Recently bought a Lews Classic Pro Speed Spool SLP and now I need a rod to go with it. Are KastKing casting rods a fair choice for an entry, budget-friendly rod? I'm really trying to stay under $60.

 

For reference:

1. I have a lot of fun with my regular ol Ugly stick spinning rod and I'm just dipping my toes into this baitcaster stuff.

2. Intended use is anything from Texas rigged creature baits to jigs.

3. I won't ever have a rod/reel setup for every kind of bait there is. That's just not who I am. I'm a minimalist and utilitarian. That in mind, I'm looking for a rod capable of casting many baits well, even if it casts no bait perfectly.

 

Thank you in advance for your suggestions. 

At one time I had two Kast King rods. One broke the first trip out and due to Covid they said they’d couldn’t replace it. I’ll never buy another Kast King rod.

 

Their reels I’ve been happy with them. I don’t use them on a regular basis but they’ve held up.

@Red Beard NO!! And just for clarification I own both a low end casting reel of theirs and a Speed Demon rod, I will say I love the rod which is definitely out of your price range and although I enjoyed the budget reel for what it is I’m planning on trading it in next spring if BPS does their normal trade-in promotion during the spring classic sale. So for under $60.00 it’s going to be a bit tougher but without knowing where you are geographically I’m only going to stick with BPS and Wal-Mart for rods for now. As far as all purpose I personally like a med/medium heavy moderate fast rod and I have a few. I’ll start with 2 from BPS, the first is a BPS Graphite series rod @$39.99 although I don’t own one I’ll explain my choice in a minute. The second one is a Fish Eagle casting rod which again I don’t personally own but have handled both in store and really feel they’re nice rods for the money and BPS has a very generous return policy as long as you keep the receipt. My second recommendation is from Wal-Mart and it’s a Lews Hank Parker rod in 6’-10” medium power which I do own and although a few inches shorter it’s a really good all around rod in my personal opinion. I could keep going as I’m all about “budget” rods or getting a great deal but I feel I’ve gone a bit far with my word salad already 😉

On 7/24/2025 at 5:54 PM, Red Beard said:

That in mind, I'm looking for a rod capable of casting many baits well, even if it casts no bait perfectly.

$60 and free shipping. 7' Medium Heavy. You'll be thrilled. BTW, I have one myself.

Daiwa Aird X Casting Rods | Tackle Warehouse

Thank you guys. Very helpful! Any two piece rod recommendations in the same price range? 

43 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

$60 and free shipping. 7' Medium Heavy. You'll be thrilled. BTW, I have one myself.

Daiwa Aird X Casting Rods | Tackle Warehouse

Another great example and a highly recommended rod and as a bonus if you’re into color matching your combos like me it would look great as a combination 👍🏻

Definitely go with MH power for sure, that’s super versatile. I love my MH and use it most. It’s caught more bass than the rest of my rods combined I’d bet 

If you want your one piece rod to become a multi piece rod as quickly as possible, you should absolutely get a KastKing. Another option would be a Googan rod.

I think the aird x posted above is the go to at that price point. That’s really hard to beat. 

Years ago, I bought the KastKing Perigee II casting rod 7ft. 3 pc. medium and medium heavy tips when KastKing was in its infancy. My take short and sweet: for sixty dollars it's a workhorse that is sensitive and strong that can used for light saltwater, too. Most of my fishing with it is with T Rigs.

Good Fishing. 

Another vote for the AirdX. 

 

Idk if they still make them, but I rocked some of those $30 highlighter yellow and silver lews rods from Walmart for a couple years. Aside from the reel seat, it was actually a decent frog rod. 

 

8 minutes ago, GreenTrout said:

Years ago, I bought the KastKing Perigee II casting rod 7ft. 3 pc. medium and medium heavy tips when KastKing was in its infancy. My take short and sweet: for sixty dollars it's a workhorse that is sensitive and strong that can used for light saltwater, too. Most of my fishing with it is with T Rigs.

I, also, bought one of these when I first got into bassin a few years back. I still have it and it works just fine. I'm not a fan of how the reel seat feels, so it just collects dust in the garage now. 

I have an extensive collection of KK rods and reels and never have had any issues. Unfortunately things do break when unexpected. This can happen with any brand. KK has come a long way since they started over 10 years ago.

3 minutes ago, ike8120 said:

 KK has come a long way since they started over 10 years ago.

KastKing is now huge on Amazon. Dominates ...

Good Fishing

My PB teener came on a Berkley Lightning Rod - 7'MH. At the time it cost $35. I think they are $50 now and come in 2-pice versions as well. I still use an 8' UL casting rod (2 piece) for BFS. It has been flawless.

The Diawa is hard to beat but I’d prefer the Berkley, but really a toss up.

That being said an Ugly Stik is hard to beat !

27 minutes ago, Motoboss said:

The Diawa is hard to beat but 8’d prefer the Berkley, but really a toss up.

That being said an Ugly Stik is hard to beat !

I like the 7 MH of that line.  It's more powerful MH with a nice slower bend to it.  I'll use mine for 3/8 chatterbaits, spinnerbait, buzzbaits, ploppers and bigger cranks like the 1/2 oz to 1 oz square bills and L bills like the Swank and Hybrid Hunter.  Not a fan of the 6'6' MH or the medium rods.  The 7 MH is the star of the lightning rod show IMO.  

 

Handles Cull Shads pretty well too.

Bunch of $100+ dobyn's rods on amazon now that are on sale + have coupon that will be in your price range. Top pic for me. 

 

Next after that is the often mentioned Daiwa Aird-X.

MH/F (or MH/R if Daiwa) are your best do-all. 

On 7/24/2025 at 10:29 PM, Red Beard said:

Any two piece rod recommendations in the same price range? 

Choose 7' in either M or MH and 2pc. Personally, I'd go with the MH. My son in law fishes with these, so I know them well. 5 seasons now and no breakage with a few 7 pounders caught the mix. $64.99 and Free shipping.

Lightning Rod™ Casting

Went to Sportsmans Warehouse and Academy today to look at poles. Liking the MH better than the Mediums. Some of the Mediums were like wet noodles with a lot of bounce after the initial wrist flick. Couldn't find a two piece rod at either store. Picked up a $389 rod just to see what it felt like... niiiiice.

 

Man it's difficult finding a two piece MH in my price range.

@Red Beard Ok so a quick search on the Daiwa website shows they have the Aird X in 7’-0” medium heavy fast action in 2 piece @$59.99. Go back to either store and ask them to order it for you, I did this with a Lews rod from Dicks sporting goods when they didn’t have the rod in stock and I’m sure either store you mentioned will be able to do the same or just go to Tackle Warehouse and order it from them.

20 minutes ago, Eric 26 said:

@Red Beard Ok so a quick search on the Daiwa website shows they have the Aird X in 7’-0” medium heavy fast action in 2 piece @$59.99. Go back to either store and ask them to order it for you, I did this with a Lews rod from Dicks sporting goods when they didn’t have the rod in stock and I’m sure either store you mentioned will be able to do the same or just go to Tackle Warehouse and order it from them.

Oh wait. Ok. I'll look there. Thank you. 

40 minutes ago, Eric 26 said:

Ok so a quick search on the Daiwa website shows they have the Aird X in 7’-0” medium heavy fast action in 2 piece @$59.99

Correct. It exists on their webpage as AIRX702MHFB. However, this rod hasn't been available other than random store stock for years. Not even on Amazon. My buddy tried to order one through a Daiwa dealer 4 years ago after he used mine, but they couldn't get it. There's one NOS on Ebay, but the seller wants $37.00 to ship. Still worth it at $90 total IMO for a hard to find 2pc.

 

Daiwa Aird-X Casting | eBay

44 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

Correct. It exists on their webpage as AIRX702MHFB. However, this rod hasn't been available other than random store stock for years. Not even on Amazon. My buddy tried to order one through a Daiwa dealer 4 years ago after he used mine, but they couldn't get it. There's one NOS on Ebay, but the seller wants $37.00 to ship. Still worth it at $90 total IMO for a hard to find 2pc.

 

Daiwa Aird-X Casting | eBay

Well that stinks. Thank you for the info though!

3 minutes ago, Red Beard said:

Well that stinks. Thank you for the info though!

Fisherman's Warehouse shows In Stock - https://www.fishermanswarehouse.com/product/daiwa-aird-x-casting-rod/154001

As does Kittery Trading Post - https://www.kitterytradingpost.com/daiwa-aird-x-7-1pc-8-17-m-f/?srsltid=AfmBOop0fo-DrLv6Os9HglpDNJrlDHQYzb1L17yycEJTawQJQGcpMgP3

 

4 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Fisherman's Warehouse shows In Stock - https://www.fishermanswarehouse.com/product/daiwa-aird-x-casting-rod/154001

As does Kittery Trading Post - https://www.kitterytradingpost.com/daiwa-aird-x-7-1pc-8-17-m-f/?srsltid=AfmBOop0fo-DrLv6Os9HglpDNJrlDHQYzb1L17yycEJTawQJQGcpMgP3

 

@Red Beard Listen to this man’s advice.