Since carbon fiber replaced glass fiber as the base material for the manufacture of rods, the choice of telescopic rods increased dramatically. Each season, manufacturers add new models to a wide range, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
The action, lightness and feel of the rod depend on the materials from which it is made. Split-cane, greens, Spanish cane and fiberglass were used to assemble the rods, but materials such as carbon fiber and Kevlar made them obsolete.
You can buy rods up to 17 feet long (5.2 m), but these are specialized tools, and floating rods usually range from 11 feet to 14 feet (from 3.3 m to 4.2 m). The correct rod length for operation is important. As a general guide, further, you intend to fish longer than necessary.
Ultimately, choose the length of your rod to match the actual swimming that you are fishing. If there are overhanging trees, you may have to use a short rod. A longer rod will give you extra control when playing big fish over dessert marginal weed or snags. If you intend to do all your float fishing with a single rod, then a rod of 13 feet (3.9 m) should cover most cases.
An 11 foot long (3.3 m) float rod is a good length for working on short work radii, such as fishing on the banks of a canal passage and lakes with 2 or 3 BB.
Rods 12–13 feet (3.6–3.9 m) are a good length for work in the medium to long range. A rod 12 feet (3.6 m) is useful if you do not throw lakes too much or throw them in the middle of rivers such as Warwickshire Avon or Middle Severn. For fishing ponds or on the travel side of the rivers, a telescopic fishing pole of 13 feet (3.9 m) will give you a leak in order to reach the extra casting distance and better raise the line on impact.
Telescopic fishing poles of 14 feet (4.2 m) or more are useful when fishing for a stick. They provide an opportunity for additional control of the float, such as keeping the line free of marginal weed, or maintaining the float on the line in windy conditions.
