A fishing pole or a fishing rod is a device for catching fish, usually for recreational or sporting purposes. The simple device comprises a flexible rod or pole, a fishing line attached to the pole, along with a hook that has bait attached to it at the end for catching fish. Fishing rods vary in length and are available in sizes between 24 inches and 16 feet.

Theoretically, the ideal design of a fishing pole should taper from the bottom to the tip, should be tight at all joints and have a smooth gradual taper without any 'dead spots'. There are varieties of fishing rods available in the market. Fly fishing rods were traditionally made of split bamboo, however, these days they are made from man-made materials. As the name itself suggests, these rods are designed cast a fly on the rod. Bait casting rods are stiffer than most other fishing rods and are intended for use with heavier artificial bait rather than natural bait.

Ultra-light rods are used for fishing small species of fish. They are generally smaller, lighter and more flexible than other fishing rods; they have variable tip actions that can be fast or slow depending on the intended use of the rod. Ice fishing rods are typically short spinning rods that are used to catch fish beneath the cover of ice in frozen lakes and rivers. Surf rods are large spinning rods generally between 10 feet to 14 feet in length. They are used to catch fish that gather together beyond surf break zones and are usually cast with heavy bait. Jigging poles are very thick rods used to bounce weighted artificial lures near the ocean bottom.

Since the 1980s, the introduction of flexible and stiff graphite ferrules has advanced to such an extent that multi-piece rods used by travelers can conveniently be transported in a suitcase or simple backpack.