Choosing the right fishing pole is the most important factor for having success on the water. An incorrect fishing pole can mess up bite detection and make it difficult to cast accurately. If you’re just starting out, you’re probably wondering what fishing pole I should buy.
There are several things to consider when choosing a fishing pole. Two things anglers need to think about when choosing a fishing pole are what species of fish they’ll target and how they will target those fish. Other factors to consider include the pole’s length, weight, stiffness, and balance.
Keep reading to learn the difference between fishing poles and fishing rods. We’ll also talk about different types of fishing poles and things to consider when choosing the best fishing pole for you.
Fishing Rod vs. Fishing Pole: Difference?
Whether you’re an experienced fisherman or a newbie, you’ve probably heard anglers talking about their fishing rods and fishing poles. If that’s the case, you might wonder if there’s a difference between these terms or if you can use them interchangeably.
To put it simply, what most people in North America call a “fishing pole” is, in fact, a fishing rod. A fishing rod is a long, thin rod that has a reel seat, line guides, and a reel and is used for casting lures.
A fishing pole has a simpler design than a fishing rod. Fishing poles are long, slender rods made of wood or other material with a line and hook fastened to one end.
Over the years, fishing rods have become more popular than fishing poles. Nowadays, almost all anglers use fishing rods to catch fish. The biggest difference between fishing rods and fishing poles is the way they are used.
Fishing rods are designed to cast lures through the air toward distant targets in the water. The main advantages of using fishing rods include increased casting distance, a wider range of available presentations, and the ability to cover water quickly in search of fish.
Although fishing poles aren’t commonly used in the US, they are a popular piece of fishing equipment in Europe and Asia. The biggest advantage of using a fishing pole is that it can present a lure or a bait much more precisely than a fishing rod.
While most anglers use them, there are a few disadvantages to using a fishing rod. Fishing rods present baits or lures less accurately than fishing poles. A fishing rod also has more parts, meaning many things can go wrong and be harder to fix or replace.
The biggest downside of fishing poles is that they lack maneuverability, and longer poles are difficult to wield. Because fishing poles aren’t as popular as fishing rods, finding one might be a real challenge, depending on where you live.
Types of Fishing Poles
There are three types of fishing poles to choose from. The type of fishing pole you should get depends on how you intend to use it and the species of fish you’re targeting.
Listed below are the different types of fishing poles:
Margin Poles
A margin pole is the shortest type of fishing pole, ranging from 13 to 32 feet. Designed for catching large carp found in commercial fisheries, margin poles are strong and almost unbreakable.
Margin poles are short and stiff, with little downward force at the pole’s tip. The lightweight and robust design makes margin poles ideal for young novice anglers and professional match anglers.
Carp Poles
Carp poles come in a wide range of lengths, from 32 to over 57 feet long. Carp poles are very strong and designed to withstand the stresses of catching big and powerful fish.
The carp pole’s strength comes with additional weight because of the increased thickness of pole sections.
Match Poles
Match poles are the lightest, stiffest, and most balanced type of fishing poles. They are designed to target small and medium-sized fish species and are usually from 47 to 52 feet long.
Anglers mostly use match poles when fishing in channels, rivers, or mixed still waters where finesse is required.
Things to Consider when Choosing a Fishing Pole
The most important things to consider when choosing a fishing pole are the species of fish you want to catch and how you will target them. Here are some important features to keep in mind when purchasing a fishing pole:
Rod Length
The key when buying a new fishing pole is to choose the longest pole you can afford. The great thing about a fishing pole is that you don’t always have to use it at its full length. But having the extra sections allows you to reach further to the far bank or reeds.
Weight and Balance
Most fishing poles have their weight printed on the end sections, but you should also consider the pole’s downforce. The downforce is the weight that has to be placed on the pole’s butt to lift the pole’s tip from the ground.
The more downforce is required, the harder it’s to hold the pole. Essentially, better-balanced and lighter poles are easier to fish with and hold because they have a lower downforce.
Stiffness
Buy the stiffest fishing pole you can afford. Stiffer poles won’t bend much in the wind and will allow you to hit faster bites. A stiff fishing pole will also prevent the fish from falling off the hook when you pull the lure.
Conclusion
What fishing pole you should buy depends on the type of fish you want to catch and the fisheries you tackle. If your only goal is to catch carp, choose a carp pole or a margin pole.
Anglers fishing in commercial fisheries stocked with different species of small and big fish should opt for an all-around match fishing pole. Anglers who fish channels, lakes, and rivers should choose the longest match pole they can find and afford.