Pole fishing is a method of fishing that does not involve a reel, using a longer ‘rod’ to which the line is attached to the end. Whip fishing is similar, but with a shorter ‘rod’ and is a method for catching small fish close to the bank.
It is not necessary to own a Pole or a Whip to catch fish – a float rod will catch fish in the conditions that a Pole or a Whip will, but as Whips can be obtained very cheaply, and Whip fishing is a very easy and enjoyable method of catching small fish that are close to the bank, if your budget will stretch to it, you can buy a whip of about 4 or 5 metres for £5 or less.
If you are planning to teach a child to fish, whip fishing is fishing at its simplest, and is a good way to obtain all you need for a fishing trip for a total outlay of £10 or so.