Rod Pairing Introduction
Many anglers can benefit from professional angler rod-pairing advice. Our team has years of combined industry experience and have tested nearly every great rod and reel combination ever conceived.
In this guide, we'll discuss rods to pair with both the President Spinning Reel and the President XT Baitcaster. We cover the reels themselves, desired rod qualities, and our reasoning behind our recommendations.
We'll start with an overview of the Pflueger's Spinning Reel.
Pflueger President Spinning Reel
Pflueger makes some of the world's best reels for freshwater fishing, and the President Spinning Reel is certainly no exception. The 7 to 10 bearing system is as smooth as it gets, and the graphite components allow the reel to be both lightweight and durable.
The drag system is sealed tight, keeping the internals lubricated and mechanically sound for years of use. Casting is effortless and extremely satisfying. It's designed to sit in your hand comfortably, and the rubber handle nob gives you grip even when your hands are wet or covered in fish slime.
Desired Rod Qualities
Several rods stand out as the best options to pair with Pflueger's spinning reel. Multiple factors have gone into our recommendation, but one of the most important is balance. Since the reel is so lightweight, a less-expensive fiberglass rod wouldn't pair well and could limit your casting distance.
Depending on the conditions you regularly fish in and the species you target, you might consider modifying our recommendations' strength ratings. The two rods we've found to be the best for the Pflueger President Spinning Reel are both 6'6" and have strong balanced blanks.
Ugly Stik Elite - 6'6" Medium
To set the tone for the popularity of rod, it currently has nearly two thousand ratings on Amazon that average 4.7 stars. It's clearly a favorite among anglers and is certainly the best Ugly Stik spinning rod for this type of reel.
The Ugly Stik Elite Series is fairly priced, features a clear tip design for strength, and a graphite blank that makes it lightweight and sensitive.
The medium strength 6'6" model is what we recommend for the Pflueger President because it's perfectly balanced, and the length ensures long casts. If this doesn't match your style, there are other options, however, with lengths ranging from 6'6" to 7'6".
Cadence CR7 - 6'6" Medium-Light
Another great rod option is the Cadence CR7 Spinning Series. Compared to the Ugly Stik Elite, many anglers like the handle design on this rod better. Where it really stands out is in its medium-light and ultralight strength models.
This is an excellent option if you fish for panfish, trout or use plastic baits for bass. Cadence does a great job fine-tuning their strength ratings to advance performance while retaining the rod's strength.
They're a steal for the price as the quality of the Cadence CR7 is comparable to high-end professional fishing rods. Purchasing through the brand's Amazon store saves you money and ensures the rod ships quickly.
Pflueger President XT
The other just as popular and high-quality reel in this series is the Pflueger President XT Low Profile Reel. This baitcaster style is perfect for braided line, longer casts, and other casting applications.
Several qualities that make this baitcasting reel stand out from the competition are its incredibly smooth drag, elegant design, and extreme stopping power. Its technology makes fighting the largest bass nearly effortless and has no problem tackling larger species such as northern pike and striped bass.
Desired Rod Qualities
When considering different rods to pair with the President XT, you need a casting rod that's as much of a workhorse as the reel itself. The expression "a chain is only as strong as its weakest link" is applicable here as the wrong rod could limit your setup's performance.
It's important to choose a rod that's versatile and strong enough to fight heavy fish. The two rods we review are exceptionally strong while still being sensitive and able to transfer vibrations well.
Berkley Cherrywood HD - 7' Medium-Heavy
The Berkley Cherrywood HD is the perfect example of a rod with balanced strength and performance. Using multiple materials to construct the blank, Berkley successfully designed a baitcasting rod with unmatched sensitivity and extreme strength.
Another notable feature is the premium cork that Berkley sources for the Cherrywood HD. This keeps the rod comfortable even during long days out on the water and makes it easier to hold on to with wet and slimy hands.
From our experience, the Medium-Heavy 7' model is the best for the Pflueger President XT. It's well-balanced and has a wide variety of possible uses. The combination of these world-class fishing products is a setup that can be fished year-round with great success.
Bass Pro Crankin' Stick - 6'6" Medium-Heavy
Another rod option for the President XT is the Bass Pro Crankin' Stick. This fast action rod has become more popular and is a well-designed casting rod. Bass Pro Shops always has high-budgets for product design and testing since they're among the largest fishing organizations.
The rod has many unique features, including Shok Flex Technology, graphite and fiberglass hybridization, and titanium oxide rings. To keep this review, concise other specific features can be viewed on the Bass Pro Shops online store.
The model that's 7' in length with a medium-heavy fast action rating is the best match for President XT. It allows for the best casting distance and balance between strength and sensitivity.
The largest drawback to this rod is that it's only sold on Bass Pro Shop's Online Rod Store, not through Amazon. However, it's a great product and certainly worth your consideration.
