Fishing "Pole" Versus Fishing "Rod"?

by Samantha
(New Zealand)

What is the difference between a fishing pole and a fishing rod? Or are they different? I mean, I thought that they were pretty much the same thing, but I'm not too sure. My husband says they are different, but how?


Jason's answer:

Yes, they are different. Well, sort of...

Many inexperienced fishermen will often say "fishing pole" instead of calling it a fishing rod. It's not deliberate, it's just that they haven't learned the difference. I don't think that it's a bad thing though, because it seems to be common speaking in the everyday world... completely innocent.

To answer your question about the difference between a fishing pole versus a fishing rod...

A fishing "pole" is traditionally recognized as being made from natural elements such as either cane, reed or bamboo, etc.

A fishing "rod" blank is constructed out of conventional composite materials such as graphite, fiberglass, boron or kevlar, which can also include a combination of these materials.

Either way, whatever type of material(s) that they are made out of, they are all known as a "blank".

For more information regarding those composite materials used for constructing fishing rod blanks, you can check out the fishing rods section.

Hope this helps. If you have any other questions about fishing rods and poles, you can post them here.

Comments for Fishing "Pole" Versus Fishing "Rod"?

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Thank You
by: Samantha

That's interesting and good to know. Thank you for the clarification Jason.

EXACTLY!
by: Dominic

That is exactly what I tell people!

Semantics
by: Anonymous

That is the silliest thing I've ever heard, but I guess some people's panties get bundled by the most unimportant things. "It's not a motorcycle baby. It's a chopper."

Rod/Pole
by: Special K

A rod has guides that the line passes thru. The line is attached to the tip of a pole.

Fishing pole and fishing rod.
by: Mark Stott

The difference between a fishing pole and fishing rod...

The fishing pole has no eyes/guides, yet the fishing rod does. (Even though there are different poles/rods depends on where you come from.) A fishing pole is definitely not a rod.

There is a fishing pole with one eye/guide at the end as to tie your line to, such as a cane pole. But there are about 30-40 to maybe 50 poles, in which you put elastic through the end blanks/tubes as to absorb the pull of the fish. Then there are fishing rods with a lot more eyes/guides, depending on the size and type of fishing rod you choose. For example, a boat fishing rod may have 8 eyes/guides. And a course rod may have 10 eyes/guides and upwards.

Pole vs Rod
by: Alice

When you get down to it there is a difference. But I find that a lot of older folks 55 and above, call it all a pole. That's in America anyway. Men hate it when I say "pole", so I continue to say it!

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