Pole fishing is one of the most popular ways of angling in the UK. It’s unrivalled accuracy when feeding and presenting a bait make it the go to choice for competition anglers and pleasure anglers alike. The pole is utilised in a variety of ways from using it in close quarters battles with big fish in the margin of your favourite commercial fishery, or delicately presenting a bait on the bottom of the far shelf on a canal, to running a flat float on a river or slapping a pole rig on the surface for carp and f1’s.
In this article I will explain the best practices and how to set up a fishing pole up correctly, to utilise it effectively, and to keep it safe from damage, as a fishing pole can pose quite a significant investment. We’ll go over putting the pole together, setting up pole rollers so the pole can effectively be shipped back and forth and finally attaching a pole rig to start fishing.
CHECK OUT OUR GUIDE TO THE BEST FISHING POLES, SO YOU CAN MAKE AN INFORMED CHOICE.
Types of pole
Most modern poles are in two different formats, telescopic and put together.
A telescopic pole, usually shorter in length (less than 6m) and normally referred to as a ‘whip’, extend from the butt section to its length with each section telescoping to reach its length. These are excellent for beginners and catching small fish at speed. To set up it's just a case of sliding each piece out till it locks into place extending it till it reaches its full length.
A put together pole is the most popular format of pole and this type of construction enables the pole to be of much greater length up to 16m or more. Constructed in sections that taper to create a length of pole, each section packs away within the butt section allowing for up to 16m to be stored in one section of the pole.
THE BEST MARGIN POLES ARE STRONGER AND SHORTER THAN SOME POLES ON THE MARKET, OUR BUYERS GUIDE HIGHLIGHTS SOME OF THE BEST.
Setting up a pole
When putting a "put over' pole together its best to take out each individual section and placing safely on the ground, each section will be numbered and usually have what is termed ‘section aligners’ these indicators indicate where the best point to join the sections together for optimum performance. These numbered sections typically start from 3, as the ‘top kits’ are the number 1 and 2 sections and typically don’t have numbering but may have the section aligner markings.
Each section of the pole gently tapers, with one section fitting into another snugly, the wider end of the section known as the female and the gentle taper of the section will mean that the opposite end is slightly thinner known as the male, when putting together the female end of the section will receive the male end of next section creating a solid joint (don’t forget to align the section aligners for optimum performance).
Each numbered section goes together in numerical order i.e. the 4 fits into the 3, this then receives the number 5 section, which then receives the number 6 section and so on until you have put together the amount of pole you wish to use for your session.
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Top kits
The ‘top kit’ or number 1 and 2 sections, are supplied in the pole, but as part of the package you will receive multiple spares. When fishing you may choose to have different types and strengths of elastic fitted in these kits to suit different types of fishing, to this a connector will be fitted, here is where you attach a pole rig.
A pole will normally have a choice of kits that are generally 2.2-2.6m in length, coming in match, power and more recently short/shallow kits which are typically one piece. 1.9m in length they are designed to be used for fishing with short pole rigs shallow, all these kits fit directly onto the number 3 section of the pole.
IT'S POSSIBLE TO CATCH FISH JUST ON A TOP KIT, OUR EXPERT GUIDE EXPLAINS HOW.
Pole rollers and pole care
When putting the pole together it’s important to utilise a pole roller, with longer poles over 11m it's wise to utilise 2. Setting these pole rollers up behind your fishing position will allow you to effectively ship the pole back and forth safely and effectively. Without them you will risk breaking the pole or damaging it by shipping along the floor, they make the whole process less cumbersome and more efficient
USING THE BEST FISHING POLE ROLLERS WILL SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCE THE LONGEVITY OF YOUR FISHING POLE.
