"Ergo" wrote
"caroline" wrote
a pole?

In other words what defines a whip as a whip and a pole as a pole?

Is it based on length, or line attachment...or other factors? Or a
combination of things?

TIA

In short, to the last question. Yes!!

OK read on. While this is not always the case. A pole tends to be broken
down when landing a fish, until an manageable length is reached to net the
fish.

A whip tends to be fished to hand and the fish swung in. The whip or short
pole tends to be the method of choice for catching small silver fish that
are fairly close to the bank. You are likely from time to time to come
across a carp or large tench. Then you will have a fight on your hands
with a small whip. This is where a margin pole comes into play, they are
much more robust in their handling of larger fish.

Sorry, will teach me to read replies properly before posting ;o)

So, following on to the reply I've just posted, and after having re-read
your reply properly....perhaps what I have is a margin pole???

TBH it doesn't matter to me...but I was always of the school that whips had
an eye at the top for attaching line, and poles used elastic....which is why
my latest buy confuses me....but learning to use elastic is all good fun,
and education for the day when I graduate up to my first 'proper' pole ;o)