It's come to my attention that one of the many reasons folks think I am a ****ing ****head ****er who should just go **** my ****ing **** until I'm ****ing dead is due to my habit of refering to the long, narrow fiberglass or graphite or graphite composite cone with round guides attached to it through which fishing line is run as a "rod" and not a "pole."

Many accuse me of turning my back on my 'shine suckin', porch settin' roots (which I have) but this is not the reason why I referr to the above mentioned piece of equipment in the way that I do.

I was raised with the following as rock-solid truth:

A "pole" is a stick - usually bamboo - to which a line is affixed for use in bait fishing. There are no guides on a pole and there is no reel. Anglers who don't know what they're doing tie the line directly to the "tip" of their "pole." Anglers who know what they're doing tie the line at the bottom of the pole and then run that line to the tip and then tie it off there.

This rig works great for dropping live minows into brush piles for crappie

A "rod" has guides, and a reel which make "casting" possible.

You can fish a "rod" like a "pole" but technically, it's still a "rod"

You can't fish a "pole" like a "rod."

So, that's how I learned it.

And yes, I know that's not you you learned it.

I am sorry if I've made anyone feel looked-down-upon by using the word "rod"... you know, actually, I'm not sorry... ROD, ROD, ROD, ROD, ROD;)