Fishing Pole Review Process
Scoring Criteria For All Poles
When reviewing fishing poles, we assess every model using four key categories to give you a clear, balanced understanding of how each one performs these are as follows:
- Build Quality & Construction
- Performance and Handling
- Kits, Spares & Compatibility
- Value for Money
Build Quality & Construction
We start with the fundamentals, how well the pole is actually made. This includes the quality of carbon used, the strength and consistency of the wall thickness across sections, and how precisely the joints fit together.
We pay close attention to the 6th and 7th sections, which are the workhorses of any long pole. If they feel soft or heavy, it’s usually a red flag.
We also test for ovaling at the female ends and look for proper spine alignment with clear markers.
A pole should feel solid in the hand, ship smoothly, and come apart cleanly, not rattle, twist, or feel like a stick of rhubarb.
Performance & Handling
This is where a pole earns its stripes. We look at how the pole performs when held at the lengths anglers actually fish at, usually between 11 and 13 metres, though we always test it fully assembled too.
We’re looking for crisp tip recovery, good stiffness, and balance that doesn’t fatigue your arm after ten minutes. We strike from a roller to mimic playing a fish, checking for bounce, recoil and responsiveness.
We also test how well the pole ships through damp hands, because if it sticks or catches in a match situation, that’s lost fish, and lost time. Handling matters, especially on pressured waters where speed and control are everything.
Kits, Spares & Compatibility
A great pole package isn’t just about the main stick, it’s also about what comes with it. We evaluate the mix of top kits, making sure it suits the pole’s intended use.
For commercials, we expect a decent number of Power or F1 kits with side pullers and PTFE bushes fitted where appropriate. For natural venues and silvers, a set of match kits is essential.
We also look for extras like cupping kits (preferably the same length as the top kits), short #4s for added stiffness, and mini extensions.
Just as important is how easy it is to replace a section or upgrade your setup. We check brand support and spare availability because even the best pole can suffer a break and waiting six weeks for a new #5 won’t cut it.
Value For Money
This isn’t about which pole is cheapest, it’s about how much pole you’re actually getting for your money. We judge value based on usable length, quality of materials, what’s in the package, and how well it performs compared to others in the same price bracket.
Sometimes a mid-priced pole outperforms one that’s double the cost, especially if you’re only fishing at 13 metres most of the time.
We’re also honest about what kind of angler each pole suits, whether it’s a solid all-rounder for club anglers, or a high-end choice for serious match work.
Value means different things to different anglers, and we’re here to help you find the right balance between cost, quality and long-term satisfaction.
What Is The Scoring System
At eTackle, the scoring system is the same no matter the item of fishing tackle being reviewed. The only things that change are the actual attributes being tested which is dependant on the type of tackle being assessed.
For more detail on the scoring system you can check out our dedicated reviews page.
Additional Experts
As well as our own experiences and extensive research, we also utilise opinions of vetted experts in the field to ensure the reviews are well-balanced with different opinions and experiences. Here is a list of our current sources that have helped with our pole reviews.
Buyers Guides
Here are some of our key guides that have used our review process to suggest some top options:
Best Fishing Poles – For beginners and experts
Best Budget Poles – All under £500