Best Carolina Rig Rods & Reels
The carolina rig is one of the best bass producing techniques out there. It rarely doesn’t work. Because of this it is one of the most popular fishing techniques. There are many anglers who almost throw it exclusively.
The carolina rig is bulky so it is important to have the proper setup. Below you will find our tried and true recommendations for carolina rig rods & reels for any budget.
- Best Overall Carolina Rig Combo: G Loomis GLX 894C JWR paired with a Shimano Curado 200K HG
- Best Carolina Rig Combo for Punching: Shimano Expride 7’11” XH paired with a Shimano Metanium MGL 150 B HG
- Budget Carolina Rig Combo: St. Croix Bass X 7’4″ Heavy paired with a Shimano SLX 150 HG
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Best Overall Carolina Rig Rod – G Loomis GLX 894C JWR
The G Loomis GLX 894C JWR is a 7’5″ heavy action casting rod that was designed to fish worms, creature baits, and lizards. It is the perfect balance of weight, sensitivity and strength.
Pair your rod with the Shimano Curado 200K HG reel for the perfect performance. You will notice a large improvement in performance and comfort compared to value options.
| Rod | Taper / Action | Line Wt | Lure Wt | Guides | Handle Length |
| G. Loomis NRX+ 852S JWR | Fast | 14 – 20 lb | 5/16 – 3/4oz | 11 + Tips | 15 1/2″ |
| Reel | Gear Ratio | Weight | Bearings | Line Capacity (Test/Yd.) |
| Shimano Curado 200K HG | 7.4:1 | 7.6 oz | 6BB + 1RB | 14/110 |
Best Carolina Rig Rod for Punching – Shimano Expride 7’11” XH
The Shimano Expride is a 7’11” heavy action casting rod that makes a great carolina rig rod at a great price. It has a great balance of sensitivity and responsiveness.
Pair your rod with the Shimano Metanium MGL 150 B HG reel for great performance. You will notice an improvement in performance compared to budget options.
| Rod | Taper / Action | Line Wt | Lure Wt | Guides | Handle Length |
| Shimano Expride 7’11” XH | Fast | 14 – 30 lb | 1/2 – 3 oz | 9 + Tip | 11.34″ |
| Reel | Gear Ratio | Weight | Bearings | Line Capacity (Test/Yd.) |
| Shimano Metanium MGL 150 B HG | 7.1:1 | 6.3 oz | 10S A-RB + 1S A-RB | 10/120, 12/110 |
Best Budget Carolina Rig Rod – St. Croix Bass X 7’4″ Heavy
The St. Croix Bass X is a 7’4″ heavy action baitcasting rod that can throw worms very well. It is the good balance performance without breaking the bank.
Pair your rod with the Shimano SLX 150 HG reel for the good performance.
| Rod | Taper / Action | Line Wt | Lure Wt | Guides | Handle Length |
| St. Croix Bass X Casting Rod 7’4″ Hvy | Fast | 14 – 25 lb | 3/8 – 1oz | 7 + Tips | 16 1/2″ |
| Reel | Gear Ratio | Weight | Bearings | Line Capacity (Test/Yd.) |
| Shimano SLX 150 HG | 7.2:1 | 6.9 | 3BB + 1RB | 12/110, 14/90 |
What Makes a Good Carolina Rig Rod & Reel?
The ideal carolina rig rod is around 7’4″ to 7’11” long with a heavy action and fast tip. The length and strong backbone will allow you to handle the heavy weight and give you enough leverage to set the hook.
The fast action tip will help with feeling the bait along the bottom which is critical with the carolina rig. A fast action tip will also make detecting bite easier.
You want to use a high speed reel. You will be mostly fishing deep water which uses a lot of line. A high speed reel will allow you to get as much slack reeled in as possible with every turn.