Telescopic Fishing Rod

If you’re short on storage space or need a compact rod for backpacking, kayak fishing or sneaking into those difficult areas then a telescopic fishing rod is ideal for you.

Choosing which one to buy is relatively simple exercise.  We have a FREE rod buyer’s guide available to download here on this page.

The first aspect is deciding what size best suits the type of fishing you’re going to be doing.

You can buy large telescopic rods for surf fishing or small ones for trout and other freshwater fish.

Some people use their rods in kayaks or canoes so something that is shorter will be less likely to pull you over.

Match the rod to the type of fishing you will be doing. Sizing is usually done by casting weight or line weight eg. a 10kg line weight rod that’s 12 ft long could be good for surf fishing or off the rocks.
Whereas a 2 – 3kg line weight rod would be good for trout.

One other aspect to keep in mind is the collapsed rod length.  When the rod is taken down you want to make sure it will fit in the storage or travel space you’ll be using.  Nothing worse than finding it doesn’t quite fit behind the seat of your truck or in your Harley saddlebag.

Once you’ve got your size sorted look for the features and performance you want.  Carbon rods with ceramic guides are more expensive but better performing and will also last longer.

Make sure you get a “tip cover” to protect the tip of the rod and stop it from sliding out when you don’t want it to.
I’ve learned the hard way that telescopic fishing rod tips can slide out at the most inconvenient moment and be snapped off.

A rod and reel set is a good way to go if you just want a cheap handy setup to keep in the car glovebox.  Buying the rod and reel together often makes it cheaper and they should be properly balanced and matched for use.

Another thing to look out for is a storage bag or travel bag to protect the rod in transit.

I personally don’t like the sliding ring design at the tip of some rods as this often twists around during use making casting more difficult.

Select a rod with non-corrosive materials on the joints and rings – especially if you’re going to be doing any saltwater fishing.

It also pays to buy a rod of reasonable quality as they will last you for years and hopefully become one of your favourite peices of fishing equipment.  I know mine are (and I’ve got quite a few!).

Look out for more blog posts and articles on how to get the best out of your telescopic fishing rod.

Get our comprehensive “Telescopic Fishing Rod – Buyer’s Guide”

All the best…

MARK.