Yeh...dadgummit Cowboy is confusing us.:D I myself do not see any difference at all between a pole or a rod. The rules state on the one pole tourney that you can only use one pole per person. To me I would think it would be your choice one pole or one rod....just as long as its just one. Whether or not you got a reel on your pole or not shouldn't matter. Come on satdoc dadgummit, and give us a official ruling on this.