Best Spinning Rods

For me, the SG4 Medium Game is the spinning rod that suits the most UK lure anglers. It's 7ft 3in long and rated 12-35g, which covers small spinners for perch right through to soft shads and spinnerbaits for zander and jack pike.

It's built on a Japanese Toray 30T blank with a fast yet forgiving action, and the Seaguide CCS stainless guides with SiN rings are well suited to braid. It's a two-piece with a split handle, and it's balanced for feel.

It sits between the cheaper Savage Gear Revenge SG2 Medium Game and the far dearer Fox Rage Terminator X, and it's the one I'd pick if you want one rod for rivers, canals and stillwaters. It also pairs nicely with the Savage Gear Thoriz reel.

To be fair, it isn't a heavy pike rod for big jerkbaits. As a do-it-all lure rod for medium lures, though, I think it's the one to buy.

The Terminator X Multi Jigger is a dedicated jig rod for zander and big perch, and it's built with some seriously high-end parts. The blank is IM9 40-ton carbon with a fast action, and it's 2.4m long with a 10-35g rating.

A 15g counterweight is built into the butt to balance the rod on your wrist, which matters when you're working jigs all day. It has Fuji Alconite guides in gunsmoke and an ultralight carbon reel seat, and it breaks down into two pieces.

If you fish for zander on big rivers or deep lakes, it's the rod I'd want for feeling every touch of a jig on the bottom. Next to the SG4 Medium Game, it's the more specialised tool, while the SG4 covers a wider spread of lures.

To be fair, it's a big spend, and it isn't the rod for spinners and cranks. For serious jig anglers, though, I think it's superb.

The Street Stick 2nd is a light lure rod for perch, trout and smaller predators, rated 2-10g on a 7ft 1in blank. That makes it an ideal match for small soft lures, little spinners and light jigs on rivers, canals and urban waters.

The blank is Torayca high performance carbon reinforced with 1K woven carbon, and it has a soft tip with a medium-fast action. It's finished with an SKS reel seat, Seaguide LS guides and a split EVA handle with a rubber cork insert.

It's the one I'd look at if light lure fishing is your thing and you want a premium rod for it. Next to the Savage Gear Perch Academy Twitch Bait, it's lighter and more delicate, while the Perch Academy handles bigger hard lures.

To be fair, 2-10g is light for a decent pike, so it won't cover everything. For perch and trout on small lures, though, I think it's a cracking rod.

The Whisker is the rod I'd point you towards for bigger waters, where casting distance matters. It comes in 8ft, 9ft and 10ft lengths, with lure ratings from 10-30g up to 20-60g, so you pick the length and rating to suit your fishing.

Daiwa's X45 and HVF Nanoplus carbon keep the blank light and resist twist, which helps accuracy when you're casting into the wind. The V-Joint makes the two sections work as one, and it has Fuji guides and a Fuji reel seat.

On big lakes, reservoirs and wide rivers, the longer models give you the reach to cover more water. Next to the SG4 Medium Game, it's the rod for distance and heavier lures, while the SG4 is the handier all-rounder on smaller venues.

To be fair, the split cork grip won't suit everyone. For long casts with predator lures, though, I think it's a superb choice.

The Perch Academy Twitch Bait is made for one job, and that's working small and medium twitchbaits for good-sized perch. It's 2.25m long, rated 7-25g, and built on a light 24 and 30 ton high-modulus carbon blank.

The reel seat connects straight to the carbon, so your hand stays in touch with the blank, and the progressive action with a fast tip suits the short, sharp twitches these lures need. It's a two-piece.

If you've caught the perch bug and want a rod built for it, this is the one I'd look at. Next to the Westin W3 Street Stick 2nd, it handles bigger twitchbaits, and next to the Okuma Psycho Stick, it's a single, focused model.

To be fair, it's tuned for perch, so it's light for pike. For twitchbaits and big stripeys, though, I think it's a cracking rod for the money.

The Prism X Power Spin is built for big pike. It's a short, punchy 200cm (6ft 6in) two-piece rated up to 100g, made for throwing big lures for pike and zander from the bank or a boat.

The blank is 24/30 ton carbon cloth with a fast action, and at 158g it's light and well balanced for a rod with this much power. It has grey EVA handles and a carbon-style reel seat, and it comes with a 420D Oxford cloth bag.

If you fish big soft lures, jerkbaits or heavy spinners for pike, it's the one I'd go for. Next to the Fox Rage Warrior Shad & Spin, it handles far heavier lures, while the SG4 Medium Game is the better choice for medium lures.

To be fair, it's too much rod for perch and small lures. For big pike on big lures, though, I think it's a cracking rod, and always use a wire trace.

The Psycho Stick is a range of 15 freshwater predator rods, each built for a specific technique. There are Micro Jig, Spin, Soft Bait, Jig, Small Lure and Micro Bait models, from 6ft 6in to 9ft and rated from 0.5-3.5g up to 30-60g.

Every model is built on 30T high-modulus carbon with a Carboncoque rear grip and a skeleton reel seat, which keeps your hand close to the blank for feel.

It's a smart choice if you know exactly how you like to fish, as you can pick the model that matches your lures rather than settling for a compromise. Next to the Perch Academy Twitch Bait, it covers far more techniques at a similar price.

To be fair, with so many models it's easy to pick the wrong one, so check the rating carefully. For the choice on offer, though, I think it's very good value.

The Ninja S is a well-specced entry-level spinning rod for anyone moving into lure and predator fishing. It comes in 7ft, 8ft and 9ft lengths, so you can match it to tight banks or open water.

It has a carbon blank, a real AAA cork handle with an EVA fore grip and a DPS downlocking reel seat, and the stainless guides have titanium oxide rings. The low-glare matt blank is a nice touch for spooky fish in clear water.

It's the rod I'd suggest to someone who wants something a step up from a starter rod, and it pairs nicely with the Daiwa Ninja LT reel. Next to the Fox Rage Warrior Shad & Spin, it's the more refined all-rounder.

To be fair, the action can feel stiff for the lightest lures. For a first proper lure rod, though, I think it's very good value.

The Revenge SG2 Medium Game is the cheaper sibling of the SG4, and it gives you a lot of the same thinking for far less. It comes in 2.21m and 2.51m lengths, with 7-23g and 12-35g ratings, for soft lures, cranks, spinners, spinnerbaits and twitch baits.

The blanks are 24+30T high-modulus carbon with a fast yet forgiving action, fitted with SeaGuide CCS stainless guides with SiN rings and a Double Lock reel seat. It also comes with a ready-to-fish rod bag.

It's the rod I'd point a budget-minded lure angler towards, as the guides are better than you'd expect at this price. Next to the Wychwood Agitator LR-S, it has a shorter 2.21m option for small waters, while the Agitator has a longer 8ft 6in model.

To be fair, it isn't as refined as the SG4 Medium Game. For a budget all-rounder, though, I think it's hard to beat.

The Agitator LR-S is a good-value lure rod in two lengths, 7ft 4in and 8ft 6in, both two-piece. It's made for spinners, soft plastics, plugs and cranks, so it covers most everyday lure fishing.

The blank is high-modulus no-flash carbon with a crisp, progressive action, and the guides are deep-drawn, impact-resistant SiC that suit braid. It has a VSS-style reel seat and an ergonomic handle.

The longer 8ft 6in model is handy on bigger waters or when you need to reach over marginal weed. Next to the Fox Rage Warrior Shad & Spin, it's the more general lure rod, while the Warrior is built for bigger shads.

To be fair, it isn't as refined as the dearer rods, and it's an all-rounder rather than a specialist. For the money, I think it's excellent value.

The Warrior Shad & Spin is a stepped-up entry-level lure rod for big zander and pike on bigger shads and metal lures. It's 210cm long, rated 20-60g and breaks down into two pieces.

It's sized for canals, smaller rivers and lakes, where a shorter rod is easier to handle, and the Warrior range has a light, sleek build. A rod bag is included, and it's made to pair with the Fox Rage Warrior reel.

If you want to try bigger shads for pike without spending much, it's the one I'd go for, and the matching reel makes it an easy setup. Next to the Shimano FX XT, it has far more power for bigger lures.

To be fair, it's a basic rod, so it won't feel as refined as the dearer ones. For big shads on a budget, though, I think it's a solid choice. Always use a wire trace for pike.

The FX XT is Shimano's entry-level lure rod for young and new anglers, and it's about as cheap as a decent spinning rod gets. It comes in three two-piece models, a 2.10m 7-21g, a 2.40m 10-30g and a 2.70m 20-50g.

The blank is a strong composite with a forgiving through action, built to take the knocks of early fishing trips. It has Shimano Hardlite guides for mono or braid, an EVA handle and a DPS reel seat.

Its graphics match the Shimano FX reel, so it makes a tidy first setup for a junior. Next to the Fox Rage Warrior Shad & Spin, its lighter models suit small lures better, while the Warrior is built for bigger shads.

To be fair, a composite blank is basic, so you'll feel the difference next to a carbon rod. For a first lure rod, though, I think it's hard to argue with.