I own two of these Shakespeare Travel Mate rod and reel combos and I love them. I have to have two as the wife and kids always want to have a fish when we’re on holiday. They’re great little multi-purpose rods, ideally suited for trout fishing and other small to medium size fish.
Yes they’re relatively cheap and you can’t expect a high quality, high performance rod and reel for this price – but if you’re looking for a reasonably priced, compact setup this will do the trick nicely. The kits come with both a rod and reel and you can also get them with a plastic travel case for a little more money.
Perfect for backpacking, popping in your suitcase or under the seat in the car. I’ve used mine for kayak and canoe fishing. I also love sneaking around lake edges where I can collapse the rod down to scramble through undergrowth or along steep banks without getting tangled up or risking snapping the tip off – always a problem with a conventional rod.
For only $29.99 for both the rod and reel its a bargain really. You can buy them with confidence here at Amazon
Check out the Bass Pro Shops SALE – click on the advert just over there –> to go straight to the rod and reel specials.
Here’s a quality telescopic fishing rod for carp fishers in the UK. These rods have similar test curves to the well received Crypton Tele Carp series of rods but in a lower price bracket – the Hypercast Tele Specimen. Specialist carp hunters who like to keep on the move will love these highly versatile rods. I love the quick take down and portability of these telescopic fishing rods.
* Model: Tele Specimen
* Length: 3.60m
* Sections: 7
* Test Curve: 3.00 lb
* Travel Length: 0.82m
* Weight: 260 grams
Quantum-Hypercast 3.60m
Tacklebargains Price: £74.49 (Including VAT at 17.5%)
The Shimano Forcemaster series are mid-priced range carp rods, built on XT30 + Fine Crystal Carbon non-ground blanks and fitted with Shimano Hard Lite double leg ceramic guides. The Forcemaster is a great carp rod range for anglers on a budget who want to enjoy a quality multi-rod set up – they are not telescopic rods but are available in 3 piece compact version. Available in powerful long range actions or more subtle fish playing versions, the Forcemaster range offers something to suit most carp angler’s needs. Ideal for compact storage in vehicles
If your looking for a compact travel rod but just can’t bring yourself to go for a telescopic then a quality multi-section rod like this might be just what you’re looking for. The Shimano STC (Shimano Travel Concept) range is proven, high quality and value for money. These are the new Beastmaster versions.
Thousands of these rods have been purchased by anglers across the world. With the introduction of the new generation BX’s, Shimano succeeded in further improving fishing for travellers. The rods have a new stylish and effective Vibraspot reel seat, multi-length and optional balance weights are just a few of the upgrades.
It was a cracking good day, a fresh in the river and there were salmon about. We pulled the boat up at a good looking pool and with eager anticipation starting casting and swinging lures through the most likely looking water. After a few casts my friends line tightened up and he struck hard. An almighty crack cut the air and his rod broke in 2 places. A snag not a fish. Twelve year old rod’s life had come to an end (incidentally that rod has caught many many big fish).
Anyway – we carried on fishing for a while, friend with broken shorter rod, me with full rod, but it just wasn’t right. It was at least 40 minutes back to the car and I cursed having not put a spare rod in my bag – especially as I had 2 perfect spare telescopic fishing rods sitting at home. They only weigh a small amount and take up next to no room. Would have been an easy fix. Eventually we gave up and headed for home early.
True Story – this happened to me just 4 days ago! I highly recommend sticking a spare telescopic fishing rod in your kit, even if its only as a back up to your usual non-telescopic fishing rod.
Shimano BX Telescopic Surf Rod
The Shimano Antares BX series has exceptional casting performance with heavy weights. These rods are lightweight and have exceptionally strong blanks to give you a sharp powerful action. These telescopic sea rods are perfectly suited to competition anglers and anyone who requires a rod with top of the line technical features. The fully adjustable Slide ‘n’ Grip reel seat provides for different reel positions to optimise casting potential in a range of environments. Check out the list of options below for a weight range that suits your needs.
Option #1
Shimano Antares BX Telescopic Surf 100 ANTBXTESF408
Length – 13′3″
Closed length – 1470mm
Weight – 289g
Guides – 5
Sections – 5
Casting weight – 80g
Option #2
Shimano Antares BX Telescopic Surf 120 ANTBXTESF4210
Length – 14′
Closed length – 1600mm
Weight – 334g
Guides – 5
Sections – 5
Casting weight – 100g
Option #3
Shimano Antares BX Telescopic Surf 120 ANTBXTESF4212
Length – 14′
Closed length – 1600mm
Weight – 340g
Guides – 5
Sections – 5
Casting weight – 120g
Option #4
Shimano Antares BX Telescopic Surf 150 ANTBXTESF4315
Length – 14′3″
Closed length – 1650mm
Weight – 340g
Guides – 5
Sections – 5
Casting weight – 150g
Option #5
Shimano Antares BX Telescopic Surf 170 ANTBXTESF4317
Length – 14′3″
Closed length – 1650mm
Weight – 364g
Guides – 5
Sections – 5
Casting weight – 170g
Option #6
Shimano Antares BX Telescopic Surf 200 ANTBXTESF4320
Length – 14′3″
Closed length – 1650mm
Weight – 369g
Guides – 5
Sections – 5
Casting weight – 200g
The Shimano Eclipse series is a big rod range, perfect for newcomers to fishing. They’re high on performance and quality, but not necessarily on price.
Shimano produces a mid-quality range of telescopic fishing rods. The clear glass tip design combines with the rest of the blank for added strength and protection, while retaining some sensitivity.
The rods have black blanks with black thread and bronze and gold trim give the Shimano Eclipse rods a professional look without the big price ticket.
There are seven rods in the Eclipse Telescopic series. You’re sure to find one that suits your needs as a travelling angler, or those if you’ve got storage problems with full length rods.
Shimano Eclipse Telescopic Fishing Rod – Sizes:
6ft 2-4kg
6ft 6in 2-4kg
7ft 3-5kg
8ft 5-8kg
10ft 5-8kg
12ft 8-10kg
