Best Telescopic Fishing Rods in 2022

Best Telescopic Fishing Rods Review

If you are on the market for a new telescopic fishing rod, you’ve come to the right place. Many people have doubts when it comes to shopping for telescoping fishing rods mainly because it’s not strong enough, but, in these recent years, this piece of equipment has come a long way.

A number of brands have put in the work to create telescopic fishing rods that are as strong as some fixed or two-piece version, if not stronger.

To ease your doubt, we have put together this review on the best telescopic fishing rods.

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Best Telescopic Fishing Rods Buyer’s Guide

It’s quite understandable if you are still having doubts about getting a telescopic fishing rod. To get the best out of your shopping experience, we have written a short buyer’s guide to show you the important things to keep in mind when shopping for a telescopic fishing rod and to help you get your money’s worth.

What is a Telescopic Fishing Rod

Telescopic fishing rod is a type of fishing rod that can be collapsed for easy storage and transport. They are made up rod multiple tiered pieces that allow the rod to collapse on itself. This type of fishing rod can shrink to up to a foot and a half in length, making it pretty convenient to move around with. When you are ready to use it, all you need to do is expand the sections of the rod by pulling it out to its complete length.

Most traditional fishing rods come in multiple pieces, mostly two or three-piece sections that need to be carried separately. The number of sectioned pieces is what differentiates a telescopic fishing rod from a traditional rod. A telescopic rod is just a single rod with multiple sections but is made of just one piece, while other fishing rods are made of multiple pieces joined together to form one rod.

Telescopic rods, also referred to as collapsible fishing rods, are built with carbon fiber and fiberglass material, the same material used to make regular fishing rods. The main reason they are not as strong or durable as the traditional rods is because of the different parts they are made with. These different parts or sections create a weak point on the rod, making it easier to break; this also reduces the sensitivity of the rod. Telescopic rods are mostly seen among travelers who move around a lot because it’s more convenient to travel with.

Due to the durability issues, these rods can’t be used with a large fish or for major power applications. It’s best for people looking to cast around once in a while or are not serious anglers. It is strong enough for catching regular-sized fish.

Advantages of Telescopic Fishing Rods

The most noticeable advantage of the telescopic fishing rod is that it’s easy to pack and lightweight. This type of rod is more travel-friendly, especially for someone that moves around a lot and enjoys occasional casting. Telescopic rods are more portable and easier to carry because it has sections that allow it to collapse on itself, making it much smaller than the regular rod. Also, you don’t need to buy expensive protective cases when traveling with it; you could just shove it in your bag and take it on the plane with you.

Also, storage is much more convenient; they don’t take up so much garage space if not used for a long time. They are compact enough to fit in a small drawer creating enough space to store other items.

Another advantage of telescopic fishing rods is that they are pretty affordable. You don’t have to break the bank to purchase one of these pieces. They are best for people new to fishing and don’t want to spend too much on their first fishing rod.

Telescopic Fishing Rod VS Traditional Fishing Rod

Experienced anglers prefer the traditional fishing rods to the telescopic ones because they are built from stronger materials that make them more durable.

We are going to compare these two categories of fishing rods based on these factors:

Convenience

Telescopic rods offer more convenience than traditional fishing rods. They are easier to walk around with, transport, and take up less storage space. Some of them come with carrying bags that make it easier to store everything in one place. With many telescopic rods, you don’t even need to buy lures, reels, or anything else.

Durability

It’s pretty obvious that traditional fishing rods are much more durable than telescopic rods. If you are looking to spend good money, you should opt for the conventional fishing rods as they are built from high quality material. Telescopic rods are best if you enjoy fishing three to five times a year; they are cheaper but not as strong as the traditional type.

Performance

Telescopic rods are built with multiple sections that can be extended to form one full rod. Because of these multiple sections, the rod becomes less sensitive, resulting in a decrease in performance. Many telescopic rods cannot work with a good-quality fishing reel, and this affects your presentation and smoothness of retrieval.

With telescopic rods, presenting your lure becomes less flexible. It’ll be a bit difficult to create a particular presentation; you may have to tone down and create something simple. Experienced anglers usually choose something that doesn’t require presentation, like a drop-shot rigged worm or a suspending jerk bait.

When it comes to performance, a traditional rod would always outperform a telescopic rod because it is more sensitive and smoother.

Ease of Use

This factor depends on how the rod is utilized and maintained by the user. Telescopic rods are convenient to carry around and store but keep in mind that corrosion can affect the performance of the rod. If used for saltwater or not maintained properly, it’ll become fragile and difficult to open and close.

Traditional rods, on the other hand, are not as easy to transport but are easier to operate. The two-piece options are easier to travel with, but you’d have to be very careful when storing them.

How to Choose the Best Telescopic Fishing Rod

Before you decide to buy a telescopic fishing rod, there are a few things you need to note. Below are a few factors to note when choosing a telescopic fishing rod

Number of Sections

Telescopic rods have a specific number of sections; these fit into each other when you collapse the rod. These sections are quite important because they determine the number of weak points on the road. Most telescopic rods have about four to six sections, but the fewer sections, the better. However, this may affect the total length of the rod. Rods with up to six sections are much longer than those with less.

Longer rods with more sections are usually more difficult to expand or collapse; you have to fully expand one section before dealing with the next. The chances of damage increase if it’s not expanded or collapsed properly.

Extended or Collapsible Length

The length of the telescopic rods is one of the most important factors to note. Long poles are best for long casts or big-sized fish, while shorter ones are ideal for maneuverability and precision.

If you need something for surf fishing, you’ll need a longer rod that’s at least 8 feet long to be able to cast beyond the surf. If you are looking for a rod to fish small backwater ponds, you can opt for the shorter rods. Short poles are best if you live a nomadic lifestyle or you need something for hiking or camping. In this case, you need something that can fit easily into your backpack.

Material

Most telescopic fishing rods are built with fiberglass or carbon fiber material; some are built with a combination of both. Fiberglass telescopic rods are known to be much stronger, heavier, and stiffer than the carbon fiber counterparts, which are more brittle.

When shopping for a telescopic rod, you opt for those made from high tensile materials with more weight. You should know that increased durability means the rod would weigh more. If you are looking to cut the weight and sacrifice a bit of durability, you should choose a carbon fiber rod.

Line and Lure Weight

Telescopic rods usually use thinner lines than the one or two-piece traditional fishing rods; this is because they are not built to catch massive fish, so there’s no need for a thick or heavy line. You should ensure the line you get with your rod is very compatible. A lighter line would affect the casting ability and reduce the rod’s sensitivity, while a heavier line would damage both the rod and the line.

Power or Weight

The power of the rod refers to the amount of tension the rod can handle before breaking (its tensile strength). Most fishing rods have a medium or medium-heavy power rating, meaning they can only handle medium-sized and smaller fish. Anything bigger would break the rod.

The weight of the entire rod is also important because most people prefer something lightweight and easy to carry around. Telescopic rods are relatively light; only a few weigh more than two pounds. However, lightweight is not always good. You’ll have some trouble working with stickbaits, crankbaits, or heavier baits. You may successfully cast or present the baits, but the rod won’t handle a hefty catch.

Line Guides

Line Guides are little rings that run along the rod; they are responsible for carrying and keeping the line in place. Usually, telescopic fishing rods have one line guide per section. The more line guides on a rod, the better. One thing to look out for with line guides is the design and materials; you have to check to make sure it is firm and fixed properly to the pole.

Another thing to note is the inlet of the line guide. These increase heat dissipation and reduce friction, thus protecting the line.

Ease of Maintenance

One of the most important things to keep in mind is how easy it’ll be to maintain the rod you choose. If you want your rod to last for a long time, you need to clean it as often as you use it. Telescopic rods are empty on the inside; this makes it easier for debris to get in. When this happens, it’ll affect how the rod expands and collapse; this makes it harder to open and close the rod. Telescopic rods come with a cap at the end of the handle that makes it easy to maintain. You can easily remove the cap to clean out debris that may have gotten into the rod.

Shopping for the best telescopic fishing rod may be a bit scary because you don’t want to purchase one that damages after a short while. To make your decision easier, we have put together a list of the five best telescopic fishing rods available on the market, along with some frequently asked questions to help you make the best choice.

Below is a review on the five best telescopic fishing rods available on the market, along with their important information and specs.