Best Baitcasting Rods

Westin's W6 Monsterstick-T 2nd Edition is a 7ft 9in, two-piece trigger rod for the biggest pike lures UK anglers throw. It casts 100-380g, carries a 6XH class and is built on a 40T+T1100 Torayca carbon blank.

Fuji SiC guides and a Fuji KSKSS16/ASH reel seat sit on that blank, with Westin's custom-moulded 3C carbon handle and a Seaguide TiDHOOK 4 hook keeper. It packs down to 122cm, which helps in the car or on a boat.

It's for dedicated big-bait pike anglers who throw huge swimbaits, jerkbaits and glide baits from the shore or afloat. Compared with the Abu Garcia Beast Pro, it casts heavier lures and swaps cork for a carbon handle, and that's why it's the best big-bait casting rod in this line-up.

To be fair, it's the dearest rod in this guide by some distance. For anglers who throw the heaviest lures at big pike, though, I think it's worth every penny.

Abu Garcia's Beast Pro is a range of fast-action casting rods for pike on large soft baits and jerkbaits. Its fast-taper 36T blank makes the range almost 20% lighter than the model it replaces, and there are four lengths between 2.2m and 2.59m.

The range runs from a 25-70g model up to a 120-300g model, so pick one of the heavier ones for big swimbaits. Fuji Alconite anti-tangle guides, a Fuji ACS reel seat and A-grade cork grips finish it off.

Pike anglers after a top-quality casting rod, with a choice of length and casting weight, should look closely at it. Next to the Westin W6 Monsterstick-T, it can't throw the very heaviest lures but costs a lot less, while the Fox Rage Prism X Big Bait Extreme is cheaper still with one 240cm model.

To be fair, the lighter models are more all-round pike rods than swimbait sticks. For big soft lures and jerkbaits on one of the heavier models, though, I think it's a superb premium choice.

Built for heavy pike lures such as Replicants, the Fox Rage Prism X Big Bait Extreme handles lures up to 230g on a 240cm, fast-action blank. It's made from 24/30 Ton carbon cloth, with light weight and balance in mind.

A 1+1 design pairs a detachable handle with a one-piece blank, and grey EVA grips sit either side of a carbon-style seat. A black 420D Oxford cloth bag comes with it.

It's a strong pick for pike anglers who want to fish big baits without a big outlay. Next to the Abu Garcia Beast Pro, it has one length and simpler fittings but costs a lot less, and it casts heavier lures than the Savage Gear Alpha SG2 Monster Bait Caster.

To be fair, it stops at 230g, so the very biggest swimbaits need the Westin W6 Monsterstick-T. For heavy pike lures on a sensible budget, though, I think it's a superb big-bait rod.

Two lengths and four casting weights make the Savage Gear Alpha SG2 Monster Bait Caster a flexible big-bait rod for pike. The lightest model casts 35-100g, the heaviest casts 70-150g, and all four are two-piece.

Its reinforced 24+30T high-modulus carbon blank has a fast action to work the lure, with a strong backbone for the hook set. Braid-friendly SeaGuide CCS guides with SiN rings, a Double Lock seat and a rod bag round it off.

It suits pike anglers moving up to mid-sized swimbaits and jerkbaits on a budget. Next to the Fox Rage Prism X Big Bait Extreme, it takes lighter lures but gives you two lengths, while the Westin W2 Powercast-T is a dearer all-round pike rod with the same top casting weight.

To be fair, even the heaviest model stops at 150g, so it won't throw the biggest swimbaits. For mid-sized big baits on a tight budget, though, I think it's very good value.

Westin's W2 Powercast-T is a two-section pike casting rod in three models, with a 24/30-tonne carbon blank and a progressive action built to cut fatigue when you're casting big lures all day.

The 7ft 9in model casts 60-150g, while one 8ft 3in model casts 20-80g and the other 40-130g. A VFC-2 trigger seat, Seaguide SXQLSG guides, a premium EVA handle and a Dhook hook keeper finish it off.

It suits pike anglers who fish shads, spinnerbaits and medium jerkbaits from the bank or a boat. Next to the Savage Gear Alpha SG2 Monster Bait Caster it's an all-rounder, not a big-bait stick, and compared with the Fox Rage Prism X Pike Cast it costs more but gives you three models to choose from.

To be fair, it isn't built for the heaviest glide baits and swimbaits. For pike on shads, spinnerbaits and jerkbaits, though, I think it's the best pike baitcasting rod in this line-up.

The Fox Rage Prism X Pike Cast is a 230cm, 1+1 casting rod rated 40-140g, made for big pike lures such as Replicants and Slick Eels. It has a fast action and a powerful 24/30 Ton carbon cloth blank.

At 181g it's light for its power and well balanced, with grey EVA handles, high-quality guides and a carbon-style trigger seat. A black 420D Oxford cloth bag comes in the box, too.

It suits bank and boat anglers who fish big soft lures and shads for pike. Next to the Westin W2 Powercast-T it's a little cheaper and crisper, but you get one model, not three. The Prism X Heavy Shad Cast is shorter and casts lighter lures, so it's the pick for mid-sized shads.

To be fair, it's too much rod for small shads and perch lures. For big lures and hard-fighting pike, though, I think it's a crisp, powerful choice that's hard to fault.

The Fox Rage Prism X Heavy Shad Cast is a 225cm, 1+1 casting rod rated 20-100g, built for big pike on big shads. It has a fast action and a 24/30 Ton carbon cloth blank.

At 174g it's light and extremely well balanced, with high-quality guides, grey EVA grips and a carbon-style trigger seat. A black 420D Oxford cloth bag is supplied to protect it in transit.

It suits anglers who fish shads from the bank or a boat and want a crisp, light rod for long days. Next to the Prism X Pike Cast it's shorter and casts lighter lures, and compared with the Fox Rage Warrior Pike Cast it costs more but is lighter and better finished.

To be fair, it lacks the reserve of the Prism X Pike Cast for the heaviest soft baits. For big shads and spinnerbaits, though, I think it's a light, crisp and very capable rod.

The Fox Rage Warrior Pike Cast is a 230cm, 1+1 casting rod rated 20-80g, built to cast big lures and handle big pike. It's an updated take on the Classic Warrior range with a sleek, modern look.

A lightweight build keeps it easy to handle on a long day, and a rod bag is included. It's made to pair with Warrior or Prism X casting reels, which makes a matched first setup simple.

It suits newcomers to pike casting and anyone who wants a spare rod for shads and spinnerbaits. Next to the Prism X Heavy Shad Cast it's heavier and plainer but far cheaper, while the Savage Gear Perch Academy Allround is a light finesse rod for perch, not pike.

To be fair, it's an entry-level rod and lacks the reserve of the Prism X Pike Cast for the heaviest lures. For anyone starting out with a baitcaster for pike, though, I think it's the best value pick in this line-up.

The Savage Gear Perch Academy Allround is a two-piece casting rod made for finesse perch fishing. The 2.15m model casts 7-22g, and its high-modulus 24+30T carbon blank has an ultra-light build.

Its trigger-grip reel seat connects straight to the carbon, so your fingers rest on the blank for feel. A baitcast taper and a progressive, powerful action are built for accurate, low pitches, and the rod bag has a wider pocket for the reel.

It suits perch anglers fishing small soft plastics, jigs and small cranks from the bank or a boat. Next to the Fox Rage Warrior Pike Cast, it's a much lighter tool aimed at perch rather than pike. Compared with the Westin W2 Finesse-T T&C, it's the cheaper rod, while the Westin adds Seaguide guides and a split EVA handle.

To be fair, it's a perch rod first and too light for pike lures. For finesse perch fishing on a baitcaster, though, I think it's the best light lure baitcasting rod in this line-up.

The Westin W2 Finesse-T T&C is a two-piece casting rod made for Texas and Carolina rigs. The 7ft 1in model casts 7-21g, and the "-T" marks it as the trigger version for a baitcaster.

It's built on 24/30 tonne High Performance Carbon, with a sensitive, responsive action for feeling every touch-down. Seaguide SXQLSG guides, a VFC-2 reel seat, a split EVA handle and a Seaguide Dhook hook keeper make it a smartly finished rod.

For me, it suits perch and zander anglers who work soft plastics slowly along the bottom. Next to the Savage Gear Perch Academy Allround, it's dearer, with Seaguide fittings throughout. Compared with the Fox Rage Prism X Versatile Soft Cast, it's the lighter, more specialised rod, while the Fox covers heavier lures and pike.

To be fair, it's the dearest of the light casting rods in this line-up. For Texas and Carolina rigs on a baitcaster, though, I think it's a superb finesse rod.

The Fox Rage Prism X Versatile Soft Cast is a 7ft casting rod for medium-weight lures. Its 15-60g casting weight gives it range for big perch, zander and pike, and it has a fast action and a 1+1 design.

The blank is 24/30 Ton Carbon Cloth, in a light, extremely well-balanced build at 157g. Grey EVA handles, high-quality guides and a carbon-style reel seat are fitted, and a 420D oxford cloth bag comes with it.

It suits anglers who mix spinners, spoons, crankbaits and shads in one session. Next to the Westin W2 Finesse-T T&C, it's the cheaper and more versatile rod, while the Westin is the finesse specialist. Compared with the Savage Gear Revenge SG2 Medium Game, it casts heavier lures and is built for pike as well.

To be fair, it's more rod than you need for the lightest perch rigs. For one rod that covers all three predators, though, I think it's an excellent all-rounder.

The Savage Gear Revenge SG2 Medium Game Baitcasting Rod is a 7ft two-piece with a 10-30g casting weight. It's made for soft lures, cranks, spinners, spinnerbaits, twitch baits and Carolina rigs.

Its 24+30T high-modulus carbon blank has a fast yet forgiving action and is balanced for feel. SeaGuide CCS guides with SiN rings, a Double Lock reel seat and a rod bag round it off, and it weighs just 158g.

It suits anglers buying a first baitcasting rod for perch and zander. Next to the Fox Rage Prism X Versatile Soft Cast, it takes lighter lures and is better matched to perch. Compared with the Savage Gear Perch Academy Allround, it's a little cheaper and covers a broader spread of lure types.

To be fair, its fittings are a step below the Westin W2 Finesse-T T&C's. For perch and zander on a tighter spend, though, I think it's a very sound buy.