Selecting the right fishing pole has just as much to do with catching fish as selecting the right bait does. Everyone has their preference when it comes to fishing poles and techniques. I do a lot of fishing in salt water off a pier and I’ve tried numerous different fishing poles. I used to fish primarily with a Shakespeare Alpha rod until I noticed a lot of individuals pulling in fish back to back had smaller more lightweight poles. While I was at a campsite bait shop one weekend I purchased a telescoping lightweight fishing pole out of curiosity. It has now become my main pole to use while fishing.
the good
- Telescoping poles can be carried virtually anywhere because of the compact size when closed
- When fishing you can feel every bite more easily due to the light weight
- Holding the pole for long periods of time is easy because it is light weight
- Typically less expensive
the bad
- Durability — It is great for catching small to medium sized fish but a fish too large can potentially damage the pole
- Fishing line — These poles often come with fishing line that is too thin. My uncle and I upgraded the line on my telescoping pole to 25 pound test line
- Designed to hold while fishing — This pole is not designed to set up and leave while you wait for a bite. It is designed for you to hold the pole while you fish
the summary
Whether it is your main fishing pole or an addition to your collection of fishing poles, a telescoping pole is good to have. I’ve caught a good number of fish with mine and it has become my goto pole for fishing.
luthre 
