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The Best Spinning and Lure Rods

By Alex Clayton · Updated 23 October 2026

The cheapest rod on the rack is often the wrong one for the job. A 20-60g rod won’t cast a 3g perch jig properly, and a 7-21g rod is out of its depth with a pike jerkbait. Choose a spinning rod by its casting weight (printed in grams just above the handle) and by the water you fish, and only then by budget.

UK anglers use “spinning rod” and “lure rod” for the same thing, so this guide treats them as one. UK retailers and the angling press put it roughly like this: about 5-20g for perch, small spinners and soft plastics, and about 10-60g for pike and zander lures. Around 7ft gives accuracy in tight swims, on canals and from boats; 8-9ft casts further and controls line better on open water.

Rod Best for Length / casting weight Around price (23 Oct 2026)
Savage Gear Revenge SG2 Medium Game All-round perch, zander, jacks 2.21m 7-23g or 2.51m 12-35g £54.99
Daiwa Prorex XR Spin Premium all-rounder Three models, 3-120g overall £109.99 to £199.99
Savage Gear Perch Academy Light Jig Perch on light jigs 2.15m 3-15g £69.99
Okuma Psycho Stick Ultralight and technique fishing 6ft6 to 9ft, 0.5-3.5g up to 30-60g From £64.99
Shimano FX XT Beginners on a budget 2.10m to 2.70m, 7-21g up to 20-50g From £26.99
Fox Rage Warrior Shad & Spin Canal zander and pike 2.10m 20-60g £43.99
Daiwa Wilderness Spin Lakes, reservoirs, wide rivers 8ft to 10ft, 5-35g up to 15-50g (11ft also listed) From £79.99
Westin W3 Powerlure Pike and zander 8ft or 9ft, 20-60g £100.99
Fox Rage Prism X Power Spin Boats and heavy lures 2.00m, up to 100g £89.99
Fox Rage Terminator X Multi Jigger Specialist zander jigging 2.4m 10-35g £189.99

Prices were checked across UK retailers on 23 October 2026 and move often. Fishing Session may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. It doesn’t change what we recommend.

These picks rest on published specs, UK retailer pricing and stock, and retailer and press reviews, not hands-on testing of every rod. Drop-shotting for perch on Windermere taught me that a light, sensitive tip matters more than I’d expected.

For big jerkbaits and lures well over 60g, go to the best pike rods and reels. For what to tie on the end, see our guide to lures, or browse the rest of our tackle buying guides.

1. Savage Gear Revenge SG2 Medium Game: Best All-Round Spinning Rod

Best for: one rod that covers perch, zander and jack pike on canals, rivers and lakes.

Spec: 2.21m (about 7ft 3in) 7-23g, or 2.51m (about 8ft 3in) 12-35g. 24+30T carbon, SiN guide rings.

Price: around £54.99 at the time of writing (lowest in-stock UK price tracked by eTackle, 23 October 2026). Check the current price before you buy.

Pick the right length and this one rod covers three species. The 2.21m 7-23g version is for canals, small rivers and perch, where a short rod lets you flick a small shad under far-bank cover. The 2.51m 12-35g model suits bigger water, zander and jacks, and takes heavier jig heads.

eTackle scores it 8.1/10, with 9.0 for value. Amazon UK buyers rate it 4.5/5, but from only 10 reviews, so treat that as a small sample.

Pair it with a 2500 or 3000 size reel, the lighter end of the 2500-4000 range eTackle suggests for most freshwater lure rods. Our spinning reel guide has matching options.

Pros

  • Two casting weights that cover most UK lure fishing for perch, zander and jacks
  • 9.0/10 value score from eTackle

Cons

  • The blank is a step below Savage Gear’s SG4 Medium Game
  • Not built for big pike or heavy jerkbaits

Best for: your first serious lure rod. Skip if: pike are your main target.

2. Daiwa Prorex XR Spin: Best Premium Lure Rod

Best for: anglers ready to spend on one high-end spinning rod.

Spec: three spinning models covering 3-120g between them. X45 carbon layering, Fuji Alconite K-guides, split cork handle.

Price: around £109.99 at the cheapest in-stock UK retailer on 23 October 2026, while other retailers listed the range at £199.99 the same day (eTackle). Check which model and length a price refers to, and compare before you buy.

On the same day, UK listings for this range ran from about £110 to £200. Shop around, because that gap would pay for a decent reel.

The parts list is the draw: X45 carbon layering, Fuji Alconite K-guides and a split cork handle. Angling Times named the Prorex XR Spin the best overall in its lure rod round-up.

There’s one gap in the range. Angling Times points out there’s no lighter, shorter model for drop-shotting, so ultralight anglers should look at the Perch Academy (item 3) or the Okuma Psycho Stick (item 4) instead.

Pros

  • Fuji Alconite K-guides, X45 carbon and split cork
  • Rated best overall by Angling Times
  • Three models spanning 3-120g

Cons

  • UK prices vary widely between retailers
  • No light, short option for drop-shotting

The verdict: the premium pick if you want one high-end predator lure rod, as long as you find it near the lower price.

3. Savage Gear Perch Academy Light Jig: Best Spinning Rod for Perch

Best for: finesse perch fishing with 3-15g jig heads and small soft plastics.

Spec: 2.15m (about 7ft), 3-15g, two-piece, progressive action, sensitive tip, SiN guide rings suited to braid and mono.

Price: around £69.99 at the time of writing (lowest in-stock UK price tracked by eTackle, 23 October 2026). Check the current price before you buy.

Stiff rods bounce perch off. eTackle’s reviewers mark the Fox Rage Prism X Power Spin (item 9) down as too stiff for small perch lures. A perch rod needs the opposite: a soft tip that lets a fish take the lure and keeps a small hook in.

The progressive action bends deep into the blank on a fish, and the sensitive tip shows small bites. On Windermere I’ve found perch around structure often want a slow, near-still presentation, and that’s where a soft tip earns its keep.

eTackle hasn’t published a scored verdict on this rod yet, so the pick rests on its spec. Match it with the best perch lures.

Pros

  • Casting weight matched to light jigs and small soft plastics
  • Sensitive tip and forgiving progressive action

Cons

  • No published retailer score yet
  • Too light for jacks and bigger shads

Quick comparison: if perch are only part of your fishing, the Revenge SG2 (item 1) is the better buy.

4. Okuma Psycho Stick: Best Ultralight Lure Rod Range

Best for: micro jigs, drop-shotting and light technique fishing.

Spec: 15 models from 6ft6 to 9ft, rated from 0.5-3.5g up to 30-60g.

Price: from around £64.99 at the time of writing (lowest in-stock UK price tracked by eTackle, 23 October 2026). Check the current price before you buy.

What does “ultralight” actually mean on a rod label? A casting weight in low single figures of grams, for tiny jigs, micro spinners and light line. The lightest Psycho Stick is rated 0.5-3.5g, and no other ultralight lure rod range here offers as many models.

Pick by rating, not name. The lightest ratings suit micro jigs and small perch, mid ratings cover general perch work and drop-shot, and the 30-60g end only makes sense if you also chase pike (the Westin W3 at item 8 is the better pike rod).

eTackle’s reviewers score it 8.1/10 and rate it a good technique rod for newer lure anglers; eBay buyers give it 4.8/5 from 33 reviews.

Pros

  • Widest spread of light and ultralight ratings here
  • 8.1/10 from eTackle and 4.8/5 from eBay buyers

Cons

  • The crisp blank is less forgiving with small trebles
  • Each model is specialist, so one won’t do everything

Recommendation: if you mostly fish micro jigs on canals, start with the lightest rating and add a second rod later if you need one.

5. Shimano FX XT: Best Budget Spinning Rod for Beginners

Best for: a first lure rod before you commit real money.

Spec: 2.10m 7-21g or 10-30g, 2.40m 10-30g, 2.70m 20-50g. Tough two-piece composite blank.

Price: from around £26.99 at the time of writing (lowest in-stock UK price tracked by eTackle, 23 October 2026, at Total Fishing Tackle). Check the current price before you buy.

This is the cheapest spinning rod in the list and the most reviewed: 4.4/5 from 489 reviews on Amazon UK. eTackle scores it 7.5/10.

Choose the length for your water. The 2.10m 7-21g model makes a good first perch and canal rod, the 2.40m 10-30g is the general first rod, and the 2.70m 20-50g suits bigger water.

The trade-off is feel. The composite blank has a soft through action, so it gives less feedback than carbon and you’ll feel bites and lure action less clearly. Expect to upgrade if lure fishing gets its hooks into you.

Before your first trip, you’ll need a rod licence to fish for freshwater fish in England and Wales. Our fishing licence guide explains who needs one.

Pros

  • Lowest price here and 489 Amazon UK reviews
  • Tough two-piece composite blank

Cons

  • Soft action dulls bite detection
  • Lowest retailer score in this list

Best for: beginners testing the water. Skip if: you already know you love lure fishing.

6. Fox Rage Warrior Shad & Spin 20-60g: Best Budget Rod for Canal Zander and Pike

Best for: zander and pike on canals and small rivers.

Spec: 210cm (about 7ft), 20-60g, two-piece, rod bag included.

Price: around £43.99 at the time of writing (lowest in-stock UK price tracked by eTackle, 23 October 2026). Check the current price before you buy.

Long rods are a nuisance under canal bridges and overhanging trees. eTackle notes that about 7ft gives accuracy in tight swims, and this rod puts a 20-60g rating into that short length for under £45.

That combination suits canal zander on shads and jacks on spinners, where you’re dropping lures tight to moored boats, reeds and bridge footings. eTackle scores it 7.8/10.

Don’t mistake it for a perch rod. eTackle’s reviewers find it too heavy for lures under about 20g, so it won’t cast or work small jigs properly.

If you’re targeting pike with it, fish a wire trace and carry long forceps or proper unhooking tools. Pike teeth cut through mono and fluorocarbon.

Pros

  • Short, powerful and cheap
  • Rod bag included

Cons

  • Basic build quality
  • Too heavy for lures under about 20g

The verdict: the budget pick for canal zander and pike, provided you leave perch to a lighter rod.

7. Daiwa Wilderness Spin: Best Longer Spinning Rod for Big Waters

Best for: bank anglers on lakes, reservoirs and wide rivers.

Spec: 8ft 5-35g, 9ft 10-40g, 10ft 15-50g, with an 11ft model also listed. Medium-fast HVF carbon, split cork.

Price: from around £79.99 at the time of writing (lowest in-stock UK price tracked by eTackle, 23 October 2026). Check the current price before you buy.

Why would a lure angler want a 10ft rod? Distance and line control. eTackle points out that longer rods cast further and manage line better over open water.

Match the length to the water. The 8ft model is the river and general-use option, while the 9ft and 10ft versions suit lakes and reservoirs where you’re casting out to drop-offs and weed edges. The blank is medium-fast HVF carbon, and eTackle scores it 8.1/10.

It isn’t flawless. eTackle’s reviews note that cork quality varies and some anglers find the rod stiff.

Pros

  • Lengths up to 11ft for open water
  • Casting weight rises with length, from 5-35g at 8ft to 15-50g at 10ft

Cons

  • Cork quality varies between rods
  • Some find the action stiff

Quick comparison: if you don’t need more than about 8ft, the Revenge SG2 2.51m (item 1) costs less and covers similar ground.

8. Westin W3 Powerlure: Best Mid-Price Pike and Zander Lure Rod

Best for: anglers who fish mainly for pike and zander with mid-sized lures.

Spec: 8ft or 9ft, 20-60g, medium-fast action.

Price: around £100.99 at the time of writing (lowest in-stock UK price tracked by eTackle, 23 October 2026). Only one UK shop had it in stock that day, so availability may be patchy. Check the current price before you buy.

A spinning rod handles pike if its casting weight covers your lures. Once you’re throwing big jerkbaits and lures heavier than about 60g, move up to a dedicated rod from our best pike rods and reels guide.

The W3 Powerlure sits right on that line. Its 20-60g rating covers mid-sized shads, spinnerbaits and smaller jerkbaits, and the medium-fast action gives the backbone to work and set hooks with them. eTackle scores it 8.3/10.

Pair it with a reel towards the 4000 end of the 2500-4000 range, and fish a wire trace for pike.

Pros

  • Dedicated 20-60g predator rating in 8ft and 9ft
  • 8.3/10 from eTackle

Cons

  • No 6ft or 10-11ft versions
  • Retailer listings disagree on the generation (2nd or 3rd edition), so check the exact model on the product page

Best for: pike and zander anglers using lures up to 60g. Skip if: you mostly fish for perch.

9. Fox Rage Prism X Power Spin: Best Short Rod for Heavy Lures and Boats

Best for: boat fishing and overgrown banks with heavy lures.

Spec: 200cm (about 6ft 6in), up to 100g, fast action, two-piece, 158g rod weight.

Price: around £89.99 at the time of writing (lowest in-stock UK price tracked by eTackle, 23 October 2026). Check the current price before you buy.

This rod is rated to 100g and weighs only 158g. Angling Times makes the point that weight and balance count for more than anything in a lure rod, because a rod you can’t hold comfortably all day is no use to you.

Short and powerful suits boats, and tight, overgrown banks where a longer rod catches every branch. When I’m lure fishing for pike from a boat on Windermere, a shorter rod is easier to manage: it stays clear of the gunwale and the net.

The fast action helps drive hooks home with heavy lures, and eTackle scores it 8.3/10. The flip side is that it’s too stiff for small perch lures and short for big waters.

Pros

  • Light for its 100g rating
  • Short enough for boats and tight banks

Cons

  • Too short for distance on big waters
  • Too stiff for small perch lures

Recommendation: buy it if you fish heavy lures from a boat or a snaggy bank; otherwise the W3 Powerlure (item 8) is more versatile.

10. Fox Rage Terminator X Multi Jigger: Specialist Pick for Zander and Big Perch

Best for: anglers who jig soft plastics for zander or big perch most sessions.

Spec: 2.4m (about 7ft 10in), 10-35g, IM9 40-ton carbon, Fuji Alconite guides.

Price: around £189.99 at the time of writing (lowest in-stock UK price tracked by eTackle, 23 October 2026), with only one shop in stock that day. Check the current price before you buy.

The highest-scoring rod in this list is the one most readers shouldn’t buy. eTackle gives it 8.5/10, the top score here, and the spec explains why: IM9 40-ton carbon and Fuji Alconite guides built for jigging.

The catch is the job description. eTackle’s own reviewers call it a big spend for one job and suggest the Savage Gear SG4 Medium Game as more versatile. The fast action also gives less cushion when a fish fights close in.

It makes sense if you jig for zander or big perch nearly every session and want the most feel you can get through the blank.

Pros

  • Top retailer score in this list
  • Premium carbon and guides for feel

Cons

  • Expensive for a one-job rod
  • Fast action gives less give
  • Patchy stock

Best for: dedicated zander and big perch jiggers. Skip if: you want one rod for everything; buy the Revenge SG2 (item 1) or the Prorex XR Spin (item 2).

Frequently asked questions

Is a spinning rod the same as a lure rod?

Yes. In UK use the two terms mean the same thing: a rod for a fixed-spool reel, used to cast and work lures. Our guide to lures covers what to put on the end.

What casting weight do I need for perch and pike?

Roughly 5-20g for perch and 10-60g for pike, according to Angling Times and eTackle guidance. Match the rating to the lures you actually use. For ultralight perch fishing see the Okuma Psycho Stick (item 4), for pike the Westin W3 (item 8), and for heavier lures the best pike rods and reels.

What size reel goes on a spinning rod?

A 2500 to 4000 size reel suits most freshwater lure rods, according to eTackle. Go larger for heavy pike set-ups. Our best spinning reels guide has options for each.

What is the difference between a spinning rod and a baitcasting rod?

A spinning rod takes a fixed-spool reel that hangs under the rod, and is generally the lighter option. A baitcasting rod takes a multiplier reel mounted on top and tends to be heavier.

Can I use a spinning rod for pike?

Yes, as long as the casting weight covers your lures and you fish a wire trace with proper unhooking tools. Light spinning rods are also used for bass lure fishing on the coast; see the best bass lures.

Do I need a rod licence to go lure fishing?

In England and Wales, yes: you need a rod licence to fish for freshwater fish, including on private waters. Under 13s don't need one, and 13 to 16 year olds need a free junior licence. The trout and coarse licence covers 2 or 3 rods depending on which you buy. Prices change each April, so check GOV.UK before you buy. Scotland and Northern Ireland have different rules; see our fishing licence guide.

Sources

Related guides