Pocket-Sized Fishing Rod and Reel

I love to go fishing, it is fun, and it can be very exciting; one can go fishing with a group of friends or the family. Whether you are camping, or just on a day trip, fishing is a great way to pass the time. As Doug Larson said, "If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles."
However, conventional fishing poles are long, fragile, and hard to carry, or otherwise transport. This Instructable will show you how to construct a fishing pole, complete with a reel, that will fit nicely in your pocket. You can keep it handy, and go fishing any time water is nearby.

Step 1: Materials

These are the materials you will need for your fishing pole:

• A Telescoping Radio Antenna - This will be used for the pole part of the pole
• A Pen - One of the cheap kind you get for free at hotels or wherever
• A Small Binder Clip - The smallest one you can find that will clip over the barrel of the pen
• Three Very Small Washers - Again, smaller is better
• Some Thin Wire - The length is not important, this will be used just to attach stuff
• One Thin Bolt - This should be as long as the distance between the handles on the binder clip and thin enough to fit through the holes in the...
• Four Medium Sized Washers - Large enough to cover the round parts on the top of each binder clip handle
• Two Nuts - Square nuts are better than hex nuts, but hex nuts will work fine. These must screw onto the bolt.
• One Small Nail - Any short, fairly thick piece of metal will work, however
• Super Glue - Obviously, this is used to attach things
• Hot Melt Glue - This is used to attach parts to other parts as well
• Fishing Line - A very critical part for any fishing pole
• A Swivel - A small, rotating metal clip used to attach the hook
• A Hook - Used to catch the fish
• Optional: A Worm

If this list is a tiny bit confusing, take a look at the pictures , they are worth 1000 words each.

Comments

[potatomansoup]

I love this concept, I fish for minnows all the time and this would be perfect for that!

[freeza36]

How do you fish for minnows? Whenever I go camping I see plenty of small fish (.5 to 3 inches) that would make great bait.

[potatomansoup]

Super small hooks #20 and small bait super easy

[freeza36]

Ok thanks I will have to try that.

[freeza36]

Have you caught anything with this?

[Akask]

Why can't you just glue the washer to the pole?

[otheradam]

Glue on its own probably won't be strong enough because these washers will bear the tension of reeling in your fish.

[bass pro]

This is a great tutorial. Easy to follow and a clear step by step instructions. Thanks.

[doublequick]

a stronger antenna can be procured by going to the junk yard and buying one from a junked car

[yaly]

Did anyone catch any fish if yes please pm me so i can make one to use when at the north coast there is a fishing treasure there.

[vektor]

One question. When reeling, the bolt turns but it does not remain in one place. it moves to one side and stops once it comes in contact with the side of the clip. Please explain what i have done wrong and correct me.

[yaly]

you need two more nuts to secure the two bolts that were glued together between them or/and add glue.

[Gawane88]

thanks so much!
I'll see if i can find radio shack.
thanks again!

[sculptur]

istead of hot glue or super glue wouldnt jb weld be much stronger and last longer?

[Arc Trooper 5555]

I made my own version using the pen ink cartridge instead of a radio antenna.

[CaseBoy]

wouldn't the rod be very short

[bruleyer]

i actally think thats a smarter idea

[Gawane88]

Whare do you get the radio antenna?


cool fishing rod though.

[trainz222]

Radio shack, but if you cant find a single one buy a cheap or second hand radio and screw off the antenna

[Gawane88]

thanks so much!

I'll see if I can find radio shack but if i cant just buy a cheap hand radio like you said.thanks again though!

[xadevox]

How do you cast?

[phanjonathanm]

im guessing you just puul it out and throw it O.o

[always2theleft]

thats what she said

[bruleyer]

well i was just wondering have u actually tried this wont the antena bend

[aeray]

I think you should make an 'able just about the palomar knot itself. It is extremely strong, little-known and underutilized. I use it when fishing for steelhead and sturgeon.

[McGyver2]

Excellent Idea with this. Although I am against editing this one myself with just about everything, would it be prehaps possible to use many diferent sizes of PVC pipe for extra strength, yet still being portable?

[Robot Lover]

I think this is a great idea but, I think that the line would snap because of the threads on the screw that holds the reel together

[pogoman12345]

this is pretty cool but there is already a mini pen fishing rod with telescoping rod and fully functional reel, but im sure that you already knew about it (Hint: its made by coleman)

[northernmagnet]

 ok so couldent i just use one of the teloscopc pens (sorry for my spelling)
and find a way to make a reel?

[11richie21]

 lol u can make this in an office and fishing for fish in your desk aquarium jk that would be messed

[The_DonuT]

I made a simular mini rod and it works gr8 , thx for the idea

[Dude567]

 okieman has a good point, wouldn't any fish capable of applying a force higher than the poles breaking strength destroy the pole? Couldn't you use something with more give?

[zipzapper859]

how far did you push the antenna in

[Lokisgodhi]

 They used to make low end fishing rods out of telescoping steel and aluminum back in the 1930-40s, so there's no problem with this concept.

I think that using actual guides and wrapping and epoxying them on the antenna would greatly improve this. Cut off the tip and replace it with an actual rod tip that fits the end's diameter. Then hot melt glue it and wrap it as well. That's what's done on real rods.

The reel needs a serious redesign.

Maybe a threaded insert in the end of the handle so you can screw in a threaded piece of steel with an L bend. Mount a spool made out of an old small diameter sewing thread thread with two body washers epoxied on to the ends.  Make sure it's in line with the guides.

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[minhazwaris]

 how can you cast?

[pdub77]

Not to be negative, but wouldn't a fish of any decent size bend the antenna?

[mo5]

unless your fishing for minnos

[browncar]

yeah I was thinking of a design for a fishing pole myself and thought the same thing that an antenna wouldn't work too well. Maybe a dowel rod or metal rod would be better.

[pdub77]

How about some telescoping bamboo? Not sure where to get something like that other than making it, but bamboo is strong and can be made to telescope. Obviously we've all seen bamboo poles before so this isn't new. If you can't get pieces that will telescope maybe just some pieces that will fit together and when broken down attached together with some rubber bands or a velcro cable wrap. Just one thought.

[browncar]

Yeah I was thinking dowel rods with metal ends that would screw together. I just haven't thought of the pieces yet entirely . But bamboo would work if you could find the pieces like your describing . It would be lightweight.