Like spinning rods, baitcasting rods, flyfishing rods, fishing poles come in different length, stiffness, quality and therefore price as some have mentioned. Typical lengths range between 15 and 24 feet. Longer ones are available for special applications. 15 to 18 feet poles are typically used for creek fishing, for a variety of species that don't grow much longer than 12 inches in length. 27 to 30 feet poles are used in Japan's ayu fishery. Stiffer poles have been developed in Japan to suit the salmon fisheries in Hokkaido. Poles in the last two categories are usually very expensive, the material manages to reduce the weight to suit the angler when holding a 30 ft pole. I have an ayu pole sitting in my room that is 30 feet in length and 450g in weight, the cost was between $500 and $600, bought in the early 90s.
Telescopic rods (used with a fishing reel) in similar lengths are also available from Asia. They are primarily designed for several purposes - used in rockfishing, surf fishing, freshwater fishing for large target species such as big head carp. The long lengths are required to prevent line from scraping on rocks when benthopelagic species like silver drummers dive under the steep rock ledge, to maximize casting distance on the surface. The advantage of telescopic rods is their convenience. In countries where space is an issue, telescopic rods can be packed away with ease. The disadvantage is their weakness, but not too significant. The tip can often snap when extending or retracting if not careful. The guides can slip while fishing at times.
Pole fishing can be very fun, as Chris found out when I brought one out last week to catch pikeminnow during our barfishing session. Again, there are pros and cons when using these. They are easy to use, without the worry of tangling up your fishing line on a reel. A lift, a flick and you position your bait within seconds. The long pole allows you to control your line more easily. Line control is always best if it enters the water perpendicularly than in a small angle. Poles are best used when float fishing, because it allows you to rest it while watching the float. When fishing without the float, you need to lift the pole high enough to keep the line tightened if water is shallow. This may result in a sore arm or wrist, regardless how light the pole is. The con of a fishing pole is its limitation. Since the length of line equals the length of the pole, your fishing range is small. When a fish is hooked, the line may snap if the fish decide to travel beyond the length of your fishing line. It's not a good idea to use line that is heavier than what the pole can handle. I'd rather have a snapped line than a snapped pole. In BC, the usage of poles is quite limited because of the type of species that are available. Large salmon tend to take robust runs, making it impossible to control on a pole most of the time unless you have room to run and follow the fish. That being said, light poles can be very fun for trout and minnow species. Itosh's dad uses a pole to drift a nymph fly when fishing with us at interior streams and he does very well with it. My dad likes to use it when trout fishing at put and take lakes in the Lower Mainland. I sometimes take a pole out to target chub and pikeminnow in the Tidal Fraser River.
As for where to get a good quality pole, can't really answer that personally. Perhaps befriend with some of the Asian anglers who frequently travel back and forth between Taiwan/Korea/Japan and here. They maybe able to bring one back for you.
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Topic: Where to buy : Telescopic 15' Fishing Rod (Read 12387 times)