I've caught visible bass in a 15+/- acre millpond, years ago, early or late (RIGHT about Dawn or dusk) / Hula Popper AND Jitterbug. Right on top of the water, like that. Just threw 'em right near on top of their heads & they'd gobble'm, right as they hit the water. Massachusetts.
That's supposed to say "Luke Skywalker" ... Spellcheck done got me.
There's nothing wrong with telescopic rods, if a man avoids getting 1/2 drunk &/or toasty; and deciding to open it up, as though it's Like Skywalker's "light saber" & ending up/ joints that are stuck in the open position; until you take a couple pairs of pliers and destroy the rod entirely, by trying to get the rascal closed.
Regarding circle hooks, (we used to call them: "Jap-Hooks")
it is my understanding, that they are illegal in certain areas &/or used to capture certain species (+/or, certain times of the year).
I recommend anyone ✓✓ / their local fish cops, before getting any wet.
It is my understanding that they are highly effective at putting protein on ice.
Do yourself a favor= go to "Google" y enter search term: "fishing yo-yo". Over the years, I have put more pounds of seafood on the deck, while using handline; than any other method, short of commercial size nets of various designs. If you are trying to get your "Boogy-Bag" or "Bug-Out-Bag" ready y rightly equipped, you wanna HAVE at least 1 HANDLINE (and buy extra line, of a few different weights, some RIGHT gloves {short, denim work gloves work out for me}) That, plus a compact tackle-box/ REAL mess kit of sorts.
Was dragging 4X 45 ft. shrimp nets, S. of Big Constance Bayou, in about 90 ft. of water (I think it was). Dragged up about 30 or so yards of translucent blue plastic, about 1/8-3/16" thick and about a ft. wide. Used part of it to repair a damaged suitcase, that had travelled MANY miles. (My mother had taken it to Brazil, in the 1950's, & my girlfriend had brought it to Texas with her, to fish with me, in the early 1980's.) The Captain said that it was formerly wrapped around a "seismic cable".