Best spinning rod for rainbow trout

The best spinning rod for rainbow trout in put and take is a light-to-medium rod of 6 to 8 feet with a casting weight around 5 to 20 grams, matched with a spinning reel in size 2000–2500. As a ready-made set the rod and reel are already matched to each other, which makes it the safest choice for beginners. Below we go through what to look for, not individual brands, so the choice holds whichever set you land on.

Our pick

Aim for a light-to-medium model (casting weight around 5–20 g) of 2.10–2.40 m for stocked rainbow trout. Avoid heavier pike-class rods.

• Best for most people – Shimano FX XT (4.5★). A light spinning rod for trout and perch, perfect for put and take. Choose length 2.10–2.40 m. See price on Amazon
• Step up – Shimano Catana FX (4.5★). A stiffer quality rod when you want a bit more feel and casting distance. See price on Amazon

Complement with a reel in size 2000–2500, see best spinning reel, or take a ready starter kit.

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How you choose – checklist

1. Length 6–8 feet. Versatile for bank and jetty. See choosing a spinning rod for the details.
2. Casting weight about 5–20 g. Covers small spinners up to spoons. Check that your lures sit in the range.
3. A spinning reel 2000–2500 with a soft drag. Rainbow trout runs, and a smooth drag saves the leader.
4. The right line. Thin main line for ordinary fish, a fluorocarbon leader in clear water.
5. Avoid pike class. Heavy rods with a casting weight of 40–80 g make playing dull and feel clumsy with small baits.

What to spend the money on

If you have a limited budget, put it on a reel with a smooth drag and the right size class rather than on a dear rod blank. A keenly priced mid-range rod catches rainbow trout as well as a dear one. A stuttering drag or a rod that is too heavy shows at once, already on the first fish. In other words: a cheap blank with a good reel beats a dear blank with a bad reel.

Price bands and what you get

A simple spinning set often costs from a few hundred kronor up to a little over a thousand. In the lower part you get working gear to try, but very cheap sets sometimes have a reel with a stiff drag that you will soon want to change. Sit in the middle layer if you know you will fish a fair bit, so the set lasts longer and feels more enjoyable to fish with. Also count in a little line, leader and a small bait selection on top of the set itself.

Set or parts

A ready-made spinning set where rod and reel belong together, often with line already on the spool, is cheapest and safest to start with. Buy parts separately only when you know exactly what you want to upgrade, for example a more sensitive reel or a rod with a different action. Then you build on something that already works.

Get started

Once the set is in place: choose lures for rainbow trout, learn the basics in spin fishing and read the beginner’s guide for fishing permit, bite times and how a put-and-take day works.