We all have that unfortunate memory of passing by a fish-packed lake or a one-of-a-kind fishing spot and regretting not having a pole on us. For fishing enthusiasts, a good angling spot is a chance you don’t want to miss!
That’s why having a telescopic pole in your fishing arsenal is indispensable. These short warriors can travel with you on a plane, stay tucked under your car seat until you need them, and look pretty stored in your confined kayak storage hatch. Their portability and versatility are a no-brainer, but when it comes to performance, some of them can let you down.
But not on our watch! We gathered the best telescopic fishing rods on the market and reviewed them based on our experience. If purchasing the best collapsible fishing buddy is what’s on your mind, continue reading.
Comparison Table
| Model | Material | Closed length | Full length |
| Plussino Combo | Carbon fiber + fiberglass | 17-19 inches | 5.9-8.9 feet |
| Daiwa Megaforce Tele Spin | HMC + carbon fiber | 22.83 inch | 6.9-11.8 feet |
| KastKing Blackhawk II | 24-ton Carbon fiber + fiberglass | 21.7-25.2 inches | 6.9-8 feet |
| Magreel Combo | 24-ton Carbon fiber | 6.3-19.8 inches | 5.9-10.8 feet |
| Sougayilang Combo | Carbon fiber + fiberglass | 16-20 inches | 5.9-10.8 feet |
The 5 Best Telescopic Fishing Rods
So that was a sneak peek at our favorite telescopic fishing rods out there. For more detailed information, scroll down to our reviews.
1. Plussino Combo – Best for Beginners
Kicking off our list is the Plusinno fishing rod and reel combo that’ll make every beginner’s life easier. This telescopic rod comes in four options with lengths ranging from 5.9 to 8.9 feet.
Each and every one of them can collapse to either a length of 17 or 19 inches. While it won’t fit in a backpack, you can transport it easily to your fishing spot in your yak’s hatch or under your car’s seat.
The Plussino comes with all the accessories a novice angler needs to begin their journey in fishing. Besides the rod, the package includes a spare spool, three lures, and a 110YDS fishing line, all of which are made of high-quality materials. Even the onboard reel performs like a dream with its 13+1 corrosion-resistant ball bearings.
The blank is wrapped in a carbon fiber veil, which contributes to its lightness and superior sensitivity to the subtlest fish bites, while the tip is made of fiberglass to add sturdiness to the whole build. With its medium power, it’s capable of playing any small to medium-sized fish and won’t break even in the clumsiest hands.
The design is made even better with the EVA handles, which provide an ergonomic grip for long fishing hours. Moreover, it comes with plenty of rings to guide your line, and thanks to their epoxy resin and ceramic construction, you won’t have to worry about your line snapping due to the extra friction or heat.
Pros:
- Lightweight and portable
- Sturdy construction
- Comes ready with a reel and lots of accessories
- Durable guide rings
- Ergonomic handle
Cons:
- Needs extra care when extending and retracting
Bottom Line
If you’re getting started on your fishing journey and looking for a portable, sturdy, and extremely-fun-to-use rod, look no further than the genius Plussino Combo.
2. Daiwa Megaforce Tele Spin – Best for Avid Anglers
Anglers with experience under their belt aren’t left out of our list. While the previous choice can be a bit boring for a demanding fisher, Daiwa Megaforce Tele Spin will make the day of the most adventurous anglers out there.
It comes packed with premium features in all of its versions that vary in size from 6.9 to 11.8 feet. All of which retracts to a length of 22.83 inches, making them super portable and easy to travel with.
This classy Daiwa takes the construction to a whole new level. Featuring a graphite backbone reinforced with high modulus carbon (HMC), this beast is just unbreakable!
Even the elegant all-black exterior makes it look like a million bucks. The titanium oxide guides are reliable, and the handle is made of a mix of EVA and cork to achieve maximum comfort and sturdiness at the same time.
Speaking of the handle, it’s designed to be a bit long. On the one hand, this provides a better grip when reeling in stubborn monsters. On the other hand, it makes the rod’s closed length a bit long since the handle isn’t collapsible, so while the rod is light and portable, it’ll still take some space.
Back to the rod’s performance, it features heavy power and moderate-fast action. Although it feels light in the hands, it bends nicely and can take a fight with giant marine creatures.
Pros:
- Unbreakable build
- High-quality guides
- Opens and closes smoothly
- Classy looks
- Oversized handle for a better grip
Cons:
- A bit costly
- Doesn’t pack as small as other options
Bottom Line
For experienced anglers looking for an elegant and powerful choice, the Daiwa Megaforce Tele Spin won’t disappoint. It’s built to take a beating and comes in many lengths suitable for salt and freshwater fishing.
3. KastKing Blackhawk II – Most Versatile
Everything about KastKing Blackhawk II speaks of versatility. For starters, it comes in 14 different lengths that range from 6.9 to 8 feet. Whether you want a short rod to fish from a riverbank or a long one to cast your line beyond the shore, you’ll find your choice here.
The short versions retract to 21.7 inches while the longest ones collapse to be 25.2 inches long. While it’s not the most portable telescopic rod you can get, it’s still fairly easy to carry and travel with.
Moreover, the company provides different models to accommodate both spinning and baitcasting reels. Not to mention that its fast action and medium-high strength render it capable of hooking big-game bass and feeling the subtle nibbles of small pickerel at the same time. It also works well with all kinds of lures, including jigs, mini-plugs, and cast spinners.
The construction adds a whole bunch of versatility to the design. Made of a mixture of carbon fiber and fiberglass, the rod is durable, sensitive, and light. It features multiple snug-fit guides that feed the line smoothly and protect it from overheating.
The six-piece telescopic design enables collapsing the rod without disassembling the line, which is something you don’t get except in this model as the rest demands that you lace the tackle again every time you extend them.
Pros:
- Unmatched sensitivity
- Unbeatable durability
- Versatile and meets all fishing tasks
- Doesn’t require setup every time it extends
- One-year warranty
Cons:
- Takes some space despite being collapsible
- Guides can get misaligned
Bottom Line
The Kastking Blackhawk II is the best telescopic rod for anglers who like to try new things and never settle on one fishing type. It’s rugged, powerful, balanced, and excels in every situation it faces.
4. Magreel Combo – Best for Surf Fishing
Surf fishing is a special type of fishing, and if any rod meets its requirements, it’s the Magreel rod. Coming in lengths that range from 5.9 to 10.8 feet, this giant is designed to access the furthest spots on the surf. Yet, it bears the smallest folding size on our list, collapsing to a length of 6.3 inches.
The build is made of 24-ton carbon fiber to stand the harsh conditions of the surf. It’s so sensitive that you’ll feel everything happening at its tip from the EVA handles you’re holding on the surf. As for the guides, they’re made from stainless steel and reinforced with ceramic insides to protect the line from heating up and work for years without grooves or scratches.
Depending on the model you choose, the tip features medium to fast action, and the strengths range from medium to heavy.
The included reel is constructed from corrosion-resistant stainless steel to withstand the saltwater. Besides the reel, the Magreel Combo comes with all the accessories you need to set out to the surf immediately, including a fishing line, lures, hooks, and a carrying bag.
Pros:
- Compact and portable
- Multiple rod sizes
- Corrosion-resistant construction
- Plethora of accessories
- Soft and comfortable grip
Cons:
- Tricky for beginners
- The included fishing line is of poor quality
Bottom Line
The Magareel combo is one of the most comprehensive telescopic setups for surf fishing. It’s corrosion-resistant, sturdy, long enough to fit the surf, and saves a ton of space.
5. Sougayilang Combo – Budget Choice
If your pockets aren’t loaded, don’t worry! We’ve got a superb choice for you. The Sougayilang Combo doesn’t only come with an attractive price tag but also packs all the add-ons you’ll need on your fishing trips, saving you the money you’ll pay to buy all the extra tackles.
Crafted from a mixture of carbon fiber and fiberglass, the blank is durable, sensitive, and light. The whole design feels sturdy and is made even better with the ceramic and stainless steel guides.
It comes in six different lengths, the longest of which is 10.8 feet, while the shortest is 5.9 feet. And it collapses to under 16 inches.
The rod is of medium power and features moderate action. It can reel in freshwater creatures like walleye, bluegill, and catfish.
However, we wouldn’t recommend it for saltwater fishing since it’s liable to rust when it comes in contact with saltwater. On top of that, the handle isn’t long enough to allow you to cast long from the surf, yet it will do just fine from a riverbank.
Pros:
- Affordable price
- Smooth performance
- Available in six different sizes
- Lots of accessories
- Compact and portable
Cons:
- Not suitable for saltwater fishing
- The handle is a bit short
Bottom Line
With the Sougayilang Combo, you’ll get way more than what you paid for. At an affordable price, you’ll get a sturdy telescopic rod, a butter-smooth reel, along with plenty of fishing lines and lures.
Check also:
How to Choose a Telescopic Fishing Rod?
There are many telescopic rods on the market, and while most of them carry appealing price tags, the compromise can be the performance.
You don’t want to end up with a pole that breaks on your first trip or just can’t reel in the type of fish you target. So here are the factors you should consider before pulling the trigger:
Length
We’re talking about collapsible rods here, so there are two lengths you should check: the closed and open length. The first determines the rod’s portability, and the other judges a few other things, including the type of fishing you can do, the distance you can cast, and the number of eyelets the rod can hold.
The collapsible lengths can be anything from 5 to 30 inches. The decision here falls back to you, whether you’re going to carry it in your confined backpack or throw it in the back of your truck. Just pick a length you’re comfortable walking with.
As for the full length, rods can come in a length of 5 feet or be as tall as 14 feet. Taller rods are preferred when surf fishing as they allow you to heave out your line and keep it out of the surf. On the other hand, shorter ones provide more leverage on big fish and are overall more comfortable when fishing in lakes and rivers.
Material
Fishing rods are constructed with either fiberglass or graphite. Sometimes you’ll hear the word “carbon fiber,” but that’s just a cooler name for graphite. They are basically the same.
Durability-wise, fiberglass excels, so we always recommend it for beginners with whom the chance of breaking the rod is higher. They’re also cheaper and more flexible.
Graphite poles may cost you a bit more, and they’re not as durable as fiberglass ones, but the sensitivity you get out of it makes it all the way worth it. They allow you to feel the subtlest fish nibbles, enabling you to react fast and reel in these cunning fish.
Some manufacturers use a blend of graphite and fiberglass. That’s our favorite since you’ll be having the best of both worlds; sensitivity and sturdiness.
Power
The power refers to the amount of tension or weight it takes to bend the blank. In other words, it determines the size and weight of fish you can reel in with a specific rod.
The powers range from ultralight to heavy. Most telescopic rods come in light to medium powers since they’re built to be lightweight and portable.
Opt for an ultralight or light rod if you want a super-sensitive one to catch small trout or crappies. Medium to heavy-power rods will be your best choice if you usually go after steelhead and big-game bass.
Action
The action and power are always used interchangeably, but each of them refers to a different thing. While the power is an indicator of the rod’s resistance to bending, the action describes where the rod flexes when pressure is applied to it. It’s used to determine what type of hooks and baits you can use and how long you can cast your rod.
A fast-action rod flexes near the tip and thus offers a high degree of tip sensitivity. It’s best used with big lures and single hooks to land big fish. However, it doesn’t go far beyond the shore.
Medium-action ones bend at the center. Since they’re less stiff, they provide more casting range. We prefer them for treble hook applications and jiggling techniques.
Lastly, slow-action rods flex in the lower third of the rod. These are the least practical ones since their sensitivity is the worst, although their casting range is large.
Guides
The guides are these small eyelets scattered on the length of the rod to guide your line. The more the guides, the better the casting since they distribute the stressor more evenly, allowing for more precise casting.
What’s even more important than their number is their quality. Low-quality guides can apply more friction to your line, causing it to snap eventually.
Final Verdict
That’s it, buddy! Now that you’re acquainted with the best telescopic fishing rods in the fishing poles industry, it’s time for you to choose. If you’re new to fishing, we recommend that you go for the Plussino Combo. It comes with all the extras you need to start your journey, and the rod itself can work magic and get you hooked on the sport.
For skilled anglers, we recommend the Daiwa Megaforce Tele Spin. It’s the perfect choice for anglers who want to step up their game and reel in big-game fish without losing the portability of telescopic rods.