12 Best Telescopic Fishing Rods Reviewed

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Best Telescopic Fishing Rods

Hello there! If you’re looking for the best telescopic fishing rods, you’re in the right place.

In my entire 20 years of fishing, I’ve gone through countless telescopic fishing rods, fishing in various countries like Canada, Australia, and even China. By considering quality, rod power, affordability, collapsed length, and finally durability, I put together this list of the best telescopic fishing rods in the market right now.

Even among these 12 champions, there was one that outshone all the others – the Kingswell Collapsible Fishing Rod And Reel Combo. It’s light, portable, high-quality, and most importantly, it’s a durable rod. If you’re in a hurry and don’t have time to read the rest, just get the Kingswell Collapsible Fishing Rod And Reel Combo that’s sure to satisfy even the most picky anglers.

Telescopic fishing rods are notorious for breaking easily. If you think all telescopic rods are the same though, these 12 telescopic fishing rods will make you change your mind.

Don’t believe me? Read on and decide for yourself.

Best Splurge

Blackhawk II

Powerful

Sensitive

Includes line guides

Overall Score: 8.7

Best Overall

Eagle Claw Pack-It

As light as it gets

Quite portable

Affordable

Overall Score: 8.7

Best Budget

Goture Telescopic

Very lightweight

Very portable

Affordable

Overall Score: 8.6

Our Top 12 Picks

  1. Daiwa Megaforce Tele Spin Telescopic Fishing Rod (Best For Distance Casting) [8.3]
  2. Kingswell Collapsible Fishing Pole Combo (Best Rod and Reel Combo Splurge) [9.0]
  3. Kastking Blackhawk II Telescopic Fishing Rod (Best Splurge) [8.7]
  4. Plusinno Telescopic Fishing Combo (Best Overall Rod and Reel Combo) [8.7]
  5. Eagle Claw PK555SP Pack-It Telescopic Spinning Rod (Best Overall) [8.7]
  6. Sougayilang Telescopic Fishing Pole (Best Portability) [8.3]
  7. Lixada Pen Telescopic Rod And Reel Kit (Best Rod and Reel Combo For Beginners) [8.3]
  8. KastKing Compass Telescopic Fishing Rod Combo (Best Lixada Pen Alternative) [8.7]
  9. Zebco 33 Fishing Rod And Reel Combo (Best Budget Rod and Reel Combo) [8.5]
  10. Goture Telescopic Rod (Best Budget) [8.6]
  11. Magreel 24T Carbon Fiber Fishing Combo (Best Smoothness) [8.4]
  12. Troutboy Black Warrior Combo (Best Ultralight Rod) [8.8]

Best Telescopic Fishing Rods Reviewed

Before we go any further, note that these are all spinning rods and not casting rods. This is because casting rods work better with heavier lines and lures but telescopic rods lack the power to accommodate heavier tackle.

With that out of the way, let’s get started!


Best For Distance Casting

1. Daiwa Megaforce Tele Spin Telescopic Fishing Rod

Overall Score: 8.3

9.0

Effectiveness For Task

6.0

Durability

10

Weight

9.0

Comfort

7.5

Versatility

9.0

Customer Service

9.5

Aesthetics

8.0

User Reviews

*Not all metrics have equal weightings. Learn more about our scoring system here.

  • Blank Material: Carbon Fiber
  • Number of Sections: 6
  • Collapsed Rod Length: 25.6-41.7 inches
  • Extended Rod Length: 7.9-11.8 ft
  • Power: Medium

Pros

As light as it gets

Sensitive

Great for distance casting

Cons

Can’t handle huge fish

First up is one of the rare few telescopic fishing rods that can cast incredibly far – the Daiwa Megaforce Tele Spin. You might be wondering why I put a distance casting rod at the top of the list. Well, that’s because this rod actually outperforms most of the other rods on this list.

First and foremost, it’s extremely hard to find telescopic rods that reach 10 ft – this one goes up to 11.8. But despite its length, this carbon fiber rod feels amazingly light in your hands. This is thanks to the fact that it uses carbon fiber, the lightest material for rod blanks. Don’t let its lightness fool you though, this rod is by no means weak. I’ve caught multiple fishes upwards of 20 pounds with it.

The titanium oxide guides that come with it are no slack either. These guides are smooth and one of the most corrosion-resistant around.

In short, the Daiwa Megaforce Tele Spin is one of the best telescopic rods you can get and even beginners will be able to cast far with ease.


Best Rod and Reel Combo Splurge

2. Kingswell Collapsible Fishing Pole Combo

Overall Score: 9.0

9.0

Effectiveness For Task

8.0

Durability

10

Weight

10

Comfort

9.0

Versatility

9.0

Customer Service

10

Aesthetics

9.0

User Reviews

*Not all metrics have equal weightings. Learn more about our rod scoring system here.

9.0

Effectiveness For Task

9.0

Smoothness

8.0

Durability

9.0

Weight

9.0

Versatility

9.0

Customer Service

10

Aesthetics

9.0

User Reviews

*Not all metrics have equal weightings. Learn more about our reel scoring system here.

  • Blank Material: Graphite
  • Number of Sections: 6
  • Collapsed Rod Length: 22 inches
  • Extended Rod Length: 6.8 ft
  • Power: Medium Heavy

Pros

Incredibly lightweight

Sensitive

Reel is smooth

Cons

Can’t handle huge fish

Introducing the world’s most durable, sturdy, sensitive, and user-friendly high-quality telescopic fishing rod: The Kingswell Collapsible Fishing Rod.

Made with the highest quality materials, this rod comes complete with everything you want in a telescopic rod, including a smooth high-quality spinning reel. I dare say it has no equal on this planet.

Personally, I’m not sure how Kingswell made such a durable rod. Other than Kingswell’s, every other telescopic fishing rod on Amazon has gotten complaints about parts falling apart, or the rod being downright flimsy. No other telescopic rod even comes close to the 85%+ 5-star ratings that this rod has on Amazon. Out of those reviews, a good number commented on how durable the Kingswell Collapsible Fishing Rod was. After testing out this rod, I can vouch that none of those reviews were lying. I have no doubt this reliable telescopic fishing rod will outlive any other telescopic fishing rod.

On top of that, few, if any other telescopic fishing rods in the world come with alignment lines on the section. This means you won’t have to worry about misaligning the guides on your telescopic rod.

This rod also delivers exactly what you want in a telescopic fishing rod – lightness and portability. Collapsing down to only 22 inches and made with graphite, the lightest fishing rod material, you won’t even feel the extra rod weight in your bag, making it perfect as a travel rod.

Oh, and did I mention that graphite is the most sensitive fishing rod material in the world? 

Perhaps the coolest part about Kingswell’s telescopic rod is its power rating. The hollowness of telescopic fishing rods make it hard for them to be sturdy. This is why not many telescopic rods dare claim to be medium heavy rods. Despite this, the Kingswell Collapsible Fishing Rod proudly declares itself a medium heavy rod – and walks the talk. You’ll be able to catch big fish that most other telescopic fishing rods can’t.

Finally, to seal the deal, it comes with a high-quality spinning reel made silky smooth by stainless steel ball bearings. 

Even the stainless steel guides and EVA handle leave little room for criticism. EVA handles are one of the best for fishing rods, and stainless steel guides are both durable and smooth. 

However, as with all telescopic rods, it just can’t handle monster fish. 

Overall, the Kingswell Collapsible Fishing Rod And Reel Combo is hands down the best telescopic fishing rod and reel set. 

As for price, well, I won’t beat around the bush. It’s the second most expensive rod on this list. Still, for the value you’re getting, it’s a real bargain. If you won’t settle for anything less than the best, look no further. 


Best Splurge

3. KastKing Blackhawk II Telescopic Fishing Rod

Overall Score: 8.7

9.0

Effectiveness For Task

8.0

Durability

8.0

Weight

10

Comfort

9.0

Versatility

9.0

Customer Service

10

Aesthetics

8.0

User Reviews

*Not all metrics have equal weightings. Learn more about our scoring system here.

  • Blank Material: Composite
  • Number of Sections: 6
  • Collapsed Rod Length: 21.7-25.2 inches
  • Extended Rod Length: 6.5-7.5 ft
  • Power: Ranges from Medium to Heavy

Pros

Powerful

Sensitive

Comes with line guides

Cons

Light, but can be lighter

Up next is my number one recommendation for serious anglers – the KastKing Blackhawk II.

The KastKing Blackhawk II features a composite blank. With the sturdy fiberglass core and sensitive graphite tip, it’s just as sturdy, sensitive, light, and portable as the Kingswell Collapsible Fishing Rod. 

Similar to Kingswell, KastKing Blackhawk II is also a high-quality rod, and its EVA handle and stainless steel guides are more than satisfactory.

Truth be told, the KastKing Blackhawk II almost beat Kingswell. The thing is, it just isn’t user-friendly enough because it lacks alignment lines. Moreover, there was a noticeable number of customers who had trouble lining up the guides. It does have something that the Kingswell rod doesn’t though – a heavy power rating.

The KastKing Blackhawk II is the only heavy power telescopic fishing rod that I could find. That is to say, this is the strongest telescopic rod on the market. For serious anglers looking for the best telescopic fishing rod to satisfy your cravings for larger fish, this is it.

But be warned. The KastKing Blackhawk II is worth every penny, but it’s a lot of pennies.


Best Overall Rod and Reel Combo

4. Plusinno Telescopic Fishing Combo

Overall Score: 8.7

8.0

Effectiveness For Task

8.0

Durability

8.0

Weight

10

Comfort

9.0

Versatility

9.0

Customer Service

10

Aesthetics

9.0

User Reviews

*Not all metrics have equal weightings. Learn more about our rod scoring system here.

8.0

Effectiveness For Task

9.5

Smoothness

8.0

Durability

8.0

Weight

9.0

Versatility

9.0

Customer Service

10

Aesthetics

9.0

User Reviews

*Not all metrics have equal weightings. Learn more about our reel scoring system here.

  • Blank Material: Composite
  • Number of Sections: 6-9
  • Collapsed Rod Length: 15.8-18.1 inches
  • Extended Rod Length: 5.9-8.9 ft
  • Power: Medium

Pros

Great customer service

Very portable

Affordable

Cons

Can’t handle large fish

If you’re on a budget or just don’t want to spend so much, fret not. The Plusinno Telescopic Fishing Combo is a feasible combo with a price that’s hard to match.

Don’t let the word budget fool you though, you’re not getting anything low quality. Far from it. 

In fact, its EVA handle matches what Kingswell and Kastking use, and its aluminum oxide guides even beats their stainless steel guides. The spinning reel that comes with it is also smooth.

Unfortunately, that’s where their similarities end. Although the Plusinno Telescopic Fishing Rod also uses composite, it’s of slightly lower quality. The result is a rod that’s stiffer, and less sensitive. As such, you won’t be able to land anything larger than 5 pounds with this.

Still, we were really impressed with their customer service. It may be a budget rod, but they take customer service very seriously. Plusinno truly cares for their customers, and it shows. Whenever customers have anything faulty, they promptly send replacements free of charge, to the point of sending entire new rods. What it lacks in quality, it more than makes up for with its A-grade customer service.

All in all, the Plusinno Fishing Combo’s rod isn’t exactly the best telescopic fishing rod out there, far from it in fact, but it gets the job done. Most importantly, it balances cost and quality well so that you get everything you need at a bargain.

Before you make this purchase, here’s a word of caution. Stay away from the Full Kit. The Full Kit comes with a case, lures, and line on top of the rod and reel. BUT the case and the line are very low quality and not worth the extra cost. I strongly encourage you to avoid the Full Kit at all costs and get only the rod and reel.


Best Overall

5. Eagle Claw PK555SP Pack-It Telescopic Spinning Rod

Overall Score: 8.7

8.0

Effectiveness For Task

8.0

Durability

10

Weight

10

Comfort

9.0

Versatility

9.0

Customer Service

10

Aesthetics

8.0

User Reviews

*Not all metrics have equal weightings. Learn more about our rod scoring system here.

8.0

Effectiveness For Task

7.0

Smoothness

8.0

Durability

10

Weight

9.0

Versatility

9.0

Customer Service

10

Aesthetics

8.0

User Reviews

*Not all metrics have equal weightings. Learn more about our reel scoring system here.

  • Blank Material: Composite
  • Number of Sections: 5
  • Collapsed Rod Length: 17 inches
  • Extended Rod Length: 5.5 ft
  • Power: Medium

Pros

As light as it gets

Quite portable

Affordable

Cons

Can’t handle large fish

The Eagle Claw PK555SP Pack-It is a favourite among anglers. I really like how it’s sturdy and well-built, and yet priced so competitively.

It’s constructed with composite, so once again, it’s both sturdy and sensitive. With an EVA handle and ceramic guides that outdo even stainless steel guides, I’d say the Eagle Claw is a pretty high-quality rod.

Its collapsed length and lightness also beats the previous three rods, so that’s another plus point.

A couple of slight drawbacks are that it’s less sensitive than the other better rods on this list, and is not as durable as the Kingswell Collapsible Fishing Rod. After all, the Kingswell’s durability is unbeatable.

All things considered, this is the best telescopic fishing rod for casual anglers. For those looking to target panfish, this rod will more than suffice, so there’s no need to splurge on the more expensive rods on this list.

P.S. If you’re careful and open the packaging with scissors, you can actually reuse it as a casing for the rod and reel.


Best Portability

6. Sougayilang Telescopic Fishing Pole

Overall Score: 8.3

8.0

Effectiveness For Task

8.0

Durability

6.0

Weight

8.0

Comfort

9.0

Versatility

9.0

Customer Service

10

Aesthetics

9.0

User Reviews

*Not all metrics have equal weightings. Learn more about our scoring system here.

  • Blank Material: Composite
  • Number of Sections: 6-9
  • Collapsed Rod Length: 15-18.7 inches
  • Extended Rod Length: 5.9-9.9 ft
  • Power: Medium

Pros

As portable as it gets

Closes easily

Affordable

Cons

Heavy

Can’t handle large fish

Next on the list is our most portable pick – the Sougayilang Telescopic Fishing Pole. I was blown away by the length (or lack of) I got for such a low price.

By now, you know the drill. One look at the features and you can tell it’s pretty good quality. At 15 inches, it takes the top spot in the portable fishing rods category.

You’ll be getting all that awesomeness for the price of a few cups of coffee.


Best Rod and Reel Combo For Beginners

7. Lixada Pen Telescopic Rod And Reel Kit

Overall Score: 8.3

8.0

Effectiveness For Task

8.0

Durability

9.0

Weight

10

Comfort

9.0

Versatility

9.0

Customer Service

9.5

Aesthetics

7.0

User Reviews

*Not all metrics have equal weightings. Learn more about our rod scoring system here.

8.0

Effectiveness For Task

7.0

Smoothness

8.0

Durability

9.0

Weight

9.0

Versatility

9.0

Customer Service

9.5

Aesthetics

7.0

User Reviews

*Not all metrics have equal weightings. Learn more about our reel scoring system here.

  • Blank Material: Fiberglass
  • Number of Sections: 6
  • Collapsed Rod Length: 17.9 inches
  • Extended Rod Length: 6.4 ft
  • Power: Medium

Pros

Comprehensive fishing kit

Portable

Affordable

Cons

Can’t handle large fish

If you’re a beginner looking for a complete telescopic fishing kit, you’re in luck.

The Lixada Pen Rod And Reel Kit is a complete fishing kit that comes with a telescopic fishing rod, a spinning reel, lures, hooks, bobbers, a carrying case, and even a line cutter.

Weight-wise, this fishing kit is light enough that you can carry it around without feeling the strain.

As for power, it uses fiberglass, which is the most sturdy material for fishing rods. This gives it enough power to snag some relatively large fish.

Beginner anglers will appreciate the comprehensiveness of this fishing kit, as well as the affordability.


Best Lixada Pen Alternative

8. KastKing Compass Telescopic Fishing Rod Combo

Overall Score: 8.7

9.0

Effectiveness For Task

8.0

Durability

8.0

Weight

10

Comfort

9.0

Versatility

9.0

Customer Service

9.5

Aesthetics

8.0

User Reviews

*Not all metrics have equal weightings. Learn more about our rod scoring system here.

9.0

Effectiveness For Task

8.5

Smoothness

8.0

Durability

8.0

Weight

9.0

Versatility

9.0

Customer Service

9.5

Aesthetics

8.0

User Reviews

*Not all metrics have equal weightings. Learn more about our reel scoring system here.

  • Blank Material: Composite
  • Number of Sections: 6
  • Collapsed Rod Length: 17 inches
  • Extended Rod Length: 5.5-7 ft
  • Power: Ranges from Light to Medium Heavy

Pros

Powerful

Portable

Durable

Cons

Can’t handle huge fish

Another beginner’s pick, the KastKing Compass Combo is also a great option for beginner anglers.

The KastKing Compass is an inexpensive telescopic rod that beginners can start with. It’s somewhat less sensitive and durable than the Eagle Claw PK555SP Pack-It, which is why it’s also less costly. I’d say beginners won’t even notice the lower sensitivity and durability, which is why it won’t make a difference whether they get the Eagle Claw or this rod. 

Beginners who only want a rod and reel rather than a full kit can get this as a second option to the Lixada Pen instead.


Best Budget Rod and Reel Combo

9. Zebco 33 Fishing Rod And Reel Combo

Overall Score: 8.5

8.0

Effectiveness For Task

8.0

Durability

9.0

Weight

10

Comfort

9.0

Versatility

8.0

Customer Service

10

Aesthetics

9.0

User Reviews

*Not all metrics have equal weightings. Learn more about our rod scoring system here.

8.0

Effectiveness For Task

7.0

Smoothness

8.0

Durability

9.0

Weight

9.0

Versatility

8.0

Customer Service

10

Aesthetics

9.0

User Reviews

*Not all metrics have equal weightings. Learn more about our reel scoring system here.

  • Blank Material: Fiberglass
  • Number of Sections: 5
  • Collapsed Rod Length: 19-22.5 inches
  • Extended Rod Length: 5-6 ft
  • Power: Ranges from Ultra Light to Medium

Pros

Easy to use

Left-and-right interchangeable

Audible bait clicker

Cons

Packaging can be improved on

Can’t handle large fish

If you’re still reading at this point, I’m guessing it’s a matter of price. That’s why I included the Zebco 33 Rod And Reel Combo.

This rod and reel set is the cheapest functional combo available. Sure you might find some cheaper combos, but I didn’t include them because they were either of poor quality or weren’t sensitive or tough enough.

To quickly break down the rod and the reel, the rod blank is made of durable fiberglass, its handle is comfortable EVA foam, and its spinning reel has a decent all-around gear ratio of 4.1:1. There’s also an audible bait clicker that will notify you when fish take the bait.

It doesn’t have the best specifications, but it’ll at least do its job as a telescopic rod. It’s also the cheapest combo that won’t fall into pieces after a few uses, so I wouldn’t advise getting any cheaper combos than this even if you do spot some.

Just note that the packaging isn’t the best. So if your combo arrives to you damaged, like mine did, don’t be shy about asking for a replacement.


Best Budget

10. Goture Telescopic Rod

Overall Score: 8.6

8.0

Effectiveness For Task

8.0

Durability

9.0

Weight

10

Comfort

9.0

Versatility

9.0

Customer Service

10

Aesthetics

7.0

User Reviews

*Not all metrics have equal weightings. Learn more about our scoring system here.

  • Blank Material: Carbon Fiber
  • Number of Sections: 6-10
  • Collapsed Rod Length: 16.1-16.9 inches
  • Extended Rod Length: 5.9-9.9 ft
  • Power: Medium

Pros

Very lightweight

Very portable

Affordable

Cons

Quality control issues

Can’t handle large fish

For those who need a budget telescopic rod, you might want to check out the Goture Telescopic Pole.

Like the Zebco 33, the Goture Telescopic Pole keeps costs down by giving you just enough of everything to function properly.

The only thing that stands out about this rod is its collapsed length. At 16 inches, it’s very convenient to chuck it in your backpack or suitcase for a short fishing session after work.

Other than that, it delivers satisfactory performance in the other areas. Similar to the Zebco 33, it’s the most affordable rod that can stand up to more than just a few fishing trips.

Just note that there seems to be a quality control problem. When I was casting this rod for the first time, the tip actually came off. I decided to give them another chance, so I got a second one which then functioned fine.


Best Smoothness

11. Magreel 24T Carbon Fiber Fishing Combo

Overall Score: 8.4

8.0

Effectiveness For Task

8.0

Durability

8.0

Weight

10

Comfort

9.0

Versatility

9.0

Customer Service

10

Aesthetics

7.5

User Reviews

*Not all metrics have equal weightings. Learn more about our rod scoring system here.

8.0

Effectiveness For Task

9.5

Smoothness

8.0

Durability

8.0

Weight

7.0

Versatility

9.0

Customer Service

10

Aesthetics

7.5

User Reviews

*Not all metrics have equal weightings. Learn more about our reel scoring system here.

  • Blank Material: Carbon Fiber
  • Number of Sections: 6-9
  • Collapsed Rod Length: 16.3-17.3 inches
  • Extended Rod Length: 5.9-8.9 ft
  • Power: Medium

Pros

Reel is very smooth

Very portable

Durable

Cons

Can’t handle large fish

This next combo is all about smoothness. The Magreel 24T Carbon Fiber Fishing Combo comes with an incredibly smooth reel.

The reel boasts a staggering 12+1 ball bearings. Even among high-end spinning reels, anything more than 10+1 ball bearings is rare. 

Granted, the ball bearings used aren’t of very high quality. Nevertheless, you can expect exceptional smoothness from this reel with 12+1 ball bearings. If you value smoothness in a reel, this is the rod and reel combo for you.


Best Ultralight Rod

12. Troutboy Black Warrior Combo

Overall Score: 8.8

9.0

Effectiveness For Task

8.0

Durability

8.0

Weight

10

Comfort

9.0

Versatility

9.0

Customer Service

10

Aesthetics

8.0

User Reviews

*Not all metrics have equal weightings. Learn more about our rod scoring system here.

9.0

Effectiveness For Task

9.5

Smoothness

8.0

Durability

8.0

Weight

9.0

Versatility

9.0

Customer Service

10

Aesthetics

8.0

User Reviews

*Not all metrics have equal weightings. Learn more about our reel scoring system here.

  • Blank Material: Composite
  • Number of Sections: 6-8
  • Collapsed Rod Length: 18.8-20.8
  • Extended Rod Length: 6.8-9.8 ft
  • Power: Ranges from Medium to Medium Heavy

Pros

Sensitive

Portable

Reel is very smooth

Cons

Can’t handle huge fish

Last but not least, the rod in the Troutboy Black Warrior Combo is the only ultralight telescopic rod we could find.

Ultralight rods allow you to have as much fun fishing panfish and smaller fish as you would with normal fish using regular rods. This is due to ultralight rods having phenomenal sensitivity, which makes even small fish feel like monsters. 

The thing is, it’s hard to transmit every action in the water through the rod when there are so many sections. Somehow though, the Troutboy Black Warrior manages to do so. As it’s the only ultralight telescopic rod on the market, you’ve essentially got no other choice except to get this combo if you want an ultralight setup.


Comparison Table

Daiwa Megaforce Tele SpinKingswell Rod And Reel ComboKastKing Blackhawk IIPlusinno Rod And Reel ComboEagle Claw PK555SP Pack-ItSougayilang Telescopic FishingLixada Pen Telescopic Rod And Reel Combo KastKing Compass Telescopic ComboZebco 33 Telescopic Fishing Rod ComboGoture TelescopicMagreel Telescopic Rod And Reel ComboTroutboy Black Warrior Telescopic Combo
Blank MaterialCarbon FiberGraphiteCompositeCompositeCompositeCompositeFiberglassCompositeFiberglassCarbon FiberCarbon FiberComposite
No. of Sections6666-965-86656-106-96-8
GuidesTitanium OxideStainless Steel Stainless Steel Aluminum OxideCeramic Stainless SteelStainless SteelStainless SteelD-RingSilicon CarbideStainless SteelStainless Steel
Handle MaterialCork + EVA FoamEVA FoamEVA FoamEVA FoamEVA FoamEVA FoamEVA FoamEVA FoamEVA FoamEVA FoamCorkEVA Foam
Collapsed Rod Length (inches)25.6-41.72221.7-25.215.8-18.11715-18.717.91719-22.516.1-16.916.3-17.318.8-20.8
Extended Rod Length (ft)7.9-11.86.86.5-7.55.9-8.95.55.9-9.96.45.5-75-65.9-9.95.9-8.96.8-9.8
PowerMediumMedium HeavyRanges from Medium to HeavyMediumMediumMediumMediumRanges from Light to Medium HeavyRanges from Ultra Light to MediumMediumMediumRanges from Medium to Medium Heavy

What Is A Telescopic Fishing rod?

When I say telescope, what comes to your mind?

As the name suggests, telescopic fishing rods work like telescopes, and you can retract and collapse them in the same way.

Telescopic rods are quite popular, as you can imagine. Who wouldn’t want to own a rod that can extend and contract at will? 

As cool as they sound though, there are some key differences between traditional fishing rods and telescopic rods. You should know these differences to make an informed decision.

Telescopic vs Traditional Fishing Rod

There are 3 main differences.

First, telescopic fishing rods are a lot cheaper. Despite the more advanced technology that is required to make a collapsible rod, since they’re hollow once fully extended, they use a lot less materials than traditional fishing rods.

Second, collapsible fishing rods will be lighter. As I just mentioned, a collapsible rod is hollow so it’ll be a lot lighter than a traditional rod.

Lastly, most telescopic rods are, surprise surprise, less durable. Once again, the hollowness will definitely make them more flimsy. This makes it impossible to go for monster fish with a collapsible rod.

In order for you to make the right choice, we’ve included a full picture of the advantages and disadvantages of telescopic fishing rods below.

Advantages of Telescopic Fishing Rods

Here are all the reasons why people like telescopic fishing rods.

Convenience

It’s very easy to bring a telescopic fishing rod along. You can slot it into your backpack, and bring it wherever you want. Feel free to bring any bag you want because your telescoping rod will make itself small enough to fit right in.

Portability

Sometimes, it isn’t a matter of convenience. It’s impossible to bring a full-size rod along, such as on airplanes. Telescoping rods can collapse to very small sizes. This means you can fit it in your luggage or even your hand-carry bag. With telescopic fishing rods, you’ll finally be able to fish at exotic places on your overseas trips.

Mobility

With telescopic rods, you can walk without worrying about your rod tip or butt scraping the ground.

Lightweight

There is no way a full-size rod can fit in a luggage. Sometimes, even 2-piece rods won’t fit in a regular luggage. When this happens, you’ll be forced to pay oversized luggage fees. If you have a telescopic fishing rod however, you can use the oversized luggage fees to have a nice meal instead or even get a better telescopic fishing rod.

Collapsed Durability

A collapsed telescopic fishing is more durable than a regular rods because the layers reinforce each other. Full-size fishing rods can easily get damaged when you drop them, but a collapsed telescopic rod is easily several times tougher than regular rods. You won’t need to get another fishing rod just because you dropped it once on the ground by accident.

Affordability

Even high-quality telescopic rods won’t break the bank. Also, consider that you won’t have to splurge on a high-quality hard case to store your rod since it can fend for itself. If you’re on a budget, telescopic fishing rods will leave you with enough to spend on other things.

Great Backup Rods

Have you ever walked past a nice fishing spot and thought “How nice to try fishing here”. Has your favourite fishing rod snapped out of nowhere on a fishing trip? At times like these, you’ll be glad you brought a telescopic fishing rod along.

Less Hassle

Last but not least, a lesser-known advantage of telescopic rods is that after collapsing them, you can keep them rigged with lures or hooks. You’ll be able to get right down to business once you reach your fishing spot.

Disadvantages of Telescopic Fishing Rods

Now let’s move on to the stuff you might not want to hear, but should know.

Prone To Human Error

Telescopic fishing rods are definitely less durable than traditional rods, but a well-built telescopic fishing rod will still get the job done. The one thing that can damage even the best telescopic fishing rod though, is human error. Ever seen a collapsible baton? Well, it’s pretty cool to whip it out and watch the baton expand in a flash. While this is pretty cool to see, try this on your telescopic fishing rod, and soon enough you won’t have a telescopic fishing rod anymore. Other actions like closing and opening the rod wrongly can also easily damage your telescopic fishing rod. 

Difficulty With Aligning Guides

You’ll also need to ensure the guides are aligned. Otherwise, your rod could break due to uneven distribution of tension. Not just that, if you don’t align the guides properly, you’ll have trouble controlling your fishing line.

Collapsibility Issues

Even the best telescopic rod can be easily dented, just by dropping it at the wrong angle. If your telescopic fishing rod gets dented or creased, there’s a high chance you won’t be able to retract it anymore, because the dented or creased part won’t fit into the next section.

Even if you don’t damage your rod at all, dirt, sand, and dust can get stuck in between the sections. Oftentimes, these sections are unbelievably hard to clean, and when enough dirt, sand, or dust gets stuck, you’ll have a tough time opening and closing your telescopic fishing rod. Natural factors like dust and corrosion can also damage your rod.

Slow Action

Another issue that many anglers have with telescoping fishing rods is their sensitivity. With so many sections, it’s inevitable that when the tip bends, the rest of the sections bend too. Still, technology has managed to overcome this, at least partially. You’ll notice that there are even a few fast action rods in our top 12 list.

How To Choose The Right Telescopic Fishing Rod

Now that you’ve decided you want to get a telescopic fishing rod, here’s everything you should consider to choose the right one for you.

Collapsed Length

The very first thing you’ll want to consider is collapsed and extended length. 

Collapsed fishing rods are truly a wonder, being able to fit into very small bags. However, this doesn’t automatically mean it’ll fit into your bag. Ideally, you should have an idea of what you’ll be carrying your telescopic fishing rod in. Is it a backpack, a suitcase, or your luggage? 

The point of a telescopic fishing rod is to bring along with you anywhere you go. If it can’t even fit inside whatever you want to carry it in, it defeats the purpose of telescopic rods.

If it’s something like your luggage, then you won’t have a problem. However, if it’s something like a backpack, I’d advise you to measure the dimensions of your backpack and then choose a telescopic fishing rod that can fit.

Extended Length

The next thing you’ll need to consider is extended length. 

If you don’t already know this, the longer your fishing rod lengths are, the more casting distance you’ll have.

Specifically, you’ll need longer rod lengths for fishing in the surf. To surf fish, the rod lengths you’ll need are at least 8 ft rod for panfish, a 10 ft rod for larger fish, and 12 ft for the monsters. 

However, telescoping fishing rods are less sturdy than traditional rods. Even if you do get a 12 ft one that can cast far enough to reach the monster fish, it’s probably going to break. The max I’d go for is a 10 ft rod.

If you’re not fishing in the surf, the extended length won’t matter that much. You can use the closed length to decide which telescopic fishing rod you want to get.

Number of Sections

For the number of sections, there’s really no hard and fast rule.

With more sections, your telescopic fishing rod will be able to retract to a shorter length.

In other words, the more sections you have, the longer your rod will be too.

Take note though that the more sections you have, the more room for error there is. Each section is another part that could be dented or creased, so more sections isn’t always a good thing.

If you’re not going to surf fish, I’d say go for a rod that can fit in your backpack or luggage, and that has as few sections as possible. You don’t need a long rod if you’re not fishing in the surf, so you should go for something that can fit into your backpack or luggage and has as few sections as possible to minimise room for error.

If you are going to surf fish, and you want a short collapsed rod, you’ll need more sections. If you want fewer sections, you’ll have a longer collapsed rod. This boils down to personal preference, so don’t worry about choosing the “wrong” option.

Action and Power

One complaint you’ll hear often with telescopic rods is that they’re not sensitive.

As mentioned earlier, with more sections, when the tip bends, it’s hard for other sections not to bend too. This results in slow action rods. As such, obviously, you’ll want to go for fast action rods.

As for rod power, it depends on the fish you’re targeting.

For panfish, medium is fine. For decent sized fish, go medium heavy. For larger fishes, you’ll need a heavy rod.

Still, since telescopic fishing rods are known to be flimsy, you might want to play it on the safe side and just get a medium heavy rod, even for panfish.

Reel Seat

Lastly, you’ll need to consider the reel seat. As usual, check that your reel seat is of solid quality and won’t crack easily. You’ll want to get something durable like an aluminum or stainless steel reel seat.

If you’re fishing in saltwater, you’ll want to further look out for a reel seat that won’t corrode. The best material for this is aluminum since they’re corrosion-resistant and durable. That said, a stainless steel reel seat is not a bad choice, but aluminum is more corrosion-resistant.

Carbon fiber reel seats are a good choice, but carbon fiber is less durable than aluminum. Carbon fiber is lighter though, so you should opt for carbon fiber reel seats if lightness is important to you.

FAQs

Have unanswered questions? You might find them here.

What types of fishing can I do with telescopic fishing rods?

This question always leaves me speechless. I mean, how different are telescoping fishing rods from traditional rods? I don’t know what you’re expecting, but the answer is all. As long as you choose the right telescoping rod, you can even use it for fishing in the surf.

What fishes can I catch?

Ok fine, this is a valid question. If you’re asking this question, good, it means you know a thing or two about telescoping fishing rods. Telescopic fishing rods are less sturdy than normal fishing rods, so even the best telescopic rod in the world won’t be able to handle anything larger than 15 pounds. 

How do telescopic fishing rods work?

At first glance, this is a rhetorical question, but it’s actually not as straightforward as it seems.

As you extend a telescopic fishing rod, you’ll need to turn each section so it locks into place, before going on to the next section. Similarly, when collapsing, you’ll need to unlock each section by rotating it.

Are telescopic fishing rods good or bad?

Even with all the above information, it’s hard to say whether they’re good or bad. Here’s what I think.

I’d say a telescopic fishing rod should never be a replacement for a full-size fishing rod. It’s definitely “bad” if you compare it to a full-size fishing rod. But if you’re traveling, or you need to store it somewhere small, then it’s “good”.

Should you get a rod and reel or just the rod?

This depends on 2 factors. Are you an experienced angler? Is the combo good?

Choosing the wrong fishing gear will result in a not very smooth fishing trip. In the worst case, you could end up damaging your rod.

If you’re an experienced angler and know how to find the right reel for your fishing rod, go ahead. However, if you’re not, it’s best to get a rod and reel as a set. 

This brings me to my next point. Are rod and reel combos good?

Oftentimes, unscrupulous companies sell them as a way to get rid of their old and unwanted reels. As such, you’ll want to make sure the reel you’re getting isn’t anything like that. We’ve of course made sure the combos on our list are solid, but you’ll need to do that research on your own when you find a new rod and reel combo.

All in all, finding a good reel is something every angler should eventually learn. However, go at your own pace, and get a combo if you need to.

How do I take care of my telescopic fishing rod?

The process is not much different from a standard rod.

Always rinse it in clean water and dry it before keeping it. You will need to pay extra attention to the sections to make sure there’s nothing like dirt stuck in between because those can really mess up your rod. 

My Verdict

Telescopic fishing rods are the lightest, most convenient, and most affordable fishing rods in the world.

This makes them perfect as a backup or travel rod. 

However, telescopic fishing rods do have a reputation for breaking easily.

That’s why I challenged myself to find an actual decent telescopic fishing rod – and found it I did. The Kingswell Collapsible Rod And Reel Combo is the highest quality, most durable, and best telescopic fishing combo I’ve ever used.

Now that you’ve found your dream telescopic fishing rod, have fun fishing with it! And if you’re lacking any other fishing tackle, have a look at our compilation of the best fishing tackle.

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AUTHOR

Reuben went on his first fishing trip when he was 9. That's when he fell in love with fishing. When he's not fishing, he's searching for new gear and ways to fish better.