1. When choosing a pole, look for something that is light enough to easily handle but strong enough to handle the weight of a fish. The best cane poles are flexible but straight with a rigid butt section. A long piece of bamboo is ideal, but even a broomstick will work.
2. If you are using bamboo, designate the skinny end to be the tip of the cane pole and the thicker end to be the handle.
3. Secure your monofilament to the handle of the rod by tying a Uni-Knot around the handle. Once you have tied the knot, wrap electrical tape around the knot to secure it to the rod.
4. Run the monofilament up to the tip of the rod and secure the line to the rod again using electrical tape. This way, if a fish bites that is big enough to break the rod tip, the line is still secured to the thicker handle and you won't lose the fish. If you are using a longer pole for the rod, you may want to tape the line to the rod in several different spots to keep the line out of the way and free from snags.
5. Determine how much line you will need and cut that length of monofilament to use as your fishing line. Remember that a cane pole is different than a rod and reel pole in that the slack fishing line cannot be reeled up and out of the way.
6. Attach a float and a hook and you are ready to fish! (If you are having a hard time getting your bait below the surface, attach a split shot weight in between the float and the hook.)
