What makes the best musky rods? The rods need length, power, and performance. A rod too short limits casting distance. You need the right power for the lures. The rod’s performance covers casting and fighting the fish. The best rods cover all these aspects.
The price is a concern for many anglers. A high-priced rod will perform better. But, a rod has to be affordable. There are good to very good rods at moderate to low prices. You do not need to spend a lot for quality and performance in musky rods.
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The warranty and service need consideration also. The bigger manufacturers have warranties. As a result, if a rod fails, repair or replacement is available often. The manufacturers tend to replace the rods.
Suggested Rods
Choosing rods for muskies is a little different. In other types of fishing. A rod’s power is fairly equal with the lure ratings. Fishing for a musky, the rods come in many ratings. The rod has to match your lures for good performance.
Choosing the wrong rod is a common mistake in musky fishing. People buy the wrong length and power. This leads to poor casting. A short rod does not cast far. A figure eight or finishing move is harder also.
If the wrong power is picked. The rod does not load or will overload. A rod that does not load casts a shorter distance. If you overload a rod. It leads to inaccurate casts or the rod breaking.
Musky rods are all over the place with powers and lure ratings. You will see medium through extra heavy power models. A medium power musky rod is rated for 1/2 to 2 ounces. Medium-heavy rods may be 3/4 to 3 ounces while another is 1-8 ounces.
The numbers are different between manufacturers. Plus some models have different lure ratings for an extra heavy power rod. It runs 6-12 or 8-16 on one model by St Croix. You need to check the lure rating. Do not go by power alone buying musky rods.
Musky rods of the past were like pool cues. The rods were short and thick. Today’s rods are longer, thinner, and lighter in weight. There are few reasons to use a rod shorter than 7 1/2 feet. Most people use 8-9 feet rods. Plus, there are longer rods up to 10 feet.
A shore angler needs the shorter 7 1/2 to 8 feet models. A longer rod makes a figure 8 a little tough on the shore. A shorter person may like a 7 feet rod. Fishing in a boat, go with an 8 1/2 to 9 1/2 feet rod. Try to use the longest rod for your situation. They give the best casting distance. Plus makes doing a figure 8 easier.
The handle length is a big factor also. You want a long handle for leverage when casting. It is hard to cast the heavier lures with a handle too short. Your forearms and wrists will get fatigued using a short handle. It also affects casting distance.
Often, an angler likely needs 2-3 rods if using a lot of different lures. A bucktail rod is lighter in power. Throwing big soft plastics often takes extra heavy power. There is not a do-it-all rod for muskies.
St Croix is well known for fishing rods. They have a large selection of musky rods also. All the models are good for muskies. It is finding the one fitting your needs.
The Mojo is not listed. The Mojo does have a telescopic butt. That is a nice feature. I do not see the extra cost as worth it. It is a good rod. But, the Premier is a better performing rod and the Triumph is lower cost.
If you want good performance go with a Premier. Looking to save money, a Triumph is a good choice. The longer lengths are very high priced also.
The Premier is the best of the affordable musky rods. The blank is responsive providing good casting action. The rod casts lures in its range well.
| Model | Handle | Line Rating | Lure rating | Guides | Pieces | Length | Power | Action | Weight |
| PM76MHF | 3 | 30-65 | 3/4-3 | 7+tip | 1 | 7’6″ | MH | Fast | 9.6 |
| PM76HF | 3 | 40-80 | 2-6 | 7+tip | 1 | 7’6″ | H | Fast | 9.4 |
| PM80MHF | 3 | 30-65 | 3/4-3 | 8+tip | 1 | 8′ | MH | Fast | 9.8 |
| PM80HF | 3 | 40-80 | 3-8 | 8+tip | 1 | 8′ | H | Fast | 10 |
| PM80XHF | 3 | 50-100 | 6-12 | 8+tip | 1 | 8′ | XH | Fast | 10.3 |
| PM86MHF | 3 | 30-65 | 3/4-3 | 8+tip | 1 | 8’6″ | MH | Fast | 10.4 |
| PM86HF | 3 | 40-80 | 3-8 | 8+tip | 1 | 8’6″ | H | Fast | 10.6 |
| PM86XHF | 4 | 50-100 | 6-12 | 8+tip | 1 | 8’6″ | XH | Fast | 11.8 |
| PM90XHF | 5 | 50-100 | 8-16 | 1 | 9′ | XH | Fast | 14.6 |
The options range from 7’6″ to 9 feet in length. Powers range from medium-heavy to extra heavy. There is a model that fits your needs in lure weights.
Pros
Cons
The one con is a minor thing. The rod has a lower number of guides. Adding 1-2 guides would have blank flex more uniform when fighting a fish. It is okay as it is with the guides. My experience shows a few more guides are a better aspect.
The Triumph is a popular choice for beginners. The rod is a lower price than the Premier. The performance is similar except for lighter lures. The heavy models do not load well in the lower part of the rating.
| Model | Handle | Line Rating | Lure Rating | Guides | Pieces | Lengths | Power | Action | Weight |
| TRM70MHF | 3 | 30-65 | 3/4-3 | 7+tip | 1 | 7′ | MH | Fast | 7.2 |
| TRM70HF | 3 | 50-100 | 3-8 | 7+tip | 1 | 7′ | H | Fast | 8.5 |
| TRM76MHF | 4 | 30-65 | 3/4-3 | 7+tip | 1 | 7’6″ | MH | Fast | 9.0 |
| TRM76HF | 4 | 40-80 | 2-6 | 7+tip | 1 | 7’6″ | H | Fast | 9.1 |
The 7’6″ rod is the better choice. The length does cast farther. The medium-heavy is a low-power rod. It is fine for inline spinners, small jerkbaits, and small crankbaits.
The heavy power is good for topwater and lures weighing 3-4 ounces or more. The rod is a bit stiff and is not well suited to lures weighing under 2 ounces.
Pros
Cons
The rod has a lot going for it. The con is the stiffness making lighter lures fail to load the rod. As a result, you will find the lighter lures will not cast as far.
The Okuma EVX is an overperformer at its price. The rod is lightweight. Also, it loads easily at the lower end of the lure rating. This is rare in many musky rods, it throws bucktails well.
| Model | Foregrip Length | Handle | Line rating | Lure rating | Guides | Pieces | Rear-grip length | Rod length | Power | Acton | Weight |
| EVX-C-861H-TB | 5-1/2″ | A | 30-65 LBS | 2~8 OZ | 10 + TIP | 1-TELE | 16″ | 8′ 6″ | H | MF | 10.5 |
| EVX-C-861XH-TB | 5-1/2″ | A | 50-100 LBS | 4~12 OZ | 10 + TIP | 1-TELE | 16″ | 8′ 6″ | XH | MF/F | 11.8 |
| EVX-C-861XXH-TB | 5-1/2″ | A | 65-130 LBS | 4~16 OZ | 9 + TIP | 1-TELE | 16″ | 8′ 6″ | XXH | F | 13.4 |
| EVX-C-931H-TB | 5-1/2″ | A | 50-100 LBS | 2~10 OZ | 10 + TIP | 1-TELE | 16″ | 9′ 3″ | H | MF/F | 12.3 |
| EVX-C-931XH-TB | 5-1/2″ | A | 65-100 LBS | 4~16 | 10 + TIP | 1-TELE | 16″ | 9′ 3″ | XH | MF/F | 13.7 |
| EVX-C-761H-TB | 5-1/2″ | A | 30-65 LBS | 1-8 OZ | 8 + TIP | 1-TELE | 14″ | 7′ 6″ | H | MF | 7.9 |
| EVX-C-761XH-TB | 5-1/2″ | A | 50-100 LBS | 4-12 OZ | 8 + TIP | 1-TELE | 14″ | 7′ 6″ | XH | MF | 8.9 |
| EVX-C-761XXH-TB | 5-1/2″ | A | 65-130 LBS | 4-16 OZ | 8 + TIP | 1-TELE | 14″ | 7′ 6″ | XXH | MF | 9.7 |
| EVX-C-861XHT-FG | 5-1/2″ | B | 50-100 LBS | 4~12 OZ | 10 + TIP | 1-TELE | 16″ | 8′ 6″ | XH | MF/F | 12.6 |
| EVX-C-931XHT-FG | 5-1/2″ | B | 65-100 LBS | 4~16 | 10 + TIP | 1-TELE | 16″ | 9′ 3″ | XH | MF/F | 14.5 |
The rod has plenty of good options. I would suggest going a little heavier in the lure rating. The rod loads easily and casts well with the light lures.
The issue is heavier lures in the range. The one heavy model rates 1-8 ounces. It will cast up to 5 ounces well. Lures weighing 7-8 tend to cause an overload feeling.
Pros
Cons
The telescopic butt section is a great feature. You can slide the blank down a foot or so into the handle section. This makes storage easier with the long length of musky rods.
The rod is a good performer. The fact it is a little soft with heavier lures is not a surprise. Having used many rods, I find that rods perform better in the lower, middle, or higher part of the lure rating. This depends on the manufacturer.
The Prorex is a newer rod for musky fishing. You get a rod that handles higher lure weights. It comes with a telescopic butt. You can slide the blank down into the handle a foot for storage. A rod under 8 feet is easier to store and transport.
| Model | Line rating | Lure rating | Guides | Pieces | Length | Power | Action |
| PXM761THRB | 30-50 | 15 | 10 | 1-tele | 7’6″ | H | R |
| PXM861TMHRB | 25-40 | 13 | 10 | 1-tele | 8’6″ | MH | R |
| PXM861THRB | 30-60 | 15 | 10 | 1-tele | 8’6″ | H | R |
| PXM951TXHRB | 30-60 | 18 | 10 | 1-tele | 9’5″ | XH | R |
The rod has few options. They do come in good length to fit any angler’s needs. If using lighter lures the medium-heavy is a better choice. A heavy or extra heavy likely will not load well with the lighter lures.
Pros
Cons
I was unable to find one for testing. It is a newer model and many shops do not carry the rod yet. This is not a bad thing.
Shimano has two rods available in the affordable price range. The one is moderate in price, while the other is a budget model. The higher price model is a big step up in quality and performance.
A Compre is not as well known as the other rods. It does provide very good performance. The lack of more options kept it from being the best on the list. That said, the options are adequate for most anglers.
| Model | Line rating | Lure rating | Pieces | Length | Power | Action |
| CPCM76MHJ | 40-65 | 3/4-2 | 1 | 7’6″ | MH | Fast |
| CPCM80HJ | 65-100 | 3-8 | 1 | 8′ | H | Fast |
| CPCM80XHJ | 80-100 | 2-12 | 1 | 8′ | XH | Fast |
| CPCM86XHJ | 80-100 | 6-12 | Tele | 8’6″ | XH | Fast |
| CPCM90HTJ | 65-100 | 3-8 | Tele | 9′ | H | Fast |
| CPMTR80HJ | 40-80 | 1-8 | 1 | 8′ | H | moderate |
The rods come in the popular length and good powers. The 9′ rod is an all-around rod with a 3-8 lure rating. It works with most of the lures people throw. Rods over 8 feet in length have a telescopic butt.
Pros
Cons
A Compre performs above expectations at a good price. It is worth the few extra dollars for the serious angler. Rods costing less do not have the performance of the Shimano Compre.
The Sojourn is an entry-level or budget rod for musky. It is an affordable rod for any budget. If you are starting musky fishing, the rod does the job.
| Model | Line Rating | Lure rating | Pieces | Length | Power | Action |
| SJCM70HB | 20-50 | 1-3 | 1 | 7′ | H | Fast |
| SJCM70MHB | 20-50 | 1/2-2 | 1 | 7′ | MH | Fast |
| SJCM76MHB | 50-80 | 3/4-9 | 1 | 7’6″ | MH | Fast |
| SJCM80HB | 65-100 | 2-10 | 1 | 8′ | H | Fast |
| SJCM80XHB | 65-100 | 2-12 | 1 | 8′ | Xh | Fast |
| SJCM86XXHB | 80-100 | 6-16 | 1 | 8’6″ | XXH | Fast |
There are good options with the rod. A few are on the lighter side and one is heavy in power. The 7 1/2 to 8 feet models fit the all-around use. An all-around rod is better for less experienced anglers.
Pros
Cons
A great rod for beginners or casual anglers. You can also use it as a backup if you want an extra rod. It is the best low-cost rod for musky fishing.
The Predator is on the list based on price and options. This is an entry-level rod. The rod is nice for beginners and as a backup. If your budget is extremely tight, it is an option.
The 12 options have good lure and line ratings. It comes in good lengths from 7″6″ to 9 feet. The powers go from medium-heavy to extra-heavy also. The con is the rod suffers a bit in quality. At such a low price, it is expected to be of lower quality.
These rods fit the needs of musky anglers. Add the reel of your choice for a solid setup. The better rods will cast better and have more options. The lower-cost rods make starting out easier on the wallet.
You have options with the reel you choose also. The best tend to cost more. Yet there are low-price options for casual or beginner anglers.
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