How to?

[Joe Lauritson]

When my dad passed away, he left me a 10' telescoping crappie pole - ugly stick. I understand there is no reel, no place for one. There is however two small metal clips facing each other down just up from the handle end. The only eye is just one small one directly on the end. What are the small metal clips for, are they to wrap the line around? I am not sure how to use this.

[bluegillboogieman]

Hi Joe and welcome to BBG.
Start by tying your line to the pole just below the eye at the tip. Then lay out enough line to reach about a foot past the other end of the fully extended pole. Cut it there and run that end through the eye at the tip. I like to use a 6 to 8 lb test line but to each his own. Now I recommend you use a porcupine quill float or a thin pencil float. Both are available at Bass Pro Shop in my area and probably online. For hooks I've always liked a long shank #10 or #8 Tru-Turn brand. Tie one on the end of the line and then crimp a "B" size sinker about 12 to 18 inches above the hook. Now collapse the pole all the way down into the handle section and wrap your line around those metal clips. Now take it to the fishing hole! When you get there, reverse the wrap procedure and extend and snug the pole. Slide your float to allow the hook to be at the depth you think the fish are. Bait your hook and flip it out there. Hold on cause they're coming, we hope.

I like to use crickets for bait and redworms as a second choice. I love that quill since I started using them. I lays flat on the surface till a gill picks up the bait. Then it stands up with about a third sticking up out of the water. You can set the hook then if you want, but I like to see that quill go "Downtown" myself. I just love that.

I hope this makes it clear how to do it. Whatever you do, DO NOT tie your line directly to the eye at the tip of the pole., it will pull the eye off at the worst possible time.

Boogieman

[Dan Gwaltney]

Joe, I'm sorry to hear that your Dad has passed on. I am extremely thankful to still have mine, as I am 63 and he is 90. He taught me how to use a cane pole many years ago, and what you have there is just a synthetic cane pole. There are several ways to get your bait into the water with a cane pole, and they are all equally effective when they get the job done. However, different situations call for different techniques. After the primary advantages of cane poles, which are simplicity and economy, the best thing about them is precision. You can dangle your bait over the smallest opening in a bonnet cluster or between two logs and drop it straight down into paradise! You can hold the pole in one hand and the bait in the other and shoot the bait up under the bushes like a slingshot. My favorite way is to "choke up" on the pole a bit and rest the butt under my forearm about halfway to my elbow. I lift my arm while holding the line just above the bait with the other hand, and swing it gently toward the target. I can usually place it within a coffee-can breadth of the sweet spot where I think the fish will be. If I miss, I don't worry too much about it, because where the fish wants it to be is more important, and my miss is probably just as good as my guess. ;-)

[Tom Cadenhead]

10 footers are OK for boats or walking little creeks, but I like a 14, or even a 16 for reaching out from a bank, over thick grass, shrubs, or lilypads. The longer pole gives you the line to reach deeper too.

Cane poles, or their imitations in glass, are great for getting a kid started and there is not much more relaxing to an adult than sitting on a bank, sunning, with a worm on the hook and waiting for that cork to go under.

The good thing one finds about cane poles is that they are retrievable. If you get an oversized fish on, you can even throw the pole into the lake and go get it when the fish has worn himself down some. He'll fight the float and the pole util he has no energy left.

You can get as fancy as you want, but I always felt the most comfortable with #8 hook, a worm, a little split shot and an old bottle cork. There is just something about "making do" that is fun.