Last Updated on June 30, 2022 by Ecorf
As a kayak angler, it is often the case that one tries to get the best out of kits for the price you bought them. This is called getting value for your money. Because of this, we are constantly in a search for kits that do really great work both onshore and offshore while still not costing too much.
Thankfully, brands that are into kayak kits manufacture know that that is what people mostly want; the right balance between price and functionality. And because we’re their market, the brands have no choice but to give us what we want.
There are a lot of casting rods in the market today that easily cost less than a hundred bucks. As expected, some of them are trash while some others are really great and this article is all about the great ones.
Here, you would not only find the best casting rods under $100, but there is also a short guide that tells you the important things to look out for when buying a casting rod for yourself.
Table of Contents
Short Guide
Things To Consider
When you’re looking to buy a new casting rod, except you are already a professional who isn’t need to stuff like this, there are some things Casting rods that you definitely need to know. These things are what make one casting rod different from or better than the other.
Material
This is often the first thing to consider when you’re buying stuff like this in general. And the main reason why the build material of your casting rod is to be considered is that it plays a huge role in the durability of the casting rod itself. Generally, the two main materials used in making the blunts of a casting rod are carbon-based materials, such as graphite and fibreglass, and aluminium oxide
Some materials can withstand the constant stress and strain from struggling with big catches more than others. In other words, some materials can take more beating better than others. So, you know that whatever casting rod you want o buy, it must be strong enough to not give up any time soon. In terms of durability, fibreglass-made blunts are better than graphite-made blunts.
Another thing that makes the build material of the casting rod worth considering is the way it sits in your grips. Some materials feel much more comfortable than the others when you hold them, but this largely depends on your own preferences.
Grip
You would be holding your casting rod for a long time when you go kayak fishing. So it only makes sense that your casting rod has grips that would be comfortable in your hands for as long as you keep holding it. The two main types of grips are cork grips and EVA foam grips.
The EVA foam grips is just a more sophisticated, modern grip. Even when it’s wet, it would still sit comfortably in your hands without threatening to slip off.
Power
This already makes sense to you, doesn’t it? But if it doesn’t, here it is. The make powerful your casting rod is, the better equipped it is in fighting bigger fish.
Generally, the power categories of casting rods are ultralight, light, medium and heavy. Ultralight is best used to catch really small fish while heavy does that heavy job if fighting bigger fish. But on the bright side for ultralight casting rods, they are more flexible, making them perfect for catching small but agile fish.
So when you consider the kind of fish that you would most likely encounter at your fishing spot, you begin to know what casting rod power would best handle the fishes there.
Weight
It goes without saying that the heavier your casting rod, the more uncomfortable you would feel, especially if you’re going to be carrying the rod for a long time. Although there are relatively heavy casting rod models, they are best left for professionals.
Reel Seat
As the name suggests, the reel seat is where the reel is attached to the rod. The stronger the reel seat is, the better the casting rod. Also, the reel seat must be positioned in such a way that it’s really easy to use.
Best Casting Rods Under $100
Ugly Stik Elite Casting Rod
Since 1979 when the first of this particular casting rod was produced, there haven’t been many other casting rods that beat it when it comes to affordability and durability. Every other year since 1979, this rod has been improved upon to make it remain one of the best among many other casting rods in the competitive market.
Ugly Stik Elite Casting Rod is known for its reliability, sensitivity and durability. It is made with fibreglass, a material that combines durability and lightness really well. Even the tip of the rod is made with fibreglass, effectively making this casting rod more sensitive to catches and stronger than many other casting rods.
Ugly Stik Elite comes with a cork grip to fit well into the hands of anyone that grabs a hold of it. It also manufactured in lengths ranging from 6 feet, 6 inches up to 7 feet. And all of these sizes come with the perfect action and power combination so that whoever uses them gets nothing but the best out of them.
To add to the already full list of great features that Ugly Stik Elite Casting Rods possess, each of them hasa warranty of a massive 7 years on them. I can tell you for sure that you would not find many other rods like this on the market.
Pros
- 7 years warranty definitely says a lot about the durability of the casting rods.
- Fibreglass material makes it light and very sensitive to the slightest bite.
- Fibreglass-made tips make them stronger than many other casting rods.
Cons
- Not really great for lightweight catches.
Abu Garcia Vengeance Casting Rod
Although this casting rod may not have the sophistication.of.many expensive casting rods, its simplicity and effectiveness largely make up for its sophistication deficiency.
The first thing that you notice the moment you grab this casting rod in your hand is that it is really light, thank to its 24-ton high modular lightweight blank. Also from just holding the rod, you would notice that it has an EVA foam grip. With this kind of grip, it is guaranteed to sir comfortably in your hand, irrespective of whether it is wet or you’ve been holding it for a really long time.
Its line guide is made of stainless steel and the inserts are made of titanium oxide. This alone is definitely something to beat. It also has an exposed blank reel seat for better feel and sensitivity.
The sensitivity-to-catch of the Vengeance casting rod is heightened by its blank-through reel seat. The rods come in 6 different sizes ranging from 6 feet 6 inches to 7 feet 7 inches. And the minimum power configuration that any of them has is medium levels, with some others even having a heavy power configuration.
Finally, the 3-year warranty placed on this casting rod is not only a testimony of the brand’s confidence in its durability, but it also makes you rest assured that you own a casting rod that would get damaged easily.
Pros
- Blank is made of really durable material
- Titanium oxide inserts and stainless steel line guide improves its durability
- Exposed blank reel seat makes it really sensitive even to the lightest bites.
- Affordable.
Cons
- Doesn’t really feel comfortable in long casts.
Falcon Rods HD Casting Rod
For about 25 years, Falcon has been one of the most popular brands when it comes to the production of casting rods, and rightly so. Any casting rod that bears their brand is known to the most durable and reliable among its peers. This HD casting rod isn’t any different.
With an exposed blank reel that helps the sensitivity of this casting to scrape the roof, you are sure to be able to feel the slightest tug from the smallest fish bite. Made completely out of graphite, the blank rests lightly and conveniently in the grip of the angler. Also, the grips of the casting rods are cork grips, guaranteeing you nothing but comfort.
The rod is available in sizes varying from 6′ 6″ to 7′ 6″ and also varying levels of action and power configuration. Generally, beginner level anglers would find this really easy, effective and comfortable to use. Furthermore, nothing boosts your confidence about a purchase better than a 5-year warranty.
Pros
- Quite sensitive
- Durable
- Lightweight
- 5-year warranty
Cons
- Only comes in 1-piece models.
- Not recommended for really strong catches.
My Pick
Of all the really excellent casting rods that I’ve mentioned in this article, the Abu Garcia Vengeance casting rod is my pick. I personally like this casting rod because it perfectly combines affordability and effectiveness. It may not have the sophistication or the massive warranties of the others, it still holds its own without any problems.
Conclusion
You don’t have to be discouraged anymore when you want to buy a casting rod and you find out that most of them are more expensive than you thought. In fact, there are still many other great casting rods under a hundred bucks that aren’t mentioned in this article. Just follow the guide And you would be good to go.
