Telescoping handle
A net pole that slides out to extend reach and collapses short for carrying.
Reach is the point. Landing a fish from a steep bank, a dock or the side of a boat means getting a hoop out and under it, and a fixed short handle simply cannot. A telescoping handle extends from around two feet to five or six.
Collapsed, it stows on a pack or in a kayak without a five-foot pole sticking out to catch every branch, which is the reason most bank anglers choose one.
The weak point is the locking collar. A cheap one slips under load, which it will do at the worst moment. Twist-lock collars generally hold better than push-button ones.
Folding hoops are the other space-saving design and they solve a different problem. A telescoping handle shortens the pole; a folding hoop collapses the frame, which is what actually stops a net catching on brush as you walk.
Extend and lock the handle before the fish gets close, not while you are reaching for it.
Related terms
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Telescoping handle is one of 206 terms in the glossary.
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