fishingoutcast header logo

Best Telescopic Fishing Rod & Retractable Pole Reviews

Telescopic fishing rods have been around for some time and are the standard equipment of many experienced anglers. These types of rods are more and more popular by the day due to their collapsible size.

They are ideal to fit in a backpack, your kayak, back of a car, carry-on luggage, and other small areas.

Choosing a telescopic rod isn’t as easy as you’d think. There’s a lot to consider depending on the fish you’re trying to catch, your terrain, preference of season to fish, and so forth. And so most telescopic fishing rods have different advantages and features which you should consider.

Getting yourself the right type of telescopic rod can improve your fishing experience. A portable telescoping fishing rod is an excellent choice for its weight, materials, power, and other specifications.

Continue reading if you’re searching for the best telescopic fishing rod.

Best OVERALL

4.5/5

KastKing Blackhawk II Telescopic Fishing Rods

Best For Beginners

4.5/5

PLUSINNO TELESCOPIC FISHING ROD 

Best by Budget

4/5

Eagle Claw Pack-It Spin Combo

1. KastKing Blackhawk II

Best Overall

Standout Features:

The kastking blackhawk II is one of the most advanced fishing rods on the market today. With its unique telescopic design and high-performance construction, this rod delivers exceptional performance at an affordable price. The rod’s lightweight construction means it is easy to carry along while you are hiking or camping, and its sturdy construction makes it the ideal choice for catching a wide range of fish. 

The reason why the kastKing Blackhawk II has a unique design is because of its use of an anodized aluminum body and a graphite blank. This combination gives the rod a balance of strength and flexibility that is unmatched by other rods in its class.

When it comes to the balance of strength and flexibility, we used this rod during a recent fishing trip and can attest to its impressive performance. We were able to land a number of large fish with ease, and the rod never felt like it was going to break.

Some of the fishes that we caught with this rod included trout, bass, and catfish. We paired this telescopic fishing rod with a KastKing Braided Fishing line because of its high-quality construction and low stretch properties. And as well as a KastKing III Spinning Reel.

More importantly, we liked this rod because it’s easy to use for traveling. For example, when we were driving to our fishing spot, we simply unplugged the rod and stowed it away in the car. When we got to our destination, we just had to extend the rod and we were ready to start fishing.

The reel seat was solid as well, and it was never loose during the time we traveled with this rod.

One drawback of this rod is that the guides were not as straight. And when it comes to guides, it’s important that they’re straight because it helps with the overall performance of the rod. But other than that, we were very impressed with the kastking blackhawk II and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a high-quality fishing rod.

2. Sougayilang Black Hawk Telescopic Fishing Rod

Best Overall

Standout Features:

The Sougayilang Black Hawk Telescopic Fishing rod is our top choice overall. 

The Sougayilang is very convenient when it comes to fishing due to it being able to extend and collapse. For example, it can be as short as 30 inches and as long as 78 inches. This is very helpful because it means that you can easily store the rod away when you’re not using it, and also means that you can have different lengths for different types of fishing. We found that the Sougayilang Black Hawk Telescopic Fishing Rod is also comfortable to use due to its EVA handle.

The EVA handle isn’t only comfortable to use, but it also makes the rod feel very secure in your grip. We found that this was a big plus because if you’re going to be spending hours casting or reeling in fish, then you need something that’s comfortable to hold onto. For example, we were able to stand for an hour and a half or more casting at fish, and we never felt as if the rod was uncomfortable or too heavy.

One thing to note is that we noticed that the eyelets were weak. And so when we were using it, the eyelets would rip and fall off every so often. This could be a big issue for some people, but fortunately for us, we’re more than able to fix it. We fixed it by using epoxy glue, and it’s been holding up perfectly fine ever since.

Granted that this rod is extremely cheap, it wasn’t a deal breaker for us.

This product is made of E-glass composite and high density 24t carbon fiber, which makes them extremely durable. The Sougayilang Black Hawk is powerful while weighing only from 5.2oz. to 11.6oz.

The product features three-point welded guides made of stainless steel. The inserts are made of ceramic so you can freely use mono or braided fishing line. This fishing rod is great to fish in saltwater, too, since it’s corrosion-resistant.

The great thing about this brand is that it comes in different sizes and lengths. You can choose between Sougayilang Black Hawk for saltwater surf fishing, bass trout fishing, or inshore fishing.

Plus, it comes with a 1-year worry-free warranty.

3. Plusinno Telescopic Fishing Rod Retractable Fishing Pole

Best for Beginners

Standout Features:

The Plusinno Telescopic fishing rod is easily retractable which makes it one of the most compact rods to choose from. For instance, when you are done fishing for the day, all you have to do is retract the rod and it will fit perfectly into your car. It’s perfect for those who love to fish but don’t have a lot of storage space. The telescopic design also makes it easy to carry around and doesn’t add much weight to your load.

Made from high-density and elasticity carbon fiber, the Plusinno is durable and reliable. Carbon fiber is incredibly sturdy and can be used for all types of water. The rod is light in weight, and you won’t encounter any issues when casting or reeling it in. This was a selling point for us that made this one of the popular choices for a telescopic rod.

The body is made of high tensile strength plastic that adds to its power. Its light weight makes it easy to use and carry around. You want a light weight rod for traveling obviously because it won’t weigh you down or take up a lot of space.

This fishing rod has a stainless steel frame carbon oxide wire line guide and S-curve oscillation system. These help tremendously with line winding. For instance, the S-system allows for the line to pass smoothly through the guides so you don’t have to worry about it getting stuck.

We paired this rod with a Sougayilang Spinning Freshwater Reel, and a KastKing braided fishing line. This combo worked for us as it was easy to use and we had great results. The drag on the reel is smooth, which is important when you’re trying to land a big fish.

Similar to the Sougayilang Black Hawk, we had issues with our eyelets. It came loose after a few uses, and we had to replace it.

The replacement process was actually great. Customer service from the vendor was responsive and sent us a new rod quickly.

Despite the eyelet issue, we still think this rod is great, especially since it is cheap.

4. Eagle Claw Pack-It Spin Combo

Best by Budget

Standout Features:

The Eagle Claw single piece pole that’s made of graphite and fiberglass. It features a spinning combo reel and a lightweight reel seat.

It’s one of the most durable and robust models. This one is tough and can handle most rugged conditions. It’s quite comfortable thanks to its EVA foam handles. These are sweat free and provide a good & reliable grip.

The rod is suitable for buzz, crank, and spinner baits because it has a medium action tip.

When it’s collapsed, the rod is easily portable and lightweight. You can carry it around and store it away with ease in different small areas. It’s so convenient you can even easily hold it in your hand.

5. Sougayilang Telescopic Saltwater Freshwater Fishing Rod with Reel Combos

Standout Features:

The Sougayilang is made of top grade carbon fiber, so it’s among the most durable. It has excellent elasticity; it’s sturdy and reliable.

The spinning reel features CNC machine cut handle that’s collapsible, which makes this also a collapsible fishing pole. The full metal screw reel is adjustable, too.

Its lightweight is ideal for traveling and carrying it around. It weight about 0.12 to 0.35 kg. The rod features a line laid oscillation system and aluminum spool with high tensile gear.

The body is ultra-thin and compact when you collapse it. The rod comes in several sizes and lengths. It would be an excellent addition to your fishing gear, but it’d make for a unique gift for others, too.

6. Plusinno Spinning Rod and Reel Combo

Standout Features:

The Plusinno Rod & Reel Combo  is made from high density and elasticity carbon fiber & fiberglass. This material combination makes it durable and reliable.

It comes with stainless steel hooded seats that are corrosion-free when in touch with saltwater. The power drive gear included adds to its overall power and speed.

When you close it, the pole becomes easily portable and compact enough to fit in all kinds of tight areas. It’s anti-reverse, too, giving stability when trawling.

Its large line capacity is great for all kinds of fishing in both fresh and salt water. This Plusinno rod comes with interchangeable handles, so it suits both left and right-handed people.

This telescopic fishing rod comes in many sizes, lengths and weight options.

7. Goture Telescopic Fishing Rod SWORD Series

Standout Features:

If you’re looking for something sturdy and practical, this might be the best for you. The Goture Sword is made of 24-ton carbon fiber that makes the rod durable and robust. It also features some e-glass for extra sensitivity.

It features EVA butt handle and a double anodized forged aluminum spool. Its rotor and frame are both made of graphite.

The pole features stainless steel guides with rings made of ceramic. It features six bearing system, brass pinion, and drive gear.

Its reel seat is made from aluminum that’s corrosion resistant and CNC machined.

It’s easily portable and fits into different small areas without hassle. Put it in your truck, backpack, boat, etc. and have it always at hand.

8. Goture Portable Carbon Fiber Telescopic Fishing Rod

Standout Features:

Another great model by Goture is this carbon fiber pole. It’s lightweight, durable and reliable. You can use it in both fresh and salt water.

It features guides that give the remarkably smooth performance. The pole is made of carbon fiber so there’s no chance it can break under bigger pressure. This means you can go after big fish without fear.

It has a handle that allows for equal weight distribution in every situation. Its rings are made of ceramic, so there’s no added weight since they’re lightweight. They are secured in place with a resin adhesive, so there’s nothing to bother the performance.

It comes with a protective cover, and it looks quite elegant, too.

Buying Guide: Telescopic Fishing Rod

If you’ve never had a telescopic fishing pole before, it’s normal to have a bit of trouble searching for the perfect rod. There are many models on the market, so it’s easy to get overwhelmed.

These following few steps can help you in getting the best telescoping fishing rod for your next adventure.

Length

This is one of the most important factors to consider. Still, in the case of telescopic rods, there are full & closed lengths, and they are equally as important.

Measure the rod from its butt and all the way up to its tip for its full length. Once you collapse the rod, you get its compact length. Both of these should fit your needs, so go for what suits you best.

Weight

The suggested weight for a telescopic fishing rod should be light. The intent of having a telescopic rod is to make traveling with it easy.

Consider the material when choosing the lightest model because it’s what affects the weight the most. A great rod shouldn’t be too heavy nor too lightweight, but perfectly balanced. Its weight tells you a lot about how much weight it can withstand, too.

 

Material

The preferred materials for a telescopic fishing rod should be either Fiberglass, graphite, carbon fiber or combo of carbon glass and carbon fiber. Everything else isn’t recommended. What you’re looking for is durability, so strong materials are a must.

This is what you want to look at if you’re looking for a durable fishing pole. The material is what provides strength and flexibility, so added pressure doesn’t break it. Still, some materials can make the rod heavy, so pay attention to that, too.

Guides

These are the rings that direct the line from the rod into the water. However, that’s not their only purpose. These also handle pressure and weight of the fish as you’re pulling it.

Most rods have no more than five guides. Having more guides isn’t an issue, but having less than that can be a problem. Fewer guides mean more weak points can affect the overall strength and balance of the rod.

Power

Telescopic rods that are lighter in power are usually more sensitive and not suitable for large fish.

Power and strength go hand in hand. There are heavy, medium heavy and medium powers. Size of the rod you chose and the materials are what affects its power.

You can choose the rod power according to your needs and preference. Still, if you’re unsure which to choose, it’s suggested you go for medium to medium heavy. These are strong but not as sensitive.

Twist

Though these are compact, they can sometimes be tricky to handle. It’s essential that the model you chose blanks easily with its guides aligned when you’re fishing.

Sometimes, the rod can twist and ends up not aligned, especially when you catch a large and heavy fish. This is why a good quality telescopic pole handles all pressure and added weight with ease. It doesn’t twist in any situations nor does it slide away.

 

Action

When a collapsible fishing pole is cast, its flexibility is defined by action and is concentrated on the tip. These have three actions that are slow, medium and fast.

Slow means that the entire rod will flex, while medium implies that only the midsection will flex. The strong action means just the tip flexes. Slow rods are best if you’re catching big fish. Fast ones are sensitive, so use them for lightweight fish.

You should decide on this one by yourself based on your preferences & needs.

Final Thoughts on the Best Telescopic Fishing Rod and Retractable Pole Reviews

There are many options available, so all you have to do is match them to what you want in a collapsible fishing pole. If you have some experience, you won’t have any problems in choosing the right one for you.

Still, if you’re a beginner, pay attention and try to understand the factors mentioned above. Every feature of a telescopic rod has a function that you should know of.

These telescopic fishing rods we reviewed are the top of what the market has to offer. And because the list is quite versatile, both beginners and experienced anglers can find a suitable rod. We hope that you enjoyed reading our best telescopic fishing rod guide of 2021.