TRI-LAKES AREA — At most sporting-goods stores, you can buy all sorts of fancy fishing poles made from a variet y of modern manmade materials. Choose from boron, graphite, fiberglass or composites ; long poles, short poles or in-between poles. Some are so toug h you ca n t ie a k not in one without breaking it. Some are so sensitive you probably could detect a gnat landing on the tip. Some are so expensive a glance at the price tag will cause distress.
The next time you visit a tackle shop, ask if you can buy a regular, old-fashioned cane pole. You remember cane poles, don’t you? You know, the kind you used to catch bluegills in farm ponds; those long, slender pieces of bamboo you spread around your boat when trolling for crappie; that f lexible, whippy-tipped piece of river-bottom cane you cut and dried yourself and used to snatchperch out of the crick when you were a kid.
It’s getting harder to find a ret a i ler who sel ls c a ne poles these days. But despite the popularity of high-tech fishing gear, cane poles still find favor with many anglers. Cane poles are sensitive but have all the backbone you need to whip a feisty catfish or bass. The poles’ extra length allows you to fish outof-the-way hot spots without disturbing fish and provides extra reach for bank fishermen. Best of all, you can still cut and dry your own, a nostalgic adventure that adds an extra measure of fun to the fishing experience, especially for kids. Somehow it’s nice to know you don’t need a lot of expensive gear to catch amess of fish.
Cane grows in the understory of many bottomland hardwood forests. There are two primary types of native cane in Arkansas: giant cane and switch cane. Giant cane reaches a maximum height of about 30 feet, with an average of 15 to 20 feet. In 1778,botanist William Bartram recorded giant cane poles in Alabama’s Tombigbee River bottoms 30 to 40 feet high and 3 to 4 inches in diameter. Most poles found today rarely exceed 2 inches in diameter. The maximum height of switch cane is about 10 feet, with a diameter up to about 1 inch. Both types make excellent fishing poles.
Before cutting poles, obtain permission from t he la ndow ner. T hen st ic k a compa ss i n you r pocket . Traveling in a canebrake is like walking through a forest of side-by-side fishing poles, and because everything looks the same in all directions, a tract of cane is a likely place in which to get lost.
In some brakes, there are 40,000 cane poles per acre, so it shouldn’t be difficult to find a pole that meets your needs.
A saw or a sharp machete is better than an ax for cutting cane. Select green canes of the proper length and diameter. A pole that’s too long or too thick will be unwieldy and heavy, tiring your arm while fishing. A pole that’s too short and skinny could bre a k i f you hook a re a l fighter. Most anglers prefer those 1 to 1-1/2 inches in diameter at the butt and 10 to 15 feet long.
Cut each cane at the base, then trim all leaves and stems close to the cane. Leave as much of the slender tip as possible, taking care not to damage it.
At home, saw through the bottom of a joint to square the butt end. Done properly, the butt will be “capped ” with the piece of wood that divides the joint; the hollow space inside the cane won’t be visible. Run your hand along the pole, and with sandpaper or a knife, smooth any rough edges you feel.
Straight canes make the best fishing poles, but unless cured properly, the poles develop a natural bend at the tip when drying. To prevent this, hang the poles upright instead of laying them down. Tie cord to each tip, and secure the end to barn rafters or a tree limb so the poles hang vertically, slightly above the ground. Curing is complete when the poles take on a tan hue, a process that usually takes several weeks to a couple of months. (Don’t dry the poles quickly in the hot sun or they’ll split and crack.) Some anglers varnish their cured poles or rub them with tung oil for extra durability.
Before fishing, test each pole by grasping it near the butt and whipping the tip back and forth. If there are any cracks or brea ks that weren’t evident before, they’ll show up, allowing you to cull inferior specimens. The best poles are whippy yet straight near the tip, with a solid inflexible butt.
Some anglers make the mistake of tying line only to the pole’s end. If the tip breaks, the fish escapes. It’s better to run line along the whole length, starting just above the “handle,” where you’ll hold the pole. Tie the line there; then wrap a piece of elect rica l or duct tape around the tie to secure it. Tape the line at several evenly spaced points along the pole, then wrap several feet around the tip and tie the line off, leaving a length of line beyond the tip that’s a foot or two longer than the length of the pole. When the line is rigged with terminal tack le, you can adjust the length by wrapping or unwrapping the line at the tip. Use an overhand knot to tie off the line.
A cane pole is great for fishing bream beds in spring. With a 10- to 15-foot model, you can keep your distanceto avoid spooking the fish. R ig w it h a sma l l Ca rlisle (cricket) hook, a split shot and a small cork, then work shallow-water cover.
With a long cane pole, this can be done from the bank ora boat, as you prefer.
Cane poles are inexpensive, so they’re popular with crappie anglers who enjoy “spider trolling.” On waterswhere it’s legal, it’s not uncommon to see a johnboat with a dozen or more poles set around the transom, lending the appearance of a large spider crossing the water. That’s where the sport gets its unusual name.
The poles, rigged with jigs or live minnows, are secured in rod holders attached to the bow and transom. The angler then drifts or trolls, passing near underwater structure where crappie are likely to be. The poles are usually rigged at different depths until crappie are found. Then each is set at the depth where fish are feeding.
If it’s bass you’re after, try “doodlesocking” with a cane pole. Tie a surface lure to a 2- or 3-foot section of 20-pound line. Then work the lure around log piles, flooded brush, riprap and other cover. The best lures are noisy ones like poppers and propel ler plugs. And you want to make as much noise with them as you can. Run the lure back and forth around t he same piece of cover se vera l t i mes. Youwant to make the bass mad enough to blast out of its hole and smack your lure. Strikes are violent. The fishing is extraordinary.
How long has it been since you fished with a cane pole?Try one again this season, and go back to a form of fishing in which expensive rods and reels take a back seat to nature’s free and simple “bamboo.” Cane poling is a sport no one ever outgrows.
Tri-Lakes, Pages 133 on 06/13/2010