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7 Best Telescopic Fishing Rods and Collapsible Fishing Poles

Picture this…

You’re packing up your car or truck to go out on a fishing trip, and as you’re cramming everything inside your vehicle, you realize that your fishing rod isn’t going to fit. Maybe you manage to jam it inside, but then when you arrive and unload your vehicle, you find that it got scuffed or cracked. Situations like these are when it’s very convenient to have a telescopic fishing rod.

A telescopic fishing rod can fold up into a much smaller size, making it much easier to transport and carry around. These rods are made up of the same components as a one or two-piece pole and come in a variety of reel and line weights, so you can easily find one to fit many of your needs.

In this article, we have put together a helpful guide that you can use to find the best telescoping fishing rod,  as well as, an informative guide of some of the best available and affordable products on the market. Let’s begin our journey!

Advantages of Telescopic Fishing Rods

The greatest advantage of collapsible fishing rods is their ability to fold down into a compact, easy to carry and store size. This really opens up the door of where you can take your rod, giving you a lot more opportunities to fish in different places.

If you’ve ever flown on a plane with your fishing pole before, then you know how much of a hassle it can be, not to mention how expensive it can be as well. Fishing cases aren’t cheap, and either is checking a rod on an airplane. Plus, your mind will be a lot more at ease knowing that your rod is tucked away safely in your carry-on bag rather than being thrown around by baggage handlers where it may crack or scuff, even inside of its case.

Its ability to compact into a smaller size isn’t just convenient for transporting the rod though. Being able to fold your pole down also makes it a lot easier to store, freeing up space in your garage or shed and creating a lot less clutter.

The portability isn’t the only advantage though. Telescopic rods actually tend to be sturdier than regular rods because of the way that the weight is distributed evenly along the arc of the pole. This even weight distribution prolongs the life of the rod and helps to keep the pole from breaking or snapping.

Disadvantages of Telescopic Fishing Rods

As great as telescopic fishing rods are, there are still some disadvantages to them. One of those disadvantages is that there are very few high quality options in the market because of the limited  materials used to construct them. The one positive aspect of this disadvantage is that most extendable fishing rods are extremely budget friendly.

Another disadvantage is that these rods can get stuck in place over time, making it difficult to retract them. Therefore to help their prolong life, it is essential that you are careful and avoid applying too much force when opening or collapsing the rod.  

Collapsible rods also have a more limited range of actions than a standard rod does. These rods may not be able to cast as far or carry as much weight as some other standard fishing rods.

Features

The ability to collapse into a smaller size is the standout feature of telescopic fishing pole. When it is fully extended, it is a standard sized rod, but when you fold its components into each other, and it is fully collapsed, it is only between one and two feet depending on the rod. Each of the collapsible sections nests inside the other when it is folded down, making it easy to carry, store, and transport.

The most common materials that telescopic fishing rods are made of are graphite, carbon fiber, and fiberglass. Of the three materials, graphite and carbon fiber are stronger and have fast action abilities. Fiberglass is more suitable for slow to medium actions and is ideal for baiting lighter, more soft-mouthed species. Knowing what you intend to use your rod for is essential in deciding between graphite or fiberglass.

Telescopic fishing poles generally don’t come with an equipped reel, although there are combination rods out there. Purchasing a combination rod and reel is a lot more cost effective than buying each piece separately, as well as more convenient.

Key Considerations

There are a few key things to take into consideration when shopping for a collapsible fishing pole that best suits you and your needs. The four most important things are power, action, portability, and construction materials.

Power

Telescopic rods usually fall into one of these three power categories: heavy, medium-heavy, or medium. The power of a rod correlates with the size of the rod and the materials used to make it. Larger rods have more power and so do rods made of graphite, while smaller rods and rods made of fiberglass have less power.

To determine how much power you need from your rod, think about what type of fishing you’re going to be using your rod for. If you plan to catch larger or more hard-mouthed fish, you should probably go with a heavy to the medium-heavy rod. If you plan to catch smaller or more soft-mouthed fish, then you should go with a medium-heavy to a medium rod.

Action

The action of a rod is about its flex rate, and rods either have a slow, medium, or fast response. Slow means the whole rod flexes when cast, medium means only middle section flexes, and fast means that only the tip does. Slower action is best for bigger fish, and faster action is best for smaller fish, so choose your action according to what type of fish you plan to catch.

Portability

Most telescopic fishing rods will collapse down to anywhere between one and two feet. If you find a rod that collapses down to longer than two feet, it probably isn’t as great of an option because anything over two feet decreases the portability of the rod. The smaller the rod can collapse too, the easier it will be to carry around and store.

Construction Materials

Most telescopic fishing rods are constructed of either graphite, carbon fiber, or fiberglass. Anyone of these materials is durable. You should try to stick to rods that are constructed of one of these three elements as other materials may snap or break on you after some use.

When choosing between graphite, carbon fiber, and fiberglass, consider what type of fishing you’ll be doing. For a rod with fast action that has the strength to catch larger, more hard-mouthed fish, go with graphite or carbon fiber. For a rod with slow to medium action that is ideal for catching smaller, more soft-mouthed fish, go with fiberglass.

Pricing

Pricing is usually in correlation with the material that the rod is constructed of, the length of the rod, and the rod’s capabilities. Graphite and carbon fiber materials are a bit more expensive than fiberglass is, so rods made of these two materials tend to cost more than ones made of fiberglass. The longer that the rod is, the more expensive it will be as well because it uses more materials for the construction of it.

​Top 7 Retractable Fishing Rods

Goture telescoping tenkara Fishing Rod Crappie rods 1 Piece Portable Hand telescoping Fishing Poles Carbon Fiber Telescopic Stream Ultralight Portable Carp Pole 12 15 18 20 21FT 24FT Free Tip Set
Sougayilang Graphite Carbon Fiber Portable Spinning Telescopic Fishing Rod for Boat Saltwater and Freshwater,1.8M/5.91Ft
Akataka Retractable Baitcasting Rod with 24Ton Carbon Fiber,Durable Reel Seat, Efficient Heat Dissipation Guide for Inshore Offshore Bass Fishing (Casting-Medium Heavy 7'1"-Green)
PLUSINNO Telescopic Fishing Rod Retractable Fishing Pole Rod Saltwater Travel Spinning Fishing Rods Fishing Poles
B&M BW4 Black Widow Telescopic Rod, 13-Feet, 4 Pc (Telescopic)
Cost
$$
$
$$
$
$
Material
Carbon fiber
Carbon fiber and fiberglass
Carbon fiber
Carbon fiber and fiberglass
Fiberglass
Extended Length
12’ – 24’
5’9” – 10.5’
6’8” – 7’1”
5’9”
13’
Collapsed Length
2’
1.3’ – 1.7’
2’
1’3”
3’8”
Goture telescoping tenkara Fishing Rod Crappie rods 1 Piece Portable Hand telescoping Fishing Poles Carbon Fiber Telescopic Stream Ultralight Portable Carp Pole 12 15 18 20 21FT 24FT Free Tip Set
Brand
Cost
$$
Material
Carbon fiber
Extended Length
12’ – 24’
Collapsed Length
2’
Sougayilang Graphite Carbon Fiber Portable Spinning Telescopic Fishing Rod for Boat Saltwater and Freshwater,1.8M/5.91Ft
Brand
Cost
$
Material
Carbon fiber and fiberglass
Extended Length
5’9” – 10.5’
Collapsed Length
1.3’ – 1.7’
Akataka Retractable Baitcasting Rod with 24Ton Carbon Fiber,Durable Reel Seat, Efficient Heat Dissipation Guide for Inshore Offshore Bass Fishing (Casting-Medium Heavy 7'1"-Green)
Brand
Cost
$$
Material
Carbon fiber
Extended Length
6’8” – 7’1”
Collapsed Length
2’
PLUSINNO Telescopic Fishing Rod Retractable Fishing Pole Rod Saltwater Travel Spinning Fishing Rods Fishing Poles
Brand
Cost
$
Material
Carbon fiber and fiberglass
Extended Length
5’9”
Collapsed Length
1’3”
B&M BW4 Black Widow Telescopic Rod, 13-Feet, 4 Pc (Telescopic)
Brand
Cost
$
Material
Fiberglass
Extended Length
13’
Collapsed Length
3’8”
Goture telescoping tenkara Fishing Rod Crappie rods 1 Piece Portable Hand telescoping Fishing Poles Carbon Fiber Telescopic Stream Ultralight Portable Carp Pole 12 15 18 20 21FT 24FT Free Tip Set

​This rod is an excellent option for catching a variety of different fish. It is made of durable, high quality carbon fiber, giving it the strength and fast action ability to bait and catch larger fish. It is also available in a wide variety of different extended length, giving you more to choose from based on your preferences and needs.

Pros

  • Variety of length options
  • ​High-quality carbon fiber construction
  • ​Durable rubber top cap to protect internal rod tips
  • ​Anti-lock design for easier rod retraction
  • ​Great fast action abilities

Cons

  • ​The collapsed length could be even smaller to make portability easier
Sougayilang Graphite Carbon Fiber Portable Spinning Telescopic Fishing Rod for Boat Saltwater and Freshwater,1.8M/5.91Ft

​This rod has a good medium action and flex, making it perfect for smaller, more soft-mouthed fish. It is constructed with good quality materials including carbon fiber, fiberglass, and EVA and also comes in a variety of different length options.

Pros

  • ​Variety of length options
  • ​Grippy EVA handle
  • ​High-quality carbon fiber and fiberglass material mix
  • ​Great flex rate
  • ​Short closed length for extra portability

Cons

  • Less sturdy than some other rods
  • ​Not suitable for larger fish
Akataka Retractable Baitcasting Rod with 24Ton Carbon Fiber,Durable Reel Seat, Efficient Heat Dissipation Guide for Inshore Offshore Bass Fishing (Casting-Medium Heavy 7'1'-Green)

​This rod is lightweight and terrific for baitcasting, spinning, and a variety of different kinds of fishing. It has a medium flex rate, medium-heavy power, and eye-catching neon green color.

Pros

  • ​High-quality carbon fiber construction
  • ​Sensitive tip
  • ​Grippy EVA handle
  • ​Great sensitivity
  • ​Medium-heavy power and medium flex rate make it versatile for fishing needs

Cons

  • The collapsed length could be even smaller to make portability easier
  • ​The variety of length options are few.
PLUSINNO Telescopic Fishing Rod Retractable Fishing Pole Rod Saltwater Travel Spinning Fishing Rods Fishing Poles

​This rod is both flexible and durable thanks to its combination of carbon fiber and fiberglass construction. It is a medium powered rod, meaning that it is best suited for smaller, more soft-mouthed fish. It also has a grippy EVA handle that is comfortable to hold.

Pros

  • ​Short closed length for extra portability
  • ​High-quality carbon fiber and fiberglass material mix
  • ​Great flex rate
  • ​Aluminum oxide guide inserts
  • ​Grippy EVA handle

Cons

  • Only comes in one short length
  • ​Not suitable for larger fish
B&M BW4 Black Widow Telescopic Rod, 13-Feet, 4 Pc (Telescopic)

This rod is on the longer side, measuring in at thirteen feet in its extended length and just under four feet in its retracted length. This makes it slightly less convenient to carry around and transport, but this rod is very thin and lightweight, making it easy to fit into tighter spaces. It is ideal for lighter, softer mouthed fish.

Pros

  • ​Lightweight design that can fit into tight spaces
  • ​High-quality fiberglass
  • ​Fiberglass reinforced joints
  • ​Great for catching small fish

Cons

  • ​Only available in one length size
  • ​The retracted size is over three feet which is pretty long, making it less portable
  • ​Not ideal for larger fish
trout boy TROUTBOY Black Warrior Fishing Rod - 24 Ton Carbon Fiber Ultra Light Portable Telescopic Fishing Pole with CNC Machined Reel Seat, Stainless Steel Guides, EVA Fore Grip

This rod is both lightweight and durable due to its carbon fiber construction. It also comes in a wide variety of lengths and powers, making it versatile for plenty of different fishing needs.

Pros

  • ​Wide variety of lengths and powers
  • ​High-quality carbon fiber
  • ​Retracts very small, even in the most extended size
  • ​Versatile for catching both big and small fish

Cons

  • ​Less sturdy than some other rods
Eagle Claw Pack-IT Telescopic Spincast Rod, 1 Piece (Yellow, 5-Feet 6-Inch)

This rod is lightweight and straightforward with a lot of flex, perfect for catching smaller fish. It retracts down to just over a foot long, making it very easy to carry around and store.

Pros

  • ​It collapses to a diminished length for easy portability
  • ​Grippy EVA handle
  • ​High-quality fiberglass
  • ​Great flex
  • ​Ideal for smaller fish

Cons

  • Only available in one short length
  • ​Not ideal for larger fish
  • ​Less durable than some other rods

​In A Nutshell

Telescopic fishing rods are great to have for a variety of reasons, but the convenient portability is by far the most outstanding one. Now that you have an idea of what components to look for when choosing a telescopic rod, hopefully, you can find one that suits you and your fishing needs with ease.

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