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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.