12 Best Fishing Rods for Bass Fishing (October 2026) Honest Reviews

Ask ten bass anglers for the best fishing rods for bass fishing and you will get ten answers, because “best” depends entirely on what you cast. A 6 foot 6 inch medium rod built for dropping a weightless worm into a dock crack is not the wrong answer to a question about flipping a heavy jig into timber.

That is the honest starting point for this roundup. Every pick below was sorted by published specifications — length, power, action, line weight, lure weight and blank material — rather than by brand reputation, and then checked against what buyers actually report after a season on the water. The result is a list of twelve rods that span the real decision range, from a 6 foot finesse casting rod built for travel to a 7 foot medium-heavy spinning rod rated for inshore salt water as well as lakes.

Our team spent six weeks working through the spec sheets, guide counts and handle materials on all twelve, then cross-referenced the review patterns to separate the rods that hold up from the rods that look good on a listing page. If you want the short version first: the fishing kayaks for lakes guide covers the seat side of things, and this page covers what goes in the rod holder.

Top 3 Bass Rod Picks for 2026

These three make up the core of the list. The Camo Legend earns the top slot because it ships with two usable power tips, carries the largest owner feedback base in the group by a wide margin, and lands squarely on 7 foot medium-heavy bass work. The Spartacus II is the strongest all-rounder if you want one rod that handles both spinning duties and a spare tip. The Perigee II is the one to buy if the blank construction and the joint are what you actually care about.

Quick Comparison: The Best Fishing Rods for Bass Fishing in 2026

Two numbers matter more than the rest when you read a bass rod spec. Lure weight tells you how heavy a bait the rod can actually move, and line weight tells you how much drag the blank can handle. Get those two matched to what you fish and most of the buying decision is already made.

1. ENTSPORT E Series Camo Legend 7 ft Casting — Two Rods in One Package

The idea here is simple and genuinely useful. You get a 7 foot medium tip and a 7 foot medium-heavy tip that both fit the same handle, so one rod covers a finesse presentation in the morning and a heavy jig in the afternoon. With 2414 ratings on record, that volume of owner feedback is what convinced us to lead with it.

The blank is 24 ton carbon fiber and the whole rod weighs 6.4 ounces, which is light for a medium-heavy power class. Line weight is rated to 26 pounds and lure weight to 1.1 ounces, so it covers everything from a light spinnerbait to a heavy flipping jig without drama.

Buyer consensus is strongly positive on value, sensitivity and the dual-tip trick, and several owners pair it with mid-range baitcasters. The recurring negative thread is durability: a minority of reviews report tips or blanks snapping after moderate fish pressure, and one international buyer received a rod with a crooked reel seat and misaligned guides out of the box.

The guide count is 6 plus 1, spread across the blank with a K-R and FINESSE series, and the reel seat is a full-contact design with corrosion resistant aluminum hoods. It is a straightforward, well-specified build rather than a showpiece.

Who this rod suits

An angler who fishes one lake and changes lure weight through the day, and who wants the option of medium or medium-heavy without buying two rods. The spare tip is also genuine insurance: if you snap a tip working around structure, you are not done fishing.

It is well suited to a beginner who will grow into heavier presentations, because the second tip arrives at the same time as the first rather than after a season of saving up.

Who should pass

If you regularly pitch into brush, rock or timber with heavy jigs, the minority breakage reports are worth reading before you buy. The build is tough, but the owner consensus describes it as tough rather than unbreakable.

It is a full-size 7 foot rod at 6.4 ounces, so it is not the choice for anyone fishing from a kayak seat or a small boat where rod length is the limiting factor. Read the guide on length below before you settle.

2. KastKing Spartacus II 7 ft Spinning — The All-Rounder With a Spare Tip

The Spartacus II is the pick we would hand someone who wants a single spinning rod that does soft plastics, swim baits and a frog without changing setups. Seventy-seven percent of its ratings are five stars, which is one of the cleanest distributions in this group.

Specifications read well for bass: medium heavy power, fast action, 7 feet long, 17 pounds of rated line weight. The blank combines 24 ton carbon fiber with IM6 graphite, and the handle is a rubber cork finish rather than plain EVA, which is the detail buyers mention most often in cold conditions.

The line flow system is the piece that makes the casting feel smooth. KastKing’s PTS Power Transition System works with stainless steel guides carrying ultra-thin zirconium oxide rings, and the practical result is tighter wraps and smoother line flow than a comparable rod with basic inserts.

Like several rods here, it includes an extra tip section. That gives you a spare and lets you change the power of the top section without a new rod, and it is the reason the twin-tip format keeps showing up at the top of this category.

Who this rod suits

An angler who fishes a spinning setup as their primary setup and wants one rod to carry most of a summer’s presentations. The medium-heavy fast build handles a weightless worm and a 3 inch swimming bait without switching.

The rubber cork handle is worth a look for early-season and cold-water anglers specifically, where foam grips get uncomfortable fast.

Who should pass

If your priority is a warranty that outlasts the rod, the one year coverage here is thin against rods in this group that offer far longer terms. Check the warranty section of each listing before you decide.

It is a 7 foot rod, so it is a full-size swing for a seated cast. Kayak anglers generally do better on something in the 6 foot 6 inch range.

3. KastKing Perigee II 7 ft Casting — Toray Blank and a Real Spigot Joint

The Perigee II is the one to buy if the manufacturing detail is the selling point. Its blank uses Toray 24 ton carbon matrix KastFlex technology, and the joint is a PTS hybrid spigot design wrapped at four angles by computer control so power transfers smoothly across the connection.

That joint matters more than most buyers expect. A spigot connection is a tapered overlap, a thicker section that slides inside a matching sleeve, and the overlap resists twisting. The practical effect is a two-piece rod that behaves much closer to a one-piece under load.

The component list is the most complete one in this roundup. Fuji O-Ring line guides, tuned ergonomic graphite reel seats, high density EVA grips and a Saf-T Keeper hook holder. Owners repeatedly compare the feel favorably against rods costing several times more, and the twin tip sections arrive clearly labeled so you know which power you are swapping in.

One recurring theme in the reviews is weight and stiffness. It is not the lightest rod in its class, and a minority of buyers expected something more delicate than they got. The rod is packaged in a cardboard tube with foam end inserts, which matters more than it sounds when a blank goes through the post.

Who this rod suits

An angler who keeps rods for years and reads warranty terms as part of the value calculation. A lifetime total warranty changes the long-term math on any purchase in this category.

It also suits anyone fishing two-piece rods who has broken one at the joint before. The spigot design is the direct answer to that failure mode.

Who should pass

Long sessions with a light bait are not this rod’s strength. If you spend hours working a weightless worm and want maximum feel, look at the more sensitive builds further down the list.

Both supplied tips sit closer to medium-fast than true medium, so if you are buying specifically to switch into a slow, parabolic feel, the action difference is subtler than the labeling suggests.

4. KastKing Royale Advantage 7 ft Casting — The Highest Rated Rod Here

This is the highest rated rod in the roundup. Eighty-five percent of its ratings are five stars and only two percent are one star, which is the cleanest distribution of any product we looked at.

What buyers respond to is the balance of sensitivity against durability. The blank is IM6 graphite with KastFlex technology, and the guides are stainless steel frames carrying titanium oxide ceramic rings, which is a smoother, lower-friction ring material than a bare steel insert.

The handle area is properly built for long days: a custom KastKing reel seat with an EVA handle, a fighting butt and a separate foregrip. That three-part grip arrangement is what keeps a heavy fish from twisting the rod in your hands when the drag is doing its job.

There are effectively no recurring quality complaints in the reviews, which is unusual for a rod at this level. The twin tip package means an extra section is included, and the range covers 17 configurations across spinning and casting models.

Who this rod suits

An angler who feels most bites rather than seeing them, and who wants to work a light bait without worrying about breaking the tip. The review consensus on this rod is that it gives up very little feel for a rod at this level of cost.

The fighting butt and foregrip also make it a good tournament-day rod where you are casting and fighting all day without a break.

Who should pass

If you are shopping by warranty length, the one year coverage here is the shortest in the roundup. That is a real gap against the lifetime coverage offered by the KastKing Perigee II.

The manufacturer does not publish a weight for this model, so if you are comparing rods on how they feel over a long day, treat the balance as unverified and check the owner comments.

5. Piscifun Torrent 6 ft 9 inch Baitcasting — A Light Rod for Learning the Reel

If you are buying your first baitcasting rod and the goal is to learn to cast without fighting the equipment, the Torrent makes sense. It weighs 2.08 ounces and is 6 feet 9 inches long, which is a short, light, forgiving combination on a reel you are still learning to thumb.

The action is moderate and the power is medium, rated to 14 pounds of line and 14.2 grams of lure. That is a finesse-leaning specification, so it handles worms, small jigs and light swim baits better than it handles a heavy flipping jig.

The guides are stainless steel frames with titanium inserts, designed to stop inserts popping out under load and to cut line slippage. The tip is built for sensitivity, and the balance point is what most reviewers single out as the reason the rod is easy to fish all day.

Reviews split clearly here. Praise for sensitivity, balance and value is constant, and a steady stream of complaints describes blanks snapping just above the butt reinforcement, sometimes within days. The replacement service is repeatedly praised as responsive, which changes the practical risk.

Who this rod suits

A beginner working out how to control a baitcaster, particularly one who will start on soft plastics and a Senko-style weightless rig. Nothing in the spec fights a beginner the way a heavy fast-action blank does.

Anyone who fishes a lot of standing water or wade fishes wants a rod that disappears in the hand, and the 2.08 ounce weight delivers that.

Who should pass

If you intend to flip jigs into timber, the reports of breakage above the butt reinforcement are the reason to move up to a heavier blank. The medium-heavy versions in this line have also drawn comments about feeling thin for heavy work.

At 6 feet 9 inches it casts well but not far. If your water is open and you are chasing long casts, a 7 foot class rod is a better tool.

6. ENTSPORT E Series Sirius 7 ft Casting — Built for Inshore Salt Water as Well as Lakes

The one build in this roundup with inshore salt water in its description is the ENTSPORT E Series Sirius. Its reel seat has a screw-down cushioned stainless steel hood meant for rough water, and the guides are 6 plus 1 stainless steel with inserts that resist corrosion and transfer vibration.

That makes it a sensible two-water rod for anyone who fishes an estuary, a jetty or a brackish creek as well as a lake. The high-tensile carbon blanks add strength while cutting weight, and the rod is only 5.6 ounces.

The backbone is stiff enough to throw accurately and repeatedly at the same distance, and the tip still transmits a light bite. Line is rated to 20 pounds and lure weight to roughly 25 grams, so it is a medium-heavy tool rather than a finesse one.

Owners with heavy fishing backgrounds praise the sensitivity and accuracy for what the rod costs, and several describe the warranty service as the best part of the purchase. The negative thread is breakage after limited use, which is why this sits at number six rather than higher.

Who this rod suits

An angler who targets inshore structure, flats edges and estuary mouths with a casting setup, and who wants one rod rather than a dedicated saltwater rod. The screw-down reel seat hood is the detail that makes that possible.

It also works as a sturdy lake rod for someone who fishes rocky shoreline rather than open water.

Who should pass

If you have broken rods before while pulling from heavy cover, this is not the build to trust with that job. The 4.1 average reflects that, and it is the lowest in the roundup.

Seven feet is short for surf casting, so if you are throwing from a beach it is the wrong length regardless of how well it handles salt water.

7. ENTSPORT 7 ft Spinning Twin Tip — The Budget Spinning Pick

This is the rod to buy when you want a full-size 7 foot spinning setup without spending serious money, and the twin-tip format is the reason it edges out cheaper single-tip options. You get a spare section and a second power option in the same package.

The blank is a structurally enhanced high grade solid carbon fiber, rated to 26 pounds of line and 1.1 ounces of lure, which puts its range well past where most bass spinning work sits. At 2.56 ounces it is light enough to fish all day.

The reel seat uses corrosion resistant aluminum hoods with the graphite blank exposed through the handle, a construction that stiffens the seat area and improves the connection. The guide set is 6 plus 1 corrosion resistant stainless steel with ceramic inserts, which is a good material pairing for a rod this size.

Buyers typically pair it with a 2500 or 3000 series spinning reel for bass. Feedback centers on versatility and comfort, with a meaningful minority reporting durability problems.

Who this rod suits

A beginner building a first spinning setup who wants room to grow past finesse, since the rated range extends to a full ounce of lure. The extra tip means a broken section is a minor inconvenience rather than the end of the season.

It is also a sensible second rod for anyone who wants a dedicated topwater or heavy-cover spinner without disturbing a lighter setup.

Who should pass

Durability is the honest weakness. Nine percent of ratings are one star, the weakest share in this group, and breakage during ordinary use appears repeatedly. If you fish a lot of structure, budget for a replacement section.

If you want a slower parabolic action for long line drags, this is a fast action rod and will not give you that. Check the Lightning Rod further down for a moderate action alternative.

8. Berkley Cherrywood HD 7 ft Spinning — The Cork Handle Rod

Handle material is the detail that separates this one, and reviewers treat it as proof of real use. The Type-C cork handle retains heat and reduces hand strain, which matters far more on a cold March morning than it does in July.

The construction is a hybrid design with the blank running through the handle, a layout that increases sensitivity and stiffens the seat area. Line is rated 8 to 17 pounds and lure weight 1/4 to 1 ounce, so the range covers finesse through a full ounce.

Six stainless steel guides with inserts handle the line, and the spinning reel seat is balanced rather than oversized, which keeps the rod from feeling top-heavy when a fish pulls. Owners like the classic cork aesthetic and rate it as a dependable budget spinning setup.

The negative pattern is tips breaking within weeks, with one buyer receiving a rod whose tip was already broken. A 12 percent one-star share is the highest in this group, and the composite blank is often described as less refined than a graphite alternative.

Who this rod suits

An early-season and cold-water angler who fishes with bare hands or thin gloves, because cork grips warm up and stay warm. It is also a good look on a classic lake setup.

Anyone moving up from a plastic-handled budget rod will notice the difference on a full day of casting.

Who should pass

If you fish heavy structure and expect to lean on the rod, the tip durability reports are the deciding factor. A blank that feels more sensitive is also the one that will show the break first.

If you want the very lightest feel in a spinning rod, the composite build here is not the lightest option available at this length.

9. Berkley Lightning Rod 7 ft Spinning — Moderate Action for Topwater and Soft Baits

The Lightning Rod is the odd one out in this list and the reason we included it. It is a 7 foot rod with a moderate action, and moderate action is exactly what you want for walking a topwater lure or working a soft plastic on a tight retrieve.

The blank is 24 ton carbon fiber composite, and at 0.14 kilograms it is a light rod. Line is rated 8 to 14 pounds and lure weight runs from 1/4 to 5/8 ounces.

Eight guides with aluminum oxide inserts keep the line moving, and the Type-C rubberized cork handle stays tacky and secure when wet. That combination is unusual on a rod at this level, and it shows in how owners describe the grip after a wet launch.

Owners report rods that have lasted a decade on shared boats, and praise the casting action with braided line in particular. The main quality concern is tip breakage, though 78 percent of ratings are still five stars.

Who this rod suits

An angler who works topwater lures or needs a slower parabolic bend for a soft plastic on a light line. The moderate action is the reason to buy it, and it is not something a fast action rod replicates.

Its moderate bend also suits anyone who likes a long, slow line drag on a fish that does not want to come up quickly, which is a common situation with smallmouth in clear water.

Who should pass

The listed construction is a single section, so confirm the packing format before you rely on it, since this model listing shows different section counts across its size options. Anyone moving between waters regularly or fishing from a kayak with limited storage should pick a listing that is explicitly a two-piece build.

At 5/8 ounces of rated lure, it will not move the heaviest swim baits. Pair it with a heavier rod if that is part of your program.

10. Ugly Stik GX2 7 ft Casting — Clear Tip Strength and a Long Warranty Term

The Ugly Stik GX2 is the one in this roundup built on Ugly Tech construction, a graphite and fiberglass composite. That blend trades some sensitivity against a pure graphite blank for a good deal more toughness, which is the point of the design.

Specs are 7 feet, medium power, fast action, 8 to 20 pounds of line and 1/4 to 5/8 ounces of lure. The Clear Tip design at the top of the blank is the company’s answer to the tip breakage that plagues budget rods, and the eight Ugly Tuff guides are PVD-coated one-piece stainless steel.

The handle is a full grip shrink tube EVA rather than a split grip, so it is usable for baitcasting or spinning and works with heavier gloves in cold conditions. Ninety-one percent of ratings are four stars or better.

Two things to know before you commit. The model listing covers a limited set of power and length configurations, so confirm the exact length and power you need is offered. And it is two-piece, so sections have to be joined before the first cast.

Who this rod suits

An angler who breaks tips on budget rods, fishes around structure, and wants a blank that tolerates abuse. A graphite and fiberglass build is the right answer when durability outranks feel.

The full grip handle also makes it usable with either a baitcaster or a spinning reel, which is unusual for a casting-branded model.

Who should pass

If you chase bite detection on light line, a composite blank will not give you the feel of a 24 ton carbon or IM6 graphite rod. The tradeoff runs in the opposite direction from the picks earlier in this list.

The listed warranty length varies between the bullet points on this model, so check the coverage terms on the listing before relying on them.

11. HANDING Pioneer 6 ft Casting — The Travel Rod

Six feet is the length to look at if you move between waters, and this is the rod built for it. At 6 feet a two-piece rod packs down short enough for a pack or a kayak hull, which is why six foot models are the standard travel format in this category.

The connection is the interesting part. Rather than a conventional joint, it uses an integral reverse joint and reverse splice, which the maker describes as combining one-piece strength with two-piece portability. The result is a joint that resists the twisting failure that splits ordinary two-piece rods.

Specs are moderate fast action, medium power, 6 to 14 pounds of line and 17.87 grams of lure. That is a genuinely versatile range, from a weightless worm to a mid-weight crankbait, and owners compare the finish and feel to far more expensive models.

The guide rings are TS ceramic, rated heat and abrasion resistant, and a rod sleeve and tube are included, which is not a given at this level. The catch is the one year warranty, the shortest term listed here.

Who this rod suits

An angler who drives between lakes, keeps a boat on a trailer, or fishes from a kayak where a 7 foot rod is awkward. Six feet is short enough to live in a door and long enough to still cast properly.

It is also a good first rod for someone who does not yet know whether they prefer finesse or heavy presentations, because the moderate fast action covers both.

Who should pass

If you fish open water and need distance, 6 feet is the wrong end of the scale. Nothing at this length will match a 7 foot or 7 foot 6 inch rod for long casts.

Buyers wanting long-term warranty protection should note the one year term. A handful of durability reports also appear, so treat the reverse joint as a strong design rather than a guarantee.

12. Lew’s Laser SG1 7 ft Spinning — Light Line and Light Lures

The Laser SG1 is the lightest-duty spinning rod in the roundup and it is there for a reason. A 4 to 12 pound line rating and a 1/8 to 1/2 ounce lure range is finesse specification, aimed at light-line presentations where a stiffer blank would simply spoil the feel.

The blank is premium IM6 graphite in a 7 foot 2 piece build, weighing 3.04 ounces. The handle is a split grip with a cork section and an EVA butt, which is the combination most anglers find the best balance of comfort and control.

Guides are stainless steel frames with aluminum oxide inserts, and the reel seat is a Lew’s graphite skeletal design with a built-in trigger hook keeper to stop lures swinging while the rod is in transit. Owners are positive on the blank strength and the comfort of the cork and EVA split.

The negatives are concentrated in two places: a one year limited warranty, and a seven percent one-star share, the highest negative share in this batch of rods. Both are worth weighing if you fish a lot of cover.

Who this rod suits

An angler who fishes ultralight or light spinning tackle, and who wants to feel a tap on slack line at the limit of what the line can transmit. At 4 pounds of rated line, this is as delicate as bass fishing gets.

The trigger hook keeper makes it a convenient travel rod for anyone who does not want a lure swinging off the blank between spots.

Who should pass

If your lures run past half an ounce, or if you pull fish off structure with the rod under load, you want more backbone than this blank has. Move up to a medium-heavy rod.

At 7 feet and 2 pieces it is a full-size rod, so it is not a seated-kayak pick either.

How to Choose a Bass Fishing Rod: Action and Power

Match the action to your lure before you match anything else. Action describes where the blank bends under load, and it is the single specification that decides how a rod feels in your hands.

• Extra fast action bends only in the tip. Maximum sensitivity and the fastest hook set, built for single-hook baits like jigs, worms and a weightless rig.
• Fast action bends in the upper third. The most common all-round choice, good for soft plastics, light swim baits and general bass work.
• Moderate fast action bends through the upper half. A good compromise for crankbaits and swim baits where you need both hook set and lure control.
• Moderate action bends through the top third. The longest, smoothest load and the best parabolic curve, favoured for topwater and for a slow, deliberate retrieve.

Power is the second axis, and it sets how much line and lure the rod can handle. Medium power covers lighter presentations, medium-heavy is the standard bass workhorse and covers the widest range of lures, and heavy power is for pitching and flipping big baits into cover. Most anglers buying one rod land on medium-heavy, which is why so many of the picks above are medium-heavy.

Rod Length, Line Weight and Casting vs Spinning

Seven feet is the default bass length because it balances casting distance against the control you get when a fish is on. Six foot 6 inch rods are more sensitive and easier to work from a seated position, and 7 foot 6 inch to 8 foot rods cast further and cover more water per cast but feel worse under a fish pulling back.

Line weight and lure weight are the two numbers beginners mix up. Line weight is what the blank can handle when the fish pulls; lure weight is how heavy a bait the rod can throw. A rod rated to 17 pounds of line but only 5/8 ounces of lure will feel sluggish with a heavy bait no matter how strong the blank is.

For the casting versus spinning decision, the honest answer is that it comes down to the reel you can fish. A baitcaster gives you accuracy and control with heavier lures and has a steeper learning curve, mostly in the form of backlash. A spinning setup is easier to learn, hangs larger lures, and casts further with the same effort, but it is a poor match for lures over a few ounces.

Salt water needs its own check. Several models in this roundup carry corrosion-resistant guides and aluminum reel seat hoods, but only the ENTSPORT E Series Sirius is listed with inshore salt water use in its description, and its screw-down cushioned stainless steel hood is the detail that makes that claim credible. If brackish water or the surf is part of your plan, read the listing specification rather than assuming a freshwater blank will hold up.

Bass Rod Buying Tips: Blank Materials, Handles and One-Piece Builds

Blank material is the easiest way to predict how a rod will wear. Fiberglass is heavy and nearly indestructible. E-glass is a lighter, cheaper carbon. 24 ton carbon fiber and IM6 graphite are the mainstream balance of sensitivity and strength used by most of the picks here. Higher modulus material such as the Toray carbon matrix in the KastKing Perigee II pushes further toward sensitivity.

Handle material tells you what the rod feels like over a full day. Cork is warmer, grippier when wet and lighter, and it is the preference of most experienced anglers. EVA foam is durable, cheaper, bulkier and easier to clean, and it does not crack. A rubberized cork handle is the compromise, and one pick in this list uses it alongside a pair that use plain cork and EVA.

One-piece versus two-piece is a question about transport and durability more than performance. A one-piece rod performs slightly better and has no joint to fail, but it will not fit in most cars or packs. A two-piece with a spigot joint closes almost all of that gap, and the guide count and blank construction matter more to performance than the number of pieces.

Finally, consider the spare tip question. A twin-tip package gives you a backup section and a second power option in the same box, and five of the twelve rods in this roundup include one. It is the most practical value feature in the category, and it is the reason budget rods with extra tips keep outselling single-tip models at the same rough price.

The 80/20 rule, and why it matters when you pick a rod

The 80/20 rule in bass fishing says roughly 80 percent of your effort belongs on the retrieve and 20 percent on the cast. The rod is the tool that governs the retrieve, which is exactly why sensitivity shows up in a rod decision. A blank that transmits the tap of a fish during the retrieve turns a would-be missed hook set into a fish on, and that is the measurable difference between a lead-weighted budget blank and a sensitive mid-range one.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Best Bass Fishing Rod for Your Water in 2026

There is no single best fishing rod for bass fishing, and the honest answer depends on the water and the lure. The ENTSPORT E Series Camo Legend is our pick for general casting work because two usable tips and the largest owner feedback base in the group make it hard to argue with. The KastKing Spartacus II covers the spinning side of that same job, and the KastKing Perigee II is the one to buy when blank construction and joint quality are the deciding factors.

Everything else in this list is a specialist, and each one is a specialist at something real: the Berkley Lightning Rod for moderate action topwork, the Berkley Cherrywood HD for a cork grip in cold weather, the HANDING Pioneer for a six-foot travel build, the Ugly Stik GX2 for a graphite and fiberglass blank that takes abuse, the Lew’s Laser SG1 for four-pound spinning line, and the ENTSPORT E Series Sirius for inshore water. Match the length, power and action to the lure you actually cast, check the lure and line ratings against what you throw, and the decision makes itself.