, Bull Dawgs, Bondy baits, and Monster Medussas are just a few of the great big baits for muskies. Today’s premier muskie rods—particularly for throwing oversized baits—are generally between nine to ten feet in length. They feature a heavy to extra-extra heavy power which allows the angler to bomb heavy baits into the next hemisphere. The following is the best musky fishing rods that were designed to handle the biggest baits you can throw for muskies.
Thorne Bros. Predator Musky Rod: 10-foot/ Extra-Heavy
The Thorne Bros. Predator musky rod is one of the best musky fishing rods for throwing big baits. The Predator Musky Rod is incredibly tough, yet still lightweight allowing the angler to fish all day without fatigue. It is available in a variety of lengths and powers, however the ten-foot, extra-heavy is able to handle a majority of the big baits commonly used musky fishing. It’s perfect for working tubes, swimbaits, Bull Dawgs and oversized crankbaits.
Daiwa Prorex XT Musky Rod: 9-foot, 5-inch/ Extra-Heavy
Made to handle the strain of using big baits the Daiwa Prorex musky rod is a great option. There are four casting models to choose from, however the best for throwing big baits is the 9-foot, 5-inch, extra-heavy musky rod. The Daiwa Prorex musky rod line-up is built for the demands of hardcore muskie fisherman.
20/20 Chaos Tackle Assault Stick: 10-foot/ Extra-Extra Heavy
Chaos Tackle 20/20 Assault Sticks are telescoping rods made to withstand the constant strain from heavy rubber baits as well as the brute force from a musky. The 20/20 Assault Stick is available in a variety of sizes and powers, with the 10-foot, extra-extra heavy power being preferred for throwing giant baits for muskies. The 20/20 Chaos Tackle Assault sticks are made with some of the lightest, yet strongest blanks and materials money can buy. It’s truly a great musky rod for throwing big baits and the telescoping feature is very convenient when storing the rod.
Best Musky Fishing Rods for the Price
Shimano Compre Musky Rod: 9-foot/ Heavy / Fast
Priced under two-hundred dollars the Shimano Compre musky rod is a great option for those anglers looking to get the most out of their musky rod. The Compre Muskie rod series was designed for muskie anglers with dedicated purpose of landing more fish. It features an extra-long handle and premium SeaGuide XBG Zirconia guides. It’s available in a variety of lengths and powers, but the 9-foot, heavy power, fast action is the most universal rod in the Compre line-up.
Muskies are without a doubt the most expensive fish to target in freshwater. From rods, reels, tackle, and lures, musky fishing can get pricy in a hurry. The following are a couple of the best musky fishing rods that won’t break the bank but still provide great quality.
Okuma EVX Graphite Musky Rod: 8-foot 6-inch/ Heavy
Okuma EVX Graphite Musky Rod features a premium cork split grip configuration on standard models, but has a full cork rear grip configuration on “FG” models. All models of the Okuma EVX musky rods feature a contoured 5-1/2-foot cork fore grip. The telescopic feature makes for easy storage and longer casting distance. Priced around $150 the Okuma EVX Graphite musky rod is one of the best musky fishing rods available for the price.
St. Croix Musky Mojo: 8-foot 6-inch/ Medium-Heavy/ Fast
Priced around $250 the St. Croix Musky Mojo is a great option for anglers looking for a universal musky stick. Although there are a variety of powers, lengths, and actions; the 8-foot 6-inch, medium-heavy, fast action is the most universal in the Musky Mojo line-up. All of the rods are made out of a premium, high-modulus SCIII carbon and 3D guides with slim, strong aluminum-oxide rings and black frames. Backed by a five year warranty the St. Croix Musky Mojo is a one of the best musky fishing rods for a fair price.
Shimano Compre Musky Rod: 9-foot/ Heavy / Fast
Priced under two-hundred dollars the Shimano Compre musky rod is a great option for those anglers looking to get the most out of their musky rod. The Compre Muskie rod series was designed for muskie anglers with dedicated purpose of landing more fish. It features an extra-long handle and premium SeaGuide XBG Zirconia guides. It’s available in a variety of lengths and powers, but the 9-foot, heavy power, fast action is the most universal rod in the Compre line-up.
Shimano Sojourn Musky Rod: 8-foot/ Heavy / Fast
Priced under a hundred dollars the Shimano Sojourn is available in two sizes and is a great musky rod for it’s price. Both of the Shimano Sojourn musky rods feature Aluminum Oxide guides to reduce line friction and increase line flow compared to traditional stainless-steel guides commonly used in rods within this price point. If you had to choose one out of the series I’d recommend the 8-foot, heavy power, fast action rod. This length and power allows you to fish a number of different presentations from blades, topwater baits, mid-sized rubber baits, and jerkbaits.
FAQ’s
1. What is the best line to use for muskies?
Heavy braided line typically between a sixty-five and eighty pound test.
2. What is the best length of rod for musky fishing?
Between seven and ten feet long.
3. Do I need a leader for musky fishing?
Yes, a heavy fluorocarbon or wire leader is necessary when musky fishing.
4. What is the size of the world record musky?
69 pounds, 11 ounces caught in the Chippewa Flowage in Northern Wisconsin.
5. What is considered a trophy musky?
It can be dependent on what body of water you are fishing, but most anglers consider any fish over fifty inches a trophy.
