Trout is one of the most common fish species found in the lakes and rivers across the world. They’re so abundant in population that trout fishing is a proper sport that’s played in the USA and different parts of the world.
Therefore, one essential for fishing trout is the spinning rod and reel combo. If you don’t have a rod and reel combo, you have no chance of catching the trout. That’s why a seasoned angler would be perfectly well aware of the importance of a quality rod and reel combo. It’s by far the most important piece of equipment.
The rod and reel combo are specially engineered for catching trout. There’s great emphasis put into designing high-quality rods and reel combo. If you’re a fishing lover and looking for the best spinning rod and reel combo, you’re at the right place because we’ll assist you in this daunting task of yours.
How to choose a spinning rod and reel combo for trout?
As we’ve already established that rods and reels are the most important gear you’ll need while fishing a trout, the conditions and trout size should also be taken into consideration while deciding for a rod and a reel.
With the overwhelming variety of rods and reels available today, it is no doubt a headache while choosing one that fits your criteria. Thus, we will look at some important factors which would help us choose the best rod and reel.
Factors to look out for rod:
Power
Power is how much energy and strength are required to bend the rod. A rod power indicates how powerful, stiff, and thick it is. The spinning rod for catching trout is preferred because it allows the rod to bend easily while fishing.
For catching the majority of the trout, a rod between ultra-light and light action fishing rod is preferred. And if you’re looking for a large-sized trout, aim for the medium or heavy rod to maintain balance.
For instance for speckled trouts you need medium-light to medium rod.
Action
Rod’s action is its ability to provide flexibility when the pressure is applied on it. the sensitive the rod, the faster will be the action. You can easily feel when the trout bites more. If you’re deploying an ultralight spinning pole, try using a fast rod, you’d have the fun of the bending rod.
The slow rods are rather more sluggish. They don’t allow you to feel the sensitivity as does the fast rod. Slow rods are more likely to be used for medium-sized trout. They’re only helpful if you’re casting.
Length
Rod length affects both and power and action. Even the casting, too. The rod length ranges from 5-8ft but the ideal length is considered to be 6ft. Rods of this length allow better control while providing long enough cast and short enough to the trout when fishing.
Material
Rods are available in various varieties, but the main materials used for spinning rods are graphite, graphite and carbon, and fiberglass materials.
- Graphite rods are quite common and effective, not as expensive either. That’s why if you’re on a budget, you might want to look for the composite rod, it’s a mixture between fiberglass and graphite.
- The graphite carbon rod is much stronger and more sensitive. They’re bound to provide the fast action and strength which your rod needs. One of the best for a trout fishing rod.
- Fiberglass rods aren’t expensive, but they’re not strong either. compared to the other two, they’re better suited for slow action and are less sensitive.
Weight
The weight of the rod matters significantly. When you go out to fish trout, you usually have to sit all day long trying to cover as many pockets as you can. You would inevitably get tired. Therefore, what’s sensible is to opt for a lightweight rod to assist you better.
Factors to look out for reel
Drag strength
Drag strength refers to how much weight the reel is capable of pulling without losing or breaking while catching the trout. Drag strength is directly proportional to the weight of your catch.
Trout ranges from 2-8 pounds so you should look for a reel with 8 pounds of drag strength. Look for greater drag strength if your catch is a bigger size. Plus, a 2500-reel size is preferable for greater variety.
Construction
Since the reel is an important part of the gear, so is its construction. One should make sure that while buying a reel, it is rust-free because the chances of your reel catching rust are quite high.
Two types of the reel are preferred: graphite and aluminum. The former is for a lightweight feel and the latter is preferred for the durability it provides.
Ball Bearings
Ball bearings play their role in turning the reel smoothly. They’re a necessity while casting and retrieving. You should look for quality ball bearings to avoid debris and dirt. Remember: quality is better than quantity.
Gear Ratio
Another important aspect is gear ratio; that is how many times would a spool turn with one push of the handle. A gear with a low ratio would allow more power and action on the retrieval while the gear with a high ratio would retrieve the catch faster. Therefore, for fishing trout, gear ratios between 4:1-6:1 are considered good.
What is the best Rod and Reel combo for trout?
Deciding for the best rod size and reel can be a tough task for an individual. It solely depends on what type of species you’re targeting. For catching trout, you can’t go wrong with a rod that’s over 6″ in size and a reel size of 2000.
Trout ranging from 2-8 pounds with the above can be easily retrieved making the quality of this combo is undeniable.
KastKing Crixus – Our Pick
KastKing is one of the major brands that stand out among many. It manufactures fishing rod reels, lines, and fishing tackle management products of the highest quality. The one thing I can guarantee you about the KastKing fishing products is that you’ll find them to be inexpensive; fitting your economic needs.
Among the KastKing’s fishing line, they have a variety of rods and reel combos available in KastKing casting rods, KastKing spinning rods, and KastKing resolute fishing rods.
In this part of our article,mod we’re going to focus on the best spinning rod and reel combo, and I believe KastKing Crixus 6ft model is the one to look for. It is also our Editor’s pick. This model comes with authentic and efficient features which will provide the angler with the long-lasting durability it’s looking for.
The Crixus is a great choice for anglers of all levels with good skills who are looking to purchase a quality rod and reel combo for less money. Apart from the money factor, the rod and reel come with premium features to suit the angler’s needs in different circumstances.
Moreover, the KastKing Crixus rod and reel combo is considered one of the most popular quality rod and reel combo for its all-around ability to catch a wide variety of fish species. let’s look at the specifications with which this popular rod and reel combo come to see why it is widely used by so many great anglers.
If you want to fish like a gladiator, you should trust the spinning and baitcasting reels of this exceptional combo. The Crixus features a fishing reel that is lightweight providing great agility in terms of moving around and bending the rod. The rod has infused carbon flames with aluminum spools to prevent it from catching any rust; making it more durable secure.
The Graphite IM6 rods are designed to deliver consistent performance for long-term usage. The colorful 2-pc black rods are just as sensitive and effective for the anglers out there.
Upon going through many questions and reviews from the review section, we found that the Superpolymer handles are extremely comfortable and slip-resistant. Besides this, the KastKing uses quality stainless steel guide frames along with the Zirconium oxide ring that makes the casting easier and smoother.
Looking at the positives, the PTS technology makes the Crixus one-piece performance model while there are several combos still some models out there operating on two-piece models for storage. When it comes to the weight of the rod, people are skeptical, and rightly so, too. This Crixus is a 6-feet medium-sized rod that weighs 17.2lbs is deemed perfect for saltwater and freshwater fishing. The weight of the rod allows the anglers to not get tired even if they have to fish for long hours.
One more thing there is to like about this Crixus model is that it has non-slip rod handles which makes it easier to control the equipment while casting. Another feature that comes in handy is the reel size of 2,000 that makes it convenient to catch trout over decent distances considering that the rod is lightweight.
However, the customers have complained about the poor quality of the Crixus rod. Since the rod is extremely lightweight, if put under extra pressure, the chances of rod snapping increase. Other than this, it’s just about how you take care of the rod and reel combo and you’re set for long-term use.
For the price of $79, you can’t go much wrong with this beautiful and feature-packed spinning rod and reel combo.
Good Alternatives
Abu Garcia Max X
It wouldn’t be against the odds to say that Abu Garcia fishing combos are one of the underrated ones out there. They’re proven for their excellent quality over the long-term usage. Not only are they reliable, but they’re also durable because of everlasting bailing and efficient for casting farther with fewer wind knots.
Let’s quickly go through its specs before we find out what the buyers have to say about this combo. The 6ft lightweight rod is made of graphite to provide durability. It has a polymer comfort grip to prevent slippery issues, and with it comes the Abu integrated reel seat.
The Garcia rod has three ball bearings and one roller bearing to provide smooth and hiccup-free operation during the casting. And the machine aluminum rods provide great strength for longer operation without putting extra weight on the combo.
When we looked at the positives, the Abu Garcia rod and reel is highly adored by its customers because of the perks it comes with. According to the customers, the combo has medium-fast action because of the lightweight rod and 2,000-reel size. The reel size in particular assists perfectly well to provide smooth reliable casting and retrieving experience for the anglers.
One thing liked so far about the combo is that with this simplistic yet reliable setup, you can easily give this to your kids for fishing trout.
A negative that’s found common between the Abu Garcia and all the other rod and reel combos are is the rod snapping if you hit a tree or something while casting in the woods. This mishap can happen with a small lapse in concentration so better look out for your rod to avoid the damage.
KastKing Centron
As mentioned earlier, the KastKing spinning rod and reel combo are long famous for their exceptional delivery of performance and value for fishers and anglers. Looking at this KastKing Centron spinning rod and reel combo, it is ideal and budget-friendly for those looking to catch trout in freshwater.
The spinning rod and reel combo are designed with IM6 graphite blank which is capable of providing exceptional sensitivity and valuable performance for long hours. This Centron combo is consists of a 6ft rod size that is lightweight and provides swift action.
KastKing provides various reel options but this one comes with a 2000-reel size that deems to be perfect for trout who weigh between 2-8 pounds. Moreover, the Centron combo has a 5.2:1 gear ratio and 9+ 1 Max Dur ball bearings for providing a smooth and swift reeling experience.
Always interesting to know what the customers have to say about the overall quality of the combo. Many of them praised the balance of the combo which is a massive help when it comes to casting and retrieving.
Customers have been raving about the combo’s ability to manage the pressure that comes from a big fish. The Centron is capable of tackling the fish species like Brass and trout with ease, so if you’re looking to take your kids out on a fishing day, don’t hesitate for a second!
As much as some are happy with the combo, well, some aren’t. Those who aren’t are unhappy with the rod’s quality to match the fast action it provides. They’ve experienced rod breakage while catching a large-sized fish.
Nevertheless, the combo is ideal for smooth and risk-free fishing. If you’re looking to buy this one, our experience suggests that you won’t go wrong with this combo.
Zebco 33
Zebco is one of those brands that needs no introduction It is recognizable because of the reputation it has built over the years by producing excellent quality rod and reel combos to facilitate the anglers out there.
The Zebco 33 spinning rod and reel combo are lauded as one of the true classical combos when it comes to the all-around fishing experience. Not only is the combo effective with its performance, but it is inexpensive as well.
The Zebco 33 model is made to look wonderful in the hands of skilled and experienced anglers, but that’s not to say the young fishermen out there can’t use it, it’s for all age groups. That is why it automatically becomes a convenient choice for many.
This spincast 6ft 2-pc pole comes with a 2000-reel size to provide fast action and medium power which is considered ideal for catching a variety of trout. The 4.1:1 gear ratio allows smooth retrieving while the MicroFine dial-adjustable drag can help stop your handle from moving backward to create a solid hookset.
Interestingly enough, some have praised the combo and some had an issue or two with it. For beginners, the Zebco 33 combo is ideal. With its drag adjustment having a short learning curve, the gear becomes simple to use. the lightweight combo with its fast action and medium power has impressed people.
However, one negative aspect that’s caught my eye is the reel not being able to cast for more than 6ft. And it’s not just the reel; some customers have dealt with the snapping of the rod while catching a heavier fish.
Nonetheless, when you weigh the positives against the negatives, despite the common rod snapping issues, there isn’t much to pay heed to. The Zebco 33 combo is an ideal choice if you’re looking to learn to angle. With its compatible and smooth retrieving, you won’t be disappointed.
Conclusion
Trout fishing is considered one of the top fishing sports these days. They’re abundantly accessible in lakes and rivers which is why people, fishermen, in particular, target them.
To fish the trout, it is essential to ensure that you have the best spinning rod and reel combo that would assist you and make things a lot easier for you. While there are tons of rods and reels available, we decided to bring the best ones to you.
The spinning rods and reel combo of KastKing Crixus are considered one of the top choices of anglers for catching trout. And not just this one, but the KastKing Centron, Abu Garcia, and Zebco 33 are just as efficient and durable for catching trout.
Therefore, you decide to choose one wisely that not only best fits your criteria, but also delivers great value for money. We’ve provided you a worthy list to ease things for you.